How do I get better pictures of my dog?

Getting a cute picture of your dog can be incredibly challenging. They’re always moving, they don’t focus on the camera, they don’t know how to pose, and so much more. Follow these 5 tips and your best friend will be a professional supermodel in no time!

1.) Teach your dog sit and stay:

If you start by asking your dog to sit and stay you have already tackled one of the biggest challenges that come along with taking pictures of your dog! When they are sitting, they can’t run all over the place ending up looking like a blur on camera.

2.) Get on their level:

bend down to be on their level so that the camera captures all the cutest details of their face! This gives you a better angle and helps you really see their eyes. This part can be more challenging if your dog’s sit and stay command isn’t fully proofed. Sometimes when we bend down, this can be an invitation to come to us. If you need help getting your dog to stay no matter what you’re doing, feel free to reach out to us for some training!

3.) Get their attention:

You can hold something your dog really likes behind the camera to get their attention, like treats or toys! I also like to teach a “focus” command so that my dog is trained to look at me. This can also be very useful in real world scenarios if you ever need to get your dog’s attention!

4.) Focus your camera on your dog’s face:

If you tap on the screen of your phone, a small box should appear to focus your image. Once your dog is in position, you are on their level, and you have their attention, it’s time to put it all together and take the picture. Focusing the image on their face makes for a clearer picture.

5.) Take it up a notch:

You can really make your photos stand out by adding a prop or teaching your dog cool poses. Cheap seasonal garlands from the dollar store make great picture props! I love teaching my dogs tricks that I can use to pose them in photos, such as putting their paws on a wall and looking back at me, sitting pretty, resting their chin on the ground or on props, and more! If you’d like to learn how to train these things, don’t hesitate to reach out!

If you found these tips useful, take some pictures of your dog and tag us on Instagram @practical.dog