Bichon Frise Picture Taking

By Mary Stevenson

You don't have to hire a professional to get professional looking pictures of your dog. An inexpensive digital camera will take great pictures, and a digital camera saves you money because it gives you the option of deleting your bad shots instead of paying to have them processed and printed. With digital cameras, you get to see your pictures right away, so you can retake any pictures that didn't turn out the way you wanted them to. Besides, digital cameras are "greener" than disposable cameras. Processing film from disposable cameras requires great quantities of water and chemicals that harm the environment.

We all know that taking pictures of a pet can be problematic. You have to get your Bichon Frise to sit still and pose for you. You have to take care of lighting and backdrops. These tips and tricks will help you solve these problems and get you started taking fabulous pictures of your Bichon Frise.

Do some advance preparation for your Bichon Frise photo session. First, make a list of all the equipment you'll need. Second, put a fresh memory card in your camera with plenty of storage capacity so you don't get an annoying "card full" message when your Bichon Frise finally strikes that perfect pose. Third, start with fresh batteries. Fourth, decide whether you'll take pictures of your Bichon Frise inside or outside, and secure the location if you decide to shoot outside. Fifth, make sure all your backdrops and props are ready and close at hand. Sixth, have an idea of the different poses that you want to capture.

When you're trying to take great pictures of your Bichon Frise, you can't also be the one who does all the grooming, staging and other behind-the-scenes tasks. Ask a friend who gets along well with your dog to act as your assistant. After the photo session is over, give your helper a thank-you gift with one of the photos on it.

A coffee mug or a framed print of one of your Bichon Frise photos is a good idea for a gift.

Your choice of what background to use for your Bichon Frise pictures will set the tone of the mood for the picture. Plan your backgrounds carefully. The Bichon Frise looks best photographed against a solid colored backdrop. Many photographers now use a chromatic green backdrop. With this backdrop, your background "disappears" in your digital photos, and you can place your Bichon Frise into any digital backdrop you can find. Add scenery and details to your photos without leaving home.

Toys and props add interest to your photos, and they keep your dog engaged during the photo session. Using props when photographing a puppy makes the pup look even younger and smaller.

You should always photograph your dog from your dog's eye level, not your eye level. Yorkies are so light and easy to lift you can easily put your dog on a tabletop or bed to make it easy to get at eye level.

These helpful tips will help you get the very best pictures possible of your Bichon Frise.

Mary Stevenson is a Bichon Frise breeder and freelance writer who has authored two books on animal photography. Your Bichon Frise pictures will come out better if you plan ahead and ask a friend to help get the pictures you need. This Bichon Frise information on picture-taking will help you create unique, professional looking pictures of your Bichon Frise.