Five Tricks for Better Photographs of Your Dog!

Whether you love taking snaps of your pooch on your phone, or use a DSLR or mirrorless camera, there are some simple tricks you can use to elevate your images-- and capture your furry best friend's best side.

Read on for five secrets to a better photograph of your dog!

Trick No. 1

Take pictures in the first hours after sunrise, or the last hours before sunset.

The glare of the sun can create harsh light and shadows from above; the light is much softer and more flattering when the sun is low in the sky. You can also bring some beautiful warm tones into your photographs when shooting during 'the golden hour' immediately before the sun sets or after it rises.

Trick No. 2

Get down low!

If you've had a portraiture session with me, you'll have noticed that I spend most of the time lying on my belly-- and there's a reason for that! Photographing your dog on eye-level helps to capture their expression, gives a flattering and accurate perspective, and enables the background to be an important part of the image.

Trick No. 3

Bring high-value treats or toys.

You know your dog. You know what makes them tick. And what makes your dog tick is also the key to a shot full of character. Treats or toys can be a great way of getting your dog to look towards the camera with a happy expression-- especially for those 'puppy-dog eyes' shots we all love. The 'puppy-dog eyes' shot is an exception to the above rule of shooting from down low; for best results here, have your dog looking up to the camera with the help of a special treat guiding their gaze.

Trick No. 4

Think about the composition of the image.

There are several basic rules to good composition; the 'rule of thirds' is probably the most common. Other methods to achieve a pleasing composition include: having a side-on subject looking into plenty of space in the frame, using leading lines in the background to draw attention to your subject (illustrated here in this image of Sappho on the beach), utilising symmetry, framing your subject, and drawing all attention to the centre of the image-- which is really effective when the dog is looking straight on to the camera.

Trick No. 5... the most important of all....

HAVE FUN!

Chances are, you want to capture your dog at their relaxed and happy best, so bring that out of them with your own positive attitude, patience, and sense of fun. You won't just finish your session with images to keep, but memories of a special time had with your buddy-- and value of that relationship is why we photograph our dogs in the first place.

Tried these tips out? Share your images with me at Amy Fleet Photography's Facebook page!