Personal Dog Photoshoot
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AndrewFlannigan
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First, remove all cats.
Even if one doesn't pick a fight with your model, s/he will disrupt the session and steal the show. It's a cat thing...
Even if one doesn't pick a fight with your model, s/he will disrupt the session and steal the show. It's a cat thing...
Phil V
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It’d help to know what exactly you want to achieve. My favourite place to photograph a dog is a nice spot of light in a wooded area
Doing a studio type shot? Would very much depend on the colour of the dog, the backdrop colour you’re choosing etc etc.
you’ve literally thousands of options.
Thank you for your response Phil. Thanks for asking for more information, I just had the studio type shot in my head without saying it, my bad. I like your wooded area suggestion - will give that a go too!
In terms of a studio type shot, my dog is a cream golden retriever, and so I'm not so sure how to handle lighting and backdrop in that instance. I fear her shape may get swallowed up by a white back drop? But not sure as I've never done anything in relation to portrait photography. I'm starting to think a darker backdrop would be good?
If you have any suggestions and their brief advantages / disadvantages, I would be very grateful, thanks.
In terms of a studio type shot, my dog is a cream golden retriever, and so I'm not so sure how to handle lighting and backdrop in that instance. I fear her shape may get swallowed up by a white back drop? But not sure as I've never done anything in relation to portrait photography. I'm starting to think a darker backdrop would be good?
If you have any suggestions and their brief advantages / disadvantages, I would be very grateful, thanks.
Phil V
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Difficult to do without writing war and peace.
Fortunately I got help from one of your other posts.
If you google golden retriever and select images, you should see a similar collection to the one I see.
The quality of the images is all over the place, and we’re all subject to our own taste too. It’s against site rules to post other photographers work so I’ll generalise.
The images I liked the best are backlit, shot at golden hour in nature and for this you might need a reflector or a small kiss of fill light. I’d use my 135 2.8 but a zoom would do a job. (You have experience of this)
The images I liked second most are action images, usually dog running towards camera. This takes a simple low vantage point, 70-200 and blast away.
The studio shots are a bit boring, and mostly white backdrop. I think this is overcomplicated for the result, requires more space than you need for a warmer backdrop and imo one more light. To lighting (assume studio flash heads and soft boxes), I believe the standard start position for dogs is a light from either side just behind the dogs head, which I think best shows the texture of the fur.
I have no idea what gear you possess, what your budget is, or your experience with lighting, so I’ll stop here, and happy to take more detailed questions.
One other point, if it’s your dog, don’t underestimate the amount of help you’ll need to handle the dog for shooting.
Fortunately I got help from one of your other posts.
If you google golden retriever and select images, you should see a similar collection to the one I see.
The quality of the images is all over the place, and we’re all subject to our own taste too. It’s against site rules to post other photographers work so I’ll generalise.
The images I liked the best are backlit, shot at golden hour in nature and for this you might need a reflector or a small kiss of fill light. I’d use my 135 2.8 but a zoom would do a job. (You have experience of this)
The images I liked second most are action images, usually dog running towards camera. This takes a simple low vantage point, 70-200 and blast away.
The studio shots are a bit boring, and mostly white backdrop. I think this is overcomplicated for the result, requires more space than you need for a warmer backdrop and imo one more light. To lighting (assume studio flash heads and soft boxes), I believe the standard start position for dogs is a light from either side just behind the dogs head, which I think best shows the texture of the fur.
I have no idea what gear you possess, what your budget is, or your experience with lighting, so I’ll stop here, and happy to take more detailed questions.
One other point, if it’s your dog, don’t underestimate the amount of help you’ll need to handle the dog for shooting.
Garry Edwards
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My thoughts are very similar to Phil's.
The studio can be a good environment for formal-type and 'cute' pics, but outdoor action shots seem to me to be a better all-round choice, especially for working breeds.
I have (sort of have, he lives on our farm and I don't, so I don't spend as much time with him as I'd like) a Border Wallie, bred for working sheep. When he's just sitting around he just looks like a pampered pet, when he's running around his personality and purpose in life comes through.
