If you’re a dog lover, then you know that there’s nothing better than capturing your furry friend in a photograph.
Dog photography can be a lot of fun, but it can also be challenging. In this blog post, we will give you a step-by-step guide on how to take stunning dog portraits.
We’ll cover everything from choosing the right equipment to finding the perfect location and lighting. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, this post is for you!
Let’s get right into it!
What is Dog Photography
Dog photography is the process of capturing dog images through a camera.
The subject matter can be anything from a dog’s daily life to more specific moments such as treats catching or studio photography.
Like all forms of photography, dog photography requires both technical skill and an artistic eye.
To take great photos of dogs, you need to understand their behavior and know how to work with them in order to capture the perfect shot.
Dog photography can be a fun way to document your dog’s life, or it can be used as a tool for professional dog trainers and breeders.
No matter what specific reason brings you into pet photography, this article will help you create stunning images.
What Equipment to Use for Pet Photography
Having the right equipment is crucial some times to get the best dog photos possible.
The type of equipment you’ll need will depend on the style of photography you’re going for. But there are some guidelines tat you should follow in order to go prepared to a pet photography session.
Camera
In terms of cameras, when it comes to dog photography, you don’t need the latest and greatest model.
A mid-range DSLR or mirrorless camera will do just fine.
The important thing is that you have a camera with manual controls, so you can adjust the exposure and aperture settings.
If I had to choose between the best camera body or the right lens, I would always purchase the best lens. That’s because the lens is what’s going to make the biggest difference in your dog photos.
Lens
There are a few different types of dog photography lenses that you can use.
A wide angle lens is a great option to create fun photographs and to show off the dog’s surroundings.
A telephoto lens is perfect for capturing close-ups of your dog’s face. A characteristic that every telephoto lens has is that it compresses the background marketing it look closer to the subject than it actually is in real life.
This is a great aspect to keep in mind if the surroundings aren’t too pretty and you want to cut them.
Usually, pet photographers tend to use both wide angle lenses and telephoto because of their unique features.
Accessories
There are a few key accessories that can help a pet photographer take great dog photos.
A bounce board or flash can help to adjust the lighting in different situations. A bounce board is useful especially during a photo session outdoor because you can bounce the sun light toward the dog and fill out some shadows that might be present.
You won’t need any bounce board in overcast days when the sky is covered by clouds and the sun doesn’t hit directly your dog.
A flash comes more handy if you are shooting pet portraits for example in a dog studio. By using a flash you can create some shadows and give more dimension to the dog’s face. It is important though not to use a flash too often because it can create some unflattering effects on dog’s skin.
In general, dog photography is all about being prepared for any situation and taking advantage of the moment. These few key accessories will help you be better prepared for your next dog photo session!
Best Camera Settings
Exposure
When shooting outdoors, it’s important to adjust your camera settings so that you get a good exposure. This means that the photograph will be correctly lit and won’t be too bright or too dark.
To adjust your exposure, you’ll need to change the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings on your camera.
To maintain and reproduce the correct colors you see in real life, when you ara doing a photo session outside with natural light, remember to set the color temperature of your camera to 5600K (Daylight).
Fast Shutter Speed
For a dog photography, you’ll want to use a faster shutter speed so that you can freeze the dog’s movement.
A shutter speed of at least 1000th of a second is ideal for dog photography.
That way, you’ll be able to capture all the action and movement of your dog without having to worry about blurring the image.
Aperture
When it comes to aperture, you’ll want to use a lower f-stop number so that you can get a shallow depth of field.
This means that the background of your photograph will be blurred, and the focus will be on your dog.
A lower f-stop number will also help to let more light into the camera, which is ideal when shooting outdoors.
How to Properly Photograph your Pets
Focus on the Eyes
When photographing your dog, always make sure to focus on the eyes.
This is especially important because it will help to capture the dog’s personality in the photograph.
Since the dog will be moving all the time, the best way to make sure you are focusing on the eyes it to use auto focus.
If you are using a lens with only manual focus, then you’ll need to be extra careful to make sure that the dog’s eyes are in focus.
How to use Your Smartphone to take Stunning Pictures
Nowadays smartphones are built with an incredibly high quality camera that allows you to take stunning dog portraits in seconds.
It is always good to know some dog photography tips to get the best out of your camera.
Use the Camera Grid
One of the best ways to take better dog portraits with your smartphone is to use the camera grid.
This will help you to compose your picture and make sure that all the elements are in the right place.
You can find this setting under Settings > Photos & Camera.
Take Advantage of Natural Daylight
When photographing your dog outside, make sure to take advantage of the natural light.
This will help to create a more flattering photograph.
To do this, you’ll want to face your pet towards the light and avoid taking pictures in direct sunlight.
If it’s a cloudy day, then that’s even better!
The cloudy skies will act as a natural diffuser and help to create softer light.
Edit Your Photos
Once you’ve taken your dog’s picture, it’s time to edit them.
There are a number of great photo editing apps that you can use to make your dog photos look even better.
My personal favorite photo editing app for smartphone is Lightroom.
Plan Your Photo Session Ahead of Time
One of the most important things to remember when photographing your pet is to plan your photo session ahead of time.
This will help to make sure that everything goes smoothly and that you get the high quality photos that you want.
Some things that you’ll want to consider when planning your photo session are the location, the time of day, and what you want to achieve with the photos.
Once you have all of that figured out, it’s time to start planning the outfits for your dog!
Must Know Tips for photographing dogs
Remember to Be Patient
One of the most important things to remember when photographing dogs is to be patient.
Dogs are not as easy to photograph as cats and they definitely won’t stay still for very long.
You’ll need to be prepared to take a lot of shots and not get too frustrated if you don’t get the perfect picture on your first try.
Use Treats to Get them to Look at the Camera
Another great way to get your dog to look at the camera is by using treats.
Simply hold the treat up to the lens of the camera and wait for your pet to look at it.
Once they do, quickly snap the photo!
This trick works like a charm and you’ll be sure to get a great shot.
Get Down on Their Level
When taking dog photos, it’s always best to get down on their eye level.
This will help to make your dog feel more comfortable and it will also give you a better perspective for taking photos.
You can do this by lying down on the ground or by getting down on one knee.
Change Perspective
A great way to create more interesting dog portraits is by changing your perspective and experiment with more unusual pictures.
Instead of always photographing your dog from straight on, try photographing them from the side or from above.
This will help to add more interest to your photos and make them stand out from the rest.
Throw a Treat
If you really want to capture your dog’s attention, then try throwing a treat in the air.
This will help to get them to focus on the treat and not on you.
Once they are about to catch the treat, quickly snap a photo!
You’ll be sure to get a great shot of your dog’s happy face.
These action shots are always a hit and they make for great memories.
Conclusion
Dog photography is a lot of fun and it’s a great way to capture memories of your furry friend.
By following these simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to taking stunning dog photos that you’ll cherish for years to come.
So get out there and start snapping away!
If you have any questions or tips of your own, be sure to leave them in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!
Thanks for reading!
