As many of you know, I have shot countless dogs! I have learned a lot in the last few years as I started focusing more on photographing pets - specifically dogs. I am briefly going to explain my process and why I do the things that I do during my canine-focused photoshoots.
Dogs are kind of like young children. They are enthusiastic, adorable, easily distracted, and motivated by treats or toys. And like children, they respond well to positive reinforcement and energy. It is important to start the photoshoot off on the right foot. My camera makes strange sounds. My artificial lighting makes noise and flashes bright light. Most dogs haven’t experienced things like that before and it can be overwhelming and scary at first. I start out by shooting my camera at the ground. To a dog, a camera lens looks like a giant eyeball. That’s pretty scary! The camera shutter and flash act as a clicker if you’re familiar with clicker training. Every time the camera snaps, I will give the dog a treat. The goal is to make the dog associate the noise and flash with something good - treats, toys, and praise. Once the dog is comfortable with the noise and flashes, I will start aiming the camera at the dog, while giving treats and praise. I don’t normally plan on getting any [good] photos in these first few minutes because my main goal is to make the dog feel comfortable.
Once the dog is comfortable with the equipment and with me putting the big lens in his or her face, then I start taking pictures. Some dogs won’t sit still for more than half a second. That’s okay, though! Photographing dogs requires a lot of patience.
I have methods for getting a dog to look at me and perk his or her ears up. Treats are one way, but noises are my favorite. I will often make clicking noises, kissy noises, or raspberry noises with my mouth. If those fail, I use a squeaker from a broken squeaky toy - that one has never failed me yet!
I don’t like forcing dogs into the shooting area. It is tempting for owners to drag their dog in front of the camera and the lights and force them to sit, but you have to put yourself into their shoes. This is all new. New smells, new sounds, new objects. I think most people can relate to being at least a little nervous being brought into a situation you’ve never encountered before. If the dog is nervous, it will directly translate into the photos.
Occasionally, we need to take a break. All the commotion can become too stimulating and I don’t want the dogs to get frustrated and impatient. Walking away from the setup for a few minutes can act as a reset. This is a good opportunity to take the dog outside to relieve themselves. It’s also a good opportunity for me and my clients to get a drink and stretch.
Most clients will tell me that they don’t think their dog will sit still for photos. The good thing about photos is that they are still pictures, so I only need a couple good seconds to get the shot. Knock on wood: I have never not gotten at least a few good shots of a dog, so don’t worry if you think you’re dog won’t sit still, I will get the shot!
My ultimate goal is to get timeless photos of your dogs that you can hang onto forever. Dogs aren’t just animals that live in our house, they have become members of the family and they deserve just as much recognition and love as anyone else.
Δ Abbi