Why I Might Not Be the Right Dog Photographer for You

By Rhian White – Specialist Outdoor Dog Photographer in Cornwall, Devon & Brighton

Finding the right dog photographer in Cornwall, Devon or Brighton is about more than just style—it's about shared values, trust, and making sure your dog is comfortable. I’m Rhian White, and I’ve been photographing dogs outdoors for over 18 years. I absolutely love what I do, but I also know my work isn’t for everyone.

So in the spirit of honesty, here are a few reasons why I might not be the right dog photographer for you.

1. You’re Looking for Studio Dog Photography

I work exclusively outdoors, using natural light and real environments—beaches, moors, woods, parks, meadows, gardens—anywhere dogs feel relaxed and happy. My focus is on giving your dog the space to move freely and be themselves. If you’re looking for highly controlled studio conditions, artificial lighting, and posed backdrops, then my style may not match what you have in mind. I don’t have a studio and I don’t use artificial settings—I believe nature provides the best backdrop.

2. You Want Perfectly Posed Dog Portraits

Of course, I’ll get a few lovely portraits during your session. But for me, the real magic happens in those unposed, spontaneous moments—when your dog is running, exploring, or just giving their person that familiar, loving look. If you're after stiff, show-style poses or a heavily structured shoot, you might find my sessions too relaxed. I work with your dog’s pace and personality, and I never force them into doing something just for the sake of the shot. The goal isn’t “perfect”—it’s honest and joyful.

3. You Need Very Fast Turnaround Times

After a session, I take time to carefully select and hand-edit your images. This means that your online gallery is usually ready within two weeks—not instantly. I believe every photo deserves attention, and I won’t rush through the editing just to meet a tight deadline. If you’re working on a tight schedule or expecting same-day delivery, my process probably won’t suit your needs. I prefer to do it right rather than do it fast.

4. You’re Looking for Low-Cost or Budget Photography

My photography packages start at £150, and that reflects the level of care, experience, and artistry I bring to every session. I’m not a budget photographer, and I don’t compete on price—I offer a premium service for people who value their dog’s story being told through high-quality, meaningful images. If you’re looking for a quick shoot-and-go or a bundle of digital files at a low cost, I might not be the best fit.

5. You Want Your Dog Photographed in Fancy Dress

While some people love costumes and props for their dogs, it’s not something I offer. I believe dogs are most beautiful when they’re just being themselves—muddy paws, windswept ears, tails wagging. I want to celebrate their personality, not dress them up for novelty value. If you're after themed or stylised images, like birthday hats or Halloween costumes, you’ll likely get better results with a studio photographer who specialises in that kind of work.

6. You’re Involved in Hunting or Competitive Dog Shows

This one’s personal: I don’t support hunting or blood sports, and I don’t photograph dogs carrying dead animals or working in that context. Likewise, dog shows aren’t really my scene—I prefer a dog rolling in the grass to one standing still in a ring. My sessions are relaxed and dog-focused, not performance-based. If you’re involved in field trials, show competitions, or other formal dog events, I completely respect that—but I’m not the right photographer to capture it.

7. You Expect Dogs to Perform or Obey on Command

This is possibly the most important point of all: I will never make a dog do something they don’t want to do.
My entire philosophy is built around the dog’s comfort and happiness. If your dog doesn’t want to sit, I won’t make them. If they’re too nervous to come near the camera, that’s fine—we’ll take our time. I won’t use force, pressure, or frustration to get “the shot.” There is no image worth pushing a dog past their comfort zone.
These sessions are not about obedience—they're about connection, trust, and fun. If you’re expecting strict control or obedience-focused shots, we might not be on the same wavelength. I follow the dog’s lead—literally and figuratively.

Still Reading? Then We Might Be a Great Fit

If you believe that dog photography should be relaxed, ethical, and focused on your dog’s unique spirit, then I might be just the right photographer for you. I work with dogs of all ages, backgrounds, and temperaments, and I know how to tailor every session to their needs.

📍 I’m based between Helston, Cornwall and Exmouth, Devon and I photograph dogs across Cornwall, Devon, Brighton and the UK, creating natural portraits in beautiful outdoor locations.

🐾 Ready to learn more? Get in touch to talk about your dog’s perfect photo adventure.

