His is a tutorial on dog photos from award winning animal photographer Alex Cearns.
I really like photographing all animals, but dogs will need to be my favorite subjects. They're our friends and our loyal companions pleased to see us and happy for every day they get to spend with us. I photograph around 1,000 dogs per year, and when working in my studio I find that continuous interaction keeps their attention for the duration of their session. I sit very near them, about 12 inches away. I work quickly and catch the pictures I need quickly -- by doing this, they do not have time to get bored. During a photo session that I shoot between 100-300 images, of that I reveal 30 to my customer at a later date. I like to capture more than I want to make sure I have not missed any of the presents. The sessions have a similar intensity to a puppy training session and require the exact same kind of mental focus from a dog, and they'll often have a rest when they get home. With organic mild dog photography, I use a shallower focus and try to picture against block color backgrounds. In many ways these images have a similar feel to my studio graphics that are photographed on clean white or black backgrounds. When photographing outdoors I utilize the same principles as I do in the studio and let my puppy subjects have free reign, waiting for the right moments and timing the shot to get what I want. Here are my top pet photo pointers to help you take fabulous dog portraits. Read more tips here. Dog Photography 14 I will start with this suggestion first since it's the most important of all of them. Nothing is worth doing if it is not enjoyable. Whether you are currently photographing indoors or outside, the simple key to animal portraits that are relaxed is to create an environment where your subject is happy. Making sure that your subject feels secure and at ease is the key to drawing out their true personality. Dogs' moods signify in their own faces and body language, and by creating their session a positive and fun experience, they will see their photo session as an adventure and reward you with big smiles and joyous energy. Just like individuals -- some dogs are active in the evenings, while some prefer to be up and around in the afternoons. Talk to the owners of your topic and select their pet's optimal activity time to your take. #2 | Plan your shot record Dog Photography 3 Taking the time to plan your shoot and the images you can view in your mind's eye is beneficial. Think about what you need out of your subject. During a shoot, I run through many touch shots in my mind and cross them off as I go. With dogs I aim for a half face, a zen puppy (eyes closed), a top five, one looking down, and a big grin, to name a couple. It can help to record the expressions and poses you are eager to capture and keep shooting until you check all of them off your list -- make sure you catch other poses outside your list in case your subject gives them to you. When a puppy repeats a behaviour or pose many times in my studio, then it is likely that it does exactly the same thing at home too and this is something that the owners will connect with in a photograph. Pictures tell stories, and by organizing the story you need to inform through your shots, you're more likely to catch all you need. Think of what you would like to shoot and that angle or scene may be interesting. Don't rely on your camera to do all of the work. It is merely a tool and the photographer is that the storyteller. Would you want to do a close-up? Full body shot? Have lots of background in the picture? All of these are things to consider and experiment with. #3 | Change perspectives Dog Photography 4 Canon 1DX MII and Tamron 70-200mm lens | 1/6400th sec at f/2.8 ISO 640 Be creative and try to photograph from other perspectives, angles and vantage points. There aren't any hard and fast makeup rules with pictures -- sometimes the most intriguing graphics are off-centre or even a bit quirky. Pets are closer to the floor than we are, so think about getting down to their level. By tapping on your knees or lying on the floor, you see things. Sit your subject on a seat to get them off the ground, which lets you aim for creative angles. Zoom in to get a eye image, or a close-up nose shooter. If photographing outdoors, make certain to look at your background for items beside or behind your topic. Studio photography contrary to block color backgrounds keeps it simple, but when photographing outside watch out for photograph bombing seats, people, rubbish bins, light posts, other dogs etc.. I do like to include a few environment within my outside images, to show the dogs' location or perspective. When photographing pets outside I often remove sticks and leaves out of the place I wish to shoot before I begin taking photos. Something so quick and simple can save hours of editing afterwards and makes for a much nicer picture.
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September 2019
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