by Pat Thomas, Photo Phetish
"I can never get a good photo of my dog!" Is this something you’ve said? The holidays are coming, and Halloween is right around the corner. Prime pet photo opportunities! These hints will help you take your best-ever photos of your dog … pictures you’ll be proud to feature on your website, holiday cards, refrigerator – or even in a beautiful frame!
1. Make sure that your dog is comfortable, and in a familiar environment. Spend some time to make sure she is at ease. The best photos will be in your home, doing the very things you have come to adore her for! A stressed-out pet does not make for a good subject.
2. Prepare to be patient during this process. Spend a little time playing or snuggling with your dog, to make sure she is comfortable.
3. Don't force your dog into a specific pose. Forced poses create that “deer in the headlights” expression, and they are no fun for the dog.
4. Try to use natural outdoor light. Late afternoon light has a particular warm tone.
5. Don't use a flash. Doggy "green eye" is almost impossible to avoid, and many dogs are afraid of the flash.
6. Get down to her level. Lie or sit on the floor to show how the dog sees the world from her perspective.
7. Lock the focus on their eyes. Eyes are the window to the soul; if you catch the personality in her eyes, her face will also be in focus.
8. Get her attention with toys or treats. You know what your pet likes! Funny, high pitched noises can sometimes score that cute "head tilt" photo.
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9. Take close up photos, allowing the picture to emphasize your dog rather than any background.
10. Take a lot of shots!
In this day of digital photography, we can take as many photos as we want! The more you take, the better your chances of getting that one stellar shot.
Mostly, remember to have fun photographing your pet, and to make it fun for her. A lot of photography is about hitting the shutter at the right time, and this can have a lot to do with luck. When you least expect it, you'll get that great photo. As Ansel Adams said, “There are
no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.”
Pat Thomas is the head photographer at Photo Phetish, a photography studio specializing in wiggly pets.
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