Dog photography: 10 tips for great photos

Many of you will know by now that I work as a canine instructor / behaviorist, and as a dog photographer at Dog Portrait. And this blog is about the latter. Today I give ten tips for photographing your dog.

Dog photography tips

Try to get your shots at the dog’s eye level. Occasionally taking a photo from above is fine, but it’s best when you ‘look at’ the dog at the same height in the photo.
Consider your background. Try to choose a quiet background without distracting elements that draw your attention away from the dog in the photo. Additionally, make sure that no posts or trees ‘grow out of the head’, that is to say: are located exactly behind your dog’s head.
Keep it fun! Taking pictures is fun, but mainly for us. Try to make it as fun as possible for the dog as well, by alternating posing for portraits with action shots where he can do his own thing.
Use an assistant. Is your dog unable to sit and stay? Then ask a family member or friend to help. He or she can stay close to the dog and possibly hold the leash while you take your shot. Do not let this person hold treats, because chances are that your dog will no longer look at the camera, but only at the hand with treats.
Try to make your composition more interesting by not placing your dog’s head in the middle. For example, keep a little more space on the side, or place the head a little more upwards in the photo.
Do not cut off limbs. This sounds very sinister, but it isn’t really 😉 Often people are so focused on the dog’s head that they don’t see that the legs fall outside the photo, and are therefore ‘cut off’. That sometimes yields a very strange picture.
Are you alone and does your dog find it difficult to sit still? Then use a spiral tie-out behind the dog, to which you attach your dog’s leash. If you then tuck it away neatly behind the dog, you will no longer see it in the photo.
Try shooting in a completely different setting than you’re used to. For example, in front of a graffiti wall, or near an old building. Most dog photography is done in a natural setting, but an urban atmosphere can also be super cool!
Be aware of the horizon when it is in view. For example, if you’re shooting by the sea, make sure the horizon is straight. A crooked horizon (and therefore an ’emptying sea’) attracts attention away from the dog in the picture, and that’s a shame!
Practice silly sounds you can make at home to get your dog’s attention. Especially if you suddenly make a sound that your dog does not yet know. Chances are that he will look straight into the camera, sometimes with a cute tilted head. That produces cool shots!

How often do you take pictures of your dog?