How to Take a Great Photo with your Pooch

How to Take a Great Photo with your Pooch

Have you ever gone to someone’s house or out to dinner with a couple where out come all the family photos. How about at Christmas time? All those family cards coming in the mail. While I don’t have the pleasure of having human children in my life, I do have the pleasure of having 3 four legged kids. For us dog lovers, we sometimes want to take a picture of our four legged family members as well.

Typically, when it comes time to take that great almighty photo of fido or feefee, they just don’t want to play. So here are a few tips to get them in just the right mood.

Find your Equipment

First we need a camera, video camera or a cell phone for that matter.

Lighting

For photo lighting, daylight works best. If you’re going to be inside, make sure you set your lighting to avoid shadows. Try not to work with a flash as this can sometimes scare your pet. If you must use a flash, I always suggest desensitizing your pet first. Basically, practice flashing the camera and rewarding them with "good boy" or "good girl" and a treat, so they become used to it.

Find the Perfect Picture Spot

Avoid taking pictures in open fields, busy roads, dog parks, high grassy areas and sand dunes - unless you want your dog in action of course.

Sit and Stay

It’s wonderful if your dog can do a sit stay or down stay, even a roller over and stay or stand on their hind legs and stay. But if Feefee’s not that talented, you will need to get creative. Try moving your body - stand on a chair, sit on the ground, lie on the ground, go behind a pole (make sure you have good control of your animal if your going to a public area).

Have Fun

In addition, here are some fun things you can do:

• Try peanut Butter! Make sure it is at room temperature and place small amount of peanut butter in your dog’s mouth, on the tip of the nose, and the sides of the mouth. These different positions make for all different facial expressions. If the peanut butter is sticky enough it is also fun to watch their tongues stick to the roof of their mouth, or the tongue reaching to get at the tip of their nose. My favorite is when it is on the side and they really have to reach the tongue out to get it.

• Toys, bells and balls work wonderful too. Simply take a favorite toy, ball or anything that makes a squeaky sound (even a set of car keys work great). Squeak it, dangle it, and it throw up in the air for great action and head turning poses.

Closing Thoughts

I have always found having a handy helper is the best way to go. They are great for squeaking the toys, helping control your animal, and retrieving the balls you’ve been throwing in the air.

After an afternoon of photos, have a special treat for your handy helper and your pooch. I will look forward to this year’s Christmas cards, maybe they will have some four legged friends in them.

By Wendy Nan Rees

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