Capturing Canine Charm: Understanding Why Dogs Don't Like Having Their Photo Taken and 7 Tips to Make Them Feel Comfortable

Introduction:

We live in the era of smartphone photography, where snapping pictures has become second nature. But what do you do when your adorable furry friend avoids the camera lens like the plague? Many dog parents have experienced the struggle of trying to capture the perfect shot, only to be met with resistance, frustration or even fear from their canine companions. So, why do dogs seem to dislike having their photo taken? In this blog post, I will explore the reasons behind their reluctance and share seven tips to make your furry friend feel comfortable in front of the camera.

Respect their personal space:

Imagine having a giant camera lens pointing directly at your face – it would be quite intimidating! Dogs have a keen sense of personal space, and a camera can easily invade it.  Respect their boundaries, and avoid getting too close too quickly. This is exactly what I do on photo shoots: I always use my 70-200mm lens first so I can be in the dog’s vicinity but not in their personal space, allowing them to gradually get to know me at their pace. Dogs also wonder what the Lightbox is on top of my flash - many times I have put it on the floor to let them sniff it before I use it.

Create a positive association:

Dogs, like humans, respond positively to rewards. Before starting a photoshoot, make sure your dog is in a happy and relaxed mood. Offer them treats, play their favourite game, or take them for a short walk. This will create a positive association with the camera and the process of taking photos. The location plays a key role in your dog’s enjoyment  - take them somewhere they are comfortable, relaxed and will enjoy themselves. Don’t take pictures if you are stressed and if they don’t want to do it then let it go and try another time. Your energy will feed in to them. I always say if it’s not fun you’re not doing it right.

Familiarize them with the equipment:

Start by introducing the camera gradually and let them sniff and inspect it. The sight and sound of a camera can be unsettling for some dogs. Take the time to acclimate your furry friend to the camera by allowing them to see and hear it without taking any photos. Use treats and praise to encourage them to be near the camera until they feel more at ease with it. A camera phone is one thing but it is even harder if you have a big camera and huge lens. I have had dogs give me a wide berth - let them stay as far away as they need to in order to feel comfortable.

Milo was a bit nervous of me so I spent much of his photo shoot at least 20 feet away, capturing him having fun as he felt comfortable.

See things from their perspective:

Dogs must wonder what is going on when a strange person lies on the floor in front of them covering their face with an object they don’t understand - for clarity, this is how I get most of my action shots. I often put the camera away and let them see my face and I make sure to take off my sunglasses to help them read my facial expressions better. For the more nervous dogs I do not make much eye contact, stay relaxed and calm and allow them to come to me, if they want to. I always ask questions about what dogs will feel comfortable with and observe closely what they are happy about. I then tailor all that I do to reflect what they want.

Natural environments for candid shots:

Staging a formal photoshoot in a studio setting might not be the best approach for dogs - it’s certainly not a style I prefer. They might be bored or feel constrained. Instead, opt for natural environments where your dog feels more comfortable and at ease. Parks, beaches, or their favourite spots at home can provide a familiar backdrop for candid shots that capture their true personality.

Patience and gentle guidance:

As with any form of training, patience is key. Allow your dog to set the pace and avoid forcing them into uncomfortable poses. Use gentle guidance and positive reinforcement to encourage them to look towards the camera or stay still and if they don’t want to be still you’ll have to move with them. Remember that the best shots often come from candid moments when your dog is relaxed and simply being themselves. Also, play to the dog’s strengths - don’t make them do things they are not comfortable with. Instead, encourage and praise them for what they can do.

Being puppies in their garden Arial and Eric were quite distracted. But I allowed them to come and go as they pleased and after a while I encouraged them to come together for a titbit of something tasty. A couple of seconds later it was over. It’s so important to be fast when taking portraits.

Do not take too long:

The most important tip I can give is to NOT TAKE TOO LONG. I see people making their dog sit for a full five minutes while they snap away taking dozens of pictures of the same thing. They slightly change their angle, stop to change settings, mutter to themselves why it isn’t working and all the time their dog sits there waiting… and waiting. Then, to cap off the experience the person will then start going through their images to see what they have got and will completely forget about their dog, who gets no reward for sitting there for ages. Then the person wonders why their dog doesn’t like having their pictures taken. I can tell you it’s because it is boring, they are having no reward for their effort and you are taking FAR too long. Try this instead: plan your shot first, where you would like your dog to be. Take some test shots and fiddle about with the settings until you get it right. Then, when you are ready, try and get your dog where you want them to go. Take up to 10 seconds maximum to do it. Then give them the reward, whether that is a treat, ball or praise - do that first, let them go and then, and only then, check your images. If you didn’t get it quite right you can try again. I’m sure you’ll see the difference over time if you do it this way.

