It seems the UK’s ten million dog owners find their adorable pups to be exceptionally photogenic. In a recent survey, a third of pet parents said they have more photos of their furry friends on their phones than they do of their children or partner. And, on average, they take over 400 pet portraits each year.

To celebrate this most creative canine-themed pastime – in the run up to National Dog Photography Day tomorrow (Wednesday July 26th) – global pet brand PetSafe® has teamed up with Venture Photography, which has studios in Fulham, Palmers Green and South Woodford, to share eight top tips for capturing those ‘paw-fect’ pet moments. Whether you’re using your phone or digital camera.

Six lucky winners will each receive a prize – with the top-spot enjoying a platinum photography package worth £249, and five runners up each experiencing a gold package, worth £95. All winners will also receive a brilliant PetSafe® bundle of dog toys and goodies – doubling the value of their prize. Each photoshoot is sure to capture every pooch’s personality, and there will be some seriously stunning portraits to take home from Venture’s studios.

So, for those pet parents who want to take their photography skills to the next level – and to be in with a chance of winning one of these six stylish studio sessions – Alicia Hall, Venture Photography Studio’s Art Director, and pet parent to cockerpoo Dexter, shares her top eight tips to take the ‘paw-fect paw-trait’.

1. Make sure there’s lots of natural light
Light is really important when it comes to taking good photographs. The ‘golden hour’ – just after sunrise and before sunset – works really well as the natural light is redder, the sky glows and the sun is at a perfect position in the sky. But always have your back to it as you shoot, so that shadows don’t fall across the photo.

And if you’re taking photos inside, the best lighting will come from a window or a doorway. But make sure it’s indirect and that the sun doesn’t shine right into the window.

2. Have his favourite treats to hand
Most dogs are won over by either toys or treats – or both. Hold his preferred option close to him to attract his attention and then shoot in burst mode whilst he waits for it. Wave it under his nose and move it upwards – he’ll probably follow it and gaze up at you– creating precious seconds to get your shots. To keep him interested, offer regular rewards.

3. Choose your backdrop carefully
A good background is another important consideration when taking a good dog photo. If you’re after an outdoors shot that captures their personality, take them to their favourite park or field. If you’re indoors, surround them with some of their favourite toys or catch them in their most-loved spot.

Also pick places that complement your canine’s appearance. If he has beautiful brown eyes, take a photo of him indoors, on wooden floorboards or against a wall painted in a shade that coordinates. Outside, this could be on fallen autumn leaves.

Think on that you don’t have to always use natural settings for stunning dog photography. Look out for other quirkier backgrounds – bright colours, graffiti and street art often work really well to create a vibrant colour splash portrait.
4. Look for places – or use people – to frame your pet
Photographs where the dog features within some natural or artificial frames can be really striking. This could be anywhere – from peeking out from flowers or bushes or spindles on beds or staircases. Or frame him amongst his favourite people.

5. Get down low to your pet
We’re all used to seeing dogs from above, which can make photos from this angle a little less striking – not to mention unlikely to truly bring to life his personality up close. So, shoot them in their world and from their perspective – from down below. Kneel, crouch or lie down to take photos from their eye level or even lower, where you can get the best view of their expressions. Switching up perspective in this way can transform ordinary, run-of-the-mill shots into interesting, eye-catching photos.

6. Get your dog to look up to capture adorable doe eyed pictures
Eyes are a really important part of portrait composition – it’s the eyes, more than any other part of the image, which convey, enchant and make us feel connected to our dog. So, when photographing your dog, auto-focus on the eyes to make sure they’re sharp and that his expression becomes the focal point of your image. The more expression and personality you can glean in his eyes, the more engaging his photos will be.

7. Capture your pet’s personality with what – or who – they love most
The best photos of dogs are taken when they’re doing what they love most – this may be lying in a comfy spot, chasing a ball around a field or snuggling with their favourite family member or furry sibling Snap him then.

And if your dog loves balls, going to the park and cuddles, drop these words into your sentences whilst you photograph him.

8. Play games and capture your pet having fun
Use your photoshoot as bonding time with your dog. If you want to portray your pup’s smile, get them excited! Taking them for a quick run around the garden or some quality time playing with their favourite toy is sure to get them smiling in no time. Then go with the flow, have fun and see where it takes you – some of the best shots aren’t actually planned at all.

PetSafe® brand’s Rob Steele said: “Love, plain and simple, is the single biggest factor behind why we take so many photos of our dogs, but there are other more modern-day motivations that are coming into play.

“Our ever-growing desire to capture our cute canines on camera is, in part, being driven by the rise of both the ‘dog baby’ – the number of pet dogs in the UK is just a whisker below the number of children (12.7million) – as well as that of the pet influencer.

“And the boom in advertising trends means over 4 million pets are earning money for their owners through brand partnerships – with one particular duo earning more than £100,000 a year in modelling, advertising and sponsorship deals. But it’s not all about the money – a quarter of pet owners have created social media accounts for their pets to share their photos and videos and to keep in touch with like-minded communities of pet parents.

“We know that for most dog owners, pets are treasured members of our families – loved just as much as the humans in our lives – and they snap the special and everyday moments shared, so their memories with them will last a lifetime. We’re delighted to team up with Venture Photography Studios to celebrate National Dog Photography Day in style – with the chance to win these superb studio shoots at a choice of 17 locations across the UK – along with brilliant platinum and gold prize bundles, of toys, water fountains and training systems from PetSafe®.”

*To be in with a chance of winning a prize, visit the PetSafe® UK Facebook or Instagram pages and like and share the National Dog Photography Day posts and follow both @PetSafeUK and @Venture Studios. To be in with an extra chance of winning, comment with a photo upload of your pooch and tag a friend who’d also love to win one of these fabulous photographic prizes. The closing date for entries is midnight on Monday 31st July 2023. Winners will be notified by 7th August 2023.