Think your dog has to be trained to pose for a camera to book a dog photoshoot? Think again!
As a dog photographer, a comment I hear a lot is, “Oh, my dog could never pose like that- they’re not trained enough!” I always laugh because I think people would be shocked if they were a fly on the wall at a dog photoshoot. There’s barking, and tail wagging, obsessive sniffing, and what I can only describe as Canine ADHD- it’s pure chaos 100% of the time. The truth of the matter is, none of the dogs I photograph are trained models! The dogs I work with are normal family pets and fur-children, and even if they do know a few commands, they’re so excited at their photoshoot that they forget all their training (much to their person’s embarrassment- but don’t worry- it happens to everyone).
The reason it seems like the dogs I showcase on my website and on my social media pages must be trained to pose is because I have a few tricks and techniques to make it appear as if that’s the case. I use my knowledge of dog behavior and body language, combined with lots of positive affirmation, treats, and pets to keep dogs relaxed and at ease, and I take things at their pace. This, combined with photography knowledge and experience, and a sprinkle of Photoshop magic results in portraits that appear posed, when in fact, they are just carefully planned.
To demonstrate what I mean, here are a few shelter dogs I recently photographed. These dogs had little to no training, and had certainly never been in front of a camera before. I had an assistant stand off to the side holding the leash and I used squeak toys to get the dogs’ attention in my direction. All it took was a split second of them looking at the camera to get the result I was looking for. Then I just removed the leash in Photoshop, and the final result is an image that looks as if it was “posed.”
If you’re curious about a professional photoshoot for your dog, but are worried about how your dog might behave, I strongly encourage you to reach out! I am available to answer any questions you have and would love to help you create beautiful artwork featuring your dog to treasure forever!
About the Author/Photographer
Cheyenne Chavez is a photographer specializing in portraits for pets and their people in the Albuquerque Metro Area. She creates keepsake, heirloom quality artwork celebrating the bond that we share with the animals who make our lives brighter. to learn more about Cheyenne and the work she does, click HERE.