Any tips on photographing dogs???

[JJ360]

So tomorrow I have to take pictures of 2 show dogs and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on taking pictures of dogs. Im pretty new to photography so any help would be appreciate it. Its going to be a cloudy day no sun so from what i hear thats the best time to take pics outside is this true??? I will be using my new Canon 60D and 70-200 2.8 is is. Also I keep hearing people talk about White balance not sure what it does or in what situation I would be using it. well all help will be appreciated Thanks

[kuma1212]

What type of pictures do you need to take? Are they for a fun, pet portrait style? Or more of a documentation of the show dogs size, proportions, etc? Will they be still or running around? A cloudy day can be ok for shooting. The clouds can act like a giant diffuser for the sun and eliminate harsh lighting. Since you'll be outside, your 60D will likely do a decent job of white balance if you put it to auto white balance. If you shoot in RAW, you can always adjust the balance later by yourself.

I would bring your 50 also in case you want some shots with shallower depth of field. It's harder to get the focus right on if you're not used to it though, so don't be afraid to take a lot of frames. If the dogs are moving a lot, go to AI servo focus mode, and that can help.

Show dogs are usually pretty well behaved and that makes your job tons easier. Have fun!!

[bayberry]

Yes clouds are nice to diffuse the light, but I like to add my own lighting to give the image some life. Your lens choice is good, especially when you do shots where the dog(s) are facing you or partially facing you. You want to be well away from the dog in this case and zoom in to where you want to be or you will have a distorted pooch with the huge head and small body. Be sure to get down on the ground and shoot either up or directly across, never look down on your subject. Also make sure you have an assistant to bait the dogs and get their attention and ears up for the shot. And backgrounds backgrounds backgrounds. No matter how well you adjust your settings and how great the dog looks in the picture, it's still not a good picture if it doesn't have a pleasing background.

[Todd Lambert]

Use a reflector and put the dog in direct light. Then use the reflector to get light into the nooks and crannies of it's face. Obviously, don't shoot at noon... somewhere in the late afternoon works much better.

These were shot exactly as I described above. I used a simple silver reflector (use can use big sheets of white cardboard or foamboard, if you don't have a reflector.) It was partly cloudy, so I shot them mostly under trees where the sun was coming through nearby... used the reflector to re-purpose the light and get their faces to show up.

http://lambertphotography.com/forums/dogs/boxers-4.jpg

http://lambertphotography.com/forums/dogs/boxers-2.jpg

http://lambertphotography.com/forums/dogs/boxers-5.jpg

http://lambertphotography.com/forums/dogs/boxers-1.jpg

[JJ360]

Great pics todd what lens did you use?

[Todd Lambert]

Thanks! These were shot with the 85L mostly.

Get or make yourself a reflector, it will work wonders if you have any sun at all. Of course a flash will work too, but it's harder to get right and in my opinion, can look fake in a lot of instances. Natural light is always best, in my opinion.

Oh, and shoot your images in RAW format. This will allow you much more latitude in lifting underexposure and dealing with overexposure. You'll also be able change your white balance after the fact, so then you don't need to worry about it during the shoot.

[bayberry]

Right at the dogs eye level, very strongly back-lit by harsh late afternoon sun, considerable amount of flash power in softbox to overcome ambient light and get pleasing balance, fairly long focal length to avoid distortion:

Nikon D700
lens 80-200 2.8
SB-900 in lastolite ezbox camera right
ISO 200, f/4.5, 1/400, focal length 145mm
http://www.juliewardphotography.com/Dogs/Debi-2-19-11/05/1193116203_JKKcJ-XL-3.jpg

Taken in the shade with just a reflector camera right to add a little fill and balance
ISO 200, f/5, 1/250, focal length 155mm
http://www.juliewardphotography.com/Dogs/Debi-2-19-11/32/1193137818_t9KzJ-XL-3.jpg

In the full direct sun with a scrim to diffuse the light on his face
ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/200, focal length 185mm
http://www.juliewardphotography.com/Dogs/Debi-2-19-11/25/1193130553_duR5A-XL-3.jpg

[JJ360]

That lens takes awesome pics... So where do you place the reflector?? I'm new to photography so sorry if I ask dumb questions

[JJ360]

Wow bayberry now that's the type of pictures I want to take

[Todd Lambert]

No such things as dumb questions!

You basically place the reflector wherever you need to, in order to bounce the sunlight onto the dog. Think of it as using a mirror as a spotlight. You aim the reflector towards the bright light, and then tilt it in order to make it bounce onto your subject. It takes a bit of practice and with moving light, it can be a bit of a task, but generally it's easy enough to do that I've let complete novices assist and do the lighting. Once they "get" the concept of where the light is bouncing, it's really easy and they have no problems with it.

[JJ360]

The dogs don't get distracted by the reflector? Also what types of things do you to get their attention?? Todd look at my other post titled what did I do wrong my pics look like crap LOL I posted some pics of the dog.

Bayberry did you do anything to the pics in Photoshop or lightroom??? I love them

[Todd Lambert]

I actually saw your other post. It looked like you simply had too slow of a shutter speed. For a long lens, you need to be at least 125/sec and with dogs, it's best to be at least 1/200 sec.

The dogs will be distracted by the reflector, yes. But, they'll be distracted by popping flashes too. At least with a reflector, they're not as intimidated as with a Flash. It's slow and constant... so once they're used to it being there.. they're fine. Some dogs never get used to a Flash (or people for that matter!)

[kuma1212]

Beautiful pics Bayberry!

[bayberry]

The dogs don't get distracted by the reflector? Also what types of things do you to get their attention?? Todd look at my other post titled what did I do wrong my pics look like crap LOL I posted some pics of the dog.

Bayberry did you do anything to the pics in Photoshop or lightroom??? I love them

No, I have never had a dog be distracted by a reflector or flash. And to get their attention the handler uses food and/or toys. I also will make ridiculous noises if I want them to look directly at me with an engaging expression. Both of the dogs in the photos above are puppies and even they weren't distracted. People freak out about what they think flash might do much worse than the actual animals do.

And yes, I process my raw files using Capture NX2 mostly and some in Photoshop CS5. I try to get each image exactly as I picture it in my mind and do as little as possible in post.

[JJ360]

Do you guys use the center focus point or toggle from focus point to focus point?

[Todd Lambert]

I typically use the point nearest my desired object.

[bayberry]

Do you guys use the center focus point or toggle from focus point to focus point?

I always use the center as it's the most sensitive. I set the focus where I want it then recompose my shot as needed.

[JJ360]

Thank you

[Jose72388]

You guys must own very tame obedient dogs....because I know for sure the best tip for my dog is obviously to have a bag full of tasty treats.. so she obeys my every command