How To Take Great Smartphone Photos Of Your Dog!

By: Nao Mitsutomi, Edited by Abbi Colborn

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Struggling with taking the perfect photo of your dog? Here at CUP, our camera rolls overflow with pet photos, and we’ve picked up some dos and don’ts along the way. All pups photographed in this article where shot by CUP walkers. There’s no need for a fancy camera! Grab your phone, and get snapping!

Get In The Right Mindset

Remy, a lanky dog with a short haired, brown and black coat. His big brown eyes are wide with curiosity. One ear is raised, the other is relaxed, which adds to the inquisitive vibe. Behind Remy is a massive tree trunk with lichen running up its bark.

It is important to remember that dogs do not know what your phone does. It can be difficult to balance making sure your dog is safe, and making sure you got the shot. Usually dogs are more interested in following their nose than striking a pose. Manage your expectations accordingly.

In general, if you want your dog to cooperate while introducing new stimuli, you have to communicate in terms they understand. Food, toys, positive reinforcement, and compassion can help you through a multitude of doggie roadblocks. That being said, here’s some factors to consider when picking a location for your photoshoot:

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Lighting

Judge, a Black Lab mix with calm brown eyes, sniffs a plant stem in the lower left corner. The green leaves tickle Judge's snout. The tip of his nose touches the bottom of the frame. Judge wears a black and white checkered bandana tied around his neck.

Make sure your flash is off, and use natural lighting whenever you can – this will provide the best results. Using flash also might scare your dog and make them less willing to be photographed. Make sure the light source is behind you and not in front of you, as this lets the light illuminate your pup’s features instead of casting them in shadows.

Eye Lines

Close up on Oliver, a border collie mix with a fluffy white coat, speckled with black and grey spots. His sky blue eyes look up, with his head tilted down, as if he's scanning the path ahead for obstacles.

Dogs don’t know how to look at the camera the way humans do. To give your dog a focal point, hold up a treat or toy where you want them to look (remember what I said about communicating in terms a dog understands?). If you want your pup to look a different direction, all you have to do is move what you’re holding, and their eyes should follow.

Try out this treat holder that clips to your phone if you’re having trouble taking the picture and keeping your dogs attention.

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Try Out Different Angles

Kiwi, a cavalier spaniel mix, peeks up through the blades of grass she sniffs. Kiwi has a fluffy coat, it's white with brown patches over her eyes, ears and back.

Taking top-down photos of your dog may be the most convenient, but it may not be the most flattering angle. Instead, try getting on eye level with your dog and show the environment around them. Be flexible and move the phone around as your pup moves their head.

Get Moving!

Leo, a Lab/German Shepherd mix, sports a black muzzle and brown eyes that seem to glow in the sun. He stands in a park, stepping out of the shade from the trees behind him, head tilted ever so slightly to the side.

Now that you’ve dipped your toe into the pet photography pond, lets graduate to a more challenging shoot. It takes some practice, but you can get some incredible shots from photographing your animal in motion. This is great for candid shots, although it takes some practice and timing.

Here’s the technique: Let your pup walk beside you, use your back camera and extend your phone out in front of your dog (be careful not to startle). Take a burst of photos with your lower volume button instead of the touchscreen. You can also use a selfie stick!

Portrait Mode

Kiwi, a small cavalier and spaniel mix, white fur with brown spots. A red and blue leash extends off to the left. Kiwi prances down the street, her hair flowing in the wind, and her mouth in an open smile. Her tongue pokes out of her mouth just slightly.

If you have an IPhone, take advantage of portrait mode! There’s many lighting and focus settings to play around with. I like to use it when dogs aren’t moving, maybe when they’re sniffing plants or watching a bird. Using portrait mode ensure the camera focuses on the dog, and blurs the background around them.

Be careful though, sometimes portrait mode makes the dogs nose the central focus, instead of their whole face. It’s still a cute photo, but sometimes you wanna see your pups baby blues, not their nostrils. This is where taking a plethora of photos will help ensure you get the best shot.

Have Fun!

Remy, a slender brown dog with black patches marbled into his short coat, in a park, looking to the right, off into the distance. His tongue curls around his upper lip and nose, the ends curling back, mid nose lick. Behind him are trees, and a fence.

Remember: there’s no such thing as a perfect photo. Don’t let fear of messing up get in the way of documenting your furry friend. If you or your dog are getting tired/frustrated, take a break, take a breath, then try again in a few minutes. At the end of the day, you’re going to capture the best pictures when you and your pup are having fun!