Photo Guide

INKOPIOUS PHOTO GUIDE

Taking pictures of dogs is the definitive reason the camera was invented, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Well, actually plenty of butts so long as they’re dog butts.

As a responsible dog owner, you become responsible for showing off pictures of your pup on the internet. While it’s true that any picture with a dog in it is automatically cute, refining your photography skills will only make your photos cuter. Here are some simple dos and don’ts for your pet photography that will bump your pictures to the next level!

HEAD OUTSIDE

Too dark. Low light can make photos that are blurry and lacking detail.

GET ON THEIR LEVEL

Too high! An extreme downward angle doesn't look good on anyone!

PERFECT!

Just right! Eye level and bright!

Body is blocked and is not a natural posture. Too dark

Not a flattering angle. Too dark

Fill the frame! More dog means more detail. However, it is possible to get too close.

DO'S:

Be generous with the treats!

Doling out the dog treats is a great way to grab your puppy's attention and keep them focused and more importantly happy!

Get creative!

Bring your own uniqueness into the picture! Do you have a hobby or a passion that you can bring to the photoshoot? Use that as inspiration even if it’s in the background. For example, if you have a green thumb, bring your pup into the garden.

Take them outside

Sunlight is a great natural light source. The outdoors are full of distractions but dogs are pretty much always happy to be outside. A happy pup will always make for a better picture.

Get on their level

A simple trick that will help make your pictures look fantastic is having your camera at eye level. Pictures taken at this height bring a new perspective to your pup, showing them from an angle we don’t normally see.

Capture their personality

What is it about your dog that makes you smile? Snap a picture that helps you show that quality! Does your dog love to roll around on their back in the most adorable way? Get an action shot of them belly up!

Let them play

Letting your pup just be a dog is one of the best ways to show their personality. Capturing action shots in the middle of playtime is a great way to show off how adorable they are.

Have good lighting

Unless you’re going for some smokey film noir scene, make sure there’s plenty of lighting for your pup so the world can see them! You don’t want to blind them but make sure they aren’t soaked in shade, especially if your pup has dark fur.

Have patience

Your dog loves you but unless they are a professional, they probably don’t have much of a concept of a photoshoot. Getting that perfect shot might take a while but it’ll happen eventually!

DON’TS:

Put your pup in direct sunlight

This can scrunch up your dog’s face and wash out the image so that you can’t see any details.

Put them in any potential danger

We know your dog is super but leave leaping from building to building to Superman. If you’ve got a cool idea but it would put your dog in danger, it’s not worth it! See if you can take pictures and then edit them later to achieve your concept.

Yell at them

If your dog isn’t listening, raising your voice and getting upset with them won’t help. Especially if they’re new to taking pictures or in a new environment they’ll likely not be able to follow instructions as well as you’re used to.

Overstimulate them

If you have a posse of puppy people around you for support this might backfire if everyone’s trying to help at once. Keep it simple, just you and your pup.

Put them in brand new situations and expect them to behave calmly

If you bring your pup to a cool new place to grab a cool shot, give them some time to explore the area. Once they’re calm and happy, then bring out the camera.

Force them into a certain position or pose

Physically forcing your pup into a position or pose can harm them and doesn’t really work. It’s much better to lead them to the area you want them to be in and have patience. It’s likely they’ll find a pose that’s even better than what you’d initially imagined!

The most important thing to remember is to have fun! Puppy pictures bring joy and smiles into the world so you should be smiling when taking them! One of the best reasons to work at Inkopious is that we get to look at pictures of dogs all day. We have a monthly dog model contest so there are plenty of pictures to browse but we’re always looking for more!

We’re going to be offering a new style of color doodle on the site starting in October and Michele is looking for as many models as possible to draw. If you want Michele to peep your pup’s best pic and draw it in her new colorful style, follow us on Instagram and tag your favorite picture with #inkopiousdoodlemydog.