How do I shoot dogs?
Discussion
I've been asked to photograph a friends and their families dogs, 3 of them - of 3 owners. However, I've never photographed dogs before and am faced with the possibility of 3 excitable and boisterous dogs.
Does anyone have any guidance for how to shoot this and the best environment to do it in - or am I opening myself up for a world of pain?
Thanks
JTW
Does anyone have any guidance for how to shoot this and the best environment to do it in - or am I opening myself up for a world of pain?
Thanks
JTW
Take lots of shots, its no different from photographing kids really.
You need to make sure you keep your shutter speeds high as they don't tend to sit still for long, so a fast lens or high ISO will help. A wide aperture separates your subject from the background nicely as well.
Get low to get "on a level" with the animals so the shot looks more natural and you're not looking down on them. If you need to use flash make sure its bounched/diffused as dogs tens to get "gold" eye which looks awful and cant be removed with red eye tools.
Here's a shot i took of a dog in the park for my 365, a relatively sedate old thing, but it probably took 20-30 shots to get one i was happy with!
2012-06-02 by jimmyb156, on Flickr
Are you trying to take a shot of all three dogs at the same time? Unless they are well trained this may be nie on impossible
You need to make sure you keep your shutter speeds high as they don't tend to sit still for long, so a fast lens or high ISO will help. A wide aperture separates your subject from the background nicely as well.
Get low to get "on a level" with the animals so the shot looks more natural and you're not looking down on them. If you need to use flash make sure its bounched/diffused as dogs tens to get "gold" eye which looks awful and cant be removed with red eye tools.
Here's a shot i took of a dog in the park for my 365, a relatively sedate old thing, but it probably took 20-30 shots to get one i was happy with!
2012-06-02 by jimmyb156, on Flickr
Are you trying to take a shot of all three dogs at the same time? Unless they are well trained this may be nie on impossible
I've come across a lot of dogs I'd like to shoot! 
I'm no expert but I agree with all that Jimmy 156 says.
I've always got better results standing back with a longer lens ( say 50-100 mm) and waiting for the shot rather than posing the dog, The closer you are the more likley it is to come and see what you are doing at the critical moment.
Black and white dogs come out better on a bright overcast day and even then exposures jump all over the place. ( Perhaps partially due to my lack of experience as well.)
Also try and get a highlight in the eye. It brings the subject to life.
I'm not too sure about a 'threesome'. I could do it with my own. It would depend on their nature and level of training.
I'm no expert but I agree with all that Jimmy 156 says.
I've always got better results standing back with a longer lens ( say 50-100 mm) and waiting for the shot rather than posing the dog, The closer you are the more likley it is to come and see what you are doing at the critical moment.
Black and white dogs come out better on a bright overcast day and even then exposures jump all over the place. ( Perhaps partially due to my lack of experience as well.)
Also try and get a highlight in the eye. It brings the subject to life.
I'm not too sure about a 'threesome'. I could do it with my own. It would depend on their nature and level of training.
I nearly always get down to the same height as the dog's head, or even below:
...but yesterday I took a very young pup, and kinda liked the looking up vulnerable thing:
narrow dof often works well
ETA of course getting them to do something stupid always helps:
...but yesterday I took a very young pup, and kinda liked the looking up vulnerable thing:
narrow dof often works well
ETA of course getting them to do something stupid always helps:
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 9th June 10:15
Have a look at this thread for some inspiration - most are just snapshots, but there are some really nice ones.
Wide aperture shots focused on their eyes are always nice... But if the dogs are excitable, then you don't want to keep missing the focus.
Use high ISO and fast shutter speed and keep your finger ready to catch any good looks or poses they decide to do.
For example:
If I'd taken another second to focus carefully and hold the camera straight, the moment would have been over. It might not be technically perfect but you can't miss opportunities like that.
Lots of dogs on my website if you're interested: http://www.elad.co.uk/Gallery/Dogs.aspx
ETA: Careful where you point your flash, they get green eyes really easily!
Wide aperture shots focused on their eyes are always nice... But if the dogs are excitable, then you don't want to keep missing the focus.
Use high ISO and fast shutter speed and keep your finger ready to catch any good looks or poses they decide to do.
For example:
If I'd taken another second to focus carefully and hold the camera straight, the moment would have been over. It might not be technically perfect but you can't miss opportunities like that.
Lots of dogs on my website if you're interested: http://www.elad.co.uk/Gallery/Dogs.aspx
ETA: Careful where you point your flash, they get green eyes really easily!
Edited by rasputin on Saturday 9th June 11:17
Just keep thinking about light and backgrounds, have the camera on the right settings in advance and be ready to shoot quickly. I'd go out for a long walk with them, get shots of them playing and try some 'posed' shots once the excitement starts to wear off. A few of their favourite treats would come in very handy.
There are some shots on my blog of a shoot I did a couple of weeks back with a pair of beagles - I won't put a link here so as not to fall foul of PH rules but you can get to it via my website from my PH profile.
There are some shots on my blog of a shoot I did a couple of weeks back with a pair of beagles - I won't put a link here so as not to fall foul of PH rules but you can get to it via my website from my PH profile.
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff