A dog sitting calmly in a meadow or lying in the grass is a patient model. That is exactly why preparation is worthwhile before you raise the camera. If you choose the location deliberately, you will have to make fewer corrections later and get better pictures. This part deals with the question of where you should take photos, how light and shadow behave, and what you need to pay attention to with regard to the background and perspective.
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Key Takeaways
- Look for shade or an overcast sky, because the light there is soft and even.
- Avoid the midday sun, because it casts harsh shadows on the face and eyes.
- Choose a calm, uniform background without strong contrasts.
- Leave at least two to three meters of distance between the dog and the background.
- Photograph at your dog's eye level, or even slightly below it.
- Use a wide aperture so that the background becomes soft and unobtrusive.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Check the location based on light and shadow
Before you think about settings, you should take your time looking around your desired location. Observe where shadows lie and where the light hits. Walk the area once and pay attention to which areas are bright and which are dark. These impressions will later decide whether a spot is suitable for portraits.
Step 2: Use shady spots for even portraits
Shady positions are ideal for portraits. In the shade, the light is softer and more even, and you get a uniform exposure on the fur and in the face. So preferably place your dog where no direct sunlight falls on him. This will save you a lot of work in image editing later.
Step 3: Use the overcast day as a natural softbox
Even better than shade is often an overcast sky. The clouds act like a giant softbox above you and distribute the light evenly throughout the entire environment. Harsh contrasts and blown-out areas are avoided. Incidentally, this light is flattering not only for animals but just as much for people. An overcast day is therefore the ideal time for outdoor portraits.
Step 4: Keep an eye on the position of the sun
Always pay attention to where the sun is, because the position of the sun determines the length of the shadows. The lower the sun is, for example early in the morning or late in the evening, the longer the shadows objects cast. This makes it easier for you to find shady areas. If, on the other hand, the sun is high in the sky at midday, the shadows are very short, and there are hardly any truly shady areas left in nature.
Step 5: Deliberately avoid the midday sun
The midday sun is almost unsuitable for portraits. When the light falls vertically from above, the eyes and eyebrows lie in shadow, and the nose casts an unattractive shadow on the mouth. With dogs, the problem is similar: the muzzle casts a disturbing shadow on the chest, and the eyes look dark. Therefore, plan early morning or late afternoon sessions if you want to photograph outdoors.
Step 6: Think about the background from the very beginning
When photographing outdoors, your gaze quickly focuses on the subject, but the background is at least as important. A distracting background draws attention away from the dog and quickly makes the picture look busy or unattractive. Therefore, always look at what can be seen behind your dog before you press the shutter.
Step 7: Choose a uniform background
Ideal is a background that is as even as possible, such as a single-colored meadow or a calm canopy of leaves. Avoid strong contrasts, because they draw the viewer's attention and take the leading role away from the dog. Bright spots, glaring colors, or patterns in the background should therefore not end up in the picture at all, if possible.
Step 8: Choose hedges, bushes, or trees instead of buildings
If you want to use a background deliberately, hedges, bushes, or trees work well. House walls, factory grounds, or shop windows, on the other hand, are problematic because they contain many lines, edges, and contrasts. Check carefully what is behind your animal, because a single eye-catching element can dominate the entire picture.
Step 9: Keep two to three meters of distance from the background
Don't position your dog directly in front of a hedge, but leave two to three meters of space between the animal and the background. The greater this distance, the blurrier and more even the background becomes in the picture. This way it fades pleasantly into the background and no longer distracts from the animal.
Step 10: Dissolve the background with a wide aperture
A wide aperture additionally helps you render the background more softly. The wider the aperture, the more the background recedes. You then no longer have to perfectly control every detail in the background. How strongly the background remains visible also depends on the distance to the animal and on your focal length. That's why you should always check what will be visible in the picture.
Step 11: Get down to the dog's eye level
A decisive difference between a snapshot and a professional photo is the perspective. Crouch down or lie on the ground so that you are at eye level with your dog. If you look down from above, the animal appears small and insignificant. At eye level, or even slightly from below, it appears majestic and sublime.
Step 12: Use ground level to create blur in the foreground
The lower you are, the more strongly you can create a blur gradient in the foreground. For example, lie down in the grass while your dog sits or lies about three meters away. The grass in the foreground then becomes very blurry because it is close to the camera. The focus, on the other hand, is on the dog. This gradient pulls the viewer's gaze from the edge into the picture and keeps it on the actual subject for longer.
Step 13: Deliberately choose an unfamiliar perspective
Your dog sees the world from its own point of view, but you mostly know it from your own, elevated line of sight. A shot at eye level or below therefore shows it from a perspective you rarely experience in everyday life. This is precisely what makes pictures more interesting and captivates the viewer. At the same time, it is a form of respect toward the animal, because you photograph it at eye level and not simply from above.
Step 14: Preparing for the camera settings
By choosing the location, the light, the background, and the perspective, you have laid the foundation. In the next chapter, I will show you which camera settings help you optimally execute posed photos of your dog outdoors, whether it is sitting, lying, or standing.
Summary ??? Outdoor dog photos: Choosing locations, light, and background correctly
A good outdoor shot of your dog begins long before you press the shutter. Look for a shady spot or use an overcast day so that the light stays soft and even. Avoid the midday sun, which creates harsh shadows on the face. Choose a calm background, such as a hedge or a bush, and keep two to three meters of distance. A wide aperture makes the background softer. The eye-level perspective makes your animal look majestic and produces a picture that captivates the viewer.
FAQ
What is the best time of day for outdoor dog portraits?Early in the morning or late in the evening, because the sun is then low and the light is softer. An overcast day is also very well suited.
Why should I avoid the midday sun?The high sun casts harsh shadows on the eyes, eyebrows, and muzzle. This makes the face look unflattering and dark.
Does the background always have to be completely empty?No, but it should be as monotonous as possible and should not contain strong contrasts or eye-catching elements such as house walls or signs.
Why is the distance to the background important?The greater the distance between the dog and the background, the blurrier the background becomes in the picture. This distracts less from the animal.
