Getting a great portrait of your dog can be a challenge. Getting him to sit still long enough, deciding on a background, and capturing his personality are just a few of the challenges. Dogs don't know what you are trying to do, so they won't always cooperate to pose for you.
The Importance of Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of getting a terrific dog portrait. You will want to use natural light if at all possible. Choose a room that gets a lot of natural light or go outside. This will avoid getting a picture with a human type "red eye". A lot of dogs will also be startled by the flash, ruining the picture.
If you must use a flash, get it as far away from the lens as possible. If your flash is not removable, hopefully you have a flash that swivels. If you don't have either, you can tape a piece of cheesecloth over the lens. This will reduce the chance of getting the dreaded red eye.
Getting Your Dog to "Hold That Pose"
Dogs are not like people. You cannot get them to pose just the way you want. But there are several ways you can get a great shot. You know better than anyone your dog's personality. Most of all you want to capture that in the photo. Consider having him in his natural environment when taking a picture.
Choose a background that is uncluttered, so your dog is the main character. Think also, that anything in the background may look fine when standing, but really towers over you when you are down at the dog's level. In other words, avoid tall objects in the background.
Does your dog like to chew your shoes? Does he do a special trick? Incorporate his personality and what he loves best into the picture. You can go natural or go crazy. Dress him in a hat and put him in a decorated background.
Having someone else help you will make things easier. In fact, there is nothing wrong with getting a portrait of your canine companion with someone else in the picture. Holding him might make him feel more at ease with the photo session.
You want your dog to be relaxed and at ease (unless you are trying for an "action" shot, which is another great portrait all in itself). You will need to get your dog’s attention. You can do that by calling his name, waving a favorite toy, or whistling at a high pitch. Use words in a sentence that you know he'll perk up to.
The Eyes Have It
The most important feature in a dog is his eyes. They are the most expressive part of his body and show his personality best. When taking your dog's picture, be sure and get down to his level. The best photos are taken at the animal's eye level, not from above.
Close-ups of dogs make wonderful portraits, just don’t put the camera in his face. Hopefully, you have a telephoto lens that allows you to zoom in without you having to get too close to your pet.
When you are setting the focus on your camera, focus on the eyes. Press down a little on the shutter release and that will hold in the focus. Then you can back up and frame your shot. If you are aiming the lens at the dog’s nose, the eyes will come out blurry.
The most important thing is patience. Dogs will usually not cooperate when you want them to. Take your time. Sometimes a great photo "just happens." If your dog becomes antsy and uncooperative, let him run around for a while and wear himself out. Sometimes you just have to let a dog be a dog.
If all else fails, you might consider having your portraits done by a professional photographer who has experience working with animals. This can be pricey, but if you really want an exceptional portrait, this could be something to entertain. Most importantly, enjoy your dog, and any pictures you take of him will be cherished memories in the long run.
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