Why the Moment Matters More Than Technical Perfection in Dog Photography

I’d like to get something straight right off the bat. I need your expectations to be set before moving forward, because, this is going to sound strange coming from a website dedicated to teaching the art of photographing dogs. It may even offend some people. 

Shall we continue?

What I’d like to make perfectly clear from the start is this: Having tack-sharp focus, technically sound composition, and a histogram worthy of hanging in a museum is great… BUT… in the world of dog photography… none of these technical details matter if you have no moment - no connection, with the dog in your frame. 

Is there a world where all of those things come together for an image that is both technically sound, and emotionally impactful? Absolutely. The problem is that a lot of photographers, both beginners and more seasoned vets, tend to get mired in the technical, and miss what is right in front of them. 

(Wait a minute...is this image not unbelievably tack sharp??? Outrage!)

Who Are You Shooting For?

Now here is the million dollar question a lot of photographers never ask themselves. Who is this image for? There’s not always an easy, one-size fits all answer - but asking yourself this question may help you prioritize certain aspects of your image over others, leading to an easier shoot, and more “successful” photos. 

So, who are you shooting for? Let’s take a look at some common answers.

Private Clients.

If you’re a working dog photographer, private clients are probably your bread and butter. They’ve hired you because they place value on photography, but most importantly they place value on preserving the memories of their dogs - their companions, their best friends. These are the folks that will see the micro expressions on their dogs’ faces, and audibly celebrate when you capture their dog doing that one funny thing that is so unique to that particular pup. Does your image have a little chromatic aberration, or (heaven forbid) motion blur on the dogs’ tail? If the moment is there, private clients DO NOT CARE. They will purchase a huge wall art piece, hang it, and love it for countless years. They’ll look back on the day, remembering the moment, and never once say “Hey, do you think the left eye is a tad softer than the right?” 

Commercial Clients.

Commercial clients - both huge corporations, and local business, also care very little about the technical aspects of a photo. Think I’m wrong? Hop in your car right now, drive to your closest big box pet supply store, and take a look at the images printed on massive signage all throughout the store. How many of them are entirely out of focus? The answer may make you want to smash your camera with an oversized mallet. Commercial clients are looking for the moment, with a special emphasis on expression. Does the dog look like he’s enjoying himself? Is he calm? Is he “happy”? Is he a dog you’d like to purchase a product from? They’re also looking for clean backgrounds with negative space to place ad copy. They want clean, safe images - but they also do not get mired in the technical. 

Yourself.

Here’s a big one that we tend to ignore. Are you making an image for yourself? Are you working out some new and exciting creative idea, trying to perfect a technique, or just taking photos of your dog because you’re obsessed with your dog? There’s absolutely no right answer here - but you should ask yourself - how much does the technical matter to you in the moment? It might be a lot. It could be very little. 

Competition.

This would be the exception to this blog’s thesis statement. When submitting an image for print competition, judges will absolutely OBSESS over technical minutia, and gleefully dock you points whenever and wherever they can. Now, does having an image score low in a competition make it a bad image? Absolutely not. It could still have enough emotional impact to bring a person to tears. The “successfulness” of the image simply depends on who you’ve shot it for. I’ll cover my full thoughts on competitions in a future post, but please just remember, the “rules” of what makes a photo “good” or “award worthy” or “successful” are all just arbitrary rules made up by “some guy”. Kind of like the thoughts and opinions of this blog post are also made up by “some guy”.

(That's not...why that's not motion blur is it??? A pox on you!)

How to Prioritize the Moment

If you’ve come to this blog hoping to learn something (and I hope you have), let’s look at some practical tips you can apply at your next photo shoot. 

Predictable Behaviors

All dogs are different, but if you take the time to observe them it doesn’t take long to figure them out. Instead of taking your camera out and shooting right off the bat, spend some time getting to know your dog. Take a short walk, give them a few treats, pay attention. You’ll get to know their “move set”, and be able to anticipate things like head tilts, ears perking, and fun, playful moments.

Watch The Eyes

The eyes are the windows to the soul, as the old saying goes. Place special emphasis on achieving eye contact. Hold a toy or treat above your camera, and give it a tiny, energetic flick at just the right moment. See how the eyes get wider for just a millisecond. Sometimes that detail is just enough to help showcase the connection within your image. 

(Image noise??? High ISO? More like high IS NO!)

Manage The Energy

Dogs are empathetic creatures. For that matter, so are their owners. It’s up to you to help manage the energy of your shoot - making it a positive experience for everyone, even if it is….what’s a nice phrase for “an absolute nightmare”? Stay incredibly patient, and check in with the owner often and let them know how good their dog is being, and how excited you are for the photos. Don’t just “get what you can get” and move on. When you finally do capture the perfect image, it will be worth all the time (and well intentioned lies). 

Ask

This is huge. If you’re shooting for a client, ask them if there is anything special or unique that their dog does that they would love for you to capture. Those are the moments that are going to speak to them, and become those special art pieces they treasure forever. 

The Connection

If you’re looking to create better, more impactful dog photos, I implore you - prioritize the moment.

Having someone look at an image and hearing them say “Wow, that’s sharp” is not the same has hearing them say “I feel like I know that dog.” 

No one is going to look at your image’s histogram, and then hoist you onto their shoulders and parade you around town. However, someone might take a look at an image of a dog they’ve never met, and be unable to hold back tears (me). 

And that, my friends, is how you know you’re on the right track.

(Flares??? Now you've gone TOO FAR!)