BernerWise

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6 tips to make your Bernese Mountain Dog pictures better

 

Merlin at age 8 weeks photographed from a low angle to give an unusual perspective. © 2014 Eileen Blass
Merlin at 8 weeks photographed from a low angle for an unusual perspective. © 2014 Eileen Blass

 

Want to dramatically improve your pictures? It’s really not that hard. These six tips can make a huge difference in your results.

1. Get down on your dog’s level.
One of the best ways to improve your pictures is to change your angle. Get down on the ground, eye to eye with your dog for a change. You can even try to put the camera on the ground and aim it up at him. There’s nothing like a fresh perspective. Change it up.

2. Have a camera wherever you are….always.
How many times have you watched your dog do something adorable and your smartphone is in the car, or in the purse or your camera is on the shelf in the basement. The moment is gone. Be ready and be fast.

3. Look for pretty light.
Mornings and evenings are best for making nice pictures, when the sun is low, the shadows are long and the color of the light is warm. The time just before dusk, when the sun casts golden light is my favorite time of the day for making pictures of my dogs. It’s ‘golden hour.”

4. Use natural light whenever you can.
A window can produce dramatic lighting whether you are creating a silhouette or a side lit portrait of your dog. I’ll talk more about lighting in a separate post.

5. The best pictures are those that happen naturally.
Trying to set your dog up to take a picture can turn into a comedy routine. Find your best pictures in little moments that are spontaneous. And refer back to tip #2.

6. And finally…don’t shoot vertical video.
If you want to make a video of your dog, turn your smartphone horizontally. Remember, television is horizontal. YouTube videos are horizontal. Turn it around 😉

Comments

  4. Thank you for sharing these tips Eileen – really love your photos – and appreciate advice from someone who knows!

    Reply

  10. Great tips. Of course, I know the best way to get great pictures of my Berners would be to invite you over for a long weekend. Ha!

    Reply

  12. Very helpful hints…especially the video, I never thought of it that way! Going to test out videos and pictures today! Because I don’t have ENOUGH pictures of Daisy! (Lol!!)

    Reply

  13. I read them all! and I totally respect everything you have written because you take the best dog pictures ever! I love Merlin/Teddy!

    Reply

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