Need advice for taking photos of my dog
Jun 30, 2019 10:24:26 #
One of the most important things when photographing your pet is to get down to it's level and stay calm, don't get excited because your anticipating a great shot. The dog will sense the excitement and refuse to keep still.
Jun 30, 2019 10:30:01 #
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 take a lot of images of dogs, my own and other people's dogs. I love to go to Carmel beach and take photographs of the dogs playing. I also love to take photos of my own pup, Gracie. My advice is to look for any action or expression and that is the shot you want. Set the scene up if you can get your dog to cooperate. Get in close when possible. Start wide at first and then work into the scene. My dog is on my Christmas card each year and she simply suffers it, doing as I ask. I set her up on a table and, when she was young, made sure to tape over the doorbell! She does not hear well now. Eye level is good, but so is putting the dog up high for the "rin ten ten" look, or body level if in action. I do most often shoot with a long lens as that is what the situation calls for, except for the Christmas card where she is very close to me. Look for the light, too, as you need light on the dog's face to make the image pop and focus on the face, for the most part, unless you are getting some other funny type of shot as in the upper left. Here are some examples:
Jun 30, 2019 10:43:49 #
Dpullam, I always give them a treat first to get doggy on my side. Once you have their attention they're ready to work with you. At least that's the way my dogs have trained me.
Jun 30, 2019 11:05:03 #
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!
Check out the amazing Gallery here for some ideas. She is one of the best in the business. Great photos even if you are not a dog lover.
http://dogbreathphoto.com/
Jun 30, 2019 11:37:46 #
Jun 30, 2019 11:43:43 #
Jun 30, 2019 11:44:39 #
Jun 30, 2019 11:51:03 #
I have a black lab and could never get more than a black blob until I started shooting in RAW and checking my histograms to ensure I could get the detail I long sought.
Jun 30, 2019 11:53:47 #
As others have suggested, dynamic images can be made by getting down on their level. This isn't just dogs but animals in general. This was shot with a 50 at 1.8. I prefer tight shots personally because it allows you to direct the focus more precisely.
Jun 30, 2019 12:14:12 #
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 breed dogs and show them. That is about all I photograph. Most of them are taken with a crop camera and an 18 - 135 mm lens or an 18 - 55. the most important thing is getting the camera down to dog level. Short continuous burst is often necessary to get the moment you want, because they move fast and the moments are so very short. Here is one moment - a 6 week old baby.
Jun 30, 2019 12:18:16 #
CatMarley wrote:
I breed dogs and show them. That is about all I photograph. Most of them are taken with a crop camera and an 18 - 135 mm lens or an 18 - 55. the most important thing is getting the camera down to dog level. Short continuous burst is often necessary to get the moment you want, because they move fast and the moments are so very short. Here is one moment - a 6 week old baby.
A cute catch.
Jun 30, 2019 12:29:27 #
satorifarm wrote:
They are so cute!!!!
Thank you. Not only are they cute, they are fun.
Jun 30, 2019 12:34:05 #
As others have noted get down low on their level. Have a toy or something in your hand that they like, such as treats, to get their attention. Make sure you have a good background. I tend to shoot in aperture priority for good bokeh. And take plenty of shots. Digital is free so you can shoot away.
Jun 30, 2019 12:46:14 #
Jun 30, 2019 14:34:52 #
appealnow
Loc: Dallas, Texas
You have gotten very good advice to get down to their level, get close, make sure the eyes are sharply focused. As a matter of attitude, I just treat pets as if I am taking portraits of people. I like to get close, often focus on their heads, expressions. Have fun.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.