Dogs quickly become a part of a family and like the other family members their photos belong on the walls of your house. The trouble is that dogs aren’t always willing participants when it comes to picture taking so it can become quite a challenge to capture good images of them. To help you with this, here are some tips to help you take perfect photographs of your pooch.

Have fun

Dogs can read your emotions and if they know that you are stressed out about getting a perfect picture they’ll sense it and will get nervous as well. Keep your tone upbeat and happy and your chances of grabbing a great shot will increase significantly. Have you ever seen a portrait photographer that is grumpy or nervous? They don’t exist because their subjects would never smile at them!

Fit in with your dog

Instead of grabbing your dog and asking him for a photo shoot when he’s got something else on his mind, fit into his schedule a little. Catch him when he’s quiet, sleep time and thinking time and invite him to pose for you. You’ll end up with some perfect shots that will make their way to your walls.

Don’t expect perfection

When you’re working with your dog, don’t aim for the perfect shot. Some of the most beautiful dog pictures are much less than perfect but seem to capture something in the dog that simply can’t be put into words. When you grab your camera, you’ll be looking for something deeper than just a surface picture that shows the beauty of your dog on the outside. You’ll be aiming for a shot that captures the true spirit of your canine best friend.

Prepare to take a lot of pictures and develop patience

You’ll need to have patience when you’re photographing your dog and it may take quite a few pictures before you find one or two that you truly love. In the blink of an eye your dog will move from one place to another and engage in a completely different activity. Shoot plenty of photos and you will end up quite surprised with some of the results. Usually it’s not the posed look that stands out from the rest of the photos but rather some type of spontaneous shot that shows your dog’s spirit. Digital cameras make this easy – you can take lots of photos and you need only print the ones you like.

Use natural lighting

Try to use natural lighting for your photography whenever you can. This provides the best pictures and also helps to avoid redeye that can be caused by a flash. If you have a nervous or skittish dog, the flash may frighten him and that will mean the end of your photo session for that day. When natural lighting is used you’ll get better shots and won’t have to worry about making your dog nervous.

You don’t need any fancy equipment to take good photos of your dog. A small compact camera will do a good job. Give it a try, and follow these suggestions. You may just be pleasantly surprised at the results.

Susan Wright is the staff expert at Dog Fence DIY. Dog fence DIY features the largest database of directions & manuals for electric dog fences.

Please visit my web site at Pet Portraits by Deena and see the many portraits I have painted. Use the tips in this article to take the best photos of your pet and turn one into a portrait!