Taking better photos of your pets

We all love our pets and want to capture them on film, but that's not as easy as it sounds. The following is a guest post by veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright on how to take better photographs of your dog, although I think it applies to all pets. I hope you find it helpful. Here is Dr. Wright's advice:

"If you're a dog lover, as I am, you'll agree that our dog's photos deserve to be displayed on the wall along with those of our other family members. However, we usually prefer to only have our best images on show, and dogs can be quite difficult to photograph.

Here are the three things to keep in mind when you're photographing your dog.

Location, location, location.
If you're going to go to the trouble of taking good photos of your dog, make sure you choose an attractive location. Perhaps you live near the beach, or some pretty gardens. Nice surroundings will make all the difference to your images.

When you've chosen your location and posed your dog, make sure there isn't a light pole or a tree in the background that looks like it is sticking right out of your dog's head.

Experiment with your positioning, by crouching down at your dog's level to photograph him. Alternatively, lying down and photographing him against the sky can create a great image.

Know your gear.
Taking good photographs of your dog is a lot easier if you're familiar with all the features of your camera. You can take good photos with a small compact camera but you have more flexibility with a SLR camera. Digital photography means you can take lots of photos of your dog and check them before you have them printed, so don't skimp on pushing that shutter button.

At the very least, know how to use your zoom button, so you can fill the frame with your dog without having to get close to him. That way you can avoid curious nose prints on your lens!

Knowing how to use your flash is also important – if you were to take a photo of your dog against the sky, you'd need to turn your flash on to avoid him being in shadow in the final photograph.

Know your dog
I've always found it easiest to take good photos of my dog if I can tell him to sit and stay, then move away and compose the shot. Basic obedience training makes it so much easier to take good dog photos. At the very least, your dog should be able to sit, drop and stay. If your dog is well trained, you can also remove his collar and leash, which will make for a much nicer photograph.

It's a good idea to keep a washcloth or some baby wipes in your bag to wipe any saliva or eye mucus away before you take the photograph. This is even more important if you own a mastiff or other breed that is known for its drooling.

Your dog will look better if you photograph him from a 45 degree angle, rather than from directly in front of him. If you have a friend to help you, and your dog is trained well enough, you can use a squeaky toy to get a lovely alert expression on your dog's face. His ears will be erect and he'll often tilt his head to one side. Be careful though, he may just rush on over to see what's making that noise.

Good dog photography takes patience and preparation. By taking a little time before your photo session with your dog, you'll be able to take photos that you're proud to display on your wall."

This guest post is brought to you by Dog Fence DIY's staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY will help you choose the right system for you and your pet. Dog Fence DIY has a variety of pet containment systems including the Innotek SD 2100 system. They are here to answer questions, help with installation, and give you the best price.
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(I have provided this guest post by Dr. Wright for the benefit of my readers. I have not been compensated in any way by Dog Fence DIY or Dr. Wright)