Holiday Photo Advice- Let's see those Doodle Holiday card photos (and the outtakes)

Working with a high spirited Doodle and a camera can be rewarding and fustrating all in a matter of seconds. Here are a few tips for getting that great Holiday Photo. Please add your tips for we all want those legendary holiday pictures of our Doodles!

Tips- in no certain order

Walk your pooch prior to a photo session, bleed out that excessive energy and have a calm subject

Treats, your going to be using a lot of kibble to motivate and get Mr/Mrs Doodleface to pose. Have a training bag with kibble on your belt easily accessible

Cable Release or Remote, most cameras today have a port to attach a cable release to trip your shutter or others use a IR remote, These cost anywhere from 19 bucks to 90. It's a investment in photography gear you can use year round at night, w tripos or group shots. Invest in a release, it's makes a huge difference

Don't freak your pooch out- no one likes a 70-200 lens in their grill or lights flashing in their face. Have an assistant and have your settings pre set to your background make for better photos and a less stressed dog

Lighting, indirect or off camera lighting is best. If you don't have flashes and thousands of dollars in gear, it's okay. Be creative. I have used the flashlight on my iPhone to get some "fill light" in a Doodles deep eyes to bring them out. Think outside the box and get lighting off the lens axis- try it. It's digital so snap away and you'll be suprised and the improvement in photo quality will be visible

If you do use flash, bounce light off the ceiling to rain down soft muted light onto your subject. If you have a pop up flash, (don't laugh) I drape a small piece of tissue paper over it to difuse that harsh little light and soften it some.

Use a tripod, use a tripod- use a tripod

Get different angles. Move around and get low, go high- profile shots? silhouettes be creative. it's art

Smile, your dog thinks your crazy (we are). If it isn't working, try later. Dont push it. Smile.... Your dog knows if your stressed

Love to see more photos and tips/tricks you use to capture magic!

Dave/Flynn

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ann Kendig on December 22, 2015 at 6:41pm

Good tip. Thanks Mike

Permalink Reply by F, Calla & Luca on December 22, 2015 at 8:11pm

Ditto.

Permalink Reply by DJ & Chance on December 25, 2015 at 5:02pm

Agree!

Permalink Reply by Cheryl and Finnegan on December 22, 2015 at 8:14pm

Our first chance to relax and shoot some 2015 photos as Christmas is almost here...

Christmas and Candlelight

Toys on parade. Out first Santa hat shot pretty much ever. This is as good as it gets…No, no Finney-- DON'T tilt your head. Finn is still trying to figure out that command. I'd have to say he's a jolly good sport.