Get awesome portraits of your dog even if he failed obedience school
Are you thinking in getting a professional pet photo session but your dog is not well behaved? That’s OK! the fact that your dog might be a little naughty at home, doesn’t make it an impossible model. In my experience, it doesn’t have much to do with the level of obedience, but more with the personality of each dog. 90% of the dogs I’ve photographed aren’t school trained, and in the end, with a lot of patience and the right energy we can work together to get awesome images of your “wild child” and I am sharing some tips on how to make it possible:
Plan the Session
To me, every session is custom-made, which is why every experience with Vancouver Pet Photography includes a pre-session consultation. I always meet with the owner and their doggy before their photo session so we can all get more familiar. This allows me to know their pets and their personality better, so I can understand the them and know how to work with them while they get used to my scent, and me as well. At this moment, the owner and I plan together the photo shoot, I want to hear what they’re ambitioning for their final images, and which side of their pet’s personality they want to highlight during the photo session.
Keep the stress low
The photo shoot might be a whole new experience for many dogs and in most cases they don’t even know what’s going on, so it might be a little overwhelming for them sometimes to hear different and continuous commands like sit, down, and stay, especially if the doggy is not used to this at home. Therefore, it helps when owners are calm so their furry child doesn’t feel stressed or anxious about “not performing how it’s expected of him/her” because doggies can sense frustration, and this can make them less cooperative. If we are all relaxed, then the photos will come out wonderful.
Embrace who they are
Dogs are going to be dogs, always! and I have seen them all: the shy ones, nervous, anxious, playful, outgoing, hyper, calmed… a whole different shade of beautiful and colorful personalities to love. I want to capture who they truly are, with their quirks, and things that make you laugh, because those moments often produce the best shots!
Reading Their Body Language:
It is always so important to be patient with doggies so they feel more comfortable and ready to play along! Just like us, they also get nervous, excited, and sometimes even scared. So it’s all about understanding them, giving them the space they need and trying to reach out in a way they feel comfortable enough to let you in. That’s is why booking a professional photographer who understands animal behavior is essential.
One of the things I do when dogs are shy or nervous is to give them space. I don’t start taking photos right away. If we’re at the studio, then I leave them off leash for a little while so they can smell, explore, and feel comfortable in the set until I see that their body language is more relaxed, and then we can start the photo shoot!
I always adjust myself to the way the dog is acting at the moment. If it stays calm, I take all the photos I need, but if it's acting a bit hyper and playful, then I also let their personality bloom and still take great shots of their spontaneity and jolly personality. Sometimes I even let them run in the park, or ask the owner to take a break and walk around the block if we’re at the studio, so the dog drains some extra energy.
Safety First:
The dog’s safety is paramount to me. In most of my sessions, I have the dogs using their leash and then remove it later in Photoshop. Even when the owner says it’s OK to have the doggy unleashed, I rather be cautious and do the opposite, particularly if we are outdoors or in a park, in case there are less friendly dogs around. I get very protective and like to avoid any risk or discomfort for the dog.
In photo sessions with two or more dogs, the leashes play an important role since they help to make them stay closer to one another. In some cases, I have to take the photos of each dog individually in the same scenario but in a different and harmonizing position, and then join them in post production.
Getting their attention