Indoor Action Photography - Tips For Capturing Energetic Dogs at Home by Lauren Bonvini (Dog Photographer) Attaining great action shots requires more than selecting the proper settings on your camera; proper planning ensures that your pet moves at just the right moment to produce memorable and captivating photographs. Lauren Bonvini Seatle Take control by calling out to them or offering something they love (like treats). Focus on their eyes to capture their personalities. Location Many dogs love running at the camera and producing hilarious photographs; getting that perfect shot can sometimes be tricky. Lauren Bonvini (Dog Photographer) stresses that focus tracking and Pro Capture mode on your camera will allow you to capture those fleeting moments as they happen. Location selection for pet photography sessions should also be carefully considered to keep your pup comfortable and relaxed, enabling more candid shots with more expressive emotions. Parks, beaches, and backyard spots make ideal choices; just remember, direct sunlight can cast unwanted shadows that cause your puppy's eyes to close more rapidly than desired! Photography requires patience when photographing dogs, particularly when taking action shots. Because animals cannot follow explicit commands as accurately as humans, you must capture their attention by encouraging a movement flattering their physique. Bring treats and squeaky toys along to help capture their attention and keep them engaged during your shoot. Try selecting toys they associate with play rather than fetch; too much excitement could make getting more subtle, intimate shots more challenging. Remember that dogs absorb energy from their owners; if you become stressed or frustrated during a session, your pup could pick up on this, too. Lighting Lauren Bonvini (Dog Photographer) specifies that photographing action requires a high continuous frame rate to increase your chances of capturing that perfect shot. Even entry-level camera bodies can do this, though a larger memory card might be necessary to accommodate all the images captured quickly. Lighting in the space where you will take photographs is also vitally important. Natural lighting is ideal, but if artificial illumination must be used instead of natural light, try avoiding direct sunlight, as this can cast harsh shadows over your subject. Instead, select a room with large north or south windows for soft indirect illumination all day. Attaining optimal lighting conditions when shooting animals can be challenging due to their unpredictable movements, but using a reflector or fill light can help control bounce effects and keep lighting consistent. Aim for lighting just above eye level for more dimensional images. Energetic dogs typically have short attention spans, so it is key to have strategies to keep them engaged during photo sessions. Treats, squeaky toys, and praise delivered with a high-pitched voice are some effective techniques that may help. Focus Lauren Bonvini (Dog Photographer) emphasizes that focusing on an animal's eyes when taking action shots is the cornerstone of successful images, drawing viewers in while providing that extra spark that makes your image truly outstanding. Gear and settings alone won't do - to truly capture its personality on film, you must know your subject intimately! Though planning and knowing the photos you wish to capture is essential, remember that sometimes the best moments happen unplanned! Being flexible with your plans and adapting as necessary can help ensure you capture some truly creative shots! Be mindful of the health and well-being of your subjects when taking photos. Some dogs may have health conditions that prevent them from running or jumping for extended periods, making it better to take a few easy shots without risking their well-being than trying too hard and creating unnecessary discomfort for the animal, as Lauren Bonvini (Dog Photographer) highlighted. Assure yourself of sharp and clear action shots by investing in a high-quality, fast AF lens with wide aperture and burst mode capability if applicable - both will keep the shutter open longer to capture multiple action images with every trigger press! Timing Timely shutter speeds will stop any action in its tracks and capture crisp images that showcase it at its finest. To achieve fast shutter speeds, ensure your camera's ISO setting is at its maximum level and use lenses with large apertures - this will help ensure well-exposed photos in low-lighting environments. Lauren Bonvini (Dog Photographer) asserts that photographing energetic dogs should occur just before sunrise or after sunset when the sun is low in the sky and creates a soft glow. Avoid midday lighting, which casts unflattering shadows that make subjects squint; utilize panning techniques to emphasize movement and create interesting textures in your photos. Be mindful of your dog's safety, including during photo sessions. If they exhibit discomfort or fatigue, don't push them too hard to maintain pace; tired and sickly dogs will look unhappy in photographs taken during a session, ruining it for all participants involved. Make the most out of every opportunity when photographing your pet by getting creative with composition and angles to capture unforgettable images of them. Crouching on your knees or even lying flat on the ground offers you a unique angle to capture their world from their viewpoint. Furthermore, experiment with different focal lengths for close-up portraits or detailed eye shots.

