Photographing Man's Best Friend

There are so many articles and video clips that remind us that a dog is man’s best friend.  How true!  We get so attached to our dogs that they become part of the family and as family members, we want to have nice pictures of them as well.  However, getting a good picture of your dog can be a difficult endeavor.  Here are some tips to help you out:

·    Make sure there is contrast – The color of your dog’s fur will impact your photo. For example, if you are photographing a dog with black fur, make sure he’s not against a dark background or he’ll get lost in it.  Conversely, if you are photographing a dog with white fur, make sure she’s not in front of a light colored background or she’ll simply blend into it.

·    Get your dog’s attention – Know your subject enough to be familiar with what get’s her attention.  What does she respond to? Treats? High-pitched whistles?  A squeaky toy?  Catching your dog responding naturally to what interests her will lead to a great spontaneous shot.

·    Avoid using a flash – We have all seen our human friends in pictures with red-eye.  Well similarly, dogs will get green eye.  Try using natural light when possible or bouncing the flash off of a wall so it isn’t aimed directly into the dog’s eyes.

·    Get creative with composition – Your dog doesn’t always have to be centered in the photo.  Some of the best shots are when the dog is off to one side of the photo travelling or moving toward the other side.  You can also try zooming way in to capture a certain aspect of your dog like an ear twitch or a wink.

·    Let the dog just be a dog – Candid shots can be surprisingly good.  They are natural and best capture your dog’s personality.  If he’s playing with a ball or another toy, try using the continuous shooting mode to catch all the different movements.

·    Experiment with different angles – Sometimes unexpected angles can lead to very artsy photos.  Also, different points of view can make for a good shot.  Try getting down to the dog’s level to take the photo or getting all the way down on the floor and aiming up at him.