Need Tips for Photographing Two Dogs!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Please help a frustrated woman try and figure out how to get a good picture of TWO dogs.  Today, we went to the park and I snapped lots of pictures and not ONE was any good. It is usually Fudge turning away from the camera. I have tried holding a toy or stick. I have tried the "watch me" command and usually she turns for just a minute and then as I snap she turns away. How do all of you get such great pictures of TWO dogs?  Here is just a sample of some of the outtakes today.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Three, five, six and nine are GREAT.  I think you are doing a good job already!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Linda!

[Richard Crowe]

IMO, the difficulty of shooting dogs increases geometrically with the addition of each dog.  However, the one thing which often helps is to exercise the dogs quite a bit before shooting them.  They are then prone to be less rambunctious and more cooperative.

The better each dog is trained in the sit-stay command, the easier it is to shoot them.

A second person helping to control the dogs is also a good idea.

I will usually clone out the leads using Photoshop Elements 10...

BTW:  The less busy the background, usually the better image. 

Finally, I buy plastic squeekers (designed to be sewn inside squeek toys) at a local craft store for about a quarter each.  I hold one between my front teeth and when I clamp my teeth the dogs look straight at where the noise comes from and straight into the lens.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good tips.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

these are great tips. I like the cheese tip too. Thanks for posting this discussion Laurie.