1. Try to take the photo from the dog’s eye level.  Lay on the floor, grass or dirt--whatever it takes. You can always put the dog on a chair or table to get eye level.

2. Taking shots outdoors is usually the most reliable. The sun shows off the dog’s coat the best, and you don’t have to worry about the harsh sun, like you might when photographing people.  This works especially well with dark-colored dogs. Open shade is great when photographing pets together with people.  Get in close and do some headshots. Also, let the dogs run to provide some scenic backgrounds. 

3. If you are shooting outside, make sure trees, poles, and other distracting elements are not within the frame of your photograph.  I never try to get the pet to sit on a mark until I’m absolutely ready to take the shot.

4. The further away the dogs are from the background, the more the subject will stand out. When using flash indoors, stay away from the walls to avoid getting harsh shadows on the background. I recently shot a dog in the house and opened the front door to allow the natural light to come in. Combined with the room lights, it gave the background a wonderful warm, golden color.

5. Use fast film like ISO 400 to be able to shoot in natural light indoors.

6. The dog does not always have to be in the center of the frame. It can make your shot more visually interesting to have the dog off-center.

7. If you want the dog to tilt its head or ears, make sounds.  A squeak toy near the lens will work just fine.  Remember, the dog will only pay attention for a short time, so work fast before he stops paying attention to the sounds.

8. It can be helpful to have a friend or family member assist you. When I shoot, I like the dog’s owner to stand next to me or under my lens to help keep the dog calm.  One thing I learned from Cesar is how important it is to be calm. I try never to be excited or raise my voice. Recently, some friends asked me to take pictures of their new puppy. They said he would not sit still for them, so I very calmly sat on the floor and waited for the dog to come to me. As the dog walked around, I snapped some pictures, and the session was over in a few minutes. Being calm and assertive made it so easy.

9. Calling out your dog by his name is not a good thing. Most dogs will come when you call their name. Always remember exercise, discipline, and affection, which means your dog should get plenty of exercise before you do your photo shoot.  I just photographed the cover for Cesar’s new book, coming out next spring, and he walked the dogs around the park for a very long time while I set up my shot.  (You can see how relaxed everybody looks in the photograph!)

10. Try not to get frustrated. I only have one chance to get the shot, so I have to be fast and well-organized.  If you don’t get the photograph you want, you can always get it another day.

11. Take breaks. Play ball.  HAVE FUN! If you have fun, so will your dog. And remember there really are no rules: it’s ok to take risks and be creative.