The Ultimate Guide to Photographing Your Dog: Tips for The Best Pet Portraits
The Ultimate Guide to Photographing Your Dog: Tips for The Best Pet Portraits
Dogs can be tricky subjects to photograph. It’s not exactly like you can take the same approach with a dog as you could with a kid and promise a stop at Sonic after for ice cream if they just give one more nice smile.
I have 8 years of experience under my belt at this point with my own dog and I’m still constantly learning but I want to share some of my tried-and-true methods for capturing the best portraits of your pups. And you do not, I repeat, do not need any expensive equipment to achieve this. Work with what you have! Whether it’s the camera on the phone you’re using to read this, or the digital camera somewhere in a box from 2008—these methods work with whatever you’ve got.
So, exit out of that online store and let me share my tips for taking the best portraits of your pups:
Timing is Everything: If you want more posed shots of your dogs that require them to perform commands, I find they can be much more cooperative after a walk, enrichment, or play session. If you’re outdoors, try shooting during golden hour (usually an hour and a half or so before sunset) for that deep, warm lighting. If you are taking photos indoors, depending on the natural light you get in your home, late morning to early afternoon typically works great as the sun will be at the highest point in the sky—this can be a harsh condition to work with when outdoors, but for indoors it’s great! Try to keep any overhead lights off when shooting inside. Working with natural light makes the world of a difference.
Use Positive Reinforcement: Listen, your dog doesn’t understand what you’re trying to do. They don’t understand they are just too dang cute to pass up the opportunity to take a photo of. This is where high-value treats, toys, or even their favorite person comes in handy. We want to create a positive experience with what we are doing, so providing high-value treats like cooked, unseasoned chicken or cheese can be incredibly enticing and also ensures your dog leaves with a good experience. If your dog isn’t food-driven, a favorite toy, maybe something they don’t get all the time, can work wonders as well. Use what works best for your dog and their preferences.
Get Down to Their Level: A general rule of thumb is to avoid shooting from above. For more engaging photos, get on the floor and shoot at their eye level. I cannot even tell you the number of times I’ve parked myself down on a dirty trail or smack dab in the middle of a field to capture a dog running towards me or exploring with their humans. This adds immeasurable intimacy and emotion to the photos.
Bust Out Funny Noises: I find this works incredibly well for puppies but can be hit or miss for some senior dogs. Even so, it’s worth giving it a try if your dog perks up at odd sounds. During sessions, I have done things like blowing a raspberry, a high-pitched baa-baa-baa!, and clicking. For the days I don’t have a squeaker toy on hand, YouTube is a great tool. I’ll have a tab open with a video of squeaky dog toys sound effects and I am so set. (I’m probably at least 1 million of the views this video has with how often I use it. My dog perked up right away as I went to pull the link so if that doesn’t get you to try it with your pup…) Use this tool sparingly, though. I’ve found once the dogs realize there is no actual toy behind the sound, the effect wears off. My advice is to space it out or use it at the very end for some final shots.
Capture Their Personality: Each dog has their own unique personality and it’s such a treasure to get to document what makes your dog special. Whether they’re playful, curious, or stoic, try to capture that through candid moments. Posed shots have their time and place, but capturing them doing their thing is equally as important in my eyes and you will be grateful to have those memories stilled.
Patience is Key: Dogs can be… well, dogs. If they aren’t feeling it, take a break, let them get some sniffs out, or have a play session. We don’t want them stressed.
Keep Photo Sessions Short: It’s a good idea to keep sessions short and sweet. This’ll build up that positive association faster and get them excited to do this with you! It’s good to gradually build up to longer periods rather than expecting too much too soon.
Now that you have the tools to take incredible pet portraits, it’s time to put them to the test! Whether you’re photographing your dog at home or on an adventure, remember that the best shots come from patience and fun. But hey, if you ever need any help or would rather hand the baton to someone else—reach out, and let’s create something amazing together!