The internet is filled with funny, cute, and heartwarming pet photos. It’s easy to get sucked into the vortex of perked up ears, love me faces, and giant puppy eyes seemingly begging for a treat through your screen.
As a proud pet parent, you want to show off your pet’s cuteness. Below are a few tips on how to get your pooch to show the world just how wonderful he is.
Let Your Dog Get to Know the Camera
These days we’re lucky enough to have smart phones with amazing cameras. Your dog is probably used to seeing you with phone in hand, so when you snap a picture of your pet, he’s probably none the wiser. However, if you have a digital, mirrorless, or DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera, those lenses might be a little intimidating. Before you start shooting pictures, let your curious canine sniff the camera. Also, take some pictures of other objects so he can hear what sounds to expect.
Treats and Toys Work Wonders
Dogs (and, let’s be honest, people too) associate treats with rewards. When introducing your pet to your camera, have plenty of treats available. Point your camera at your dog and give them a treat. This is a good way to help your dog create a positive association with your camera.
More is Better
Most canines don’t understand the concept of posing or holding a certain position for an extended period of time without training. So don’t get hung up on the idea that getting the perfect shot will happen the first time. That’s the beauty of digital cameras—you can take 50 pictures to get the one you want and delete the other 49.
Keep things light, natural, and relaxed during your photoshoot and your pooch may surprise you.
Get Down to Your Dog’s Level
Hand and knees people, that’s what we're talking about. And for those miniature toy breeds, you may have to get on your belly to get the best perspective. Getting down to your dog’s level may have an added bonus of taking the intimidation factor out of your camera.
Setting Your Stage
Black and white dogs are trickier than others to photograph because of being under- or overexposed and potentially blending into backgrounds. When taking pictures of your pooch, be mindful of the background and what your pet looks like against it. A white dog playing in snow is going to be difficult to capture.
Turn Off the Flash
Flashes are challenging. They can make a pet’s fur look dirty or discolored and make their eyes look downright creepy. Flashes can also be startling to dogs, so it’s just better to leave them off.
Post-Photoshoot Editing for Your Pooch Pics
Programs like Photoshop, Affinity Photo, and Luminar are great photo editing programs to bring your pics up to professional quality. Simple adjustments to color saturation and sharpness can make the really make a difference.
Phone apps like Instagram or VSCO also offer an array of photo altering options to make your image softer or more dynamic before sharing them to your story or page.
Go forth and fill the internet with fun and heartwarming pics of your pooch.
