Capturing Canine Cheer: A Festive Guide to Photographing Dogs of Every Breed

"Capturing Canine Cheer: A Festive Guide to Photographing Dogs of Every Breed"

The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to spread cheer than by capturing the festive spirit of our furry friends? Whether you have a Rat Terrier, a Bernedoodle, a Beagle, a Shih Tzu, a Mutt, a Bulldog, or an English Mastiff, each dog comes with its own unique charm—and challenges—when it comes to holiday photos. In this guide, we'll explore tips and tricks to make your Christmas doggy photoshoot a success, complete with Santa hats and plenty of canine hijinks!

I did this a few times with my high school seniors and our "SANTA PAWS" photoshoots were exciting and fun, but we had to do them individually. Trying to get all those dogs

together at the same time was a no-go.

1. Understanding Each Breed's Personality:

2. I know very little about dog breeds and their personalities so I just had to go with the flow.

1. For more ideas and locations, or for Senior Pictures for boys or girls, check out my website: Dallas Photographer or follow me on Pinterest Dallas Senior Pictures
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Beagles: Playful and curious, Beagles may be easily distracted. Use treats or toys to keep their attention focused and snap candid shots of their inquisitive expressions.Ashley and her sweet dog were super chill and easy, and he came dressed for Christmas success!





I love putting my client with their back to the sun to get that beautiful back light, and then they are not squinting!













The in-between moments are some of my favorites!





Santa Hats and Accessories: Have a collection of Santa hats, reindeer antlers, or elf ears on hand. Capture the adorable expressions as your dog models these festive accessories.
Shih Tzus: These little charmers often have a regal air. Experiment with various accessories like bows and ribbons to highlight their adorable features.









It's fun to make a game of captioning the photos with what the family thinks their pet might be thinking afterward.









• Rat Terriers: Energetic and intelligent, Rat Terriers love to play. Capture their enthusiasm with action shots and candid moments of them enjoying holiday toys. HOO-BOY! I was not ready for this Rat Terrier. I'll start with the final and best photo and then show you how we got there.

Ok, so cute sisters and cute dog smiling at the camera, easy-peasy, right? Wrong.

Just to reiterate with some closeups of the expressions!

I have no idea what kind of dog Grace has, but he or she did not want to look at the camera!

Getting the Perfect Pose:

• Patience is Key: Understand that dogs, especially those with playful personalities, may not always cooperate immediately. Be patient, and let them get comfortable with the surroundings.
• Treats and Toys: Use treats and toys strategically to grab your dog's attention and encourage them to pose. Capture the moments of anticipation and excitement.

I'm gong to call him/her a mut. I hope that's not an insult.

It really helps if you can get someone the dog likes to stand behind you and get their attention. High squeals work one time, so make sure everyone is ready.

We finally decided a walking pic might be the best choice!

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• Bulldogs: Bulldogs are known for their laid-back demeanor. Include props like oversized Santa hats for a humorous touch, and capture those irresistible wrinkled faces.

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• Take a good look at that face and all the places he wanted to look besides at me!
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• English Mastiffs: The two together were hilarious!
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4. Candid Moments and Hijinks:

   • Embrace Imperfection: Some of the best photos come from unexpected moments. Let your dog be themselves, and capture the candid, funny, and charming moments that arise naturally.
   • Playful Interactions: Encourage playfulness among dogs to capture the joyous spirit of the season. Dogs interacting with each other can lead to heartwarming group shots.











And finally, I just photoshopped together a shot of them all looking in the general direction of the camera.



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• Bernedoodles: Known for their friendly nature, Bernedoodles are excellent cuddle buddies. Incorporate cozy and warm lighting for heartwarming images.
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9. I mean, come oooonnnnn! Isn't he the cutest?
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I'm smitten! Can you tell I have a doodle?



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With a bit of creativity, patience, and a sprinkle of holiday magic, you can capture the essence of the season with your beloved dogs. Embrace the individuality of each breed, experiment with festive accessories, and be ready to snap those candid moments that make your holiday photos truly special. Happy snapping!

1. 1. • For more ideas and locations, or for Senior Pictures for boys or girls, check out my website: Dallas Photographer or follow me on Pinterest Dallas Senior Pictures

   
   

Behind the Scenes of a Senior Picture Shoot with DFW photographer Lisa McNiel

 Off-Camera Flash and lens choices for Senior Pictures - Behind the Scenes

What looks are you drawn to? Do you like back light that wraps around the subject giving them shape and life? Do you love unposed photos? Do you like the unexpected?

Whatever it is, you know it when you see it. Find a photographer who knows how to bring it to life!

Jackson and his mom, Donna, were ready to have fun, throw down some poses with attitude, and were up for anything.

Since Donna took some Behind the Scenes shots of me shooting I decided to do a blog on how these shots were accomplished.

In the shot above, I was taking advantage of the leading lines of a side street. Mom was watching for cars, but there were very few. I loved the backlight on his hair from the sun. He nailed the "bad boy" look in all black. 

For more ideas and locations, or for Senior Pictures for boys or girls, check out my website: Dallas Photographer or follow me on Pinterest Dallas Senior Pictures

 In the shot above I have the light onto his face which is balancing the light on the buildings in the distance. By being down low where he is, I can avoid the distracting red lines and boring street.

The example below shows how you can light up the hair from behind if the exposure without lighting is balanced and the face is well-lit. You can see in the BTS that the light is out of frame down on the back of his head.

What often surprises people is how far away I get from the subject. If I have my lens extended to 200 mm and opened wide at 2.8, I can get great separation of the subject from the background as well as compressing the background.

I like to shoot down low for a number of reasons: 

1. The background is more interesting. See how the beautiful green and yellow leaves are out of focus and making dreamy bokeh? It's so much more interesting than the brown dirt.

2. It's special. We all like special, right? When you can't do it with a phone unless the light in front is brighter than the light behind, this sets the photos apart.

3. It gives the subject strength in the image. I like to get photos straight on and looking down to the senior boy or girl, but this is another tool to show how big they've become and what the future could hold.

Sunset Shots!

We all stop and stare at a sunset. We grab our phones and try to get pictures from the car. We stop and recognize something beautiful, rhythmic and so very much bigger than any of us. I love getting a good sunset shot and this genuine smile at his mom by Jackson is one of my favorites. 

To accomplish this shot you have to get there before the sun is actually set, there has to be a little gold from the sun still, then you underexpose in camera and add off-camera flash to the subject. For this shot I had to darken the flash spill on the log.

I hope you enjoyed this and were able to learn something. Please send me a note if you have any questions or are interested in Senior Pictures in the Dallas Fort Worth area!

Beautiful Ballerina and her Senior Pictures by Photographer Lisa McNiel

7 Must-have Photos for Bachelorette Party Weekend at the Beach

7 Must-have photos for Bachelorette party or weekend at the beach 

Since they're coming up on their second anniversary, I think it's time to blog about my adorable daughter-in-law's bachelorette party at the beach! Madelyn's sister rented a house and invited friends and family to cram into it for the weekend, and her mom bought and prepared food. I didn't take photos of the decorations, but I'm sure there enough phone pics for that. And this doesn't even represent half of the women there. This family has a loving circle and they invited all of them.

If you're lucky enough to have a special time with your bridesmaids, you might look into local photographers. Since she was sweet enough to invite her future Mother-in-law, I was going anyway, so I brought my camera and lights.

For more ideas and locations, or for Senior Pictures for boys or girls, check out my website: Dallas Photographer or follow me on Pinterest Dallas Senior Pictures

1. A group photo of who is there and where they are!

Years from now you will want to see not only who was there and what they looked like then, you'll want some photos of the location. It will bring back memories and you can talk about how you still wish you had that outfit!

2. An individual photo of each girl in your group. 

It's always nice to have a good photo of yourself, and if there will be a professional or even someone who is intentional and creative, you can each get a nice image with which to update your profile.

The memo on this, as you can see, was to wear something in black for the bridesmaids and white for the bride.

3. Individual mini-session of the bride. 

Even 15-20 minutes shortly before sunset of photos on the beach, or in the city or country, and in this atmosphere, surrounded by friends and love, your bride is bound to have photos unlike any around wedding day or her bridals.

4. Group photos in fun poses.

Pro tip: Whoever has the camera makes the rules. Be nice. Be bossy. Be fast.

They are there for a party so they're already goofy and silly, but if they're each doing their own thing, it doesn't make for good photos. Have some ideas ready for what you want them to do and their own levity will probably take care of the expressions.

PS. I love the reflection on the beach!

5. Photos of the bride with each of her bridesmaids.

Yes, she'll get these photos at the wedding, but the atmosphere, mood, and definitely the surroundings are different here.

6. Casual Outfit and/or themed shirts

If you have themed shirts made, or a different outfit, see if there's time to switch clothes and get some in the more casual outfit as well. As you can see, the mood just got lighter all evening.

7. Family

If your bride is lucky enough to have her family present for her special party, get a shot of them together. It was late when we took these last few, but the bride, her sister who was her maid of honor and hosted the party, and her mom, who planned and cooked and made everyone feel comfortable were all there together.

Bonus: Celebrate the goofiness

I was trying to get a photo of just Madie and her sister, Meghan, and then of course, my goofy kid, sister to the groom with the long dark hair, runs up and gets in the picture, so one by one they all follow, and they definitely made for some of the funniest photos and best memories!

For more ideas and locations, or for Senior Pictures for boys or girls, check out my website: Dallas Photographer or follow me on Pinterest Dallas Senior Pictures

Senior Pictures Ideas for the Cheerleader, Swimmer, Football, Baseball, Hunting Cowboy by Dallas Senior Photographer Lisa McNiel

 A Cheerleader, a Swimmer, and a Football-Baseball-Playin'-Cowboy walk into my Senior Picture Studio...

How cool is it that Texas cheerleader runs out and plays drum in the band at half-time?

Find me in the Dallas Fort Worth area at Lisa McNiel Photography!

Ben was freezing in the pool, but he muscled through.

Jack has so many interests that I couldn't include them all even in this collage!

Ixely's mom was clever to bring this basket of vegetables to her session because she is a vegetarian and is studying nutrition in college

Staircases and waterfalls provide wonderful posing spots.

       Fall colors are great for backdrops, especially with a letter jacket.

Jack plays baseball,  football, hunts, likes a good-looking suit, and is a cowboy at heart. We had all kinds of choices from his senior session.