Conclusion:

Understanding why dogs don't like having their photo taken is crucial to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable experience for both you and your furry friend. By respecting their personal space, creating a positive association with the camera, and familiarising them with the equipment, you can help your dog feel more comfortable in front of the lens. Choosing natural environments and exercising patience and gentle guidance will further enhance the likelihood of capturing the perfect shot that showcases your dog's unique charm and personality. But most importantly change your mindset so you can see the situation from your dog’s point of view - make it interesting, fun and quick. So, grab your camera, follow these tips, and get ready to capture those priceless moments with your beloved canine companion!

Follow my steps to helping dogs enjoy having their photo taken:

1. Take them somewhere they will be relaxed and can have fun

2. Let them have fun, sniff, run and play. Don’t try taking portraits straight away.

3. Plan your shots, test your settings. Bring your dog in when you are ready.

4. Be quick, take only a few seconds. If they don’t look at you (if that’s what you want) praise them, let them go and try again in a while.

5. Be calm and patient and always think how it is for your dog. Put them first and your pictures second.

6. Don’t make a walk all about pictures. This is their time, let the majority of your walk be about them doing what they want, not about sitting posing.

7. Play to their strengths. Don’t make them do anything they don’t want to do.

Want to learn more about motivating dogs for dog photography?

Download my “Motivating Dogs” lesson today - it is from my 20-lesson course “Mastering Outdoor Dog Photography”. You will learn about managing expectations, timing, location, reflecting the needs of individual dogs, planning, strategy, helping nervous dogs and much more!

Photo shoots in the Brighton and Sussex areas

Brighton photo shoot changes

I lived in Brighton for 8 years and loved it. I moved to the south west in 2018 and have enjoyed going back to Brighton every few weeks for shoots since then. However, now I am spending half my life in South Cornwall (and the rest in Exmouth, Devon) it’s becoming more difficult to find the time to head back to the Brighton area for work, plus it is much further and costs of getting and staying there have gone up. I still very much want to and the demand is still there, but I am making some changes which will make the trips more viable for me.

From the 1st July any shoot bought for Brighton or any area around there will be under my UK TOUR price range. The difference between my regular shoot cost and tour cost is very simple: with the regular shoots you buy the shoot and then pay for prints/digitals after (with no obligation) but with the tour cost you pay for the shoot and the digitals up front. This means a guaranteed income for me for having to travel so far. If you were to buy the shoot and digitals under the regular shoot it actually works out a little bit more than the tour cost.. If you are in the Brighton/Sussex area and want to buy a shoot for the regular cost you can do so until the end of this month (June 2023) (valid for one year from purchase).

Regular photo shoot costs: https://www.rhianwhitephotography.co.uk/shop?category=Photo+shoots
Tour photo shoot costs: https://www.rhianwhitephotography.co.uk/shop?category=UK+tour

Workshops will also be under the tour cost and I will no longer be running group workshops there, only 1-1s. You can also do a 2-1 and share with a friend.

Workshop tour costs: https://www.rhianwhitephotography.co.uk/shop/uk-tour-1-1-workshop

Of course, I will be honouring all shoots bought previously and up until the end of June but after 1st July all shoots purchased for that area will be under the tour cost. Gift vouchers for any amount are still available. 

What makes Saunton Sands so great for dogs?

• It’s a long, straight, stretch of sand.

• There’s plenty of space for everyone to claim a spot

• At low tide especially, this beach is enormous!

• The shallow waters are perfect for water dogs to run, splash and play, too

It is no secret that North Devon is absolutely packed full of beautiful beaches that are the ideal location to spend the day or take a walk. One of the popular choices has to be Saunton Sands, famous for appearing as the location in Robbie Williams hit song Angels.

Aside from being a much-loved beach by the man itself, surfers, families and dog walkers also call Saunton Sands their own and when the weather is warm and sunny, it can be a busy place to visit.

I know what some of you might be asking; “What about if you have a dog as a part of my family?”. Well, if you want to know more about taking your dog to Saunton Sands, then read on to hear about some of the basics that you are going to need to know if you are planning a walk on the beach.

