Pet Photography:
How to take Great Dog Pictures
There are many reasons why you (or your client) may need good quality photographs of your/their pet: to advertise a pedigreed dog (for stud service or on a kennel's website), to have its portrait painted or to hang its photo on the wall along with the other family portraits.
While hundreds of books have been written on photography, yet only a handful of these have addressed canine or pet photography specifically. The concerns of the dog or pet photographer are rather specific. Coat color and texture need special attention. The dog's expression is determined by the eyes and body forms, but also, which is often forgotten, by the ears (which, depending on the breed, should be 'up') and nose (which should be wet). The dog photographer has to know his subject well, i.e. have a thorough knowledge of the breeds and know that photographing a Bulldog is not the same as photographing a German Shepherd. Good planning, anticipating problems and insider-tips are the most important parts of getting great pictures of your dog.


To get good photos worthy of framing you may seek a professional photographer, but you may also seek expertise advice in books and take these beautiful pictures yourself. For those of you who are already professional photographers, the following tips and books will be helpfull, as dog photography is really an art in itself. Once you understand the art of taking perfect pet photographs you may decide to monetize your pet photography or start your own home-based pet photography business.

Pet Photography NOW!:
 
A Fresh Approach to Photographing Animal Companions
by Paul Walker
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Pet Photos for Profit
Kindle Edition
More information:
PhoDOGraphy:
How to Get Great Pictures of Your Dog
by Kim Levin
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher:
Amphoto Books; 1 edition (October 28, 2008)
Great examples of dog portraiture, plus tons of ideas for fun new places to pose your furry friend. PhoDOGragphy covers every topic you can imagine regarding photographing dogs, from photographing
Pet Photography Now! by Paul Walker
Canine photography is really a mix of plan and accident. You have to plan the general composition of the photo, find a good background, choose the type of lighting (sunlight, flash, artificial lighting and available light), determine the correct exposure, shutter speed and aperture. The final pose of the animal and especially its expression will often be unpredictable. However, you can influence these elements by, for example, your own positioning, the correct use of flash and the help of props (like toys and treats).

The following books provide expert advice along with tested techniques for getting a dog to look in a specific direction, capturing a variety of expressions, exposing detail in all-white or all-black fur, avoiding dog red-eye, choosing shutter speeds and much more. They also explain no-fail lighting, equipment, and "getting acquainted" tips to help you capture the best possible results. Finally, we have also selected a couple of books covering the aspects of setting up and running a thriving home-based photography business.
dogs indoors, outdoors, dogs in motion, how to make use of different weather conditions and seasons, photographing single dogs, multiple dogs, puppies... and more. More information:
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Creative Canine Photography
by Larry Allan
Paperback: 144 pages. Publisher: Allworth Press (February 1, 2004)
Creative Canine Photography is an expert guide with plenty of practical tips to successful canine photography from capturing expressions and using correct lighting to avoiding red-eye and getting detailed exposures for all-white or all-black fur. It contains expert advice along with how-to photos and tested techniques for choosing shutter speeds for stop-action effects, getting a dog to look in a specific direction, capturing a variety of expressions, equipment and much more.
More information:
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Creatvie Canine Photography
Special techniques for working with dogs, cats, horses, birds, ferrets, reptiles, and other creatures are provided, including how to get the best expressions from pets with attention-getters suited to each type of pet. More information:

Professional Techniques for Pet and Animal Photography
by Debrah Muska.
Paperback:
128 p. Publisher: Amherst Media (2003)
This guide is intended both for existing animal photographers and newcomers looking to diversify their portrait business. Discusses the personality traits best suited to the business, ways to create a people- and animal-friendly studio, through the selection of decor, backdrops, furnishings, and props. Technical advice includes which lenses and cameras lend themselves to animal portraiture, the advantages of shooting digitally, and the best shutter speeds and apertures for the job.


How to Photograph Pets
Pet and Animal Photography
Bulldog Information
Photographing Animals & Pets (Pro-Photo Series)
by Jonathan Hilton
Paperback: 160 pages. Publisher: RotoVision (1998)
This book provides excellent details and examples of how to photograph pets (and exotic animals). The author provides tips on composition, lighting, equipment, etc.
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How to Photograph Pets
by Nick Ridley
Hardcover: 157 pages
Publisher:
Guild of Master Craftsman Publications (April 1, 2003)
A well designed book for readers with no prior knowledge about photography and who do not necessarily want to invest in expensive equipment.  Contains helpful tips about everything from a particularly helpful explanation of cats' and dogs' body language to choosing a suitable background and catching the animal in motion, composition and lighting. Smaller pets, like gerbils and hamsters, are also included.  More information:
Special tips on photographing puppies, black dogs and white dogs, and show dogs. Also includes ideas on making money as a pet photographer, creating scrapbooks and cards, and sending digital dogs over the Web make this book as essential as paper training. More information:
Love Your Dog Pictures: How to Photograph Your Pet with Any Camera
by Jenni Bidner
Paperback: 143 pages.
Publisher:
Watson-Guptill Publications (June 30, 2006)
Author Jenni Bidner, a professional photographer and rescue-dog owner/trainer, covers photography basics like equipment, exposure, and composition, and explains  how to capture the charm, personality, and good looks of any dog.

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Photographing Animals and Pets
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Creatvie Canine Photography
Pet and Animal Photography
Creative Canine Photography
by Larry Allan
An expert guide with how-to photos and tested techniques for capturing expressions and getting a dog to look in a specific direction, using correct lighting and shutter speeds for stop-action effects.
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more information:
Professional Techniques for Pet and Animal Photography
by Debrah Muska


more information:
Profitable Photography
The Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion
The Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion
by Maria Piscopo.
Photographers, whether beginners or seasoned professionals, need new guidance to face the changed landscape of their industry and re-evaluate their strategies. The author Maria Piscopo explains how to define the type of work you do, research different categories of clients, and persuade them to hire you. She deals with the nitty-gritty of portfolio presentation (how much do you show?), writing the selling "script" (what do you say and how do you tailor it to your audience?), and negotiating costs. Other chapters discuss how to work with a rep and a marketing coordinator. Throughout the book, first-person accounts by successful photographers add practical details.
More information:


Profitable Photography:
Start and Run a Money-Making Businessby Geza Szurovy
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Interesting books to help you
set up your own Pet Photography Business:
The Complete Idiot's guide to Starting a Home-Based Business
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business, 3rd Edition
by Barbara Weltman
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How to Take Great Pet Pictures: Recipes for Outstanding Results With Any Camera by Ron Nichols
Paperback: 79 pages Publisher: Amherst Media (November 1, 2001)
This book lays the foundation for taking fantastic pet photos, from covering all the basics (choosing a camera, deciding between color and black and white film) to explaining various aspects of animal behavior and reasons why animals are difficult to photograph. Also covered are techniques for composing pet portraits, incorporating a person into the picture, taking pictures of exotic animals, etc.
More information:



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How to Take Great Pet Pictures
See also:
Other pet-related careers
Dog and Pet Photography
Tips and Books
The Linked Photographers' Guide to Online Marketing and Social Media
by Lindsay Renee Adler
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