We’re bringing you the top tips for taking high-quality dog pictures without the need to know about shutter speed, wide angle lenses and pro cameras.
GIVE VALUE TO YOUR DOG'S CHARACTER
You know your dog better than anyone else and knowing their personality will help you capture their spirit! If you have a placid canine set up your photoshoot where they like to lie and you will have every chance of capturing a great shot while keeping Fido comfortable in his surroundings! If they are most happy when active consider taking them to their favourite park for the photoshoot.
LIGHTING
We wouldn’t recommended using flash because it’s a distraction, can easily frighten dogs and it can also hurt their eyes. Outdoor light is by far the best! Try and find a location out of direct sunlight. The worst lighting is the midday sun so try to take your photos at sunrise or near sunset. If you want to take indoor photos, stage the shots near a well-lit window or room with lots of natural light.
BE ON YOUR DOG'S EYE LEVEL
Get down on your dog’s eye level where you can look them eye to eye (yep this probably means lying down on your stomach). This creates a more personal and intimate image. Images captured from above not only leave you too far away from your subject but they also mean they display “human perspective” and don’t look like portraits.
GET IN CLOSER
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes but in most cases are smaller than you are and will tend to get lost in photos unless you make an effort to get in close! If you can’t physically get close to them (due to the fact that they can’t resist licking your face or going on a marathon run around the backyard) use a zoom function on your camera or enlist the help of a friend to keep your pup occupied. You should aim to fill the entire picture with your dog or even just with your dog’s face.
GET YOUR DOG'S ATTENTION
Try calling your dog’s name or using a word they respond to. If they’re too distracted there’s nothing like some good old fashioned bribery to get your pup to do what you want. Treats work a charm! Position the treat directly above the lense so they are looking straight into the camera. And of course, don’t forget to reward your pup for doing a great job!
SIMPLE BACKGROUNDS
You can change up the background easily, if you’re after a backdrop effect a bed sheet works perfectly! So do painted walls. If you’re after scenery try and keep it simple – a white sandy beach or green trees will make your dog stand out. Pay attention to the colour of the background and your dog’s fur colour. Don’t put your black pup in front of a black background.
MAKING YOUR DOG SMILE
An easy way for you to show their cheeky grin is take them for a brisk walk and have a five minute play session. An active dog is a happy dog and they will likely flash you a huge smile after settling down.
TAKE LOTS AND LOTS OF PICTURES
Dogs move fast and don’t sit still for long so the more you take, the better your chances of getting a few Ah-mazing shots.
GET CREATIVE AND PLAYFUL
Embrace your pup’s playfulness! Try different angles and don’t get hung up on paw-fection. The best shots are often the spontaneous ones so make your photoshoot a fun experience for both you and your canine.
EMBRACE THE SELFIE
The dog gone truth is that dog’s create the best selfies! When you’ve captured the perfect shot why not join the latest craze and teach your pup with thesesimple techniques.
Remember to enter to be DOGUE’s 2016 Calendar Coverdog Competition by purchasing a look from our LookBook collection and taking a photo of you in your dapper new look and posting with the hashtag #doguelookbook. Enter through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter now! Entries close June 30th 2015.