How to take a picture of your dog

Do you want to take a cute picture of your dog like the cute ones you always see on the internet? Do you try everything and the pictures end up looking like this:

Photo credit: Dillon Freeman

Well, I'm here to tell you how to take better pictures of your dog. It is not done without a bit of training though. 

Step 1- Teach your dog the command "Watch Me"

Get some training treats or food nuggets and sit down with your dog. Put a treat in your hand and wave it by her nose. You should now have her attention. Once she knows the treat is in your hand, slowly rais your hand towards your eyes. When she looks at you, say, "Watch Me" and then give her the treat. Repeat this over and over again until they have it down. Depending on the dog, this step could take several minutes or several weeks. If you have a Yorkie, it may never work. :)

Step 2- Get ready for the shot

When you are ready, get the camera, get some treats and get the dog

Step 3- Take the picture

Once you are ready, call your dog over. Have them sit first. Then aim the camera and give the "watch me" command. If you have a slow camera, you may want to put it on "sports" setting and just keep clicking while giving this command. If you can, you want to adjust the camera so that the flash doesn't go off. The flash in their eyes will most likely deter them from looking at you the next time you say "Watch me".

Step 4- Most important step- Give them the treat

Make sure you give them the treat right away after you have taken the picture or they won't associate the treat with the "watch me" command. 

Hopefully, with a little practice you will be able to take great pictures of your dog!

Photo credit: Bellemore Photography

Maggie Graduates

As you may or may not know, we've been taking our new puppy, Maggie, to dog training at Pet Smart. It was great except that my smart Miss Maggie already knew everything that they were teaching us and some other stuff because I had been training her at home from the very first day we got her. So she is the star pupil there. Well, needless to say, she graduated with flying colors.

Dillon and she are the best of friends, in fact, Dillon and most dogs seem to be the best of friends. He is indeed a dog person, or for that matter, an "animal person". I don't think Dillon has met an animal he didn't like or that didn't like him. I foresee him being the next dog whisperer. He was so good with Maggie. He knows all the commands and he is the one that took her through her final test. I sat and took pictures (of course!).

A boy and his dog

The trainer commented on the great relationship between he and Maggie. She has some trouble walking nice with me, but when Dillon has her on the leash, she walks next to him, leash loose, all nice. In spite of this, I cannot take Dillon to training without taking Casey. Casey, unlike Dillon, scares the poor dog. Maggie sits in the ring trembling, hiding behind my legs as Casey flits around. He doesn't even have to speak or make his usual strange little boy noises for Maggie to take cover. So alas, I will be doing Maggie's intermediate dog training solo for my sanity, the trainer's sanity and the poor dog's sanity.

At the end of the test, she "graduated" and she donned a mortarboard and tassel. Poor thing...

I want to "shoot" my kids!

I am offering a "Learn how to use your camera" workshop.

Half Day Session 10-2- Offered Thursday, May 19 or Wednesday, May 25
$100
Includes:
Learn what the buttons mean on your camera
What the heck's aperture?!
Love the light you have
Shooting without a flash
Setting the shot
"posing" your kids
Lunch
Afternoon photo safari
Back to review pictures

Full Day Session 9:30-5:30: Offered Saturday May 21 or Sunday June 5
$200
Includes:

Learn what the buttons mean on your camera

What the heck's aperture?!

Love the light you have

Shooting without a flash

Setting the shot

"posing" your kids

Lunch

Afternoon photo safari

Back to review pictures

Basics of photo editing

Free photo editing software options

Question and answer period

These are limited to 5 people a session. Bring your own laptop if you have it or I have two we can use to review the photos afterwards. If interested, email me at bellemorephoto@gmail.com to let me know what date you are interested in and to arrange payment.