How do you get a decent photograph of your dog when they won’t cooperate? Naomi saves the day with some tips on taking a great picture.

I remember the night before Naomi came over my house to take pictures of Ricky and me. I was nervous because Ricky, being a rescue dog, got frightened when guests came over. He met Naomi before, but he just didn’t do well when people were over my house. Ricky was better than he was when I got him in 2014, but he still had his issues. Naomi reassured me everything would go well and not to worry. She had experience taking pictures of dogs and it would all work out. Even though I was still a bit scared, I knew Naomi’s work and trusted she would do a great job.

The day of the photo shoot, Naomi arrived at my house, camera in hand and ready to work. I don’t know what kind of spell she cast on Ricky that day, but he was so calm and collected. Really! No barking, no growling, just a dog ready to get his picture taken. The shoot couldn’t have run more smoothly, and I couldn’t have been happier with my photos.

I recently spoke to Naomi about how she got started taking photographs, her experience with dogs and more.

How did you get started taking photos of dogs?

I had a client ask if they could bring their dog to a photo session, and I said sure! At first I was a little nervous, just like I was the first time someone wanted to hire me for a wedding, newborn pictures, or anything that could be a little more challenging than a standard family shoot. You never really know how a dog is going to behave around a camera! But maybe I was biased by my own dog—Taylor, a shiba inu—who doesn't pose for me. Because I've only ever been pleasantly surprised at how sweet and photogenic my clients' dogs are! They could all be on postcards, it's amazing.

How does taking photos of dogs compare to taking photos of people?

I would say the experience is like shooting toddlers and babies—you just get so excited when they're looking at the camera and sitting nicely. Ha!

How do you handle an energetic or tired dog when you're taking his/her photo?

A dog is going to listen and respond to his or her family better than they'll respond to me, so it helps a lot when their "mom" or "dad" takes charge of the situation. I'll ask them to bring their dog's favorite toy and I'll squeak it above my head to get their attention. Sometimes I'll meow, and then I'm immediately like, "I hope that wasn't awkward for the humans around." But there isn't much I won't do to get a great shot!

How do the families act when they get their dog photographed, especially if it’s a puppy?

I've had a few families bring puppies to a shoot, and oh my gosh. Puppies just steal the show. Who doesn't love a puppy? Overall, they do treat their dogs like family. If you're getting portraits of your dog to display proudly, this is obviously someone you cherish and I just love that sentiment.

Where can people contact you to get their dog photographed?

I'd love to capture your dog's personality on camera! You can follow me on Instagram @nashvillefamilyphotos and check out my website: nashvillefamilyphotos.com. I do pet portraits, family portraits, and lifestyle shots of you interacting with your dog.

After I spoke with Naomi, she shared 5 tips for taking better pictures of your dogs:

1. Get on their level: Crouch, sit, or even lay all the way down on the floor. Seeing your pet from that angle is precious and makes for a much better picture. Also, close-ups always look best.

2. Use natural light if you can: Professional photographers use natural light to our advantage. Avoid harsh lighting in direct sunlight. Shooting in the shade is perfect! If you have to be indoors, use a room with windows.

3. Take your time: The last thing your dog is concerned with is making sure you get a good picture, and that's okay! It's way less stressful for everyone if you make it fun with a little patience and a lot of play. If you really want to get some great shots, set aside at least 25 minutes and don't put pressure on your pup. They can totally sense that.

4. Get to know your camera before you begin: There's nothing more stressful than having your camera set to a mode that you don't understand in the middle of a shoot. Even if you're on Auto, it might be adjusting and exposing to things you don't want it to be. If you're shooting on a smart phone, practice with the portrait settings you have. Some of them take longer to capture the picture, and you can't always afford that extra time with an active dog!

5. Take lots of photos: It doesn't matter what I'm shooting, I take so many pictures and then go back and choose my selects when I sit down to edit. It's always better to have more options than not enough. And trust me, there are some awkward duds in there! But that's okay. So snap away and delete later.

Thank you Naomi for the great photo tips, and also for the awesome pictures you took of me and Ricky. I still love them and can’t wait to book our next session together.

You can contact Naomi@:

nashvillefamilyphotos.com

@nashvillefamilyphotos