Getting the Perfect Pet Picture

We want to remember our 25th birthday for years to come and what better way to reminisce than with photos. So, we’re encouraging our Arden Grange friends to share their favourite snaps with us. And to help you capture your pet’s best pose, we’ve teamed up with Megan Williams, Cotswolds-based pet photographer, and Kerry Jordan, self-taught canine photographer also known as Fur & Fables, to give you their top tips.

We challenge you to try and take some new shots of your pets this weekend using Megan and Kerry’s top tips below. We’d love to see them over on Instagram. Tag us and don’t forget to use #ArdenGrangePAWty, your pet could be featured in our hall of fame!

Also, why not enter your image into our 25th birthday photo competition here.

1) Find the Perfect lighting

Megan: “Lighting is always a challenge, especially in these winter months with the late mornings and early evenings, but light is the one thing that’s essential in any photo. When you’re outside with your dogs, try and find shaded spots for your photos. Although most people will look outside on a sunny day and think it’s the perfect opportunity for photos, it can actually make it trickier. A good trick is to always have your dogs looking into the sun, so their shadow falls directly behind them.”

2) Commands are key

Kerry: “Ever tried to take a pic of your pup but it turns out blurry because they’re wriggling around too much? One of the most basic things for PAWfect photographs of your dog is teaching them the wait command. By teaching your dog this, it means you can take a few steps away from your dog and frame the image without having to rush.”

3) It’s all about the eyes

Megan: “This is my most important tip: always focus on your dog’s eyes when taking the photo. We communicate with our eyes and they’re what we are drawn to first in an image. It can be a challenge with wriggling dogs to get the focus point right on the eyes, but if you keep practising your ‘wait’ command with your dog, I’m sure you’ll have it in no time!”

4) Get down low

Kerry: “Get as low as you can to the ground when taking photos of your dog; not only is it good for cutting out background distractions, but it captures the view from your dog’s perspective.”

Megan: “This will most likely involve getting wet and muddy on the floor so make sure you’re wearing appropriate clothing that you’re not worried about getting mucky. The dog’s eyes will be level with your camera, and you’ll be drawn into the way a dog sees the world. You will probably only have to sit or crouch on the ground to get normal shots; however, you could experiment with different angles too.”

5) Have fun

Megan: “Don’t forget to have fun! You wouldn’t be taking the photos if you didn’t enjoy it so keep praising your dog. Dogs are smart; they’ll remember bad experiences of you getting cross and associate it with whenever you bring the camera out. Instead, fill your pockets with toys and treats, praise them after each pose and play with them — making it one big, fun game. Get the whole family involved too and capture some beautiful memories.”

Kerry: “Don’t be afraid to experiment. Move around your dog, try different angles, don’t always put your dog in the centre of the image — just have fun with it.”

Happy snapping!

[Picture credit: Megan Williams]