Mary Allen
Do you want to take beautiful pictures of your darling? There are a few things you need to keep in mind to get really great snaps. We give you 4 tips for the perfect dog photo.
Photographing a dog so that he’s looking straight into the camera with an alert gaze and not grimacing is hard enough. But that alone does not make a great dog photo. The beloved four-legged friend should not move jerkily, otherwise, the picture will blur and shake.
Of course, a good camera is just as important as the right technology. Animal photography is one of the most demanding areas of photography – but beautiful photos of your four-legged friend are not impossible. We’ll tell you the tips and tricks of professional animal photographers!
Tip 1: Treats to keep your eyes awake
A direct, attentive look and the dog’s undivided attention are guaranteed to the person holding the treat in their hand. To take the picture, the four-legged friend is first sat down, then he gets the command: “Stay!”
His concentration is now at its peak, so the photo should be quick. This is best done in pairs, as it can be tiring for the dog to focus on the owner with the treat in hand and not jump up and follow them when they want to get behind the camera. With a smartphone, you can of course trigger much easier and faster.
Tip 2: Motion Photos? The more the better!
There are great photos of dogs in motion on the websites of professional photographers and on social networks. Such photos of your own dog would be great – but photographing him in motion is not that easy. Here, too, you let your four-legged friend first “sit” in a beautiful environment and then stay. Then move several meters away from the dog.
A perfectly straight line or one with a minimal bend is good for such photos. The four-legged friend is now focused on the camera, then the treatment is taken out of the pocket and he is called. Several seconds pass before he is with you again, which you should photograph as much as possible. If the camera has a multi-trigger, please activate it.
Don’t be discouraged: most photos will be blurry and out of focus. On others, your dog might look a bit odd. And then there will be that one sharp, perfect photo that looks like it came out of the studio. Well done!
Tip 3: Shoot early in the morning and late at night
The best locations for beautiful dog photos are clearly outside. But there you are all the more dependent on the natural light conditions. A time very popular among professional photographers is therefore the last hour before sunset. It is also called the “blue hour” because the evening light is particularly atmospheric now.
Even in the morning at or shortly after sunrise, very atmospheric pictures come out. Harsh midday light, on the other hand, or dull gray makes the photo appear rather flat.
Tip 4: Accessories for more color
Wild clouds in the background, fur freshly brushed for the photo shoot … but something is missing. The accessories! A small splash of color in the form of a colorful collar or a ball for the four-legged friend brings the missing color into play.
Many dogs have a great coat with a nice pattern, but these colors are all natural and often do not stand out enough in a photo against the natural background. With more contrasts, the picture looks livelier and more interesting overall.