How to Take Great Pictures of Your Dog and Get That Perfect Photo

Taking great pictures of your dog can be a skill used any time of year. However, it is especially beneficial during the holiday season if you want a family photo that includes your pup. Whether it is a picture of your immediate family or of everyone who has gathered to share the holiday, having your dog look good in the photo can be an interesting feat. While you may easily get your dog included in the photo, it may be as a run-by or a strained bear-hug. I remember a 4th of July family photo. We had some great shots, but my cousin’s dog was usually represented by a flash of tail or else a hang-dog look while someone held his collar. I’m sure that scene is a familiar one for many people!

If you are trying to get a great photo of your dog, whether he is in a group or by himself, I have a few tips that might help you accomplish your task.

• Let your dog sniff and get used to the camera. The clicking of the shutter or the light from the flash may upset your pup at first. When he is comfortable with the strange device, you can get better shots.
• Train your dog to listen to some simple commands, such as “watch me,” “sit-stay,” and “down-stay.” You can even teach “stand-stay” if you wish.
• Make every photo session short and fun. Bribing with treats is allowed – it’s a trick I use quite often with my dog!
• Have help with you. Having a distraction off-camera for your dog to focus, such as someone with a squeaky toy or treat, can help your dog forget about the camera.
• Depending on the type of photo you want, getting down to your dog’s eye level puts you in his world and gives the picture a more personal feel.
• Getting up close and personal is allowed. You don’t have to have your dog’s full body in the picture to make it a good one.
• Using a zooms lens to get close-ups can be a good strategy. If you have a dog who hates the camera, either due to the flash or the noise, a zoom lens will allow you to get close-up shots without your dog knowing.
• Choose a background that is interesting or else an open area that fades away in the distance.
• When shooting outside, make sure the sun is on your dog’s face or your back. Using natural sunlight will also reduce the red- or green-eye that occurs in dog’s when you use flash.
• If you are taking a picture of your dog when he’s standing, make sure all four legs are visible.
• If your dog is too wired up, a good game of fetch or a quick walk around the block will tire him out so he will lay down for a good block of time.
• Take a ton of pictures. If you have a digital camera, you should take as many pictures as you can, rather than thinking the first or second shot is fine.

I know these tips usually work for me. Hopefully, one of these ideas can help you get some Ansel Adams-quality puppy pictures. It may take patience, lots of treats, and a fully charged camera battery, but you, too, can get a great picture of your dog. Good luck!