All about Saunton Sands

One of the main reasons that Saunton Sands is such a popular beach for people visiting or living in North Devon, is simply down to the fact that it is a long, straight, stretch of sand, with plenty of space for everyone to claim a spot, especially at low tide this beach is enormous!

If this wasn’t enough it also boasts a long stretch of water, which makes it an ideal choice for surfers and families who want to be able to splash about in the water, or perhaps work on their surfing skills. Especially those who are new to surfing and need a calmer stretch of water to practice in. The shallow waters are perfect for water dogs to run, splash and play, too.

The waters at Saunton are shallow so safe for dogs to run around in.

Aside from this, there are other things that make Saunton Sands a great choice to spend some time at. It has a range of food outlets that you can buy hot and cold food from, you can also visit the beach shop if you need to buy any specific items.

There are also well maintained toilets that are available to be used, as well as disabled access toilets. Not only this but if you are looking for a disabled friendly beach, then Saunton Sands is known to be one of the only beaches in North Devon to have a Landeez all terrain wheelchair that can be used, this will allow someone with limited mobility to be able to enjoy everything that the beach has to offer, even heading down to the sea if they want.

When can I take my dog to Saunton Sands?

The great thing about Saunton Sands is that it is an entirely dog friendly beach. It doesn’t matter the time of year, your dog is allowed to join the rest of your family on this beach.

There’s plenty of space for everybody to enjoy.

The only thing that you need to keep in mind with Saunton Sands is that there is a zoning system that you do need to adhere to. This means that you need to keep your dog on its lead for the first 5 or so minutes of your walk down the beach, but after that they are allowed off their lead and can run around freely for the other 3.5 miles of the beach! You are also asked not to take dogs to the right of the slip way as you head down to the beach. But this is barely a sacrifice - the beach is so huge you wouldn’t want to be in the busiest part of it anyway.

If you want to avoid the busiest part of the beach then find the path from the car park which takes you over the dunes and further up the beach. If you have a nervous or reactive dog who doesn’t like crowds then this is a great idea to help them avoid stress and get them to the quieter bit faster and without having to avoid as many families, picnics and other distractions.

Saunton also has the most enormous sand dunes to walk and play on. which are called Braunton Burrows. You are asked to keep your dog on a lead within the fenced area but other than this you can walk freely around. The dunes are expansive and very beautiful and from the top you will have a wonderful view over the beach and, as the sun goes down, hopefully a beautiful sunset. You could try parking at the Braunton Burrows car park and having a longer walk to the beach over the dunes. At this end of the beach it is much quieter. I’ve been at this end before and i’ve been the only person there! It’s truly a magical place which has to be seen to be believed.

Watch out for cattle grazing on the dunes though. They are moved between different zones. A good place to get up-to-date information about their whereabouts is the Braunton Burrows Public Information facebook page.

As you can see, Saunton Sands is an ideal place to take your dog for a family day out or holiday. It is always worthwhile keeping in mind that there is a good chance that the beach will be busy at the main car park end and it will also have plenty of dogs on there. This means that if your dog is nervous or doesn't cope well with crowds, then you might want to visit at a time when the beach is likely to be quieter. Or simply walk up the beach for 10 minutes and it will much emptier. This beach really is so enormous, especially at low tide, that there is more than enough room for everyone to enjoy themselves.

Why not coincide your visit to Saunton Sands or Braunton Burrows with a photo shoot for your dog? It’s a dog paradise that they will love, the views are magnificent and it will be sure to be an experience you will all enjoy.

Don’t hesitate to drop me a message to discuss your needs. I can tailor any photo shoot to fit around you and your best friend.

PHOTO SHOOTS FOR DOGS | OUTDOOR DOG PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

Top tips for taking your dog to Exmouth beach

There is something amazing about being able to walk along a beach, no matter what the weather. It can be relaxing just simply being there, watching those waves crash against the shore. One thing that can make the entire experience even better is sharing it with your dog. Watching them running around, splashing in the water and just generally having an amazing time is a memory that you are going to treasure forever. 

The only trouble with this, particularly in areas such as East Devon, is that it can be hard to find a decent dog friendly beach that you can take a walk along. This is especially true during the summer months when certain restrictions are put in place across many of the most popular beaches in the UK. 

