By Dog Photographer Nicki Cameron, Founder of The Art of Dog: Office Wall Art
Puppies are one of the cutest things on earth but can be quite tricky to photograph. Once you’ve nailed the shots though, everyone will oooh & aaah over them forever!
In some ways, taking photos of puppies is similar to taking shots of older dogs but, if they’re too young to have learnt any training commands, then you’ll need to have lots of rewards on hand.
7 simple tips for photographing puppies
- Try to use natural light whenever possible but avoid very bright sunlight. Cloudy days or window light is perfect. Avoid using a flash as it can be very disturbing to pups as they’ve no idea what’s happening.
2. Get down on a level with them. Yes, that probably means getting flat on the floor! Try to focus on the eyes & remember they have a very limited attention span & tire quickly.
3. If you can, grab a willing volunteer & have two of you when you take photos. The photographer can concentrate on getting the settings right & holding the camera still (sounds simple, I know, but it’s nigh on impossible to work with wriggling puppies on your own), whilst the helper tries to manoeuvre them to the desired positions.
4. A very fast shutter speed is essential, or the images could be blurry. I’d suggest letting the pups have a good play around before you want to take your photos so they might be a bit less playful & more inclined to be still (if you’re lucky!)
5. If you want a real cuteness overload photo, then use some props like blankets, or flowerpots or chairs. Even a cardboard box, with the pups’ little nose sticking out, will give you an adorable pose.
6. Don’t wait for that perfect moment & take loads more photos than you think you’ll need. They can always be deleted after. Take lots of different poses in different places. Then, let the magic of editing do its work.
7. Be well prepared, be very patient & above all, just have fun!
nicki.cameron@theartofdog.co.uk
