Capturing action shots at a dog portrait session
/
When you are looking for a dog photographer you may be wondering, “what style or type of photographs can I expect from my dog portrait session?”
The best way to answer this question is to look through my Portfolio and Instagram or Facebook accounts. The type and style of photographs you see there pretty much represents my approach to pet photography.
As part of a dog portrait session I always try to capture various types of photos for my dog-loving clients. Typically sessions will include:
posed portraits of the dog.
intimate moments between the dog and owner.
amazing action-packed shots of the dog running, jumping and playing - dogs simply doing what dogs love to do.
Photographs that capture playful dogs as they leap through the air are tricky for most people. They can't capture this on their phone so they often request those photos from their professional dog photographer. It gives dog owners some fun and diverse photos from their photo session.
Some clients haven’t even thought about action shots of their dog when they come to their portrait session, but when I mention it they are all in for the fun!
Dog action shots are one of my absolute favourite things to photograph. Most dogs love to play and run, and capturing these candid moments and that freedom you see in their expressions as they come running towards you in excitement, or leap into the air to catch a ball, and being able to freeze that moment in time into a single photograph is so rewarding. It’s a lot of fun for me as the photographer as well as for the dog and for the owners.
This photo of a dog in action, excited with his find, a big stick , came in the Top 100 of the 2022 Dog Photographers Club competition!
So how do we get those shots that always bring a smile to their owners face?
By encouraging the dog to play and run and by taking multiple shots because the best moments often happen when I’m least expecting it.
We will throw toys or a ball, or simply call the dog to come running towards the owner or a helper who is standing right behind me.
It’s not unusual for me to get landed on by a running dog! They are so caught up in the moment of catching their toy that they often run right into me. It’s just one of the things a dog photographer has to be prepared for. But it’s all in a days work and fun!
Don’t worry if your dog is aging and you think action shots are not viable. Even capturing a dog walking does show movement and I always work at the dogs level and go at the dog’s pace during their portrait session. So you will have some photos of the dog in action, whatever that may be for your dog.
In the end when my clients get the on-line photo gallery of their dog portrait session they almost always choose a few photos of their dog in action to download and share. But most importantly, these types of action shots also make amazing photos for their custom designed fine art albums.
Here are a couple of photos of Benny in action that we captured at his dog and family portrait session in Toronto.
So if you are in the Toronto or South Florida area and would like to consider a photography session with your dog and family, just click the button below to set up your complimentary consultation phone call.
Not quite ready for a consult? No problem! Join my mailing list below for all things dog related, helpful info, special offers on photography and more.
Other photographers in the pet photographers blog circle have also written about photographing dogs in action. Raleigh pet photographer, Abby Moreno of Paws Fur Joy Photography explains how she expertly captures action shots during pet portrait sessions.
When you get to the bottom of Abby’s post, click the next link in the circle and then keep going until you find yourself back right here.