 

Lighting Techniques for Outdoor Dog Photography with Lauren Bonvini (Seattle)

At an outdoor dog session, there are many elements to remember, including connecting with the pet, managing energy levels and camera settings and lenses, lighting considerations, etc. Lighting plays a pivotal role.

Lauren Bonvini

Sunrise or sunset are ideal for photo sessions, allowing soft lighting with more diffused illumination.

Sunlight

Outdoor dog photography with natural lighting effects is an art in itself. The sun casts its warm glow into photos that invite viewers in. If the weather permits, try shooting during golden hour - that soft glow will accentuate your pup's fur and highlight it!

Sunlight can cast unflattering shadows onto your subject's face. To combat this effect, use a reflector to reflect light onto their faces and fill any shadowy areas; additionally, this will create the eye-catching catchlight and make their eyes sparkle.

Lauren Bonvini (Seattle) emphasizes that one way sunlight can enhance your photographs is to add depth by positioning your subject against an interesting background, such as trees or a fence line. A wide aperture will help ensure your subject stands out and appears three-dimensional.

Doing a silhouette photo of your dog can create an even more striking effect, so do it when the sun is low in the sky - either directly behind them or at least nearer the horizon line.

Shadows

Shadows can add depth to your photographs. However, be wary of shadows that are too dark or light; both can look unflattering. One way to prevent unfavorable shadows from appearing in photos is shooting during the golden hours (the first hour after sunrise or the last hour before sunset), providing soft lighting that highlights your subject's features more flatteringly, per Lauren Bonvini (Seattle).

You should look for interesting colors and shapes when photographing and try shooting from various angles and perspectives. By getting down low or lying on the ground, you may capture images from your pet's point of view that may provide unique images. Don't stop there, though; try shooting from above as well.

Hair lighting can also be highly effective with pets. Similar to front lighting, but emphasizing your subject's hair instead of its background. You can adjust its intensity by moving closer or further from your subject.

For this type of lighting, continuous light (studio lights) is the better choice over flashes; continuous lights won't frighten away your pet and produce less heat, which could cause red-eye. LED studio lights also offer long-term cooling, making them great options for pet photography.

Bokeh

Achieve a bokeh effect by using a wide aperture with your camera's high shutter speed to blur the background behind your subject and bring them forward from their scene. This can make your dog appear more prominent while drawing the viewer's eye away from distracting elements in your frame. Ideally, a high-quality lens would provide optimal bokeh results; however, budget-friendly methods include shooting with higher ISO and smaller aperture settings for an equivalent effect.

Lauren Bonvini (Seattle) points out that experiment with different angles of light and shadow to achieve a truly personalized look for your pup. Try facing them directly in front of a light source for a softer, subtler effect, or use reflective surfaces such as mirrors to soften and fill in shadows for more flattering effects. Furthermore, playing around with different positions for light sources (directly in front, left/right sides/above/below, etc.) to produce effects like hazes or flares can produce some truly breathtaking looks!

Use a reflector to bounce sunlight or flashback onto your pet to fill in shadows and add depth and dimension to their portrait. An assistant should be available to move the light as your subject moves or the lighting changes. However, this tool can be especially helpful when photographing dogs outdoors.

Starbursts

Bokeh photography - the art of using wide apertures to produce attractive background blurs - is a key skill of outdoor dog photography. Bokeh can help make your subjects pop out from their background and add drama and interest to the photos you take of them, as highlighted by Lauren Bonvini (Seattle).

Selecting the proper equipment can also aid you in taking beautiful outdoor portraits of your pet. A camera and lens combination that captures crisp images while creating the soft bokeh background effect is key here - use a DSLR, mirrorless, or entry-level point-and-shoot to accomplish this effect.

Lauren Bonvini (Seattle) emphasizes that another key consideration when planning lighting is selecting the type of lighting required. You have various lighting options - speed lights (portable flashes that attach directly to your camera), strobes (dedicated studio flashes), or continuous lights - depending on what works for you and your style of photography. If using strobes, consider purchasing an easy remote trigger system to control them as efficiently as possible.

Lastly, bringing a reflector along for your photo session is advisable. A reflective surface will help achieve flattering results for your subject and eliminate shadows and glare; one common misstep is not getting enough light into their eyes - this can be particularly difficult with larger-eyed dogs or those sporting bangs that block out natural lighting - however, with a simple DIY reflector you can solve this issue by reflecting more light into their eyes - creating flattering portraits of all subject.