Archie enjoying jumping over the rocks at Exmouth beach

If you are looking to spend some quality time with your dog on the beach it’s always important to do some proper research, which we all know can take hours. This is why I’ve put together this post, which goes through all the key information about walking your dog on Exmouth beach. By doing the hard work for you, all you have left to do is work out the best time to go and enjoy the beach with your dog. 

Betsy and Boo posing on the sands - this was taken at a very low tide at Orcombe Point

Remember the timings 

The time of year can have a big impact on where you can walk your dog. Between the months of October (1st) and April (30th) you are able to walk with your dog freely along the Jurassic Coast of East Devon and the Exmouth area. Exmouth is the main beach in the area that gets a lot of sand, especially at low tide so to get the most out of your experience I would suggest planning for low tide, but there is sand most of the time and in the winter months you are free to walk all the way along the beach. At low tide Orcombe point at the eastern end of the beach opens up and this is where I like the most as it has more variety with the rocks (and fewer people) than the beach towards the town end. I find my tides book really helpful as it gives me the local tide times for the whole year. It’s only a few pounds so for forward planning I highly recommend it. 

Quattro having fun running through the shallow waters

Deefa and Toffee having fun on the sand at low tide

Walking dogs in the summer 

As soon as 1​st​ May comes around the exclusion zones for dogs on Exmouth beach kicks in. This means that a large stretch of the beach is now a dog free zone. Dogs are not allowed on the beach just before Orcombe Point right up to the Octagon in the west. This means that a large section of the beach is now dog-free and it will be much harder to walk your dog. The exclusion lasts until 30 September. For a map which shows the you the areas that dogs are excluded from see here - you’ll need to scroll down a few pages to get to the Exmouth map.

It is also important to remember that during the summer months, Exmouth beach can get very busy. With a smaller area marked out for dogs to walk on, this can mean that your dog is going to be in close proximity to lots of other dogs. Therefore, you should only take your dog for a walk on the beach if they are comfortable being around other dogs and people.

If you are concerned about having only a small area to walk on, then you could always go to the end of the beach by Orcombe Point when the tide is out. The beach area at this point is much larger, which means that you can let your dog have a proper run around. But still, when it’s busy parking can be an issue.

An alternative to the main beach is the area just west of the town in the estuary. At low tide this opens up to a very large expanse of sand (some of it muddy and boggy) and I’ve been here when it’s been very busy at the main beach but here it’s fairly quiet. So it’s a great alternative. You can park on The Royal Avenue or at the nearby Imperial Road short stay car park. You can take a walk on the sandy bits (aka The Duckpond) and then go along the Exe Estuary Trail.  If you are feeling intrepid you can also walk across the estuary to Starcross and back, but clearly you’d need to check the tides as you don’t want to get caught out by an incoming tide! I’ve not done that walk myself yet but I’ve been told it’s really nice (I don’t have pictures of this area, yet).

Parking

You should also keep in mind that parking can be limited by Exmouth beach, particularly in the summer. Therefore, you may find that it is more beneficial to you and your dog if you travel to the beach earlier in the morning or later in the the evening. That way you are much more likely to find yourself a parking space and will definitely have the opportunity to have fun on the beach with your dog. Plus it won’t be as hot. Having said this, I have always been able to park, I just might find myself walking along the promenade for a while before getting to the Orcombe Point end. Make sure you bring plenty of change. It’s not cheap to park here. You can also pay with a phone app so prepare for that too if you don’t have change.

Photo shoots for dogs at the beach

If you are just visiting Exmouth for a walk on the beach or if you are staying here for the long-term, then why not capture some fantastic images of your best friend to treasure forever? I can organise a photoshoot for your dog and work around your needs. See more information about my photo shoots.

Sunset at Exmouth beach - it’s a wonderful time for a walk on the beach and a photo shoot too!

Five tips for photographing dogs that have nothing to do with your camera

1. Location

The most important thing about a photo shoot with a dog is that they should feel comfortable, safe and happy where they are, so location is of paramount importance to achieve this. I always ask this question to clients when planning a shoot and I’ll get a variety of responses. Some will say their dog doesn’t care less where they go as long as they have their ball, while others are scared of places with lots going on. All dogs are different so you need to do whatever they are comfortable with and be flexible, too. I have turned up to a shoot where a dog is not feeling as comfortable as we thought and we moved somewhere quieter and their anxiety dropped and they had a good time. The dog’s welfare always comes first.

