Our pets are valued members of our families too, with their own personalities and beauty to capture in photographs. In honor of National Puppy Day, the ambassadors have come together with some of their best tips for photographing “man’s best friend.”
Read on to find out how to get the best photos of your furry friends and be prepared for CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!!
#1 – Help your pup relax.
Melissa of Melissa Klein Photography says,
Show up early and walk your dog around the area so they are not overly excited at the new place and new smells when it’s time to photograph the session. A worn out dog is (usually) a more cooperative dog.
Kimi of Oh Hello Photo! says,
Make sure your dog is relaxed. A hyper dog will be much harder to photograph. Play a few games of fetch to settle him/her down a bit.
#2 – Don’t forget the treats!
ALWAYS bring treats! If you are having a hard time getting them to look up at you, hold a treat up to the side of your lens. They will focus on it and you’l have just enough time to click your shutter before they go for it. Just like children, puppies and dogs love being rewarded for a job well done!
Tricia of Made With Love Crafter says,
When we got our chocolate lab Moose he was so adorable and I wanted to take tons of pictures! In the beginning he napped a ton so I always seemed to get sleeping pictures, but I wanted to capture his amazing green eyes. If you’ve had a puppy you know they don’t sit still for long! In order to get this shot of his gorgeous green eyes looking up at me I had to wave a little treat in the air to gain his attention. Then I used sports mode to capture him before he moved. There’s nothing wrong with using a little bribe every now and then for a nice shot.
Kimi of Oh Hello Photo! says,
Make sure you have treats ready. Most dogs are food motivated so a couple special treats will get your furry friend to sit up and look pretty.
#3 – Don’t stress. Have fun.
Animals, more than people, can sense and play off your stress, making them a bit more difficult to photograph. So try to keep things light and fun!
Jessica of Yeah She Snaps Photo says,
Don’t stress, but don’t be afraid to get crazy. My clients laugh at me when they bring a dog(s) with them to a session. They don’t put it past me to make all kinds of weird monkey-ish sounds, haha. Whatever gets the job done, right?
#4 – Divide and conquer.
Melissa of Melissa Klein Photography says,
If you’re photographing a dog with a newborn, make sure to have at least one parent holding onto the dog and one holding the newborn. Even the most well-trained dogs can still be unpredictable with a new baby around.
#5 – Buddy up.
Photographing a pet with their owner may be the best route for dogs that seem particularly unsettled. It will calm them and keep them in place.
Melissa of Melissa Klein Photography says,
Sometimes you just need to be silly. Smiling for an entire session can get tough. Mixing in some play and fun always helps the kids stay engaged and give some natural smiles, as well as adding some fun shots to their gallery!
Jessica of Yeah She Snaps Photo says,
It never hurts to get their owner in the frame. Pets are naturally more relaxed when they are in the hands or at the feet of their ever- lovin’. I always encourage kids and adults to get in the frame with their best friend.
#6 – Stick close to home.
Capturing a dog in a place where they feel comfortable is best when dealing with puppies or dogs with less training.
Jessica of Yeah She Snaps Photo says,
We recently welcomed Norbert, an 11 week old Goldendoodle mix, into the fold. He was 7 weeks when we got him and as you can see here, is just as cute as can be. Puppies are usually difficult to photograph, especially when they aren’t familiar with commands.
#7 – Sleep it off.
Kimi of Oh Hello Photo! says,
If all else fails, catch them when they are sleeping. The average dog sleeps 14 hours a day, plenty of napping opportunities.
I hope you and your furry friends had a fabulous National Puppy Day! And big thanks to these ladies for all of their fabulous ideas!
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