Dog portrait questions please

Janice

Janice

Suspended / Banned
Messages
11,626
Name
Janice
Edit My Images
Yes
Right...... tonight a friend who is going to have her teenage children photographed later in the year rung me and said they want some nice portraits of their yellow lab, Maisie.

I think with her lovley golden colouring she would look great with a green hedge as b/g out of focus or not, either way, a nice colour to go with the gold.

We are talking about soon........so advice needed regarding my limitation of scratched sensor. I have lenses: Canon 50mm, 75-300mm, Tamron 28-75mm

I hope to take some of her full body, sitting..........and some of just head and shoulders.

obviously the 28-75 2.8 would be best.... but... do I sit her far away from background and use a large aperture for blurring the background.. then no scratches will show.

Or do you think it would look better with the texture of a hedge on show?
 
Janice,

You mean somat like this.... (not mine just one in the park)?
woof.jpg



Your scratched sensor will not be a problem since you are going to be using f5.6 or less (the above was f4ish @ ~150-200mm). The low f and zoom blur the background.

Go for a sunny day and "chimp" as you dont want that lovely blonde fur blown out.

Have fun
 
Now youve managed to get the whole of its body in focus ... so sufficient dof for that...but the b/g oof so I think i need her to be quite far from the hedge to make sure it blurs out, while making sure all of her is in focus.
 
Yep.
The hedge is ancilliary IMHO. If you can get her on the brow of a hill (or kneel in the mud) then you could have her posed against the sky.
 
Holly_a.jpg

If the weather is bad & the dog is good try some studio stuff. this was shot using a studio flash through a white brolly. It has sold too.
It is also important to get down to the dogs level ( imagines Janice crawling about on all fours)!
 
Thats a good one ! :thumbs:
 
Aww what a nice photo, sawman. I will pick a sunny day, as they are local.

I cant take a background there, as I only have a sheet and no stands.. (I use a long bungee cord in my conservatory!) and they cant come here as my dog would probably unsettle a visiting one.

sawman said:
( imagines Janice crawling about on all fours)!
Click to expand...

Oi, oi !!! That's for a different forum altogether!! ;) :naughty: :lol:
 
I am sure you will get some good stuff though
 
Sawman is right about getting down to the dogs level.

I remember waking up the day after a photo shoot down on the beach with an extremely stiff neck, I could hardly move. I had been laid on my back with just my neck lifted trying to get just the shot I wanted.

I did get it though so it was worth it.

Have fun.

Andrea
 
Still having "Visions" of Janice on all fours in the mud!!!
 
this was with a 100mm at F2.8, slightly soft but think this is the sort of thing you're looking for? Grass in front spoils it but another grab shot, couldn't do anything about it

ML1W6378small.jpg
 
Aye Dod they have lovely canny eyes. Had a few Labs in my time. Not too fussy about what they eat either!
 
sawman said:
Still having "Visions" of Janice on all fours in the mud!!!
Click to expand...



I am quite capable of doing that, thank you! :D

When I took this ladybird macro....I was laying on my front with my elbows on the concrete. Hows that for an picture in your mind!! :lol:
 
sawman said:
Aye Dod they have lovely canny eyes. Had a few Labs in my time. Not too fussy about what they eat either!
Click to expand...

My black labrador isnt too fussy about rolling in badger's **** either!

That sure smells nice all embeded in his collar at the end of every walk!! :gag:
 
Right Dod, so if the background is a fair way away....and I use the 75mm at f5.6 or something that should do it I think. I love the background of yours.
 
Janice said:
Right Dod, so if the background is a fair way away....and I use the 75mm at f5.6 or something that should do it I think. I love the background of yours.
Click to expand...

That should do it, I might be tempted to go with F4 but not a lot of difference. I'm trying to find a shot of our old golden lab who died last year, was taken on film but I think I've got a scan somewhere, actually looked great in black and white.

And ours are quite partial to deer and badger as well. :gag: Rolling or eating, not fussy.
 
dod said:
And ours are quite partial to deer and badger as well. :gag: Rolling or eating, not fussy.
Click to expand...