These three Golden Retrievers absolutely love the beach and water and chasing a ball, so it was an obvious decision to have their shoot at the beach

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2. Make it fun

As with the location what you actually do on a shoot must be what the dog enjoys. If what the dog enjoys is always being half a mile away from you chasing squirrels, then you have a problem and perhaps a location like an enclosed field would be better. But in general I have found that dogs are motivated by one or all of four things: balls/toys, food, other dogs or you, their person. Sometimes dogs are motivated by all of these things. Very rarely they are motivated by none of these things and will nonchalantly wander off to sniff at various things. That does make things a bit more difficult, but if you can tailor what you do to what they want to do you will get more out of them. Also, not asking them to do too much at one time. I liken my shoots to a dripping tap - we do a bit, then move on, then another bit, then walk on a bit further. I always allow plenty of time for the dog to walk and sniff and just ‘be’. That’s really important too. Unless, of course, they are completely ball-obsessed, then you’re on to a winner!

These two Spaniels absolutely love the ball and they didn’t really care where they were, so it was their Mum’s decision to have the shoot at the beach and we basically spent the whole time making it fun and playing with their beloved ball.

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3. Lighting and weather conditions

It goes without saying that you should never take a dog out when it’s going to be too hot or too cold for them. Some dogs are more robust than others, but my little Pugs, for example, would be freezing spending two hours out posing when it’s snowing and also would likely overheat in the heat of a hot summer’s day. It’s not just about the temperature, it’s also about the lighting. When it’s too bright things just don’t look very nice - colours are washed out and there is too much contrast between lights and darks. I like the softer light that you get on a sunny day a couple of hours before sunset. I also like a nice cloudy day - but not too cloudy as being too dark is as much of an issue as being too bright. It’s all about balance with the weather elements. Everything changes throughout the year so check sunset times and weather before planning your shoots.

Sunset and sunrise times are especially great for fantastic lighting. These five dogs were photographed at sunrise, at which time you can get some great silhouettes. They were all just running in and out of water, not posing at all. It was lucky timing to get them all separate like this.

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4. Don’t expect too much - have patience - but do things quickly

A walk for a dog should be a fun time for them to have exercise, sniff, play and just to be with you. It should not be a military operation where they are sat for 10 minutes on end while you figure out your settings and make them stay. It’s boring and it’s not nice to make dogs do that. I’ve seen so many times people making a dog sit and wait while they take 50 shots of the same thing and then keep them waiting while they check the images. No, that’s not right. Get an idea of what kind of shot you want to do and in the meantime your dog can be doing their own thing, sniffing around or whatever. Take some test shots without them. Tweak your settings until you think they are right. Then, and only then, ask your dog to be involved. If you can get them to where you want them then great. Take a couple of shots quickly, give them the reward they deserve, whether that’s a treat, their ball or simple praise. Then check your images. Need to do it again? Fine, just allow your dog to do their own thing in the meantime and don’t make them sit there for ages while you faff around. Be patient with them, but also yourself. It takes time to learn the correct settings for different situations and it also takes time for them to learn what you are asking of them. But you should never, ever make a dog do anything they really don’t want to do. 

Young Jack had already spent about an hour racing around so was feeling fairly tired and therefore more amenable to doing a bit of posing. I lured him to the fallen tree with a treat and once he was where I wanted him I very quickly stepped back and got a quick shot. He was off a second after this was taken. He certainly didn’t sit here posing for half an hour - he was an energetic puppy. But the secret to this shot was timing - not trying to get this at the beginning of the shoot, but when he was more tired and had been given plenty of opportunity to explore and do his own thing.

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5. Remember: dog’s welfare and happiness first, photos second

If you stick to this ethos in your dog photography you will create a situation where your dog enjoys the experience of being with you and taking photos. It should always be about the dog, their welfare and happiness and that is how you get happy dog images. Technical stuff can be learned over time, but this is the secret to doing it right.

I was warned that this beautiful girl, Penny, was quite a nervous dog and had a phobia of looking at people in the eyes and people looking at her. So we spent the whole shoot playing with her ball and I didn’t look her in the eye once. This was the very last shot while we were walking back to the car and I asked if she was able to put her paws up on the gate. Her Mum encouraged her and it didn’t take much. I held the ball near my camera and she felt relaxed enough to look at me. Patience, time, making her feel comfortable and not threatened and waiting until she was relaxed in my presence all went in to getting this shot. I took about 2 seconds to get this once the moment presented itself and she got her beloved ball and happily trotted off with it.

