Before we start, pick up your phone and go to your camera roll. What do you see? A few selfies, some screenshots, and (weâd bet) a bunch of dog photos. Maybe they’re of your pet, or a very friendly pooch in the park, either way few people are strong enough to avoid grabbing a shot when a dog is nearby.
The problem is, for all their charm and good looks, dogs often arenât the best subjects. They get shy, struggle to sit still, and are easily distracted. But there is an art to taking a good dog picture. Just ask Heather and Dan from Dog Photog–the very cute and cool dog portrait studio youâve definitely seen all over Instagram.
We ask them for their top five tips for how to take a good dog photo.
#1: Scrub Up

âEnsure your dog is looking it’s best. That means clean off those eye goobers and brush out that fur.â
#2: Sweet Talk

âMost dogs have favourite words or phrases that make them give ‘cute face’. Pull out your best ‘wanna go to the PARK?’ tricks. If your dog is deaf perhaps it can recognise hand signals to get that excitement up.â
#3: Accept BribesÂ

âSome dogs pose for only one thing–treats. Make sure they are ‘high value’ treats. Stinky treats also work great for deaf and blind dogs as their noses still work great.â
#4: Get Down

âGet on your dog’s level. Get on the ground–crawl around – have fun with it.â
#5: Go ProÂ

âCome to us! Got a black, curly dog that won’t sit still? Sometimes you need professionals–or glue.â
For more great dog photos, or to see about organising your own pet portrait, check out Dog Photog and follow them on Instagram.
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