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Need advice for taking photos of my dog
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Jun 30, 2019 07:31:42   #
nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL
 
I am a dog lover(and owner) and I take my dogs to the local dog park and bring a camera and 80-200 zoom. Use a pretty high shutter speed and just shoot as many as you can using the great advise you already got here so I won't repeat it. Here is some samples of my shots.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37991479@N08/albums/72157702768246754

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Jun 30, 2019 07:47:44   #
nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL
 
sorry for the double post.

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Jun 30, 2019 07:57:52   #
CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida
 
Some good advice especially to get down to their level and don't get too close.
Also, be careful. Some dogs can be very touchy, especially male dogs if you stare at their face as you get down to their level.

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Jun 30, 2019 08:09:21   #
Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida
 
These are so FUN.......nice work !

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Jun 30, 2019 08:14:33   #
nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL
 
CPR wrote:
Some good advice especially to get down to their level and don't get too close.
Also, be careful. Some dogs can be very touchy, especially male dogs if you stare at their face as you get down to their level.


Yes indeed! That is why you should use a long lens so you can shoot from at least 20 feet away. Getting down into a strange dog's face with a normal or wide lens is asking for trouble.

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Jun 30, 2019 08:24:23   #
ronichas Loc: Long Island
 
nimbushopper wrote:
I am a dog lover(and owner) and I take my dogs to the local dog park and bring a camera and 80-200 zoom. Use a pretty high shutter speed and just shoot as many as you can using the great advise you already got here so I won't repeat it. Here is some samples of my shots.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37991479@N08/albums/72157702768246754


Very cute images!!

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Jun 30, 2019 08:26:18   #
satorifarm Loc: Stedman, NC
 
Karlonious wrote:
New user & first post. Anyone have helpful advice, tips, suggestions, anything appreciated on how to get great photos of your dog? I’ve gotten some great shots of animals but I don’t have any technique and would really like to become great at animal photography and not just lucky some of the time. Yes, I am somewhat a beginner. Thank you for any helpful comments!


When I got my first camera I practiced on my Basset Hound, Jack, so much that he generally hides when I get a camera out now. Every now and then I’ve captured him in a tolerant mood. I agree it’s important to get down on their level. Makes a big difference. Also, try to make it fun for the dog. I think made a mistake with Jack by trying too hard. Then there’s my Lab, Ben, who has been a total ham since the day he was born.







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Jun 30, 2019 08:28:25   #
satorifarm Loc: Stedman, NC
 
ronichas wrote:
I started when my dog was very young, photographing her with different outfits. She got so used to the camera that she would want to be in all the family photos. She would definitely pose for me.
I will post a few of my favorites.
When my daughter was a bride. Millie was a bride. The second image is Millie and her best friend Abby.
I did images of her for almost every holiday.

With other dogs, I find if I make a strange noise, they look directly at me and I get the shot.


These are wonderful!

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Jun 30, 2019 08:29:51   #
satorifarm Loc: Stedman, NC
 
rmorrison1116 wrote:
Dogs are not like other animals and photographing dogs is not like photographing other animals. It's easier to photograph your own dog(s) since you already have an established relationship with them. Dogs are not big on posing, they kinda sorta like to do their own thing. That said, you need to be ready pretty much all the time. It helps if you have a dedicated doggie cam or puppy cam as I call it. I have a Canon EOS SL2 with an EF-S 18-200 f/3.5-5.6 IS lens that I use as my dedicated puppy cam. This doesn't mean it's the only camera used to photograph the puppies, or the only use of the camera, it's just the cameras primary function so it's pretty much always available when needed.
Dogs, at least my dogs, don't like flash photography. Make sure there's ample ambient light and don't be afraid to turn up the ISO if needed.
Photograph the dogs in a familiar, happy place, somewhere where the dogs spend a lot of time and are relaxed. Our dogs are with us pretty much all the time and almost every where we go and one of my favorite places to photograph them is the bed. This is also very helpful at getting down to their level. It does help a whole lot that they are small. They also enjoy going to the dog park and making new friends.
Treats are not necessary but they can't hurt either. My puppies love pupperoni sticks and chicken jerky and when I can find it, pork and berry treats. Don't over reward them, they will begin to expect it and eventually pretty much demand it.
Different breeds of dog have different temperaments and some are much closer to their humans than others. My wife and I are lucky that we have a pair, brother and sister, of puppies (they're not really puppies, they are fully grown) that have been breed as companion dogs to the Malagasy royal family for hundreds of years. Here are a few snapshots of Angel Bear, aka Missy and Teddy Bear, aka Bert.
Dogs are not like other animals and photographing ... (show quote)


