Dog Photography tips

Getting professional photos for your loved ones, is almost a no brainer. Especially with your four legged friends. Getting photos with them just as themselves, or as a part of your family photos as well - definitely worth it.

My personal opinion, they don't live as long as humans, and should be spoiled at every moment possible. Then the memories of their beautiful lives is what we have to hold on to.

There are a few things to note when doing the photoshoot, or taking your dogs to a photoshoot, let's walk through them.

A few notes as a dog owner myself:

• If you practice recall with your dog, and it's perfect, you have the discretion to take your dog off lead. You're still the one responsible for them. If their recall isn't 100%, a really long lead does wonders, and it can be photoshopped out of some images. It's better than them running onto a road or towards a child.

• My personal preference is a harness, not a collar being used to control the dog, my dog has a handle on the harness, in case he decides to act up - he goes into air-jail. These can all be photoshopped out later. Your dog's safety, and the photographers safety is what is important.

• Bringing high value treats to the photoshoot is a great idea, to attract their attention. (The following is not advice I agree with), a dog trainer once advised me to limit my dog's food, so that when I had a treat, because of how hungry he was, he would only be interested in me. If you like the advice, or you're a little worried about their attention, it could help just to skip breakfast for your dog - but on the other hand you could just bring delicious slices of cheese / chicken / bread etc.

• One last note - don't ask anyone to take photos of your dog/doggos where dogs aren't allowed. Nature reserves, some beaches, it's uncomfortable.

Notes as a photographer:

• Getting an in-focus shot, that is good, of energetic puppies or dogs - is really hard. They run around, and so the focus point moves a lot as well. To get a good shot - in focus - with a slightly blurred background, the focus point has to be on the dog - who is sometimes sprinting. Allowing an hour or 90 minutes is advisable.

• Manual settings would be F.Stop - f7 (to allow enough light in, but also allow for the distance from the dog to the camera). ISO: 600 - 800 - to let in enough light, because the shutter speed will be high - 1/400 - 1/800.

• Going to locations where dogs are not allowed for a photoshoot, runs the risk of ruining business reputation, or issues with the law. You're not going to get your best photos if you're worried about being caught.

• Do research on locations, so that everyone is safe and happy - so you get the best photos.

Getting beautiful photos are a little bit of work, to get the right - but then are timeless memories to keep forever.