A typical dog lover thinks his or her dog's looks can trump even the silkiest calendar Weimaraner, or Afghan Hound. But its obvious some more work is needed in order for the average amateur to match the vibrancy and color of the masters. Read on to get the most acclaimed tips for taking snapshots of your precious pets.
Time it well. First of all, serene portraits of the so-called "sensitive" sort are of course a cinch to take after a three mile run, not before it. Not much Cockapoo Training needed on this one.
Take lots of pictures. No matter what the subject, this is without a doubt the most basic tip in improving one's photography. More photos taken means more chances of making some great and outstanding shots. Bringing an extra battery is a norm too.
Stay at your dog's level. Standing over your dog and focusing downwards results to photos that look like nothing unique, so minimize this.
Get your dog used to the camera. The whirring noise and the blinding flash can disorient and startle the dog at first. Let your dog take a good sniff test of the camera, then casually press the shutter at the surroundings. Once your dog is accustomed to the camera and doesn't mind it, start taking photos of it.
Keep the whole thing natural and relaxed. Never wave treats before your dog, all the while saying over and over again that you are going to take a photo of it.
The background is another tool to use. And to make them work, choose backgrounds that bring out the best in your dog: white sandy beaches, rows of straight trees. Watch out also how the background distorts your dog's form; so no smoke streaming out of the dog, please! And of course, your dog's coat colors somehow has to complement the background, in order for the photo to be a sure win.
Turn off the flash. A lot of amateur photographers like working with warm, natural sunlight. You can minimize washed-out looking photos by shooting in days with a slight overcast, in the mornings or evenings, or in the shade.
Indoor shots usually require a flash.
Put into action your artistic touch. Many full body shots snapped from ten feet away look boring. Come closer so your dog fills the frame. Try getting closer so your dog's nose and face hogs the camera. Take photos of your dog in profile, at angles, head on, etc. Who knows where your exploration will lead you? Perhaps it will be a photo of your dog's funny ear folds, or its unique tail curl, that will get that photo treasured and shared over and over again.
Get help. Get somebody to distract the dog with a squeaky toy so you can get the dog for even more poses. Overall, it depends on what you saw in your Cockapoo training: will the dog get really crazy once it sees its toys?
