Photographing a puppy - the challenges

Puppies are cute - there is no doubt about it!

Photographing them can be a challenge. Puppies tend to move around a lot and are less likely to follow commands. On the bright side, a lot of play leads to a tired and even cuter puppy.

Follow a couple of tricks to achieve good images:

Try and confine your puppy to one area of your home. The less it can move around, the less you'll be chasing him with your camera and lighting gear.

Shoot lots!!! If your camera has a continuous shooting button - use it. As your puppy moves around it is sometimes hard to get the one good shot. By increasing your shooting rate you are more likely to take home a winner!

Try and create even lighting: as your dog moves around the area, try and have it lit evenly by using a diffuser, ideally an umbrella. Better even - two lights!

Give your puppy a toy to occupy himself. A good toy like this treat filled Kong can focus your puppy in one location, allowing you to get a good angle.

Try and avoid busy backgrounds - not always possible as seen here but less is more!

And after a busy session of close up photography, move away a little and let your puppy play. Now you can get beautiful candid shots.

Most importantly - make sure it is fun for you and your puppy!

Enjoy the action and pass on the tips!

Are there tricks in pet photography?

From my pet-photography-tool-box!

I have been asked to write about tricks in pet photography so I will write a few posts on this topic over the next month and back them up with images. Please don't hesitate to add your comments and raise questions and I will do my best to answer them.

I want to start with the easier scenario - photographing your dog indoors. Your pet has less room to roam and run away from you or simply run around like crazy. You will find many opportunities in your home. Capture your pet on his or her bed or a favourite sunny spot. If your dog is permitted on furniture, you can set up lovely images on the couch, bed or other favourite furniture. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Go down - lower yourself to be on the same level as your pet. You may even try to go lower and shoot upwards.

Too many distracting items on around Belgian Shepherd Kaela

Clean composition - try and get your pet in a clutter-free environment.

Too many items around your pet are only distracting from your main subject as shown in this image to the right.

Don't be afraid to use the crop tool afterwards and you can improve many images and give them more focus.

An engaging portrait of Belgian Shepherd Kaela

In this image, despite the less than ideal background, Kaela is the clear subject of the image. The image is filled with her portrait, it is engaging and there is good eye contact.

Don't be afraid to get close!

The dreaded glary eyes! 

Lighting - if you are lucky you can work with natural light coming through the window or a skylight. Avoid a light that is too harsh but natural light can work really nicely. If it is too dark, you will need to use a flash. A point and shoot camera usually has a weak flash - so move close to your subject. Avoid the dreaded glare in the eyes by shooting your pet from the side or in profile. Or deal with it later on the computer. The image to the right shows the effect, apart from other compositional issues and a less than flattering pose of my dog Sidney!

If you have an SLR and you are able to remove your flash from the camera it is going to have the best results. Position your flash at about 45 degrees, ideally bounce the light from the ceiling or a white wall onto your pet or use a reflector for the flash of your camera.

In this lovely image of Irish Terrier Tony I used natural light on the stairs coming from a sky light. I think the soft light and the shadows work really nicely in this image and the small depth of field provides this image with a lot of atmosphere.

Most importantly, make sure you and your dog are having fun when you photograph your animal and it will show!

How a vet gets to his clients

Many of his clients know Richard Calland from cycling around Vancouver with his two dogs, the Border Collies Coco and Puck. He has a special bike with a basket in the front and the two dogs jump in to be taken around the scenic routes like two ladies from the high society used to take the horse drawn carriage for a ride around the park on a Sunday afternoon.

I went to see Richard on one Sunday in spring to capture this outing. I could not stop laughing about the two girls.

Contact Richard Calland for any veterinary consulting needs and contact Petra Mayer for any photographic wishes!

At the doggy beach - part two

While at the doggy beach that I reported on last time, I took a little "study" of my dog Sidney, playing for himself for a while with a red ball. He was so focussed on his ball, digging around it, nudging it, attacking it and then, finally retreating with it to a location from where to oversee the beach - content.
I am amazed to see him like this still. Sidney did not know what to do with toys when I adopted him almost exactly 1 year ago, then 3 years old. He has changed in that time. He is a stronger, healthier and happier dog and these pictures show this:

Enjoyment - that's what a dog's life is all about!

What is it about the doggy beach?

Last week a friend and I went to the beach with our dogs. It was one of those rare sunny days that we seem to have at the West Coast this year. I just took the camera along for fun. The conditions were great for the beach, not so great for photography with strong sun, resulting in dark shadows. I really did not think I had any luck, until I saw those happy faces of our dogs and those of some fellow dog owners, whose names I unfortunately don't have to share those images. So, if you recognize these dogs, pass on the link to their owners!

Would you like images of your dog in your home or at the beach? Contact me for a free consultation.