Dog Photography At Its Best

A photo of your dog is a prized possession, right?

Getting the right pose can a times be frustrating. Why not try some natural photos instead.

Here are some ideas:

Sweet Dreams: A dog lost in the world of dreams makes for an innocent and peaceful photo. Try a close up where her face fill the frame.


What's That?: Most dogs tip their heads to the side when they hear an unusual sound or when their masters ask questions in an exaggerated way. Find out what triggers your dog's head cock and then use it in a cute head shot.



Snack Time: Give a favorite, long-lasting chew to your dog. Once your dog is happily working on it, ease yourself down to dog level and capture the happiness.


Perfect Day: Next time your dog lounges outdoors and a perfect afternoon, gram your camera. Snap her as she snoozes in the sun, raises her nose to a scent, or rolls happily in the grass.



Once you get used to photographing your dog acting naturally, more ideas will come to you. With today's digital cameras, you can keep snapping photos until you get the one you like best. And if not, try again another day!

National "Camera Day"

Today, June 29th is National Camera Day.

I love great pet photos and it is great fun to take a perfect picture of your pet.

Do you know why your dog's eyes shine in such a creepy way in photos?

Ebony At Twelve Weeks Old

The answer is, for the same reasons our eyes come out red – because of the way the flash is reflected off the back of our eyes. The difference in color of the reflection is due to the structure of the eye. In a person, flash photography makes our eyes appear devilish red. This is because the flash reflects off the a blood vessel rich layer behind the retina.

In dogs (and many other animals), the retina has a reflective layer behind it called the tapetum lucidum. This layer acts like a mirror, reflecting light at the back of their eyes. The reflective layer is what helps dogs and cats see better at night. Light is reflected outward, giving the dog's retina a second chance to absorb the rays.

Light that is not absorbed exits the eye, appearing as the "eyeshine" seen in photos, from headlights, flashlights, etc. This ability comes at a price, as dogs cannot see detail as well as humans (they are more attuned to seeing motion).

Note: Some dogs lack pigment in their tapetum lucidum. In these individuals their "eyeshine" is red, as it is in humans.