What can be more pleasing than a dog portrait with a beautiful soft and blurry background?  The term used for this is “bokeh”.  

So what is “bokeh”?

It is of Japanese origin and refers to blur,  or a blurry quality, and it is commonly used in portrait photography where you will notice a very “soft” or blurry background with your subject beautifully in focus.  Sometimes the image simply has a soft background blur, while at other times you will notice soft, out of focus circular highlights that are formed by small pinpoints of light.

As a professional dog photographer based in the North York area of Toronto, I use this technique in 90% of my dog portraits.  It is definitely my favourite style of photography.  This is technique that, in my opinion, can elevate dog photography to the next level .

In this blog post, I'll explore how bokeh can be used to highlight the emotions and personalities of dogs, making the portraits more relatable and engaging.

1. Isolating Your Subject

One of the primary ways bokeh enhances dog photography is by isolating the subject from the background. The blurred background becomes totally unobtrusive and this draws the viewer's eye directly to the dog, making them the star of the photo.

2. Conveying Emotions

Dogs are known for their expressive faces and body language. By using bokeh to isolate the dog's face and body we can emphasize their emotions and personality. The soft, dreamy background is like a canvas that accentuates the dog's expressions and emotions.  Whether it's the excitement in their eyes, or a portrait showing the dog simply staring off into the distance, bokeh enhances the emotional impact of the images.

3. Creating a sense of Connection

Bokeh also has the power to create connection with the dog on a personal level. By putting the focus on the dog’s emotions and personality, and making the background simply blend away, bokeh can help to draw you in to the photo and create a sense of connection with the dog.

4. Sparking Engagement

If you’re into social media or have a social media account for you precious pooch, the visually pleasing bokeh in your dog portraits can attract a larger audience on social media. Eye-catching images are more likely to be shared and engage viewers, helping you reach a broader audience and connect with fellow dog lovers. The emotional impact of your photos can also lead to more significant interactions and discussions, as viewers share their own experiences related to dogs.

So if you’re looking for powerful and memorable dog portraits, choose a photographer whose style makes use of bokeh. Your dog's emotions and personality deserve to be the star of the show!

And if you would like that “star” to be shared with the world, bokeh can make it happen.

Here are some images illustrating the use of bokeh from dog photography sessions in my favourite North York park.

You can view more portraits using bokeh as a style of dog photography by clicking on the button below to visit my portfolio.