They are so cute!!!!

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Jun 30, 2019 08:36:02   #
nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL
 
ronichas wrote:
Very cute images!!


Ant it's nice to socialize with the other dog lovers there. I send them a link to my Flickr album so they can download their dogs image.

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Jun 30, 2019 09:13:05   #
ronichas Loc: Long Island
 
satorifarm wrote:
These are wonderful!


Thanks so much!

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Jun 30, 2019 09:13:45   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
Bamboo wrote:
Get down to it's level. Sharp focus on the eyes. look for special expressions.


And watch your backgrounds. If shooting with a long lens moving yourself left or right just a few inches can make a world of difference. If you can't get a pleasing background, open up the lens and try to blur it without losing focus on the pet.

Of course, like some of the images posted here, if you are shooting staged portraits create your own background.

Good luck!

---

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Jun 30, 2019 09:16:58   #
JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco
 
1Feathercrest wrote:
A beginner photographer doesn't need a telephoto lens. The basic 50mm that came with the camera will do just fine. Get down very low , focus on the eyes, not too close as this will cause distortion, the pic may be cropped later.


It's been a long time since cameras came with a 50mm lens.

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Jun 30, 2019 09:53:34   #
Kaib795 Loc: Maryland, USA
 
Karlonious wrote:
New user & first post. Anyone have helpful advice, tips, suggestions, anything appreciated on how to get great photos of your dog? I’ve gotten some great shots of animals but I don’t have any technique and would really like to become great at animal photography and not just lucky some of the time. Yes, I am somewhat a beginner. Thank you for any helpful comments!



I like to wear my dog down a bet before trying to photograph him. Then when he's relaxed, getting a good shot is easy. As for any shot, light can be a important factor so don't shoot in mid-day. For family and pets shoot two hours before sunset. You can tell when the shadows become long, this is the time to shoot. The close-up of my puggle here is at just that time. The other with me in the picture is more of a mid-day picture. See how light makes the shot. Take pictures at all angles until you find what makes it work for you.

Pic 1: Me and dogo but during mid day and the color is beached out, what strong light does.
Pic 2: Oliver in the shade but being mid day the background is bright and he is dark around the face.
Pic 3: Sun setting, getting closer for the shot after that long walk. Much better
Pic 4: Same as 3 but with Oliver looking at the sunset. Notice the color brings out a relaxing feel. See into his eyes. This is what you want

So you can see that light is everything to create a feel or look. The last shot here pretty much says it all. Do look closer at these shots and in the last shot you can see the sun on the horizon ... in his eye (but only if you download and zoom in). Remember to just have fun and use your camera often and that great shot will happen.

Last shot: Nikon D7500, 35mm f1.8, ISO 100, f3.5@1/50 second, hand held. (No VR) Note that the 35mm lens used on this camera is equal to a 50mm film lens.


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Jun 30, 2019 09:57:50   #
Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.
 
1Feathercrest wrote:
A beginner photographer doesn't need a telephoto lens. The basic 50mm that came with the camera will do just fine. Get down very low , focus on the eyes, not too close as this will cause distortion, the pic may be cropped later.


Feathercrest, I think you're dating yourself. I don't think (and I could be way off here) that cameras have "come" with 50 mm lenses for decades.

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