The studio can be a good environment for formal-type and 'cute' pics, but outdoor action shots seem to me to be a better all-round choice, especially for working breeds.
I have (sort of have, he lives on our farm and I don't, so I don't spend as much time with him as I'd like) a Border Wallie, bred for working sheep. When he's just sitting around he just looks like a pampered pet, when he's running around his personality and purpose in life comes through.
All great advice from the guys above whom are sooooooo much more qualified to answer than myself. That said if it's a simple studio type portrait I don't think you can go far wrong with just a black background.
If you have space and you can get far enough form the background (walls) and get the light close you will not need to buy a background paper.
Have fun & good luck.
Gaz
If you have space and you can get far enough form the background (walls) and get the light close you will not need to buy a background paper.
Have fun & good luck.
Gaz
Adam-G
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I did a set of my neighbour's beautiful Retriever for her a while back. I didn't do anything complicated. I picked a nice green space to contrast his colour, went with them nice and early to take advantage of the morning light. I used my 70-200 at the long end to get some nice background compression and shot low in the grass to try and get some layers to the photograph.
I get roped in to doing these for a lot of friends with pets and the most positive comment they'll give is that I have "really captured his/her personality" and for me that's the most important outcome.
I get roped in to doing these for a lot of friends with pets and the most positive comment they'll give is that I have "really captured his/her personality" and for me that's the most important outcome.
Thanks for all of these replies! I think you’ve all widened my view to what a dog photo-shoot is all about. I like the idea of capturing my dog’s personality outside, and I might use that as my primary focus. I’ll give a studio-style shot a go though, with the tips you’ve given, and see how I feel about the results.
snerkler
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Shooting dogs can be tricky as it can be difficult to get them to pose, and they lose interest quickly. Taking shots whilst they're outside on a walk, playing, running around etc can show much more of the character of the dog than a staged studio shot. That being said, when a studio shot is done well they look fantastic.
Black backgrounds are a good universal colour, and can even be used with black dogs, especially with good lighting. On the subject of lighting, if you really want to do a studio set up then you need to learn about lighting if you're serious about it. In fact you can create a black background without having a backdrop if you understand lighting, for example I shot this against a white background.
A7R01775 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr
I'd suggest a minimum of one strobe/speedlight, preferably two, alsong with a softbox(es)
A quick search on flickr for "Studio Dog" brings up these which you may find helpful for some ideas
Flickr Search — “studio dog”
www.flickr.com
Hanley
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I tried to do this in my garage last week, I've just setup a mini studio and been experimenting with off camera flash.
These were taken with speedlights and softbox but I've just purchased my first Godox AD400 Pro, I'll probably buy another in the next few weeks.
These pics are of my wife and our cockapoo Charlie, very hard to get him to sit / lay still though, we're training him with treats
I know these are far from perfect but these were my first attempt and I'll be putting a lot more practice in.
These were taken with speedlights and softbox but I've just purchased my first Godox AD400 Pro, I'll probably buy another in the next few weeks.
These pics are of my wife and our cockapoo Charlie, very hard to get him to sit / lay still though, we're training him with treats
I know these are far from perfect but these were my first attempt and I'll be putting a lot more practice in.
If he's anything like our cockerpoo he'll move just before you click the shutterI tried to do this in my garage last week, I've just setup a mini studio and been experimenting with off camera flash.
These were taken with speedlights and softbox but I've just purchased my first Godox AD400 Pro, I'll probably buy another in the next few weeks.
These pics are of my wife and our cockapoo Charlie, very hard to get him to sit / lay still though, we're training him with treats
I know these are far from perfect but these were my first attempt and I'll be putting a lot more practice in.
View attachment 459629View attachment 459630
TimHughes
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I like pics outdoors shot at dog eye level. Cat from https://catsdog.co.uk has lots of examples. As far as I recall, she has an assistant who holds a relatively large/soft fill light for most of the pics.
Hanley
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He does!!! As soon as he sees the camera he runsIf he's anything like our cockerpoo he'll move just before you click the shutter
I have just bought a Fuji GFX100RF which is quite small in comparison, and he doesn't seem to be as jumpy with that one, so I managed to grab a decent first test shot of him
gman
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For an indoor posed shot I have to use a treat to keep her still, then bring the treat down to the side of my lens so that she is looking straight at me (if that's the shot I want. Even better if someone else is dealing with the treat part.
