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Category : Authors

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 […]

10 Mar 2019
A Chugg (Chihuahua

Is it Safe to Give Alcohol to Dogs?

Consuming even a small amount of alcohol can be dangerous for a dog. A dog’s kidneys and liver were never intended to filter or process the alcohol content of beer, wine, or any other alcoholic drink. Which shouldn’t be all that surprising, as the ability to metabolize alcohol, much like the ability to metabolize milk fat sugars (lactose), is actually a relatively recent mutation in humans.

09 Mar 2019
A photo of a St. Patrick's Day dog costume. Bully puppy photo of a cute American Pit Bull dog celebrating St. Paddy's Day wearing a green derby / bowler cap and green dog collar in celebration of Ireland.

Dog Lover’s Guide to St. Paddy’s Day 2020

Written by J.B. Shepard, a dog advocate and founder of the Puptrait Studio. Sláinte! It’s March and you know what that means – St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner! St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17th. In 2020 the date falls on a Tuesday. What is St. Patrick’s Day? Saint Patrick’s Day, also colloquially known as St. Paddy’s day or in Irish as Lá Fhéile Pádraig (“the Day of Festival of Patrick”) is named after St. […]

01 Mar 2019

Affenpinscher Puppy Photos

Written by J.B. Shepard, a professional pet photographer and founder of the Puptrait Studio in Baltimore, Maryland. Affenpinschers are often affectionally referred to as “monkey dogs” or “ape terriers” because of their uncanny resemblance to a number of smaller New World Primates. The French refer to the breed as “diablotin moustachu”, which translates into English as “mustachioed little devil”. Dogs that look like Ewoks That all said, having recently had a chance to work with a handful of these adorable […]

25 Feb 2019
smiling piebald pitbull brindle wearing a Elizabethan style ruff collar

How Much Does Pet Photography Cost?

Dog photography costs vary. Professional pet portrait prices can range anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per dog. Most amateur and student photographers charge much less, often charging as little as $250 to $500 per session.

19 Feb 2019
a portrait of a fawn boxer wearing a paper crown taken with a dslr

31 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Dog Photographer | Updated 2020

Written by J.B. Shepard, professional pet photographer and founder of the Puptrait Studio in Baltimore, Maryland. For most dog lovers, our dogs are our favorite kids. While the rest of your pack might sit for school photos every year or the occasional selfie with friends, our dogs tend to get neglected. Not because we don’t love them, but because taking a decent photo of a dog can be difficult — even for experienced pet photographers. Make sure you’re hiring the right pet […]

15 Feb 2019
ready to hang dog art mounted on dibond

Popular Styles of Dog Portraits

Written by J.B. Shepard, a professional pet photographer and founder of the Puptrait Studio in Baltimore, Maryland. What is the best kind of pet portrait? Ask a dozen dog owners their favorite style of dog portrait and you’re likely to get a dozen different answers back. Pet portraits can be created in a variety of different formats and mediums. Dog portraits can be painted, drawn, photographed – even created as rendered computer graphics (CG). Just as the medium for pet portraits […]