Tips for Taking the Best Pictures of Your Dog

Tips for Taking the Best Pictures of Your Dog

Nothing is worse than when you catch your dog in an adorable act, go to capture it on your phone or camera, and the quality of the picture is more than lacking. So what can you do to get the best photo ops of your adorable furry friend? Read on to find out the best tips and tricks for dog portraits, selfies with your pup, and candids!

Utilize Natural Light

There isn’t always natural light available to you when you want to snap a picture of your perfect pooch, but there’s no doubt that it produces the best visual light! Flash photography can be harsh on a picture and your dog’s eyes. It won’t damage their eyesight, but some dogs are afraid of the flash. Whether it’s because it reminds them of storms, or they’re just perpetually camera shy due to a bad experience with getting their picture taken, you want to avoid this. Flash also produces that ‘red eye’ effect we all hate to see in photos.

Natural light will give you a bright and welcoming photo compared to the jump scare of a flash. You may need to reposition to get the best lighting too. If you are a fan of pictures outdoors, the best times to snap a quick picture are mid-morning, late afternoon, or ‘golden hour’ (about an hour before sunset)! But if you ultimately can’t find the right lighting for your pup, a soft ring light is always an option.

Make Your Pet Comfortable

If your dog is naturally curious, then taking more professional photos may be a bit of a challenge. They’ve likely become used to you snapping a quick picture of them or taking a selfie from time to time, but anything with a more elaborate setup they’ll likely want to check out. Be sure to get them fed, watered, and exercised before having a photo shoot together as they might become antsy and make it harder than it has to be. Having a positive attitude and praising your dog for their cute poses will do wonders in making them feel at ease. You can even get them a new toy to pose with, this way they’re distracted and you have an adorable accessory for your pictures!

Be Patient

Taking photos of your pooch should always be fun, not stressful! It’s hard to not snap a post-worthy picture, especially when the subject is a precious ball of fur. Taking quality pictures of your dog takes time, so be patient with them and yourself. Try getting them in different poses by practicing tricks and using treats! You can also position yourself in different angles so the picture isn’t always from above. Remember to take loads of pictures, have fun bonding with your pup, and smile!