How to Get Great Photos of Your Dog

If our adopted kids updates are the heart of this blog, then their photos are the soul. So I thought readers might enjoy these photo-taking tips. Lauren in Portland, OR originally posted it. Thanks Lauren!

1. Take the photos outdoors, on a fair day, before 10 AM or late afternoon, or indoors in a bright and well-lit room or next to a bright window. Don't point the camera directly at the window – shoot so that the window spills light onto your pet. Avoid taking photos outdoors at high noon.
Control the flash: If you must use a flash, select the 'low' level to minimize Green/Red Eyes, and have the dog look off to the side a bit (see #3)

2. Take the photos in a place where your pet is comfortable "being him/herself", in your yard, in the park where you walk your pet, in his/her favorite chair, etc.
Drape a solid color towel or sheet over the back of a chair or the photo area before you bring your pet there. You can also tuck a leash down behind the chair cushion if you don't have help holding your pet.

3. Have help if possible. If someone else can hold a leash, while you crinkle some cellophane or squeeze a squeaky toy - up and off to the side so your dog won't be looking directly into the camera, much nicer photos are possible. If no help is available: attach the leash to a table leg or post, or push it down behind the chair cushion, or put a rubber backed rug on the washing machine and tie the leash to the faucet or something stable nearby, so Fido stays put while you make noise a little off to the side with the hand that's not snapping the camera. (Yes! You can do it!)

4. MOST IMPORTANT: Get down on the floor or bring your dog up to eye-level to take your pet’s photos. You should be looking straight at your pet from the camera. Even sitting on a chair improves the angle of the shot. A timid dog looks more frightened when photographed from above.

5. Zoom in to get close-up photos without getting too close to your pet. An ideal photo for portraits has the pet filling over half of the picture, with the surroundings filling the rest. Use a plain background, a solid color sheet or towel in a contrasting color to your pet works best. The exceptions? Mid tones of red, green and blue work best for dark dogs. Plain white can look stark; a pastel is better.

6. Take many photos. Don't keep moving around trying to get the best shot; just keep snapping. Then pick the best photo from the bunch. You will do your puppy proud with the pictures you get with these methods!