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Thank you for visiting my site and I hope you have found these free dog photography tips helpful. There’s more - have you seen my seven tips for photographing black dogs?

How about coming along to one of my group or 1-1 workshops. I am planning a UK tour so I can do these anywhere in the UK. Fill out this form if you are interested in my UK tour and if you would like to learn dog photography with me.

7 tips to photograph black dogs

It’s a sad fact that black dogs sit in rescue centres much longer as their lighter coloured counterparts. Some never get that lucky break. One of the reasons for this? I’m guessing one reason for this is because black dogs are notoriously difficult to photograph. Many of my dog photography clients have black dogs, so it seems this is a universal issue people are having problems with.

Do you have a black dog? If so, you’re likely all too aware of the problem. No matter how hard you try, they end up looking like a black blob rather than the beautiful creature that they are in real life. Being able to see their features is the main issue people tell me they struggle with.

Whether you’re an owner, or you work in a rescue centre, here are some useful tips on photographing black dogs. You won’t need any expensive equipment. I’m assuming that you’re using a basic point and shoot camera with automatic settings.

1. Lighting

Contrary to what you might expect, bright overhead sunlight isn’t great for black dogs. In very bright light your camera will be working too hard. There’ll be a battle between two extremes - the black of your dog and the white light of the sun. Your photograph will always end up on the losing side. Not only will it struggle to correctly expose for the bright and dark contrasts in the image there will likely be a very harsh shadow on the underside of your dog’s face.

If you do find yourself with the sun directly overhead, bring your dog to a shaded area and take the photo there. It’s important that your chosen location is evenly shaded with a soft light covering the whole area. For example, if you take the photo under a tree, make sure that the background isn’t brightly lit.

I met up with Beau on warm day when it was bright in a location I did not know. Not my choice at all and despite saying it would make things tricky this was when the client wanted to meet so in these situations you just have to do the best you can. It was very challenging to say the least, not only because Beau was hugely distracted at this location (looking for Rabbits) but there was very little shade. He was very erratic in his behaviour (not unlike Spaniels) and didn’t want to rest. However, after a while we managed to entice him in to a shaded part in between two trees. It was the only place in the entire location where I could get a shot where there was no bright light in the picture at all. This has the effect of evening out the light, with no big difference between the bright and dark areas and therefore enabling us to not only see Beau properly, but the colours of the grass were more even and saturated too.

Try and take the photo on a cloudy day. The light will be softer and your subject will be evenly lit. I find light cloud good to work with but thick, dark cloud never looks so nice and I avoid these conditions. The only thing about cloudy days (where the cloud is a consistent blanket of cloud over the sky) is the sky itself. If the cloud is a thin blanket it is in effect very white. If it’s thick cloud it’s very dark. Neither of which helps you because too much white will make your camera struggle with the contrast between the sky and your dog and too much dark cloud in the image just looks horrible and unappealing. I would avoid both in your picture as much as you can.

Shaded areas can also be out in the open when it's nice and cloudy. Clouds act as a giant light diffuser in the sky and make the lighting 'softer'. But the cloud is quite unappealing and ‘boring’, but that is, of course, a matter of opinion.

2. Choose the right time of day

When you're photographing your black dog in direct sunlight, there are two ideal times of day: after sunrise or before sunset (it’s different if it’s cloudy of course). Generally speaking, the “golden hour” is roughly 1 hour after sunrise or 1 hour before sunset.

These golden hours obviously vary according to the time of year and so check sunrise/sunset times before planning your shoot.

Everything looks better during the golden light. This picture of Hugo was taken about 1.5 hours before sunset when the sun was fairly low in the sky, but not too low for it to be too dark.

3. Background colour

The right background colour is especially important when you’re taking a photo of a black dog. Ideally, you’re looking for good contrast colours that complement black. If what is behind them is also dark you might not be able to see the dog so well. If it’s too bright the camera will likely struggle with the contrast and try and get the settings right for the whole image, resulting in your dog looking too dark. Middle-spectrum colours work particularly well – red, yellow, purple, orange, green and blue.

Colours in the middle of the colours spectrum work particularly well with black dogs: yellows, greens, blues, reds.

