Believe that parents who have silently followed some super cute fur kids on Facebook Pages or Instagram must often be amazed: “Wow! How did you take such a cute photo? I also want to help my dog take such high-quality photos.
Fetchstop teaches you 8 tips for photographing dogs so that your furry kids can take amazing photos too!
Tip1 Let the furry kids play!
The most direct way to make fur babies happy and active is to play or eat snacks! Whether through our interaction with it or through situations such as playing with balls, playing with water, chewing bones, etc., we can capture the happy look of fur children.
Tip2 Show furry personality
Maybe your dog is cute, slow to everything, and has big innocent eyes; maybe your cat is naturally lazy, likes to bask in the sun by the window, and has soft and flowing hair.
As parents, we can think about what makes your little cutie so special and try to record the personality of the furry child with photos!
Tip 3 Good lighting
The use of flash is not recommended when photographing animals as they may be uncomfortable and cause red eyes in the photo. Our top recommendation is to shoot outdoors with natural light or indoors with plenty of lighting! For indoor shooting, choosing a camera/mobile phone with a fill light function is better, which will be more helpful!
Tip 4 With a simple background
Shooting furry babies is the core soul of the photo, so try not to make the background too cluttered. It is a good choice for plain walls, outdoor grass, beaches, etc.
Tip 5 Burst/Sport mode to capture the moment
Nowadays, the camera function of mobile phones is getting more and more powerful.
You can adjust the camera to the built-in “sport” or “continuous shooting” mode, and you can take a clear picture during the movement of the furry kid; and the “continuous shooting” mode.
You can even shoot every action of the dog at a speed of one second, and the exciting and fun pictures will never be missed again!
Tip 6 Practice panning shooting (advanced shooting method / applicable camera)
“Panning” is another technique to capture moving objects, such as running dogs.
Parents can try moving the camera horizontally with the moving fur baby to create a sharp subject against a blurred background.
The “panning” shooting method can make the photo more realistic and dynamic!
A small reminder, you must use a low shutter speed and move the camera smoothly when shooting to take a successful photo!
Tip7 Sneaky shoot
Have you ever touched the moment when your dog squinted and accidentally dozed off? Or when they are playing alone or being stupid, pretends to be calm and quietly pick up the phone to take a picture of this moment! Remember to turn on the “depth of field mode”. It will make the picture more vivid!
Tip 8 Shot from their point of view
Try shooting at the same height as the furry boys or girls lying down! You can usually take a panoramic view with a broader field of view, and people who watch the photos can also feel their world from the perspective of your dogs!
Tip 9 Stick treats on your camera
Dog treats are always hard to resist, and nothing catches their eye like dog treats! If you want the dog to stay still or sit down, take the treat and stick it on the top of the camera or the phone’s lens. After attaching it, give the dog a smell. I believe they will definitely look eagerly and expectantly next. Staring at you, can’t leave your sight anymore.
In addition, during the shooting, prepare a small bag for snacks, which is convenient for rewarding fur babies at any time while shooting, and this is what they need most to make them obedient!
Friendly reminder
Because the dog’s eyes are susceptible to light, avoid using flash when shooting to protect the dog’s eyes.
If you must use a flash, it is best to employ the reflecting fill-light technique to complete the shot.
Furthermore, the fur children’s eyes can see infrared rays and other light, which might make them feel unpleasant and cause them to avoid when the lens is focused. It is recommended to capture their interest with snacks or toys to make the fur children happy!
After all, we can’t talk with dogs, so you can acquire the above shooting skills to help you get started faster, and of course, you can make those skills smarter to shoot with.
No matter what kind of moment you want to capture, the final pictures are totally beyond conception as long as you remember to be more patient and playful and try your best to let the dog enjoy it!
Read more for choosing good treats for your dog while taking photos of them: