Whether the eyes are the window to the soul or not, they’re definitely the window into a photo! Not only do we love when we can capture a photo of Irie or Tiki looking directly at the camera but we notice others love this kind of photo, too. For example, when we post an Adoptable Dog of the Day or Dog of the Day photo on our Facebook page, we notice a BIG increase in comments when the dog is looking directly at the camera.
It definitely helps the viewer of the photo connect with the dog more effectively than if the dog is looking away, such as in this photo…
Irie is doing what she often does when she’s faced with a camera: she looks away.
How can you get your dog to look directly at the camera?
- If you’ve taught your dog “watch me,” work with treats to get a look at the camera.
- If you have a squeaker (whether that’s a toy or a unique sound maker like a game call), use it to catch your dog’s attention.
- Tempt your dog with a treat.
- Talk to your dog in a high-pitched voice or make unusual sounds (I make little squealing sounds) to catch your dog’s eye.
- Have an assistant stand behind you to catch your dog’s eye.
- Try lowering your camera away from your face and, instead of using the viewfinder, use the screen when framing your photo. Have your dog look at your face which can be less scary than looking at the camera itself.
- Be patient…and take a lot of photos!
What do you do to get your dog to look at the camera? Please share your tip and your photo in the comments below (just click the + link to add a photo!)
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