Dog Pictures
From LoveToKnow Dogs
Thinking of taking your own dog pictures? Here are a few tips that will help raise the quality of your photos.
About Dog Pictures
We dog lovers tend to carry as many pictures of our pets as we do of our children and grandchildren. After all, they are our furry kids, right? The problem is, finding time to take Fido to have a professional portrait taken is next to impossible, and finding a photographer who is willing to work with animals can be even harder.
So what do we do? We usually wind up taking a few candid dog pictures by ourselves. The quality of these images can be hit or miss, but there are a few things you can easily do to assure your dog pictures turn out better than they might, and you don't need to be a professional to make it happen.
Tips
The next time you take your own dog pictures, try these tips.
Groom Your Dog
Who wants a photo of a dirty dog? Unless you're trying to commemorate the time your pet got the dirtiest he has ever been, you'd probably be much happier with an image that shows your furry companion off to his best advantage. The simplest way to do this is to groom your pet before your photo session.
You can certainly take your pet to a professional dog groomer if that is part of your usual routine, or you can do-it-yourself at home.
- Give your dog a good brushing.
- Bathe and blow dry him for a shiny finish.
- Give his nails a quick trim.
- Make sure upright ears are clean inside.
If you're not sure grooming will make much of a difference, try snapping a photo of your dog before you bathe him, then compare that to the ones you take after his bath. You'll never doubt the value of good bath again.
Use Natural Light
No amount of indoor lighting compares to natural sunlight. Full spectrum lighting brings out true colors and enhances the contrast as well. Consider a typical indoor shot taken with regular household lighting. Quite often the images will look a bit shadowy and washed out. In comparison, dog pictures taken outside just seem to pop right off the paper.
Another advantage to using natural sunlight is that you can skip using the flash. We've all seen perfectly nice dog pictures that were ruined because the canine had glowing red eyes. That's the result of the flash reflecting back from his retinas. The flash also makes some dogs very jumpy, and that makes it even more difficult to get the shot you want.
Once you see the difference natural sunlight makes, you'll never want to go back to taking pictures inside.
Consider Your Background
Nothing ruins a great image in the foreground like clutter in the background. Consider what you would like to use as a back drop for your dog pictures.
- Contrast is important. A white dog against a white background will be hard to see, but picture a black dog against a white background and it's another story. Try to choose a complimentary color that makes your pet stand out.
- Busy backgrounds are distracting. Clear away unneeded items from the shot so that your dog will be sure to be the main focus of the picture. It's okay to set up something special as long as your props do not overwhelm your pet. Some of the nicest dog pictures are taken using the lawn and garden as the back drop.
Get Down On Your Dog's Level
Shots taken from overhead sometimes make your dog seem out of proportion. If you want the best perspective, kneel down to your dog's level. You'll not only get a better shot, you're more likely to capture some of that personality you love so much because your pet will feel more comfortable when you're not towering over him.
Camera Shy?
Just like people, some dogs are just plain uncomfortable having their pictures taken. If your dog is one of those who wiggles and whines with anxiety when the camera is pointing right at him, why not consider snapping some shots on the sly while he's occupied doing something else?
Again, the great outdoors is fantastic for this purpose. You just might get the best photo you've ever had while your dog focuses intently on a squirrel. Maybe your pet actually likes to sniff the flowers. Imagine what a great image that would be?
Conclusion
There's just one final tip to leave you with - be patient! For every great dog picture, there are probably ten more shots that didn't turn out. Dogs are masters of the unexpected, and a single move may ruin the set up you've created. Just try to be flexible and have fun with the whole process.
This page has been accessed 867 times. This page was last modified 21:22, 29 January 2007.
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