J.B. Shepard

27 Apr 2019

Cute picture of a Great Dane puppy being held by a tattooed dog mom with a full sleeve outside in their fenced in backyard in Baltimore, Maryland near Waverly.

What is a Dog Mom?

If you are a dog lover, odds are you know someone who fits the description of “dog mom”. Are your dogs your kids? If you answered “yes” – there is a good chance that you’re probably dog mom. Written by J.B. Shepard, professional pet photographer, amateur dog mom gift enthusiast, and founder of the Puptrait Studio in Baltimore, Maryland. Dog Mom (dôɡ mäm) noun: 1. An informal and affectionate term for a dog lover that identifies as female and believes that […]

25 Apr 2019

Dog Mom Gift Ideas for Every Budget (Updated 2020)

Written by J.B. Shepard, professional pet photographer, amateur dog mom gift enthusiast, and founder of the Puptrait Studio in Baltimore, Maryland. Dog Lovers Love Dog Themed Gifts! Is the dog mom’s favorite? Of course they are! Which is why our dog blog team has put together a Mother’s Day gift guide just for dog moms. Below you’ll find a wide assortment of gift types, ranging from weird and whimsical to practical and heartfelt. We’ve also made sure to include gifts […]

23 Apr 2019

5 cute English Golden Retrievers all photographed at the Puptrait Studio during individual photo sessions.

Dog Pictures from Spring 2019

When it comes to breeds visiting our dog friendly photo studio, 2019 is quickly turning into the year of the English Golden Retriever. These happy-go-lucky bundles of floof brought a great energy to their photoshoots and were wonderful to work with during their pet portrait sessions — even if they were a bit of a handful to vacuum after 😉 Cute Pictures of Dogs in Hats Is your favorite dog ready for their closeup? Believe it or not, none of […]

Dog Photo & Pet Art Showcase

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.”

Authors / Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) / Intermediate Dog Photo Tips / J.B. Shepard / Pet Advice / Pet Portrait Session Info / Pet Product & Service Buying Guides

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 […]

Advanced Dog Photo Tips / Authors / Dog Behavior / J.B. Shepard

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 […]

Authors / Dog Photography Tips & Tutorials / Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) / Intermediate Dog Photo Tips / J.B. Shepard / Pet Portrait Session Info

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 […]

Advanced Dog Photo Tips / Authors / Beginner Dog Photo Tips / Dog Photography Tips & Tutorials / Intermediate Dog Photo Tips / J.B. Shepard / Pet Product & Service Buying Guides

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 […]

Authors / Dog Photography Tips & Tutorials / Intermediate Dog Photo Tips / J.B. Shepard

04 Apr 2019

Photo of a smiling pit bull dog next to the highway sign for the Jones Falls Expressway in Hampden located on Falls Road near the Hampden Skate Park and the dog friendly Puptrait Studio.

Submit Dog Friendly Events

Are you planning a dog friendly event held in Maryland, Washington D.C., or Virginia? We would love to hear all about it! If your dog friendly event sounds like it would be fun and safe to attend, we would be happy to promote it in the events section of our dog blog. Dog Friendly Event Submission Cost There is no cost to promote dog friendly events on Puptrait.com that are either hosted by nonprofits or are free to the general […]

Baltimore & D.C. Dog Friendly Events / News & Announcements

01 Apr 2019

Wizard of Oz Themed Chihuahua Portrait | Step-by-Step Photo Composite

Whimsical photoshoots, especially surreal composites and digital paintings, are some of our favorite styles of dog portraits to create. Which is why we were so excited to have an opportunity to work on this private Chihuahua portrait commission recently. As these projects tend to be rather open ended and a little less straight forward to commission in comparison to our standard photo shoots, we thought it might be fun to walk through each step. Surreal pet portraits move beyond possible […]

Cute Puppy Pictures / Dog Photo & Pet Art Showcase / Intermediate Dog Photo Tips

Author Archives: johnbshep