Nowadays almost everyone has a high-quality camera built into their very own mobile phone. It’s a great tool to have and you can get some amazing results. But before you jump right in and start taking photos for your dog’s resumé, there are some things to consider.

First of all, make sure they are well groomed before hand. You want them looking their best for their pictures.

Consider the lighting conditions. Although you can use a flash, it may still not produce a great photo, especially indoors. Try shooting outside in direct sunlight to get a better picture. And don’t forget to use anti-red eye features if you have them when using a flash. A dog’s eyes are often their most attractive feature and you don’t want them appearing as some sort of demon-dog!

The natural light really helps show off the various of colours in her coat and features. Esme starred in the film ‘Killing your Friends’.

Look at where the light is coming from and watch out for shadows being cast over the area you are photographing. Most importantly, make sure the subject’s face is well lit.

Don’t rely on your device’s screen. Transfer the photos to a computer in order to see how they’ve come out. It is sometime quite difficult to see whether the picture is in focus or well lit when looking at a tiny screen.

Consider using a  . Although you can get some great shots on a mobile phone, they are not typically very good for action shots or photos where the subject is moving. You will need a camera with a bigger lens and a faster shutter speed to avoid motion-blur.

Have treats ready. To keep your dog focused and still during the photo-shoot, have treats ready if they are not already well trained without them.

This shot of Lola demonstrates a special talent that not many other dogs would be able to do. Lola starred in the movie ‘Molly Moon’.

Take multiple shots. For every ten photos taken maybe only one or two are just right. So make sure to take lots of pictures. A top tip is to find out what actions your dog is required to perform and send a picture of them doing precisely that. If they have to look out of a car window then take a picture of them looking our of a car window.

Think about the composition of your photo. The best pictures have great composition. This means picking the right setting and having interesting things in the shot with your dog. It may seem a little odd setting up a staged shot in your house but believe me, you will be pleased with the results.

You will want to take the following shots:

  • Head shots
  • Standing
  • Sitting
  • Side & front
  • Action shots – walking, running, jumping

Special Effects

Many cameras and phones have features built into them allowing you to add special effect and filters to your pictures. It’s always a great idea to have a few black-and-white pictures in your collection as they can convey a completely different character to your dog. It is not advisable to add lots of artist effects but using simple, subtle effects can boost colour and highlight areas of shadow and light.

Tech Stuff

There is a lot of computer software that can help you design your dog’s resumé, such as Microsoft Word, Mac Pages or Open Office.
Once you’ve created your document, it can be handy to convert it into a PDF (portable document file) document as this preserves the formatting and can be more easily viewed on mobile devices, such as phones and tablets. Many document editing programs now have a built-in facility for saving or exporting to PDF.

Using a Professional

While you can take your own photos, it can pay to get them done professionally. Although it will cost more, a good photographer will achieve a far better result than you can do at home. You will also have something special to show your family and friends.

Photographers can come to your house, but you will likely pay more, since they will have to spend time bringing all their equipment to you and setting up. It will be cheaper to go to their studio.

The photographer has shot this photo of Ben against a white back screen, and used lighting to accentuate the shadows, giving the picture more drama.