For outdoor stuff, either if she's on the scent hunt through the woods, or having someone else throw a ball towards me so that she is in full sprint and you get that lovely shot. Although a subject coming straight at the camera tends to be one of the most difficult for the autofocus system to handle (perhaps not so much now with the latest mirrorless gear).
For outdoor stuff, either if she's on the scent hunt through the woods, or having someone else throw a ball towards me so that she is in full sprint and you get that lovely shot. Although a subject coming straight at the camera tends to be one of the most difficult for the autofocus system to handle (perhaps not so much now with the latest mirrorless gear).
GreenNinja67
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Black has always worked for me as a backdrop.
2 Lencarta 300 w/s studio strobes and a bagfull of treats to get the b****r to stay attentive
I've had success with a 100cm Bowens softbox on both strobes or a reflective brolly as the 2nd light.
It's all about trial & error.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2oB63t6]
Molly by Terence Rees, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2jKNeUi]
Rosie at 13 by Terence Rees, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/SBYeTT]
Get Back!!! by Terence Rees, on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/LcbHv9]
Rosie 2 by Terence Rees, on Flickr[/URL]
It needn't cost the earth & I find the lighting to be the easy bit.
Controlling the mutt's the tough part.
2 Lencarta 300 w/s studio strobes and a bagfull of treats to get the b****r to stay attentive
I've had success with a 100cm Bowens softbox on both strobes or a reflective brolly as the 2nd light.
It's all about trial & error.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2oB63t6]
Molly by Terence Rees, on Flickr[/URL][url=https://flic.kr/p/2jKNeUi]
Rosie at 13 by Terence Rees, on Flickr[/URL][url=https://flic.kr/p/SBYeTT]
Get Back!!! by Terence Rees, on Flickr[/URL][url=https://flic.kr/p/LcbHv9]
Rosie 2 by Terence Rees, on Flickr[/URL]It needn't cost the earth & I find the lighting to be the easy bit.
Controlling the mutt's the tough part.
Pets of all kinds prove to be quite a challenge for us photographers to capture interesting photos of them. You did quite well. Thanks for posting them.
I too, frequently take shots with black backgrounds, but I have 6 frequent use backdrops on 10' wide motor driven rollers. Black, Gray, White, chroma green, chroma blue, and a light blue satin looking pleated background that looks like a theater curtain are what I seem to use most,, so are on the roller system. I can change backgrounds between shots, and the subject being photographed frequently doesn't even know that I did it, but I have a 1 X 1 X 1/4" steel angle running across below the studio ceiling and in front of the roller system to temporarily hang other backdrops when I need to. Another method to get a black background is just to make use of the Inverse Square Law and use just enough light for the subject and not enough for lighting what's behind the subject. Of course you still need some distance behind the subject and no highly reflective objects back there for this to work well. I hide quite a bit behind my backdrop system because of the small size of my 19 X 26' shooting room in my home studio. Some times I use the black backdrop, but other times I've found that the Inverse Square Law and careful use of my lights is all than I need to hide things.
Charley
I too, frequently take shots with black backgrounds, but I have 6 frequent use backdrops on 10' wide motor driven rollers. Black, Gray, White, chroma green, chroma blue, and a light blue satin looking pleated background that looks like a theater curtain are what I seem to use most,, so are on the roller system. I can change backgrounds between shots, and the subject being photographed frequently doesn't even know that I did it, but I have a 1 X 1 X 1/4" steel angle running across below the studio ceiling and in front of the roller system to temporarily hang other backdrops when I need to. Another method to get a black background is just to make use of the Inverse Square Law and use just enough light for the subject and not enough for lighting what's behind the subject. Of course you still need some distance behind the subject and no highly reflective objects back there for this to work well. I hide quite a bit behind my backdrop system because of the small size of my 19 X 26' shooting room in my home studio. Some times I use the black backdrop, but other times I've found that the Inverse Square Law and careful use of my lights is all than I need to hide things.
Charley