DOG PHOTOGRAPHY
HOW TO TAKE THAT “ WOW ” PHOTO
The first photo I ever took with a camera of my own was of our family dog , Pippin . I was 9 . Forty-one years later dogs are still one of my absolute favourite subjects to photograph . So here are a few tips that I ’ ve learnt along the way .
Whether you have a fancy camera , a point-and-shoot or just your cellphone , it is possible to take great photos of your dog . Always remember that the best camera is the one you have with you – so if your pet is doing something spontaneous , looks great running along the beach or is standing in front of a sunset , use whatever picture-taking device you have immediately at hand . That ’ s often how great photos happen and awesome memories are made . For a planned photo shoot of your dog , it ’ s always a good idea to exercise them first . That way you take the edge off their energy and they won ’ t be quite so exuberant during their shoot . An added plus of exercising your dog is that their bottom jaw usually relaxes and drops a little , which gives the effect that they are smiling . Remember to be patient with your dog and not to stress it during your photo shoot . Dogs are sensitive souls and if you become annoyed or stressed they easily pick up on your feelings and become stressed , too . This doesn ’ t translate to good photos . If you stay completely calm , take your time and don ’ t rush then the shot you are looking for will happen much more easily . Choose a location that your dog feels comfortable in , whether it ’ s the beach , park , lake , farm or just around your property . That way they will be more relaxed . If you really want to take photos in a place they don ’ t know then let them explore and get used to the setting first . Once they are relaxed and at ease you can begin . Lighting is important . Try to shoot in ambient light , either early morning or late evening . Avoid areas with dappled light – such as light through trees – because they will create shadows and sunspots on your dog . Well trained dogs that will pose or stay on command are easier to get good photos of in less time . You can , however , still get great spontaneous shots of your dog if they want to run around and play . Always wear clothes that will make it easy for you to get into all sorts of positions . Be prepared to lie down on the ground , stand in water or do whatever you need to in order to get your shot . Take different shots – head shots , full body , lying down and running . Try and take your photos from different angles ; experimenting can lead to some neat photos . For a closeup head shot of your dog , you want your pet to be staring directly at the camera . This creates a point of connection in your photo – as the saying goes , the eyes are the windows to the soul . This can be tricky , however , as dogs rarely like to look straight at the camera . This may be because the camera obscures your eyes as you look through the viewfinder , which dogs find disconcerting . You can get a dog to look at the camera in a number of ways . Not every method works for every dog so you need to experiment to see what works for you . I use noises to get their attention – meowing , woofing , whistling or squeaking a toy often works . Failing that , a bit of heavy-breathing and panting does the trick . Often I make crazy , high-pitched , strange noises to not only get a dog ’ s attention but so they will cock their head on a cute angle . It doesn ’ t matter how silly you sound if you get an awesome photo ! If noises don ’ t work , try treats . Have a friend hold a treat just above the camera or by your shoulder . And if that doesn ’ t work , try waving their favourite toy . If all that fails , another person with another dog , walking back and forth behind you , should get their attention . Side profile head shots show a different perspective of your dog . Get someone to stand in front of your dog and attract their attention in whatever manner works . Place yourself at the side of your dog to get a good side profile . Running shots are fun . They are best achieved by calling your dog so that it runs directly towards you . Make sure you are down at their eye level to take the photo . Another fun thing to try is silhouetting your dog . You can do this by placing your dog between you and bright sunlight – it can make for an interesting and different picture . If you want a photo of your dog and yourself , you don ’ t have to be staring at the camera saying cheese ! Often , the best con-nections are portrayed when neither the dog or its human are looking at the camera .
Enjoy making memories with your dog – the more you practise taking their photo the better shots you will get .
Happy snapping ! Sully
Donna Sullivan is the “ Sully ” behind Sully ’ s Pics . She is a Taranaki-based photographer who photographs people , places and pets . A self-professed animal nut , she has a tribe of assistants making up the Sully ’ s Pics team . Many are rescues . There ' s : photobomber and self-declared CEO Luna , editing assistants Tiyne , Tiger , PJ and NhingNhing ( sleeping next to the computer whilst editing takes place counts as assistance ), assistant photographer Poss ( he directs the moonshots ) and Ducky ( actually he doesn ’ t do anything helpful ).
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