To photograph your dog in a new collar, go outside in soft light, get down to your dog's eye level and use a treat held just above your phone to lift their chin. That shows the face and the collar together, which is the whole point of the picture.
You don't need a real camera. A phone, a pocket of treats and a bit of patience will do it. Here's how.
What's the best light for photographing a dog?
Soft, even daylight. Bright midday sun makes your dog squint, blows out white fur and hides black fur in shadow. It also flattens the colours in a printed collar.
Better options:
- Open shade. The shady side of a house, a porch or under a tree on a sunny day. Your dog's face stays evenly lit and the print keeps its colour.
- Cloudy days. Clouds act like a giant softbox. Overcast is great dog-photo weather.
- Early morning or late afternoon. The light is lower and warmer, and your dog's eyes pick up a catchlight.
- Indoors, by a window. Turn off the overhead lights and put your dog side-on to a big window. Mixed lamp and daylight turns fur orange.
Avoid the flash. It makes eyes glow and startles a lot of dogs, and a startled dog won't sit still for the second shot.
How do you get your dog to look at the camera?
Hold a treat or a squeaky toy right above your phone. Your dog looks at the treat, which means they look almost straight down the lens.
A few things that help:
- Tire them out first. A walk or a game of fetch before the photos makes for a calmer model.
- Use a new noise. A squeak, a kissy sound or a word they don't hear often gets a head tilt. It only works a few times, so have your finger on the button.
- Keep sessions short. Five minutes, then play. A bored dog turns away and a stressed dog yawns and licks their lips.
- Pay the model. Every good pose earns a treat. They'll pose faster next time.
If your dog won't sit, don't fight it. Walking shots, sniffing shots and lying-on-the-grass shots are often the best ones anyway.
How do you make the collar show up in the photo?
A collar sits low on the neck and fur loves to hide it. A few small changes bring it into the frame.
- Get the chin up. Holding the treat slightly above the lens lifts the head and opens up the neck, so the collar isn't tucked under a jowl or a ruff.
- Shoot from the front or three-quarters. Straight side-on views often show only a thin line of collar. A slight angle from the front shows the width and the print.
- Smooth the fur. On fluffy dogs, run a hand over the neck so the strap sits on top of the coat, not buried in it.
- Turn the name to the front. If the collar is embroidered, slide it round so the name faces you. The buckle can sit at the side.
- Check the fit while you're there. A photo is a good excuse. You should still slip two fingers under the strap. If you can't, or if the collar hangs down the chest, recheck the size with the size guide.
Pick a background that doesn't fight the print. A busy flowerbed behind a busy bandanna pattern looks like noise. Plain grass, a wall or a wooden fence lets the collar stand out.
What angle makes the best dog photos?
Eye level. Standing up and pointing down makes your dog look small and shows mostly the top of their head. Kneel, sit or lie on the ground so the phone is level with their eyes.
Try these once you're down there:
- The close portrait. Fill the frame with head and neck. Tap on your dog's eye to focus. This is the one that shows the collar best.
- The full body. Step back and leave space around your dog. Good for a matching collar and leash, or a harness.
- The detail shot. Get close to the stitched name or the buckle. It's a nice extra picture and it shows the work up close.
- The action shot. Use burst mode (hold the shutter button) while your dog trots towards you. Most frames will be blurry, one will be great.
Use portrait mode for still shots if your phone has it. It blurs the background and makes your dog pop. For moving dogs, switch back to the normal camera, which focuses faster.
How do you photograph a dark or black dog?
Dark dogs are the hardest to photograph. Faces turn into a black shape with two shiny eyes.
- Always use open shade or overcast light. Bright sun and dark fur is the worst mix.
- Face your dog towards the light. Stand with the window or open sky behind you.
- Tap to focus on the eye, then drag exposure up. On most phones, you tap the screen and slide your finger up to brighten.
- Choose a bright collar. A light, colourful print like blue bandanna shows up far better against black fur than a dark camo. A matching set in the same bright print frames the whole dog.
White dogs are the opposite: shade is your friend, and slide the exposure down a touch so the fur keeps its texture.
Ready to take the photo? Go outside in soft light, get low, hold a treat above the lens and take a lot of pictures. Then pick the one where the eyes are sharp and the print shows. If you're still picking the collar, browse the handmade dog collars and choose a print that suits your dog's coat.
FAQ
Should I take photos of my dog as soon as the new collar arrives?
Give it a day or two. Most dogs scratch at a new collar at first, and photos go better once they've stopped noticing it. Let them wear it on a couple of walks, then pull out the phone.
What print shows up best in dog photos?
Contrast matters more than the print. Bright prints stand out on dark coats, and deeper colours or camo show up well on white, cream and gold dogs. If your dog has a mixed coat, pick the colour that doesn't appear anywhere in their fur.
Can I photograph my dog with the leash on?
Yes, and it's often safer outdoors. Hold the leash loosely out of shot, or clip it to the collar and let it trail. A matching leash in the same print looks deliberate rather than distracting.
Find a print that looks good in every photo in the dog collar collection.