Pictures of black dogs

[3-greys-and-a-mutt]

Okay, this came up in another topic ("Fritz") so I thought I'd open it as its own topic and see if anyone can help.
I have a black dog with a matte coat. I hardly have any good pictures of her, because every one that I take shows her as a black outline with eyes. Her features disappear! It helps to take photos outside, but I don't have the chance for cute poses out there, since she is very active in the yard.
We have so many cute pictures of our greyhounds, inside and out, but poor Pup could never get a modeling career with her sparse portfolio!
Does anyone have advice for photographing a black dog in the house?

[*SimButtTwo4U*]

Maybe turn lots of lights on so her fur shines a little? and maybe you could run her out a little bit like take her for a lice long walk befor picture takeing or throw her frisbee, ball, stuffed toy, or her fav toy a few times just to ger her a little tired so shes not so active.

[Karen]

Lots of lights, and a long exposure time, if you can, though that requires both camera nd pup to hold still!

[Gio]

I can certainly sympathize with you. I love to take pics of animals but I found out that it is generally more difficult to take good photographs of black ones. I have 3 cats and 2 of them are black and a lot of the times I'm disappointed with the photographs I take. Outside pics can also be problematic, direct sunlight has the habit of turning them into black blobs.

I agree that is quite frustrating, I have lovely photos of the other ones, of strays etc. What I tend to do is to take more than I planned, one of them is bound to turn out decent.

I'm sorry that I can't be of more help I just wanted to let you know that you are not the only one with this problem...
Perhaps someone with more technical knowledge can give more advice?

Hi,

I found that you really have to pay close attention to the background first.. make sure it doesn't drownd out the dogs. Outside pics tend to work best for my dogs. I get good pics of them in the grass and other lighter colored backgrounds. Make sure the light source is not in front of you. Get the sunlight or lamps behind you so the dogs are lit up well. I also found that profile shots and full body shots tend to turn out really well. When you just get their head or straight-on facial shots, in certain poses, you just see eyes and a big tounge . I know most of this advice is just basic knowledge but it might help. Good luck.

BTW, the pic in your signature is great... it turned out really well

[Rottie]

Well, try taking pictures during the day so as much light will come in through the windows as possible. Also, turn on all the lights. Sometimes the flash doesn't help at all because it makes their eyes yellow in the picture.

[RachelJ]

This was one of the reasons I chose a white dog after having two black ones. I always did what Gio does, take more than you need hoping one will turn out good.

[jackiesdaisy1935]

It is very hard to take a black dog, I have problems with Daisy, Perry will show up great and all you can see of her is a black blob. The one place that she comes out pretty good is on our white sofa with the light at our back and towards her. Some of them outside, close up come out pretty good too, I agree trying to take a black dog is looking at a big nose and yellow eyes most of the time.
Jackie

[ilovehounds]

The background is just as important as the pose of the dog. Try getting light background colors and not to much else in the pic like furniture and things.

Standing and sitting poses would be better then laying, side shots are also great, for realy nice pics try and get her focused on something other then strait into the camera.

Outside shots are great, try taking her out alone and if she won't stay still get a thin black rope and it shouldn't show to much in the pic.

My best advice take shots where she is not standing and looking strait at the camera.

Something like this


you get to see her hole body not just her head and chest.

and for a sitting pic on an angle like this

you still get to see some of the body

it looks better then strait on like this


Sorry if Im blabbing I want to become a pet photographer so I have been studing and taking pics like crazy to test poses and lighting.

They are worth a try, remember the background is just as important as the pose of the dog. Oh and light, light, light for a dark dog its best to have alot of light.

Good Luck and happy snapping

[ August 01, 2001: Message edited by: ilovehounds ]

[aly]

For about every 10-15 pics of Shiloh or Lolly, at least one will usually turn out okay. Reece is a LOT easier to take a picture of.

[CoraNewf]

I know what you mean. And god forbid if you use a flash!!! You either get horrible red-eye or their eyes look like they're glowing.... almost scary!!!

This is my favorite pic of Cora. We were sitting inside one winter day, after playing outside. My husband & I were on the couch, and Cora was laying on the floor. We had no lights on, and it was an overcast day. The light made it easy to snap a pic with my digital camera, without using a flash:



I got this picture outside. We were at our friends house, on a summer day. Their yard has tons of trees. I have different effects I can use on my camera. This is the sepia effect:



One good thing about black dogs... they take wonderful silhouettes:

Annie! Those are gorgeous pics!!! Cora looks sooooo beautiful! WOW ! I never even thought of doing sillouettes... I don't have that beautiful backdrop either though

Thanks for sharing them....

[TheAntiPam]

Pet Photographer sounds like a wonderful job, Ilovehounds! I hope you have much success!

Another tip, but not for photographs... If you have a black dog and a black chair, always locate the dog BEFORE sitting down!

[jackiesdaisy1935]

Annie, those pictures are just beautiful, I love those of Cora, she looks like a big teddy bear you could just hug and hug and hug. She looks so sweet. I have a heck of a time trying to get Daisy's picture.
Jackie

[CoraNewf]

Oh, I don't know... your picture of Daisy the naughty dog was awfully good!!!!!!!!!

I think most of it is just luck.. being in the right place at the right time, with a camera in your hand!