A dog’s attention span – like a human’s – can be measured in seconds, so your chance to capture the perfect shot is fleeting.
If you’re struggling with taking decent, Instagram-worthy pictures of your dog, know you’re not alone. Getting your fluffy angels to pause and pose is challenging!
However, just like the fact that there’s no “bad dog,” in my opinion, there’s no such thing as a bad dog photo. What’s more timeless than puppy dog eyes?
Over the years, and after taking thousands of photos, we’ve learned a few tricks that help us capture amazing photos of our two Siberian Huskies Shadow and Peaches.
Here are 7 techniques to try the next time you’re taking pictures of your pet
1. Master the sit command
To make your dog photo shoots easier, do yourself a favor and work with your dog to learn some basic commands.
This is not only good for pet photography, but training benefits both dog and parent. Dogs, like humans, need mental stimulation which is what training provides. Also, a properly trained, well-behaved dog allows you to include your dog in more of your life activities.
One specific command you’ll want to master is “sit.” Knowing how to sit well will allow you to focus your dog’s attention on you.
2. Always have treats
What’s the easiest way to get your dog’s attention? TREATZ!
Choose an easy-to-consume, medium-to-high value treat. Rather than the crunchy dog bones that require both paws to enjoy, bring along bite-sized, soft treats designed for quick eating. Think minis, bites, or even kibble-sized training treats.
A few tips when it comes to using treats for pet photography:
- Keep your treats in a place where they’re easily accessible.
I like to use super fashionable fanny packs while on walks or hikes with our pack. Why? Easy access to the good stuff. You don’t want to be scrambling for a tiny bit of cheese and miss an opportunity. - Put the treat where you want your dog to look.
Dogs will almost always lock eyes on the delicious morsel the second it leaves the treat pouch. So if you’re taking the photo with your phone in your right hand, hold the treat slightly above your phone or camera with the left hand. - Do not wait too long to reward your dog with the treat.
If you tease them for too long or never hand over the treat, you will lose their attention – and trust. Modeling is a job! Be sure to reward your star.
Replace the treat with their favorite toy if your dog is more toy motivated.
3. Bust out burst mode.
The beauty of digital photography is that you can take endless amounts of photos and simply delete all the duds.
Let me introduce you to the magic of burst mode.
Burst mode is a phone camera setting that takes 10 pictures per second. This is perfect for fast-moving subjects like dogs.
To activate this setting, follow these steps:
- Open your camera app
- Frame your shot
- Press and hold the shutter button – this is what automatically activates the burst mode
Rather than tapping the white circle once as you normally would when taking a single shot, hold your finger down to capture multiple shots.
When you open your photo library, you will see the series of photos your camera captured. Chances are you captured at least ONE decent shot from the burst.
4. Get a helping hand
It’s okay to ask for help. And pet photography is so much easier having multiple people on standby to capture your dog’s attention.
Four hands are better than two!
Ask a friend if they’d be willing to be your photography assistant on your next pet photoshoot. Chances are your friend will love helping out.
A couple of tips for working with a pet photography partner:
- Designate the photographer and the fluffer.
One person should be ready to capture content and the other’s job is getting and maintaining the dog’s attention and rewarding the dog after posing.
As the photographer frames the shot, the fluffer can be on a treat, toy, or strange sound duty. They should position the teaser item slightly above or near the camera and regularly reward the pet throughout the process. - Give your friend some cred!
If you end up getting some great pictures that you use on social media, please give your partner a shout-out either online or in person. Express your gratitude and find some way to give back so they feel appreciated. As you know, it does take work!
5. Be Cool and Comfortable with Being Silly
The best way to get your dog’s attention is to become more interesting than anything else in their environment. This means acting a little silly.
Here’s a few ways you can capture your dog’s attention:
- Call their name
- Make strange, high pitched sounds – the weirder it feels and sounds, the better
- Whistling
- Make raspberries with your mouth
- Clap your hands
- Squeeze a squeaky toy
- Wave a stick from the ground in the air
If you’re looking for a smile from your dog in your shot, first do something that makes them happy. Maybe it’s a quick game of tug, catch me if you can, or fetch. Spend a couple of minutes engaging in an activity that they LOVE. A happy dog will give you a smile. 🙂
Disclaimer time. You’re out in the wild, whistling, kissing the air, and crouching on sidewalks like the pupparazzi you are. It looks weird. People will stare, snicker and think you’re obsessed with your dog. Well, they aren’t wrong!
The faster you stop caring what others think about you and your pet photography adventures, the better. You’re out here creating art to share joy with others. Let the haters hate. Their opinion of you and your pet has nothing to do with you.
And, hey, if you end up on @influenersinthewild, think of it as free, additional promotion for your dog’s social media account!
6. Be patient
Dogs will be dogs.
I can’t count the number of times we’ve been on a beautiful hike, and no matter what we did, we couldn’t get Shadow to sit, stay, or even look our way to take any “good” photos. It happens.
Remember, dogs pick up on your energy. So if you get upset, irritated, or anxious, that tension will travel down the leash to your dog like electricity.
Having a happy, healthy dog is always the goal, so be patient with your pet and yourself. Your dog’s wellbeing is your top priority and it’s your job to know how to recognize and respect their boundaries and limits.
For me, the second I start to get frustrated, as evident with huffs or heavier than usual sighs, I take that as a cue that it’s time to “let go,” put the phone or camera away and reconnect with my dogs. Give them some love, affection, a treat, etc., and focus more on our time together than photography.
Try again another time.
7. Keep practicing!
With treats, leashes, distractions, and balancing your phone/camera, there’s a lot to manage all at once with pet photography.
Pet photography, like any skill, requires practice. The more you practice, the better you will become and the more comfortable both you and your dog will be.
Now, get out there, make some memories and take some pictures of your best furriend.