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Category : Dog Photography Tips & Tutorials

02 Jan 2020
Dog photography portrait captured with a studio lighting setup.

Dog Costume Guide for National Dress Up Your Pet Day

 Written by J.B. Shepard, professional pet costume maker, dog portrait artist, and founder of the Puptrait Studio in Baltimore, Maryland. The Puptrait Studio may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication. It’s a new year and you know what that means it’s almost time again for our favorite holiday —National Dress Up Your Pet Day! In celebration the Puptrait Studio has put […]

18 Sep 2019

What is the Best Lens for Pet Photography?

That’s not to say that this is the only lens you can use or that you can’t take great photos of pets with a different lens. But with that said, this is the only lens that I personally use for my paid pet photography assignments.

19 Aug 2019

What is the best camera for a snowy photoshoot?

Your dog is never more fun than when it’s a play and this is especially true on snow days. Snow is a new and exciting experience for most dogs. And, when a serious blizzard rolls through the area odds are you’re taking off from work — which our dogs are understandably pretty jazzed about.

15 Jul 2019

What is the best camera for students? (Updated 2020)

I have been pointing my pet photography students to this entry level camera line since 2012 with great results. Even the oldest cameras in that line are super cheap…

03 May 2019

Should Photographers Watermark Photos in 2020?

Is watermarking your photos the best way to protect your photos? While it might seem like every photographer is watermarking their photos, there is serious debate as to whether the practice is helpful.

22 Apr 2019
Maryland and Washington D.C. professional pet photographer. Dog friendly Baltimore, MD based photography studio.

Improve Your Pet Photography Portfolio Instantly | Eliminate Group Shoots

To be clear, we’re not saying that a professional pet photographer can’t capture group portraits of older, larger or more active dogs. In fact, many dog portrait artists will even go so far as to even guarantee that they can. But as quoted by Chris Farley in his titular role of the 90’s comedic classic Tommy Boy, “…if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time.”

18 Apr 2019
Photo of a cute and smiley English Golden Retriever wearing a colorful top hat made from newspaper clippings.

How to motivate dogs during photoshoots

Written by J.B. Shepard, a professional pet photographer and founder of the Puptrait Studio. Handling a dog during a photoshoot presents some fairly unique requirements. It differs from most approaches to training and behavioral modification in that a photographer is less concerned with compliance and more focused on engagement. More often than not, professional pet photographers seek to trigger facial expressions and moods, rather than encourage any specific behavior, trick or action. Consent is the key to great dog portraiture […]

16 Apr 2019
Infrared view of the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C.

Do you need a permit to photograph in DC?

Written by J.B. Shepard, a Washington D.C. based professional pet photographer and founder of the Puptrait Studio in Baltimore, Maryland. Washington D.C. dog owners area have a wealth of options when it comes to on location pet portraits. Some of the most iconic backdrops in our country are located just a short drive from Baltimore and Northern Virginia. Between all of the national monuments, the iconic buildings and the National Cherry Blossom festival, it’s no wonder why the National Mall […]

13 Apr 2019
Action shot photo of a cute American Bulldog Terrier running along the Baltimore Inner Harbor at the Canton Waterfront Park. This photo was captured by the professional dog photographers at the Puptrait Studio in Hampden and is featured in a tutorial teaching aspiring pet photographers how to photograph running dogs like a pro.

How to Photograph a Running Dog

Written by J.B. Shepard, a professional pet photographer and founder of the Puptrait Studio. Photographing a running dog isn’t a simple task. In fact, taking great pictures of running dogs consistently can be down right difficult — as it requires a photographer to understand dog behaviors, how to use artificial light sources / light modifiers, how their camera functions in extreme conditions, and how to frame less than optimal scenes. But with proper understanding of the hurdles specific to these […]

07 Apr 2019
A black staff wearing a golden crown. He is lit with specular highlights in a studio against a clean white background.

How to Photograph Black Dogs

Written by J.B. Shepard, a professional pet photographer and founder of the Puptrait Studio. Photographing black dogs can be tricky. But it’s not as difficult as many aspiring dog photographers have been led to believe. In fact, with a better understanding of light and reflections it is possible to take great photos of black and dark furred dogs consistently. Black Dog Photography Tips & Tricks We’ve put together a collection of tips and tricks to help pet photographers create better […]