Framing Your Toronto Dog Portraits

/ Terri J Photography/

When we talk about framing your pet, we can focus on two types of framing: Your dog portrait displayed in a beautiful frame, or the framing used by the photographer to surround your dog in the photograph itself.

To be honest,  as a professional pet photographer, I’m talking about both!

  1. Framing as a technique in the composition of a dog portrait

So let’s start with the actual process of taking the photo of your pet and using framing as a compositional technique that photographers use to draw the eye towards the subject. By positioning your dog in just the right place, they naturally steal the spotlight, nestled within a cleverly built frame using elements from the surrounding scene.

Framing also provides context about the scene. Think about a dog portrait taken in a studio. It’s often a portrait of the dog against a plain backdrop.  That photo becomes simply a portrait.  But with photos of a dog in a natural, home or city environment, elements that are used to create the frame to showcase the dog, also tell the viewer where or in what type of environment the photo was taken, for example a garden, or forest or city. The photo tells a story.

During my photo sessions, I'm constantly scouting for picturesque settings where I can position your beloved dog amidst natural elements that provide a beautiful frame, highlighting you and your dog. These frames vary depending on the surroundings; in natural settings, it might be lush grasses, winding pathways, tree branches, or vibrant flowers.

Urban environments offer opportunities with architectural features like columns, walls, or charming doorways that serve as distinctive backdrops.

Let’s take a look at a few examples where I placed the dog in a situation where the environment provided a frame for the portrait.

Take a look at my portfolio and see if you can spot more images where I’ve used framing as a technique!

2. Framing portraits to display your best dog and family moments

After your photo session, what will you do with your beautiful photos?  How will you use them as visual celebrations of the love you share with your dog?

I say time and time again that digital photos are usually left languishing on a USB or your hard drive, often lost or difficult to find. Certainly you are not getting the enjoyment of these photos that made you book a session in the first place!

That is where I believe in the importance of framing your pet and family photos to be displayed in your homes.  Now they become amazing portraits rather than simply digital dust!

Framing photos is more than just encasing them in a border. It's about enhancing the visual impact, telling a story, and making it pop. The right frame can make a photo shine while also protecting it for years to come.

Display: When framing a photo, consider where and how the framed photo will be displayed. Whether it's hanging on a wall, sitting on a shelf, or part of a gallery wall, the frame should complement its surroundings and contribute to the overall aesthetic.

Material: Choose a material that complements the photo's mood and aesthetic as well as the decor in your home.

Style: The style of the frame should enhance the photo without overpowering it. Again, think about where you’ll be placing the frame. Choose whatever works best in your home or office -  is that a minimalist frame, an ornate frame, perhaps rustic, or modern.

By choosing one large or a few small framed prints and showcasing them in your homes, you will be able to surround yourself with life’s special moments!  

Consider larger framed prints for wall art or wall galleries. Small prints can make a big statement when arranged in groupings on walls or as desk, shelf and table displays.

Below are some framed dog and family photo displays to provide you with inspiration!

 
 

If you’ve been considering a photo session with your dog, to create some beautiful framed images, please feel free to schedule a complimentary call to find out more.