17 Dog Photography Techniques
1. Use fast lenses
My preferred lenses are 70-200mm f2.8 telephoto lenses—they're fast enough to freeze those crucial movements of running subjects on the lens, plus you can quickly zoom in and out as needed. They also shoot background well.
Ensure you're shooting athigh speedotherwise you'll miss those special moments.
Fixed focal length lenses are also good—50mm or 85mm work well. Be sure to fully open the aperture. Of course, opening the aperture allows you a faster shutter speed and lovely bokeh effects. But it can also blur the subject's face.
2. Create bokeh effects
Bokeh effects separate your dog from distracting background elements.
Bokeh is visually appealing. It uses background blur to separate the subject. If you're shooting your dog in a visually distracting background, this is especially useful.
This ishow to get bokeh effects in dog photography
- using a large aperture (such as f / 2.8 or f / 1.4)
- placing the dog away from the background
- using a telephoto lens to zoom/blur background elements
- getting closer to your dog when shooting
3. Use faster shutter speeds
Using faster shutter speeds freezes motion.
Dogs are active animals. So, to avoid motion blur in dog photos, you should use faster shutter speeds, such as 1/400th of a second.
If your subject is overly active and running around, switch to shutter priority mode and shoot several photos at a faster shutter speed until you get a sharp image.
4. Good lighting is key to good dog photography
Choose your light sources wisely. Sunset or sunrise offer the best natural lighting for photography.
If you want golden tones, schedule your shoot at sunrise or sunset. Otherwise, overcast days are best because they provide even lighting.
If you have to shoot in bright sunlight, try to find a shady spot. Then use shadows to get a unique effect.
Use shadows to avoid harsh sunlight in photography
If shooting indoors, shoot by a window to light your subject
Move closer to the window to illuminate your subject. You or the dog can move around to get the maximum lighting effect.
5. Focus on your dog's eyes
The viewer's attention is naturally drawn to the subject's eyes. So, make sure they're in focus.
Your dog's eyes should be the focus of the photo.
As humans, we find it difficult to make eye contact with others. By focusing attention on your dog's eyes, you can use it to capture the attention of your subject, which naturally draws the viewer's attention to your subject.
First focus on the eyes, then use 'focus and recompose' as needed.
6. Use a large background
As our tips indicate, your dog photography can get good results
The framing of the background is just as important as your subject
Find a background that contrasts with your dog's color. Tree trunks, wooden decks, doorways, benches, brick walls and doorways are excellent backgrounds or framing for dogs
7. Get better composition
Composition helps draw the viewer's attention to your subject
Look for elements that cancompose yoursubject. This will immediately attract the viewer's attention to your subject.
Use branches or windows to help you compose
8. Dress up your dog
Make sure to dress your dog up before the shoot, especially if they have long hair—this will save you a lot of time in Lightroom or Photoshop later
If you can't do professional styling, make sure they're brushed beforehand, and have spare brushes on hand for further touch-ups
9. Tempt your dog with treats
Who doesn't love treats?
Dogs certainly do! Bring plenty of treats—lots of treats! This is key to success. Use them to get your dog to
- stay in one location
- look at the camera
- look at the camera side
- tilt their head
don't give them the treat before you get the lens
rewarding them with treats—when they're in the process of grabbing treats in their mouth, or when they're chewing, can be a great addition to any dog photography set.
10. Sit down
Don't be afraid to kneel or even lie down on the floor. You need to be level with your dog to make a visual impact, so you need to get close to the ground.
If shooting outdoors, this usually means kneeling in a muddy path or on the ground, so be sure your clothes don't mind getting dirty.
11. Use props
Who doesn't love a cute dog in a hat? If your dog loves to wear clothes, use them—props can make a lasting impression.
Make sure you do a non-prop portrait first. I find bright or patterned bow ties, sunglasses, hats, scarves, coats, hoodies, and bandanas very effective in dog photography.
Be careful—not all dogs like being dressed up. If you try something that doesn't work, don't force your dog to do something they don't want to do.
12. Action
Capture action shots to portray their energy.
Toys are often key to getting good action shots. Sometimes all it takes is a simple ball or stick.
Set the speed to 1/1000th or higher to freeze the action.
13. Learn how to shoot different breeds
Educate yourself about the breed you're shooting—different breeds have different temperaments.
Some dogs are quiet and sweet, like Golden Retrievers. Others are bred to hunt, so they're energetic and don't like to sit for long, like Spaniels.
Knowing what you're going to be dealing with before you shoot will help you determine the best way to handle the dog during the shoot.
Expert tips:When you first meet any dog and speak to them calmly, always crouch down—build trust with the animal.
14. Safety when shooting dogs
Is the location safe for you to shoot your dog?
- Make sure there are no busy roads—the dog could run into them
- Avoid long grass—dogs can scratch their eyes when going through it.
- Is there anything hazardous or distracting nearby (other dogs or livestock)?
15. General advice for dog photography courses
- Keep them on a leash before you start shooting—this will keep them calm and prevent them from tiring out.
- Use a whistle or clicker to get the dog's attention.
- Don't be afraid to let the dog stray from the camera and look away.
- Use different compositional rules to draw attention to your subject.
- Mix full-body shots with head and shoulder shots.
- Most importantly, make it fun. If they seem distressed or distracted at any time, pause the session.
16. Patience is key in dog photography
You need to be patient to take good quality dog photos. For each well-trained dog dream shot, there's a less-trained puppy that's a fun, chaotic experience.
So, give yourself enough time to shoot. Earn your dog's trust: play with them, give them treats, and talk to them. Let their owner interact with them to calm them down or let them play.
17. Practice
Practice is key to mastering dog photography
Good dog photography requires practice, patience, and a nose for the perfect image. But it's always a rewarding experience if you love dogs.