My mums Cairn was a fond favourite of fresh cow p** and ikky decaying fish heads... :gag:
 
can't find that other shot but here's another grab shot, the owner put sunglasses onto the dog for fun and I got lucky, might be worth trying something similar with a couple of props if you can :)

ML1W3875small.jpg
 
This is a black and white of my boy, Jed.

Best dog Ive ever had in every respect....almost perfect, if it wasnt for the badger's ****!!!! :D

jed.jpg
 
Beautiful, looks nice and stocky too.
 
Hello Janice. Dog photography is a matter of taste (asin all Things)
With your sensor prob. the advice so far is good. Will add thet if you can, use a fairly long zoom (100-300) wide open, would always be my start point.
Standing-- try to be at a point level with the top of subjects shoulder at about 90degrees. Have owner stand at head end (out of shot- obvious) to keep subj. attention. Once in good position give signal to owner for stillness (hopfully this stillness affects the subj. longenough for a few shot) The long lens helps cut down distortion and keeps camera noise distraction to a minimum.
Head shot-- refer to Dods shot. Stay away from subj. and keep long lens - light from behind you is OK as long as eyes dont close. Sit subj. sideways to light and you. Put owner in front to control subj. Settled? OK. Make a 'farty noise' raspberry if you prefer. Just enough to turn subj. head and get ears up. Clic click. Beware some breeds are not supposed to lift ears so good to ask first. If thats the case. Make the noise and wait for the look and the ears to drop clic click. With the long lens wide open from distance you should remove possibility of main doggy pic faults. Metering average - not spot! A dullish day is best & use fill in for glistening coat. Sometimes even in the sun!! Take many more shots than you think you need. The one perfect portraite will be one of those you didn't take otherwise!!!! Have fun.
 
Janice said:
This is a black and white of my boy, Jed.

Best dog Ive ever had in every respect....almost perfect, if it wasnt for the badger's ****!!!! :D

jed.jpg
Click to expand...

That is a great picture of a handsome dog.
 
Sharkey said:
A dullish day is best & use fill in for glistening coat. Sometimes even in the sun!! Take many more shots than you think you need. The one perfect portraite will be one of those you didn't take otherwise!!!! Have fun.
Click to expand...

Those are really good points. This one was with fill in on a brightish day, starting to think I'm taking as many dog shots as bike shots :lol: Again, not a great shot but it does bring out her character I think

IMG_0307small.jpg
 
Sharkey said:
Hello Janice. Dog photography is a matter of taste (asin all Things).
Click to expand...

What a superb answer! Thank you for taking the time with all that. :thumbs:

When you say metering average...........centre weighted average, or matrix?

And manual or aperture priority? I usually do manual with spot, but maybe av + matrix or centre weighted may be best here.


and flashgun on auto ettl II to do its own thing?

I always think they look best with no collars on.....as nature intended.

What do you think...its a family pet not a show dog.
 
Gonna be horrid now so apologise first if anyone offended. Handsome the old boy is and a cracking shot for his owner. But sorry. If perfect is what we seek then he would have been sitting and eye contact down the lens. Head neck and possibly shoulders in frame but not the back. It distracts and spoils the lines. Again sorry if upset. A beautiful image. Just not a pro. shot.:exit: :embarrassed: :whistling:
 
sawman said:
That is a great picture of a handsome dog.
Click to expand...

Thanks Sawman.........he is called Jed....we had just come through Jedbrough when we were thinking of names!
 
Sharkey said:
Gonna be horrid now so apologise first if anyone offended. Handsome the old boy is and a cracking shot for his owner. But sorry. If perfect is what we seek then he would have been sitting and eye contact down the lens. Head neck and possibly shoulders in frame but not the back. It distracts and spoils the lines. Again sorry if upset. A beautiful image. Just not a pro. shot.:exit: :embarrassed: :whistling:
Click to expand...


You're right sharkey, its not a pro shot....just a quick shot in the garden with an older camera of mine while he was standing in the sun by the shed.

a family snap is all it is. Just popped it in to show the other guys what my labrador looks like.
 
I want another Lab, but my Russian Ferret Hound is good fun, especially when their are Pheasants about!
 
