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[1] Ksenia Raykova [2] Ksenia Raykova
Pro Tip
Focus on what you like about dogs. If you like the emotions on their faces, zoom in closer. If you’re inspired by their movements and speed, work with a slower shutter speed to capture motion blur. If perfect grooming and postures bore you, photograph happy dogs in muddy puddles. Listen to yourself and your own love for dogs—not to the traditional “rules.” Photograph what touches your heart.
2. “Spend some time training and working with your dog on commands.”
Luka Funduk
Image by Luka Funduk. Gear: Sony a7III camera, Sony Zeiss 55mm f1.8 lens. Settings: Exposure 1/800 sec; f2; ISO 160.
What’s the story behind this photo?
The dog in this photo is my dog Bony. I found her when she was a baby in mid-December, struggling through the snow. I was planning to give her away, but I couldn’t part with her. This photo was taken in Connecticut, while we were running through snow together—it’s her favorite thing to do.
Image by Luka Funduk
Pro Tip
Spend some time training and working with your dog on commands. Once they understand and enjoy basic commands, everything is much easier. Also, don’t get too attached to your photos. Your hard drives can easily fill up with millions of photos of dogs, and if you are shooting RAW, you won’t have space for all of them. Learn how to edit and select the best ones.
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3. “First and foremost, you need to understand your model.”
Rita Kochmarjova
Image by Rita Kocmarjova (Grigorita Ko). Gear: Nikon D700 camera, Nikkor 70-200 lens. Settings: Focal length 180mm; exposure 1/800 sec; f2.8; ISO 1000.
What’s the story behind this photo?
These are my beloved dogs, who are American Staffordshire Terriers. This photo was taken in January of 2015 during one of our regular Sunday walks in the forest. I took my camera with me because there was a lot of snow, and I decided it would be nice to do a little photoshoot for my pets.
American Staffordshire Terriers are very active dogs, so I prefer to photograph them in action. In this photo, they’re jumping over a tree. My dogs are very well-trained, and they enjoy being the dogs of an animal photographer, so it was no problem asking them to sit in the same place until I called them with a toy.
What wasn’t so easy, however, was that all of the dogs have different speeds, and they all react to toys differently. We tried many times until I found the right distance from the tree and determined where each dog needed to start in order to jump at the same time. I was happy to get a successful photo. My dogs were a bit tired but happy as well!
Image by Rita Kocmarjova (Grigorita Ko)
Pro Tip
First and foremost, you need to understand your model. If it’s your first time working with a dog, spend some time with him, and ask his owner about his personality, likes, and dislikes. As a dog photographer, you can’t be scared of dogs. Sometimes, they’ll run up to you and lick your face, and you have to be okay with that; it’s just their way of saying, “hello!”
If you want to freeze motion, use a faster shutter speed. Dogs are fast; one moment, they’re sitting, and the next, they’re running and jumping. They naturally get into very funny poses, and it’s always disappointing to miss out on a nice photo due to improper camera settings. I also recommend photographing dogs from their eye level or even lower. If the dog is little, you might have to lay on the ground to get the best shot—so don’t wear white clothing!
4. “Be patient and let the dog explore the location.”
Annie Geier (Enna8982)
Image by Anne Geier (Enna8982). Gear: Nikon D850 camera, Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8 lens. Settings: Focal length 155mm; exposure 1/800 sec; f2.8; ISO 200.
What’s the story behind this photo?
Every year, I mark my calendar with different dog-related themes. This year, the theme was to photograph dogs outdoors during each of the four seasons. I specifically looked for a dog who loves winter, and I decided to work with this Samoyed, Balu.
I already had a photo in my mind before I started. I wanted to photograph the dog in the snowy mountain scenery at the lake, walking through the water.
This photo, however, was not planned. It was a cute coincidence. Balu simply loves the winter and cold temperatures, so he had no time for posing and preferred to play in the snow! In dog photography, you always have to be flexible. What could be cuter than a dog enjoying life?
Image by Anne Geier (Enna8982)
Pro Tip
First of all, try to make friends with your dog model. That’s important because the dog should be relaxed and happy—not bored, scared, or tired. Be patient and let the dog explore the location. You can also motivate the dog with treats or a favorite toy. I try to make funny noises to get their attention.
A perfect shot of a dog is about so much more than just a perfect composition, lighting, and location. You have to show their soulful nature in your photos. The images should say something about the individual dog. I like to use a wider aperture and shallow depth of field so our eyes go right to the dog and his or her eyes.
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5. “Listen to your model, pay attention to body language, and stay on the same wavelength as her.”
Olesya Nickolaeva
Image by Olesya Nickolaeva. Gear: Canon 5D Mark III camera, 70-200mm lens. Settings: Focal length 70mm; exposure 1/320 sec; f4.5; ISO 200.
What’s the story behind this photo?
It was very snowy last winter in Saint-Petersburg, so I went on a walk with my dogs near my husband’s summerhouse, which is in a mountainous area. This photo is from that walk.
Image by Olesya Nickolaeva
Pro Tip
Listen to your model, pay attention to body language, and stay on the same wavelength as her. Don’t be afraid of shooting in bad weather. As long as the dog is happy and safe, you can take pictures in all sorts of conditions—including snow.
Website | Instagram
6. “The main thing is to keep the dog interested and entertained.”
Ilya Barmin
Image by Ilya Barmin. Gear: Canon 40D camera, Canon 70-200/2,8 lens. Settings: Focal length 120mm; exposure 1/1250 sec; f4; ISO 200.
What’s the story behind this photo?
I provide photography services for a local dog groomer, and this photoshoot took place on the shores of the White Sea in Russia. I did not expect this kind of weather, but by chance, it was snowy and windy that day. The snowdrifts were waist-deep!
These dogs are not very fast by nature, so focusing was no problem. But because of the weather, there was nowhere for the dogs to stand, so we decided to photograph them in motion. They didn’t want to run, but that was okay. They were content to walk slowly, and we were happy to have them do that.
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