I'm definitely no expert in the field of photography, but it's a huge hobby and pastime of mine. One of the reasons I wanted a dog was to get outside more and have something to photograph! Everyone loves pictures of dogs more than they do of humans, so it's definitely something you want to take the time to learn!
1. Set your camera to Continuous-Auto Focus mode. This will help do wonders when it comes to capturing your fast-moving puppy. I had struggled so much with blurry pictures because Sora had such a hard time standing still (and still does) when we're outside with all of life's distractions.
2. Exercise your dog first! Before you attempt a photoshoot, make sure to walk your dog a bit beforehand and to also have them potty, that way they'll calm down a little bit and they'll be easier to photograph.
3. Use a Tripod. If you're trying to get photos of you with your dog, then it's critical to have a tripod! I prefer to use my iPhone for pictures with my dog, and I bought a foldable tripod off Amazon that also has a clicker to capture the photo. It makes taking photos 10x easier.
4. Use a long-leash. If you're on a less crowded trail and it's allowed, use a ~30ft leash. I got a cheap one off amazon and it's been amazing! It's almost impossible to get good, candid photos of Sora when I use our regular walking leash. The angles are hard to achieve and she mostly gets frustrated with me holding her back. When I put her on the long leash she'll go and explore a little, and I can step back to capture her.
5. Pack some high-value treats. This is a given, but come prepared with some high-value treats that they love in order to get their attention. These have to be something that is more exciting to them than the ordinary treats since it will be competing with squirrels, other dogs/humans for your pup's attention.
6. Learn Adobe Photoshop. I think things like leashes can really take away from the artistic aspect of a photo, and if your dog is anything like mine, you can't trust them off-leash, so it's not an option to photograph without one. Photoshop is super easy to use and will help make your photos even more creatively beautiful!
Here's a before and after picture with just a few seconds of editing:
7. Plan your shots ahead of time. If you can, try to imagine some shots that you want to capture. I like to have an idea of what I want based on where I'm shooting and what the surroundings are. This will help you keep focused on what you're trying to achieve.
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