Having a pet dog is like having a precious friend or family member
livening up your life with its unconditionally loving presence. To immortalize
this bond, a canine photo session is an evergreen idea which can later also be
turned into a pet oil painting. However, it may not be as easy a task as you
might imagine it to be. Check out these 6 steps of getting a dog’s photo shoot
done right and trouble-free.
Step 1: Bathe them into becoming their best version
You wouldn’t want your darling pet to be stinky and shabby looking
as he or she prepares to pose. It affects their vibe and visual appeal
adversely. Dogs are known to be investigative, outdoorsy and often messy.
Getting dirty happens to them quite frequently. A photo session calls for a
fresh looking pet more than almost any other occasion. Hence, make sure that
you schedule a proper bath for them as per their personality and according to
the date of the photo-shoot.
For
example, if yours is a calm or senior dog living a comparatively neat
lifestyle, its cleanliness after good bath can be sustained for a few days. If,
on the other hand, you own a naughty puppy or a hyper active dog, ensure a nice
bath just a day before the photo session so that there is less time for him or
her to get grimy all over again. A fresh looking canine with loose and soft
hair, free from the debris and junk odor is definitely the camera worthy one.
Step 2: Up their game with a bit of grooming and styling
Along with a good bath, the physical grooming too is just as
necessary for a photo to turn out good enough to be considered copied further
as a pet oil painting.
The professional photographer’s eyes behind the lens will
require a picture perfect dog for the clicks. Therefore, depending on the
particular dog breed that you own, get their grooming game right with a proper
nail trim, hair trim, hair brushing, styling and teeth brushing. If you are
already a pro at doing all this yourself, go for it.
If not, go to a reliable
pet salon to get that professional model look. If you are choosing the latter,
avoid booking a salon appointment on the same day as that of the photo session.
For the last touches, don’t forget to wipe the eyes, nose and ears of your pet
dog before he or she takes the position in front of the camera.
Step 3: Rehearse a little
Next up is to condition your dog to become a camera friendly model
in a quick pre-shoot mock drill. Brush up the commands that he or she already
knows such as ‘sit’, ‘stop’, ‘stand’, ‘stay’, ‘fetch’, ‘come’, ‘lay down’ etc.
You may also teach a few easy and quick new ones that will help them perform
better. For example, a few cute pose commands that they can do by mimicking
you. You may also go for role play beforehand where you become the photographer
and do fake photo shoot of your dog. This will give your pet an idea about what
to expect and how to go about it all on the actual day of the photo session.
Step 4: Choose between rest versus exercise
Depending again on the personality of the dogs, get them in their
best mode by offering a day of relaxation or warming up exercises as per their
natures and lifestyles. If your dog is a laid back kind of a canine, give it
its type of restful time or personal space before the shoot so that it can get
done with its ‘me-time’.
If you have a very playful dog, get him or her in his
or her element by giving a short play or fun exercise session just a few hours
before the shoot. However, ensure that you don’t tire them out by overdoing it.
You wouldn’t want an exhausted looking dog either in a photo or in a pet oil
painting from the photo!
Step 5: Fuel up with a light meal
It is important neither to feed your dog fully before the photo
shoot nor to keep him or her entirely starving. Give them a light meal with
smaller potions instead. This will fill them up just proportionately to not to
be cranky and yet interested enough in the treats you give them during the
shoot to get the best behavior out of them. Great looking dog oil portraits
made from such happy pictures are bound to look heartwarming.
