Professional Dog Photographer Robert Hooper shares his Best Dog Photo Tips

This week in Alfie’s Friday Foto Fun I’m interviewing Surrey Dog Photographer Robert Hooper. I sniffed out some of his best dog photo tips and found out more about what it takes to become a professional dog photographer.

Tell me how you became a Dog Photographer?

Having already been a professional wedding and portrait photographer for some years, I started offering pet photography around 3 or 4 years ago. I knew there was a market for dog photography, but hadn’t anticipated quite how popular this would become… and the pet photography (and in particular dog photography) has now become a core part of my business which I really enjoy. Once I’d shown a few dog photos on my website this quickly became something of a regular thing for me, and as I became more adept at shooting them I began to enjoy the sessions more and more.

What do you like the most about your job?

Well, I like animals for a start… to be completely honest if you don’t, then you’ve got no chance at all in this game! I think the animals quickly pick up a sense of who you are – and if you’re not ‘on board’ with them you’ll struggle to get good photos. I love the rough and tumble of a puppy photo shoot for example, just for the sheer unpredictability of it all – and in comparison to shooting say, a wedding, the whole session has a much more relaxed “let’s just see what happens” feel to it. I’m frequently rolling around on the ground in fits of laughter as I’m being mauled and licked to death by my latest ‘model’. It’s hard work getting the shots you need sometimes, but it can be a lot of fun too.

The downside of course, is when things don’t go to plan: some days it’s just not going to happen! Add to this a liberal element of pee and the occasional poop… laying face down in the cold damp grass or mud to get the best angles… and the odd over-excited owner who may be running out of patience fast while their beloved pet shows me nothing but it’s bum or simply runs a mile from the pair of us, and you’ll have your work cut out to provide high quality saleable images.

What are the key skills needed to be a dog photographer?

That’s really easy: patience, patience, patience and more patience. Of course, you’re also going to need the technical skills to take a decent photo, and some top notch equipment to take them on – but I’d definitely say without a doubt that my greatest asset for my pet photography is patience: without this you’ll be a frustrated wreck in no time. And the second biggest skill? A good sense of humour!

What are your best tips for taking Good Dog Photos?

1. Get down to the dog’s level – don’t just shoot from a standing position: be prepared to get down and get dirty, for the most impressive dog photos!
2. When taking your photos, don’t just look at your dog – look at the background too. A small change of camera position can make a huge difference to the background of your photo and that distracting tree that was ‘growing out of your dog’s head’ may be banished from the picture completely just by moving around a few inches. Attention to small details can make a huge difference to the finished image!
3. Take plenty of photos! There’s an old saying in photography: “film is cheap” and in this digital age this is truer than ever – you’ve paid for the camera and you can snap away to your heart’s content, so don’t be stingy – shoot, shoot and shoot some more. The more pictures you take, the more you’ll get a feel for what you’re doing and what works best for you and your dog.
4. If you’re looking to take a classic ‘portrait’ of your best four legged friend but find he or she is a bit of a livewire… give him a good walk first, throw a ball, let him run off some steam (you can photograph this too). When your dog has had a good run they’re much more likely to settle… and your photos will be much easier to take.
5. Patience is a virtue. Don’t expect great results right away, but keep plugging away and you’re sure to get some great photos you’ll love to keep forever. Good luck!

Finally – where do you shoot your dog photos?

I shoot a mixture of studio and location work in and around the Surrey/Kent areas. Many owners come to me looking for good clean, simple images to show their pets clearly, without all the distractions of the ‘real world’ interfering in the background, so for this I use a studio setup. Other times, we shoot in a more natural setting of the owner’s choice – a dog charging full speed across a field or padding along in the woods can both make a great photo. Either way I’m looking to create pictures that really show the character of the individual animals. If I do that I know I’ll have a happy customer who’ll love the resulting photos!

I offer a full range of services from digital images on disc to beautiful framed wall portraits and canvas wraps. Because my services are bespoke, I can cater for most people’s needs and budgets – which is great, because every job is different.

 Thank You so much for sharing all your tips and ideas Robert *Waggy Tail*

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