The oranges and yellows of the leaves, with pockets of green, contrast nicely with Gatsby’s fur making him ‘pop’ and the images more interesting than the plain green grass, which was also quite patchy with brown, so I placed these laves here on purpose.

If you get down low you can shoot upwards and get the blue sky as your background. Blues contrast nicely with the black fur.

At my local beach (Exmouth, Devon, UK) there are big red/brown cliffs that back on to the beach. If you get the conditions right (sun just before sunset, low tide) and get the dog on the wet sand it will reflect the colours of the red cliffs in the wet sand and envelope the dog in beautiful orange/red/purple hues. I love when these conditions present themselves. Dogs of any colour would look great here but I particularly like it when I photograph black dogs in this situation because it’s not often you get colours which contrast with them so nicely that are not blur or green.

4. Eyes

As we all know, the eyes are the window to the soul. But even at the best of times, it can be hard to see a dog’s eyes, especially if they’re covered in fur and when there is little contrast between the colour of the fur and the eyes and the fur covers the face when dry.

A great way to deal with this is to use water. You don’t have to take them swimming or dunk them in the bath, just use a wet flannel to wipe around the eyes. However, if they want to splash around in the water then all the better as water shots are great fun.

Tashi has thick jet black fur which goes over her eyes. Getting the fur wet made it 'stick' together in wet chunks, which came away from her face more easily as she moved.

Another tip to see the eyes is to take the picture from above. Because your dog is looking up at you, the fur falls back from the face.

Taking a photo from above can often make it easier to see the dog's eyes which is particularly helpful if the dog has long fur that goes over their face.

5. Take the picture with a person

In the case of rescue dogs looking for a home, taking the photograph with a person is a great tip. For reasons which escape me, people often think of black dogs as being unsociable, even dangerous.

A great photo of the dog having fun or cuddling up with a person helps people understand that black dogs are, of course,  just as friendly as any other dog.

Showing the dog interacting nicely with a person can inspire a potential adopter as they can see the dog likes people.

6. Flash

If it’s a little too dark to bring out the dog's features, try supplementing your available light with `fill-in’ flash. Experiment a bit, but make sure the sun is either directly behind, or just off to the side. Fill-in flash helps lighten the dark areas and reveals the features of your black dog. I find working with flash more effective when conditions are not too dark nor too bright. I tend to use the flash towards the end of my shoots and that’s just before sunset, but sometimes earlier as in the example below. When the dog is in shade a but of flash can help them to be seen better, raise the light in the shadow and get the eyes to be seen more clearly.

Soft and even fill-in flash can really help bring a sparkle to the dog's eyes. Make sure not to have the flash too bright or you will have the same problems as with bright direct sunlight. Notice this image was clearly not taken when it was too dark.

If you're using fill-in flash, you'll get the best results if the sun is behind your dog or just to one side and not directly in the image. Generally, I find, this is because it will be too bright - but with a wider angle lens I find this to be less of a problem. That way, you benefit from two sources of equally balanced light. This was taken not long before sunset which looks great, but if you wait too long it will be too dark to use the flash.

7. Silhouettes.

Have you thought about taking a silhouette? Black dogs suit this brilliantly. After all, they’re black.

The time to take your silhouette photo is when the sun is very low in the sky - just after sunrise or just before sunset. They work best when the sun is directly behind your subject, or if you want it in the picture it needs to be very low, almost touching the horizon line. If it's still a little bright, you shouldn’t actually be able to see the sun, just your dog, unless the sun is very low, else it is too bright. I also take silhouettes where the sun is just off to the side of the frame, so not directly in the image at all.

If all else fails make a virtue of your dog's black colour and take a silhouette shot. Best taken when the sun is low and behind your subject or very low and off to the side. It’s nice to see a setting sun too. The colours can be gorgeous.

Notice there is no direct sun in this image. It was off to the left. But I was able to get a silhouette because it was still bright enough to provide a bright enough sky and the reflection of the sky in the wet sand. Because the sea is moving the light does not reflect so well, so the dog is more visible in the sky and wet sand portions of the image. There is also the issue of the land in the background. Anything that is not the sky, or a reflection of it, will be dark. However, I think this works and the colours are really nice - it was taken just before the sun went down.

I hope you have enjoyed my blog on how to photograph black dogs and have found it useful.

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