Image Source: Sarah Richter on Pixabay
Look, I get it, you need to take pictures of your dog every five minutes to brag about how perfect they are— this is totally natural (I’m the same way!). But what can you do to make sure your pooch stands out on your friends’ Instagram feed? So many people take pictures of their dog without putting in the 30 seconds to really make the shot stand out, so here are a few simple things you can do to make your pho-dog-raphy (I’m very sorry) pop!
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Lighting is king!Photography literally means “drawing with light”, and having bland or poor lighting for your picture is seriously a make-or-break. Indoor lighting can often be harsh or flat, use a desk lamp to splash some reflected light off the walls to catch your pup in repose. Outdoors, the bright, direct sun of high noon during the summer is unlikely to be as flattering as you’d like— use the shade or wait until the sun is at a shallower angle overhead to get that perfect snap!
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Take lots of photos!Dogs are, typically, not professional models— they don’t really know how to pose or where to look. Taking lots of photos and doing it often a) gets them more comfortable in front of the camera and b) increases your chance of grabbing a winning shot to frame on your desk. The Live (iPhone only, for now) and Burst modes in your camera are super powerful tools for this exact reason (just be sure to delete the ones you don’t want)!
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Be creative to get their attention!This is especially useful outside, where there are loads of things to distract your dog and make them look away from you. My personal favorite way to have a dog look right at me is to hold a treat just above the camera on my phone (while also bracing my phone against that hand). You can also have a friend standing out of frame with a squeaky toy or treat if you want their attention elsewhere. Sometimes you just want that candid pose of your dog lying in the shade, gazing off at a particularly juicy squirrel, this is where the last tip does wonders— sometimes they just don’t notice the camera anymore after you’ve gotten them used to it!
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Try changing your angles up!Most people are significantly taller than most dogs, so a shot of your dog sitting in front of you taken while standing will tend to look pretty same-same after a while. Try getting them from down low, or directly above them— mix it up! Try new things! There are no hard and fast rules besides “have fun” and “press the shutter button to take a picture”.
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Be mindful of your background!Having a background with lots of colors makes a picture pop significantly more than one set against the sidewalk or a building— find a flower bush or a nice view to set your dog in front of! Taking multiple pictures (tip 2) also helps make sure there aren’t extraneous things happening in the background (another dog running past, a car driving by, et cetera) that distract from what’s really important— your adorable dog!
Frankly, the best way is to learn by doing, so get out there, get some pictures, and have fun with it! Remember to always be aware of your surroundings, but other than that, the world is your oyster. Have a favorite snap you want to share with us? Feel free to tag us on Instagram @sniffandgo, we always love a good dog pic!
Image source: Pooya Ramezani on Unsplash
Image Source: Ellen26 on Pixabay
Why Sniff and Go?
Safe, caring pet care services provided by highly experienced professionals makes the difference!
Since 2009, Sniff and Go has been providing quality and caring pet care services to residents and their furry friends all over San Francisco. In addition to pet taxi and cat care services, Sniff and Go has been a consistent leader in providing safe dog walking experiences. The difference lies in our commitment to one-on-one leash walks, led by one of our experienced dog walkers in your own neighborhood, 7 days a week. As a pioneer in these solo walks since day one, we believe that the individual attention your dog receives on a private walk allows us to get to know (and love!) them better, and results in safer experiences and happier pets – giving you much more bang for your buck! Each visit even concludes with a journal entry and photo to keep you informed and updated. Our insured and bonded walkers are some of the best professionals in the business and are thoroughly vetted and trained to handle any and every situation with your dog, giving you the peace of mind that your pup is in good hands. Check out our dozens of 5-star reviews on Facebook, Yelp, and Google to see for yourself.
