How to Take Paw-fect Pet Photos

Since working for Texas Dog Magazine, I've shot 16 dogs and two cats *. And I have just as many bloopers as I have "perfect" photos, if not more. I've gone through a few lint rollers, I always carry dog treats in my car, and I have a designated dog voice that I've accidentally used on humans once or twice.

When trying to create the perfect pet photo for TXDM, I try to go in as prepared as I can with all the right equipment, an idea of the image I'm looking to master, and the patience to attempt it. Of all the dogs I've shot, very few went as smoothly as I had prepared, but really that just adds to the excitement. Sometimes I work with dogs who are incredibly well-behaved and could easily be a better model than myself. But even the dogs who have more trouble sitting still are so much fun to work with because they are challenging and simply just as loveable as any other fur ball. After having more dogs be the subject of my photography lately than humans or landscapes, I've come up with a list of things you may need for attempting the perfect pet photo either of your own pet or someone else's.

EQUIPMENT

• Props? theme-based, clothes, a chair if you need to be on higher ground, etc.

• Fully charged camera, maybe an extra battery

• Memory card with plenty of space

• Tripod if you want to jump in the picture

• Tasty treats to bribe them to look your way

OTHER HELPFUL THINGS

• Time

• Patience

• Creative but flexible photograph idea

• Aesthetically nice background/environment, preferably somewhere the dog is comfortable

• Cooperative dog/owner to help pose their dog

• Or a friend to be your assistant for the day

Pro Tip: If you?re guaranteed to sneeze after being around animals or outside, pack some allergy medicine in your camera bag. Or if you have somewhere to be afterwards, pack a lint roller!

* No dogs were injured in the shooting for our magazine.

Sasha is a Yorkshire Terrier, born on Christmas Day in 2010 in Mexia, TX. She is small, but her bark is big and she thinks she's bigger still.

Delilah is a Pitbull mix who never runs out of energy. When I was trying to take pictures of her, she thought chasing a Billy goat would make for better material. It wasn't until her owner caught her and carried her away that she quit chasing the goat that tried to chase back.

Duke was on the Fall 2018 TXDM cover. I had my friend stand on a chair to sprinkle leaves I'd bought from Hobby Lobby on Duke. You can't always keep a perfect pose when leaves smack you in the face.

The most recent delight, Scuttles, takes a moment to readjust his pose. This was his silliest face that day, but there were a few times when he was over being a model and preferred to lay somewhere without paparazzi.

Milky was in the Winter edition– I'd managed to get just a few shots of her cooperating, but her sister Aurora, who you can see leaving the frame, wasn't having it that day. Above Milky is the shadow of her owner's hand trying to bribe them with a treat.

Bonnie was also in the Fall 2018 edition. While I was shooting one of her brothers, I looked over and caught her tearing up a leash showing a glimpse of her true colors: wild.