OK. not spot as a warning (cause dog coats will fool meter every time) Matrix - yes. AE always. Auto ttl -yes (but check regularly) No collars - yes. but with owners positive concent as doggy run away you get blame (careful). Pet dogs best doing stuff when trying for stand shot, but previous still applies. Try very very hard not to befriend subj. until after the shoot or be squshed when you attract its attention. alloooff is good and quiet. Thats it!!
 
Janice said:
You're right sharkey, its not a pro shot....just a quick shot in the garden with an older camera of mine while he was standing in the sun by the shed.

a family snap is all it is. Just popped it in to show the other guys what my labrador looks like.
Click to expand...

Abso -bloody lutly Janice and a cracking shot it is of a beauty. No offence.
 
None taken!! :thumbs:
 
Hi Sharkey

I am no-where near a pro and maybe I'm going wrong but I disagree about the eye contact.

I feel it much more important to portray the personality of the dog within its surroundings.

However I do have a slight disadvantage because most of the dogs I work with are downright blooming awkward Staffordshire Bull Terriers and to get them to look down the lens is flipping impossible but I have been quite pleased with some of the shots I have taken.

I hope this is worded ok, just trying to get a different viewpoint across.

Andrea
 
Some lovely shots here .... Janice, your picture of jed is beautiful.
Ill look forward to seeing how you get on as Im supposed to be taking some shots of a tiny Spaniel pup... but Ive been sidetracked by a paintbrush.
Dog will be fully grown by the time I get there at this rate!
 
staffitaxi said:
Hi Sharkey

I am no-where near a pro and maybe I'm going wrong but I disagree about the eye contact.

I feel it much more important to portray the personality of the dog within its surroundings.

However I do have a slight disadvantage because most of the dogs I work with are downright blooming awkward Staffordshire Bull Terriers and to get them to look down the lens is flipping impossible but I have been quite pleased with some of the shots I have taken.

I hope this is worded ok, just trying to get a different viewpoint across.

Andrea
Click to expand...

If you have a terrier giving his or her all at play (staring out the opposition) orcharmed by a toy then great shot to include the subject of the concentration. But, If you want to feel the strength of character of a terrier (specially a staff) then it has to be straight down the lens! The more intense the better. OK a good shot looking over the photographers shoulder, But a great one if the stare is down the lens straight at the person looking at the image.
I suppose in the end if you are after the fun aspect of a breed then looking soft, attentive funny etc are good things. So look at the customer and ask what they think of their dog and go with that.
 
You need plenty of room with the larger breeds Janice.
Let the dog settle if its in strange surroundings before you start,
the last thing you want is a nervous dog when your trying to stick
a camera in its face.

Try and get some shots with the dog lying down looking straight down the lens.
The best way to do this is to get the dog tired first.

18-06-05XC7E2629-02.jpg

Taken with Tamron 17-35

Long lens wide open gives a nice soft background, but make sure you have
enough distance behind the subject.
(closest thing I have to a lab)
Medp_C7E8037.jpg

Either 400mm or 800mm

You can also achieve a nice effect using your 50mm.
Get really close and use enough DoF to keep the important bits in focus.
(another lab impersonator).
MEP-_C7E4356-01a.jpg

Definately 50mm

I know they're not dogs, but the same techniques used on the seals can be
carried across to our K9 friends.

Don't be affraid to use flash, even if it is a bright day.
 
Matt said:
Try and get some shots with the dog lying down looking straight down the lens.
The best way to do this is to get the dog tired first.

18-06-05XC7E2629-02.jpg

Taken with Tamron 17-35
Click to expand...

Omg! I just want to lie next to it and make baby noises to it! What a cute puppy photo!!!:eek: :clap:
 
Apart from the usual sitting dog portrait type shots try throwing a stick or ball, if the weather is good and it's an energetic breed you will probably get some good action shots, as my recent ones of the border terriers show.

These are my two favourites....

Zeus1608_Biggles004.jpg


Zeus-8th-April0822.jpg
 
Thanks all, I love that photo of Biggles, Colin. I sometimes look at it in your gallery! :D

Action shots are out, they want a portrait.

Waiting till its tired is not a good idea I dont think.... it will be panting and not ideal for a portrait.

i will take lots of all types and they can choose!

The more I show the more they will like!! ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top