Here are examples of one photograph where
the camera was too close to the dog, causing distortion, and
the other where a zoom was used, and the dog was further away
from the camera.
The best photographs are in natural
light out-of-doors on an overcast or sunny day in early morning,
late afternoon. Avoid noonday sun. Indoor photos are best by
the light of a nearby window.
Never use a flash.
Always set your camera at its largest
lens capacity or zoom in, as this prevents distortion.
Avoid very bright or very dark backgrounds.
Do not get too close to your subject.
It will cause distortion. Make sure your subject is only filling
1/2-3/4 of the image.
Always take photos from the subjects
eye level, not looking down or up at them. In the case of small
dogs, put them on a table.
Make sure your dogs tongue isnt
hanging out. Exercise after the photo shoot, not before.
Take LOTS of photos.
If you want an alert expression
from your dog:
The secret is to be as quiet as possible
during the set-up, not letting the dog know you have the toy,
so when the toy or distraction arrives, it will catch your model
by surprise.
Find an assistant and a favorite dog
toy. Squeakys preferred. Hide the squeaky in your pocket. No
food. While you set up your camera or phone with the sun behind
you, have your assistant put your dog on a leash, facing
the sun planting their feet in ONE place while
both of you ignore the dog. When you are ready to take a photograph,
you can wait the dog out as you both stay quiet ignoring the
dog and let it look around. He/she may eventually strike a pose
looking at something in the area and thats when to take
a photo. Patience is a virtue. If that doesnt work,
give a high pitched squeaky noise as you click the camera and/or
pull out the squeaky toy as you squeak it by your shoulder as
you take your photograph. If you cant manage that, throw
it carefully in the air as you squeak it away from your dog.
If you want an alert expression
from your horse:
Have the sun behind your back as you
stand across from the horses shoulder. Have your assistant
hold a whip/crop as they set up the horse so all legs are visible.If
the horse keeps moving towards the handler, they need to back
it up, not let it move forward. NO food. Set the horse
up where you think there are distractions he/she may look at
i.e. horses turned out nearby. Ideally slightly in front and
to the horses side. Wait. Your model should strike the
pose. If no success, which may be the case with duller horses,
have a white plastic bag handy to tie to the whip and have the
assistant surprise the horse by quickly lifting it high and shaking
it. Once again, you are going for the element of surprise.
Feel free to contact me with any further
questions at [email protected]
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