Website Photography 101

When it comes to the photos for your breeder website, there are many things you must take into consideration. Most importantly, your photos don't just help sell your puppies - they help sell you!

Puppies are not an item that you run to the corner store to pick up. Nor are they an item that you add to your Amazon shopping cart. They are a new member to a human's family and are a 10 to 14 year commitment! But when you look at photos of items that you are shopping for online, which photos are the ones that catch your eye? The photos that you are able to enlarge to see the details of, those that are clutter free and those that have multiple images. These elements are also important for your breeder website.

Puppy Portraits

Portrait photographs of your puppies and dogs are essential for your website. These do not have to be professional photos taken at a studio. All you need is a digital camera, a bit of patients and to follow these tips:

• Using a wrinkle free, solid colored bed sheet or piece of fabric as a backdrop, you can create your own "studio".
  
  
• Stay away from incandescent lighting as well as flash photography. These harsh light sources can change the appearance of the dog's coat color.
  
  
• Find a larger window that lets in a decent amount of natural light. Place your "studio" in front of the window, allowing the natural light to shine in onto your subject.
  
  
• Refrain from patterned fabrics or cluttered backgrounds. Let the focus be on the dog.
  
  
• If your camera has a maco fuctions (usually a little flower symbol) this will allow you to be within 4 feet of the subject.

Canine Candids

Candid photos can be just as important as your portraits. These types of photos can show the spunk and personality of your dogs and puppies. Photos of your dogs throughout your home or kennel are also a great way to showcase your program - and you! Here are a few tips for taking the best candids possible:

• Be careful of clutter and dirt on the floors as you snap a photo of your dogs or puppies in your home. Pictures speak louder than words and you don't want to give the wrong impression of your breeding program.
  
  
• A perfect opportunity to use natural light in your candid photos is by taking them of your dogs and puppies romping through the grass in our yard! The color of lush green also adds to the vibrancy of a crisp, clean photo.
  
  
• A fantastic way to showcase candid photos without cluttering your website with a lot of photos is by using an online blog. Blogger offers a free blog service that you can setup in only a few minutes. Linking your site to an outside domain like Blogger also adds relevancy that is important for SEO. A blog also provides you an opportunity to share more about your kennel and allow your customers to get to know you, your dogs and your puppies!
  

Whether your photos are portraits or candids, crisp, clean photos that are sharp are the key to showcasing your beautiful dogs and puppies. When using a digital camera, there is no cost in taking a large number of photos in order to get the perfect shot. With patience and the tips we have provided, you are guaranteed to get that shot!