Praiseworthy dog photography: teach your dog to pose for better photos
- Feb 10
- 5 min read
All photos courtesy of Heather Huffman Photography
You can teach your dog to strut their stuff, for dog photography to brag about.
It’s fun to have glamour shots of your dog. If your dog is exuberant or bashful, however, the idea of a dog photography session might seem daunting.
Teaching your dog what to expect and how to pose can help you both relax, streamline a session, and yield some extra-engaging shots.
When your dog knows how to earn treats, their confidence is apparent in their expression and posture. These attractive poses will give you the best return on your investment.
Here are some ideas and tips to help you get those extra-special shots.
Station for security.
A simple way to help your dog hold still for a photograph is to provide a station you’ve conditioned as a “happy place” by generously providing treats when they stand, sit, or lie there.
Here are some ideas for stations:
Sit or lie on a chair or bench.
Sit or lie on an attractive blanket or in a basket.
Place front paws on a small platform (useful for getting multiple dogs used to posing close together). A book of appropriate size, wrapped in non-slip shelf liner, makes a handy platform for training.
This video demonstrates the steps for teaching a dog to love settling on a blanket, mat, or bed.
Lure your dog onto the mat, and drop treats rapidly, one at a time (so your dog thinks treats sprout from the mat as soon as they’re on it and continue appearing as long as they stay on it).
After dropping 4-6 treats, toss a treat off the mat. Move the mat to a different spot, so your dog learns it’s the mat that matters, not where they are in the room or in relation to you.
Repeat.
In separate sessions, teach your dog that sitting or lying down on the mat (your preference) earns a treat.
Teach them to stay on the mat by gradually adding time between treats. Ping-pong between easy and harder durations to avoid building tension.
Need some extra guidance? I’m happy to arrange a training session or package to help the learning go smoothly.
Raise your dog’s comfort level for unfamiliar things a photographer might do.
Your dog might have a great stay for you, but will they stay if a helper crouches down on the floor? What if that person moves around holding something in front of their face?
An example of practicing tiny increments to achieve success:
Help your dog get used to a person moving around on the ground and pointing a camera or similar shaped object at them. Break each challenge into tiny slices.
You can play the role of photographer or, ideally, have a helper play photographer so your dog is used to you posing with them or standing by while someone else moves around.
You’ll probably need to divide this into several sessions to keep it relaxed and fun for everyone.
Start with something your dog knows (sit, down or stand), and reward that.
Then add a tiny change – maybe the pretend-photographer bends their legs a little and then stands right back up. Reward.
Bend a little more, reward.
Continue the approximations till you (or a helper) can get all the way onto their hands and knees, and even crawl around your dog while they stay.
As you make things harder, mix in easier steps to prevent tension from mounting.
Remember to reward each successful step while practicing.
Take a break and let your dog move around after every 5-10 reps (The number depends on your dog’s emotional stamina). You can play or snuggle with them to help them decompress.
Help your dog get used to seeing the person on the floor hold a variety of things in front of their face while facing away from the dog. It’s especially helpful to use something that’s roughly the proportions of a camera plus lens.
Then the pretend-photographer switches to holding the pretend-camera in front of their face while looking towards your dog. They might have to change position by degrees if the dog acts suspicious and worried.
Practice in different rooms, and in other places if possible, because dogs are highly context-specific in their learning. Changing the picture helps them learn to behave anywhere.
Does this sound daunting? When we work together, I can help make it straightforward and fun!
More ways to improve your dog's cooperation:
If you want a portrait without you in it, gradually increase your distance from the pretend-photographer.
This is important enough to say again: Dogs are super-sensitive to the context in which they learn to do something. They need to be re-taught in several settings before you can expect them to pose in a strange place.
Practice your training in different places: can your dog do this in different rooms? In the garage? On the driveway? At the pet store?
If you have multiple dogs, help them get used to posing close together.
Teaching your dogs to position their feet or bodies on targets as a trick can help with this.
Tip: Sometimes you need to start with two platforms further apart and gradually transition to closer positions.
Build your dog’s confidence by teaching some simple tricks.
Positive reinforcement can build your dog’s optimism and provide cute poses.
Some dogs get overactive when stressed. Bashful dogs might shrink and slouch.
Teaching your dog a job to do (in happy anticipation of treats) can increase their confidence, leading to more attractive expressions and posture.
Here are some ideas for simple poses:
Bowing is attractive and easy to teach.
Perhaps your dog already knows “high five.” You can gradually increase the distance, so they’ll wave at you from a few feet away.
If your dog has a stable sit-stay, teaching them to look over their shoulder makes a cute pose.
Teaching your dog to put their paws on a low platform can help keep them in one spot (a rock, log or step can be an attractive platform in outdoor settings).
Ready for frame-worthy photos of your dog? Let's schedule a photo prep training party!
Award-winning pet photographer Heather Huffman creates soulful, timeless portraits of dogs and has raised over $11,000 for local dog rescues through her work.
Heather and I are combining our skills to create a fun experience and amazing photos of your dog that you can treaasure
Special offer:
15% discount on photography and training packages if they are scheduled together (save on each).
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