How to photograph dogs

Whether you're a beginner dog photographer or you just want to take nice pictures of your dog, I have just the information for you.

I am a professional pet photographer, and I want to share my tips and tricks for pet photography with you.

Running shepherd dog photography. Light Fox photography.

Know your dog.

There are many dog breeds out there, and they all have different temperaments and energy levels.

It is important to prepare for the dog photo shoot accordingly. For the active dogs, find a location where they would have enough space to run without any danger to a dog (close to busy roads) or disturbing anybody. The park on a not busy day could be a good choice.

Ideally, you want the dog to run towards you, you also can add an obstacle for him to jump over. There are a few tricks that will help to achieve this, You can throw a stick away and photograph your dog when he is running back towards you with the stick. But if you don't want your dog to be in every photo with the stick in its mouth, then you will need the help of another person. Somebody else will have to hold the dog until you give the command and call the pup towards you... Don't worry, they usually miss you and run rust beside you, but it can be intimidating haha...

For calm dogs, it's easier to get still shots, but you might still need to interest them with some treats.

Professional pet portrait photos.

Red Deer dog photographer

Get low to the ground.

To get professionally looking dog portraits, you will have to get down on their level. Usually, that means lying down on the ground, which can be challenging considering the weather and the terrain. If it is winter I wear waterproof clothes, in the summer, ordinary coveralls will be enough.

Of course, every rule exists to be broken, and there is time and place for creative photos in which you look down or up at the dog to create a certain vibe.

Dog mini session photos in Lacombe, Alberta

Get their attention.

Most dogs that I photograph are not exactly obedient, so there are a few things that you can do to achieve better obedience and, as a result, better photos.

Of course, all dogs are food-motivated, so bringing your pet's favorite treats is a must. Another good idea is to bring a squeaky toy; dogs naturally respond very well to the noise.

If it is not your dog, ask its owner to bring all of these on the photoshoot. Also, having a second person on the shoot is very helpful.

Shih Tzu puppy studio pet photography in Red Deer, Alberta

Get creative.

There are no limits to creativity in pet photography.

Whether you are photographing outdoors or in the studio, use your props... And by props, I mean anything that is around you. You can bring your dog photography to the next level if you learn to utilize what is around you.

Good examples:

• frame your dog with trees or bushes, etc;

• use multiple planes, front, middle, and back;

• elevate your pet on a tree stump, bench, rock, etc;

• use a reflection in the water or mirror.

There are endless ideas and opportunities for amazing dog photography.

Alaskan Malamute golden hour dog photography in Red Deer, Alberta

Camera Settings.

Finally, the technical side of dog photography.

In most situations, you want to use a high shutter speed to freeze the motion of a moving dog (most dogs aren't good at sitting still). For walking dogs, I use a shutter speed of around 1/400-1/600 of a second, but for running dogs, it is 1/1000 and higher. You can experiment with this setting to find what works for your dog.

Also, you don't need to use high shutter speed if you are using flash light.

For those who don't have a professional camera, no worries, you can freeze the motion with your smartphone as well. Most phones nowadays have a "PRO Mode" where you can manually control all the settings, like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and even color temperature.

Conclusion:

1. Know your dog's energy level and adjust your session accordingly.

2. Get down to their level for most situations.

3. Bring treats, toys, and other props to make the photoshoot easier.

4. Get creative with what you have around you to get interesting compositions.

5. Don't forget to bump that Shutter Speed to get crispy sharp photos.