Updated July 26, 2026
July is all about capturing great photos of our dogs! (Okay, every day is, but there seriously are two July dates devoted just to this!) Happy All American Pet Photo Day! Yes, that's right, July 11th is really a day dedicated to photographing our beloved pets, and July 26 is National Dog Photography Day! Two dates that are barking right up my alley!
As a career photojournalist, I truly
believe every picture does indeed tell a story. Every day, our pets bring us so
much joy, whether it is that moment a puppy lick’s a child’s face, a
therapy dog brings happiness to an ailing or lonely person, a cat chases a
butterfly, a horse gallops across a misty field, a bunny nibbles on a piece of
hay, or a dog rolls in the first snow of the season, taking a photograph allows
us to capture and enjoy that moment, over and over again.
Every day can be a day of many special
moments to capture our pets on film (or memory card). And, with today being All American Pet Photo Day, it is a perfect time to discuss some of my FiveSibes pet photography tips to
help bring out the best shutterbug in you!
1. It’s All in the Angle
For some really engaging shots,
shoot from your pet’s level. Get down on the floor to capture your dog’s
expression while s/he is playing with a toy, or lay on the ground to capture
your dog as s/he comes splashing out of the pool or lake. Try tipping the
camera lens on an angle or zoom in for some fun, artsy shots.
Getting down low and shooting the camera upwards, like here I did with Woflie, getting in cool natural backgrounds such as the sky and clouds, trees, mountains, etc. makes for really cool shots.
2. Natural Lighting Portraits
No flash is best. Check your
light source and shoot with the flash off, for a softer, more natural tone.
For photos taken inside or out, let the natural light cast shadows across your
pet for a beautiful mood portrait. When shooting in low light, you will need to
steady your camera by using a tripod, or you can support your camera by leaning
your arms on the floor, table, etc. Smart phones today also have a great portrait mode you can experiment with that produce some really cool shots.
My natural light black & white portrait of Harley published in AmericanPet Magazine, along with my article "Every Picture Tells a Story: Tips on Photographing Your Pet." Harley self-posed on our recliner in front of our bay window. All natural light. Beautiful. And the black and white I believe really added to the intensity of her expression.
Need a flash? Watch out for red and “green” eye!
Use a diffuser
if you can. There are also some apps and photo programs available to digitally
help remove red- and green-eye issues.
I love black and white photograph! Now with a variety of digital filters, black and white can take on any hue you like for a specific mood. You can also add fun frames such as a filmstrip, like the above of the pic I took of my Pupsters~Bandit, Chloe, and Wolf!
3. Fun Accessories
Don’t be afraid to try out
different lenses, filters, and film styles. A fisheye can add so much interest to
a photo, while different filters and black-and-white (whether for the camera or
digital manipulation via a photo application) can really give the photo a whole
different feel.
4. Camera, Action!
If your camera or smart phone has an auto
sports mode, use it. If not, manually move your camera along with your
moving pet, keeping the subject in the viewfinder and then snap the photo. This
will give a great freeze-frame shot that really shows the animal in motion.
This was an award-winning action shot of my FiveSibes...as you can see, Harley is just entering the left of the frame as they enjoy some fun zoomies! Caught all this with using the sports mode and moving my camera along with them. Can't you almost hear the fun?!
5. What’s in Your Background?
Before
clicking that shutter button, check the background of your shot.
- Are
the curtains hanging evenly?
- Is
there a trashcan or a messy table visible?
While
there are now digital photography programs and apps available to erase photo
clutter, if you can set up a clean scene beforehand, it will save you
time and keep the original integrity of the shot.
6. Attention, Please!
To capture your dog’s attention,
use a squeaky toy or treat to draw his/her attention. This especially works
well for photographing a group of dogs to get them to all look in the same
direction. I am asked often how did I get all five of my Siberian Huskies to always pose so nicely. It's all about the treats! That's my secret! And don’t forget to reward them after the photos are taken. They will remember and eagerly post the next time around! I actually took so many photos of my beautiful FiveSibes that they soon assumed the smiling Sibe position as soon as they saw me with my camera!
7. Special Events and Holidays
For weddings, be sure to
include the pets! Pose them with their bridal human and the bridal party. Shoot
a portrait of the dog wearing a matching bow tie or floral crown.
For birthdays,
photograph your dog enjoying a lick of his/her own slice of the ice cream cake,
or wearing a birthday bandana with balloons floating in the background. In the
autumn, outdoor shots come to life when your dog jumps into a pile of colorful
leaves, visits a pumpkin patch, or poses with your human trick-or-treaters in
costume! During the Christmas season, add
some sparkle to your photographs by having your dog lay under the glistening
tree with a gift box, or have your dog pose with colored string lights, wear a
big red bow, or snuggled on a fuzzy blanket in a sled out in the sparkling
white snow!
This is one of my all-time favorite portraits taken of Gibson. 💜 The love of my boy shines through his eyes, his expression. My forever heart dog. Since his birthday was in January, our tree was still up and made for a perfect festive backdrop. And when I say he enjoyed birthdays, he really did! Secretly, I think he knew the ice cream cake was coming!
Our dear friend, "Mishka," the beautiful now retired Therapy Dog, joined us to demonstrate some fun and fabulous holiday pics! To read this post, click on the image above!
I could talk about photography and pets forever! No matter where or how you are
photographing your pet, or weather it is on a traditional camera or on your smart phone's camera, just be creative, be aware, and have fun! Whether we
tell the story of our pet’s life as it unfolds,
or we imagine a tale wrapped around the image we capture through our lenses,
these are all special moments in life that become precious memories to
proudly display in a frame, on canvas, in an album, or part of a slideshow for
you to relive and enjoy for years to come.
*Updated from published article in 4Knines, September 2017.
For more photography tips, check out my full article in AmericanPet Magazine HERE!
Thanks for reading!
Dorothy "FiveSibesMom"
About FiveSibes and the Author, FiveSibesMom, HERE
Such beautiful photos, each and every one!
ReplyDeleteWhat great ideas for taking photos of our fur kids! Your photos are absolutely beautiful! I can certain tell you're a pro at what you do.
ReplyDeleteMy problem is I always feel like I need 8 hands to be able to hold a dog treat, keep my phone steady, and then keep me steady, all before Henry becomes completely bored. Most of my photos seem to come out blurred. I think I'd do better if Henry took his own photos.
Truly wonderful tips for taking great critter photos! I'm sharing it with all my dog parents. Thanks, Dorothy!
These are very useful tips! I try to get down to my dogs level often, it's a great way to capture their expression. These pics are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love all the helpful tips you provided when taking photos of your dogs. I love the black and white one of Harley and the profile. Gibson such a sweet face! All your beloved pup were so precious. I'm glad you have these wonderful candid photos to keep close to your heart. Yes! I find making sure background looks good and getting on your pet's level tips most helpful. I remember doing that with my angel cats to get decent photos. I love that we have these memories to keep forever.
ReplyDelete