Autumn is here, which means it’s time to take your family photoshoot. Your dog is as much a part of the family as your kids, so don’t forget to feature them.
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You may know the basics of taking family photos, but how do you include your dog in the family photo? From keeping their attention with all-natural dog chews to utilizing your background to accentuate the foreground, here’s how to take the perfect pet and family photoshoots.
1. Keep your dog calm
First of all, your dog won’t be able to stand still for photos — or look comfortable in them — if they’re anxious or wound up. You likely know your dog’s triggers, but the most common causes for anxiety and distractions include other nearby animals, loud noises, people screaming, cars driving nearby, and too much general commotion.
If you believe your dog is going to be uncomfortable near your planned shoot, you should consider going somewhere else. It’s a simple way to keep your dog calm. And if you can’t manage your environment quite as well, you need to take the time to calm your dog down, regularly giving them loving pets, kisses, and treats.
2. Tire them out
Another way to keep your dog calm is to get them tuckered out prior to your photoshoot. Take time to get outside with them before the shoot, exercising them until they’re worn out. That could include taking your dog to the dog park, going out for a run, or heading out for a very long walk. While you don’t want your dog to nap through the entire shoot, it can keep them calm so they aren’t antsy and distracted the entire time.
3. The background matters
You need to remember that your background is as important as your foreground. While your family and your pet will be the center of attention, you need to make sure that you have a compelling background. Even if you blur the background to keep your family as the focal point, you want a background that makes sense and stands out. That could be autumn foliage, the beach and ocean, or a field full of sunflowers.
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4. Interact throughout the photoshoot
You shouldn’t just expect your dog to get the idea of a photoshoot. You want them to feel comfortable. Part of attaining that requires you regularly interacting with them and giving them attention. They may become jealous, in a way, of the camera since you’re all looking at it instead of them. So do your best to show them that the camera is friendly and that you truly love them. It’ll keep them calm and let them enjoy the hour-plus you’re taking photos.
5. Use light to your advantage
Good photos come from proper lighting. That also includes knowing your angles. We’ve all accidentally opened our phone’s front-facing camera and gotten a horrible look at ourselves. You need to keep perspective in mind, for this reason.
Try to shoot either early in the morning or in the later afternoon, when the sun is coming in at an angle. Shooting at noon is not preferable, as you’re getting top-down light, which can be unflattering. You want to have light that you can position against yourself, using it to either lighten or warm your skin, as well as providing definition to your faces and your dog’s coat.
6. Treats go a long way
If you want to keep your dog’s attention, the simplest way to do so is to coax them with natural dog treats. Teaching them good behavior gets them a reward and you’re all set to go. They can also be used to draw your dog’s attention away from potential distractions, such as passing cars, nearby dogs, squirrels rummaging around for nuts, and more.
Most of all, you’ll want to use them to reward your dog throughout the day, especially when they respond to commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “look at me!”
7. Make some noise
Along with using treats to your advantage, you can also get good photos by getting your dog’s attention with noise. Bring along their favorite squeaky toys or a bag full of crinkly paper. You can even play some TikToks of dogs barking to get their attention. Not only will it allow you to get your dog to look where you want them to, but it can even lead to them making some funny faces.
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8. Limit the setup
So, here’s the thing: photoshoots often require a lot of setup — or so we think. We actually don’t need to prepare much to take a good photoshoot. All you need is your essential gear. After that, you just need to work on taking good photographs.
If you need some added lighting, set it up. If you want to add some branches or leaves around your dog and kids, set them up. Otherwise, roll with the environment and use it to your advantage.
9. Remember to edit
Remember to edit your photos, too. While you may be able to take good photos on your new iPhone, your photos will be enhanced once you do some basic editing. It can involve reducing the amount of natural exposure in the photo, editing the curves to improve the shine of mid tones while reducing highs, and blurring the background to make sure your dog really pops.
10. Let your dog be themselves
Lastly, don’t stop your dog from being themselves. The best models in the world succeed because they’re completely themselves. While they may be going for a specific look, the look in their eyes is still very much their own.
So if you’ve got a goofy dog, don’t scold them for not smiling and looking “nice.” Let them be themselves and let their inner dog self shine. Your dog will feel more comfortable that way, rather than feeling like they need to meet your specific needs.
That’s the joy of it all when photographing your dog. You want to capture them, just as they are.
