Let’s face it, we have all taken a photo of our pup when we were out for a stroll and decided this is the one--the one we are going to show all our family, friends, and maybe even post on Instagram. Then we get home to realize the picture is blurry and immediately wish we could retake it. Photos are fun to take no matter if it's a job or just a hobby, but trying to make your pup stay still and actually look at the camera is a completely different story. If you are facing the same blurry pictures and bad timing photos that I’ve encountered, don’t worry! With these four simple tips & tricks, you can get through photoshoots without a hassle and actually make it quite fun for your pup!
Teach the Command Stay
Constantly dealing with blurry pictures? This is where the command stay comes in handy. You can teach your dog to sit and stay there while you back up to take the picture and there you have it! The perfect, non-blurry photo of your pup. Just remember to bring along food or a treat to reward your furry friend when they listen to you!
This command can be difficult at times, especially when your dog encounters a new environment or distraction, but practice makes perfect! Don’t worry if stay is still a work in progress, as there are so many types of pictures you can take without the skill.
Pictures you can take without learning stay:
Dog running toward you
Sniffing the flowers
Laying down
Playing with other dogs
Playing fetch
Or anything else! Dogs are cute regardless of their pose!
Bring Lots of Treats
It is important to reward positive behavior, such as sitting still, listening to a command, or ignoring a dog on a walk. Most times, your pup will do just about anything for a treat, which makes taking photos so much easier! If your dog is not very food motivated, try bringing along a toy that you can use as a reward! Just remember to only reward good listening, so your dog does not get the wrong impression of what they have to do for a treat.
If you are teaching a new command, such as stay, it may also be helpful to use the same type of treat to reward a certain command at all times. This way, when your pup smells that treat they will automatically know they need to stay in place. Daisy loves to stay by my side, so I find this trick especially helpful when asking her to go places, such as her crate or to another person!
Tip: If you have a puppy with a sensitive stomach, you can bring along their food as a reward instead of treats! I usually use half of Daisy’s dinner for training or on walks, then feed the rest as a meal shortly after!
Fast Shutter Speed/Live Photos
Click! “You moved! Just a second late...”
Whether you have a camera and are able to adjust the shutter speed or you are taking photos with an iPhone and using live photos, both of these techniques work great to get just the shot you want. Since your pup is constantly moving and is always running around, these live photos can help you get just the picture you want without trying too hard.
A splash of Editing & the Perfect Filter
If I’ve learned anything about spicing up photos, it’s finding the perfect filter and just the right editing techniques. Filter’s give your photos a pop and create an aesthetic for your page. I like to use the LightRoom app, which allows me to do anything making colors more vibrant to correcting contrast, brightness, and so much more! As someone who owns an older iPhone without the ability to blur the background, I find the Blur Photo app to be very helpful! Editing your photos will add the perfect finishing touch to any photo, while also catching people’s attention!
Tips for Editing Photos:
Blur the background. If you aren’t sure how to make the photo more appealing, blurring the background is always a good go-to technique. This draws attention to your pup, and makes the photo stick out in a crowd.
Adjust contrast, brightness, and temperature. If you are using your cell phone for your photos, the colors may not pop as much as you would like. Changing the contrast or brightness can help make your photo more visible and more appealing.
Adding filters. Filters may not be needed on all your pictures, but it is good to scroll through them in case one catches your eye! I don’t always use them, but sometimes a filter can add more color to a photo or help center the attention!
Before and After Editing
Sometimes editing can make a huge difference and other times there is no difference at all! Don't be afraid to try something new!
I hope you incorporate these techniques into your next photoshoot! Taking high quality photos of your dog can be very tricky, especially if you are a new dog owner or photographer. If you aren’t happy with your photos, don’t worry! Good photographers take a long time to master their skills, and figure out what works well for them, especially if you’re taking photos of an energetic pup! Comment below what tips you have for taking pics of your dog!
Keep calm and wag on!
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