There is nothing more frustrating than seeing your dog doing something special, taking the pooch’s picture, then having it come back blurred, the dog out of focus, or that cute pose completely missed.  Taking a picture of your dog requires a great deal of patience, timing and a willingness to take several shots of the same scene.  In this article, we’ll present some ideas for you to consider, or use.
     One of the first hints that may be of use, is to get down to your dog’s level.  The canine spends most of his life near ground level.  Get down there with him to get him doing things that come natural.  You’ll want to fill the viewfinder with your subject, and not clutter it with background.  Of course, when you get down with your dog, the first thing your dog will do, will want to come over to you.  Just be patient, give the dog a gentle command, “stay,” and after a time, he’ll get used to what you want.  Many cameras have an outline in the viewfinder that indicates the part of the scene that will be shown on film.  Don’t just look at the subject of the picture, look at the total view within that outline.  You may not want that telephone pole growing out of your dog’s head.
     One of the things that a lot of articles neglect to point out, is for the family photographer to be very familiar with the camera he/she is using.  A camera that has been sitting on the shelf in the closet for months, is not necessarily going to take that ideal photo. The photographer needs to practice a lot, take a lot of pictures with different speeds of film, under different conditions.  Be sure the batteries are strong, the film fresh and everything is in good working condition.  One point I’d like to make, is that you don’t need a top of the line camera to take a great picture.  Sure, it’s nice to have all the bells and whistles, like telephoto lenses, adjustable shutter speeds, f-stops, etc..  In reality, it’s the person behind the camera that makes the picture.  Great photos have been made by those “point and click” cameras.
     The time of day that you are taking the picture can have a large impact on how the photo will turn out.  Early in the morning, or later in the afternoon, are good times to photograph, since the sun’s rays are not directly above you.  This allows for use of shadowing, and adds depth to your picture.  Position yourself so that the sun is somewhat behind you, and just above your shoulder.  Be careful though, you don’t need to photograph your shadow.
     A note on developing should be included here as well.  It sure is convenient to drop your roll of film off at a drug store, or super center, have it developed and returned to you within a couple of days.  BUT, consider the amount of time you have spent composing that special picture, how much you care about the subject?  Ask yourself, do you really want to leave the developing to a person who may have been trained on the machine only yesterday, or maybe, they’re being trained using your film?  There is nothing wrong with trying to save a little money, just be aware that the pictures that come back are being developed en masse, and nothing is being done to improve the exposure.  Going to a professional photo developer can be convenient in that all the shots you’ve taken can be put on a proof sheet.  Then you can look at the photos, and choose the one(s) you want enlarged.
     Taking a photograph can be as challenging as being an artist.  You, the photographer, are composing a setting, considering the lighting, getting the subjects attention, and visualizing the outcome before the shutter is clicked.  Please, don’t place  your dog, or pet, in an unusual setting.  For instance, would you really want your champion Pekingnese to be photographed hunting in a marsh.  That’s not to say there aren’t any that do that, but it is highly unusual.
     Lastly, please be sure to have fun.  The first few times, remember, you will be experimenting.  Once your pet gets used to you having a camera in your hands, they will forget it’s there, opening up more opportunities for you to get great natural photographs.  If you are comfortable taking photos, your subjects will be comfortable, too.