The Art of Dog Photography
We all love taking pictures of dogs, whether it be our own or someone else’s. Dog photography has turned into an art form, especially in recent years. Social media apps like Instagram are filled with dog photos, both amateur and professional. Many pet owners even use the app to create accounts for their own four-legged friends. However, there are people who take dog photography to the next level.
Instagram user “@thedogist” uses their account to publish a series of photographs documenting dogs from all around the world. The man behind the camera, Elias Weiss Friedman, has posted over 6,000 photos of dogs and has a following of 3.1 million on his Instagram alone.
Friedman’s high-quality photographs capture the dogs at just the right moment and seem to embody their personalities perfectly. He offers a quick caption regarding the dog’s age, breed, and typically a comment from their owner for each photo. Friedman makes it seem like taking these pictures is a breeze but in reality, it comes with its fair share of challenges.
I work in a dog daycare when I am home from school and it is most definitely as great as it sounds. I got into dog photography by taking pictures of all the dogs there. At first, I began with my iPhone camera but eventually graduated to a DSLR camera.
I bought my camera to predominantly use for video projects, but it is just as great to use for photography. I fell in love with taking pictures of dogs because I loved the idea of being able to capture their personalities in a photograph. All dogs are unique and have their own quirks. I think a picture allows you to get to know the dog without actually meeting them.
I have found that taking pictures of dogs is not, dare I say, a walk in the park. It can be quite challenging and frustrating. You basically have to make a fool out of yourself to get a dog’s attention. Treats, toys, and noises are definitely your best friend. I certainly feel for Elias Friedman and would imagine he is an expert dog-attention-grabber at this point in his dog photography career.
All in all, dog photography is my favorite hobby that I’ve gotten into. It’s extremely rewarding and entertaining. Although I am no expert, I am excited to learn and continue to improve the pictures that I take.
Below is a gallery of some of my favorite photos I’ve taken so far.
