Life as a canine photographer will be immeasurably easier having an assistant behind or off to the side of the camera holding a treat or toy (preferably the squeaky kind) to capture the dog’s attention. It’s possible to act as a dog wrangler, if shooting with a tripod and remote or cable release, and possessing very quick reflexes, but it’s much easier and more fun to have some help.
This allows the photographer to focus on composition, lighting, poses, and most importantly, capturing that spontaneous moment when the dog is being most expressive. A simple background and a prop or two, like a decorative holiday collar, and filling the frame with the dog will make a beautiful canine portrait.
Always Keep the Camera Ready and Close at HandAs Ansel Adams said, “Chance favors the prepared.” The prepared photographer seems to get more lucky breaks than the unprepared. This is especially true when photographing dogs.
Action Shots
Toss a ball and try capturing some stop-action shots with a fast shutter speed. It may take several tries (much to your dog’s delight) to get a really good shot of the ball and the dog as they are about to become one. Another technique to try is panning. This uses a slower shutter speed, about 1/30 of a second.
Keep your elbows tucked into your sides and swivel on your hips as you follow the running dog with your camera, taking several shots in continuous mode. The background will be very blurred and streaked while your dog is in focus – this technique results in a wonderfully exciting sense of speed.
Using the Camera Flash
Use the camera's built-in flash or external flash outdoors to help with those stop action shots. It’s not always necessary but it can help with any difficulty getting the shutter speed high enough. Flash indoors can result in the dreaded red-eye (or green, yellow, chartreuse – whatever the wall colors are). Most cameras now have a red-eye reduction button. If not, any digital photo editor will remove the red-eye afterwards.
When shooting indoors without studio lights or a flash, make sure to use of lots of window light falling onto the dog (not behind it). Natural light indoors can result in stunningly beautiful captures. Be familiar enough with the camera (read the manual!) to learn how to turn off the flash so it doesn’t automatically go on when unwanted. .
Getting used to the CameraSome dogs are inherently camera-shy, it seems. Like other dog-training techniques, repetition is key. Let the dog often see the camera when photographing other things or pets. Also, allow the dog to sniff the camera body (not the lens), and generally get acclimated to the sounds and smell of the camera.
Keep your camera close at hand when playing on the floor with the dog. Eventually he or she will not be bothered by it and you may get that cute, full-frontal, face-full-of-love shot you’ve been wanting.
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