Bruce Weber Offers Tips on Taking Photographs of Pet Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers are gorgeous, majestic and beautiful dogs. Hence, it is obvious for people to want to take their photographs. These energetic dogs are usually quite friendly, and often end up becoming a part of the family of their owners, who love to click their photographs all the time. In fact, a pack of Golden Retrievers has accompanied Bruce Weber on his professional journey for quite some time. They made their way into his professional and personal shots that illuminate his bond with canines. His passion for pets, in many ways, permeates all Weber’s creative endeavors. His 2003 film ‘A Letter To True’ was essentially centered on his own dogs.

Bruce Weber briefly underlines a few pointers to follow while photographing golden retrievers: 

Golden retrievers are highly energetic and unlikely to sit still and pose for a photograph. But with persistence, creativity and technique, one can surely click amazing pictures of their furry best friends.  Here are a few pointers that can help pet owners to click adorable pictures of their golden retrievers:

• Warm them up to the camera: No matter whether one is taking pictures on a 35mm camera or their point-and-click Polaroid, dogs are not going to be comfortable in a situation where the camera is shoved in front of their face, while they are asked to sit down. One should let their golden retrievers get to know their camera by showing it to them and allowing them to sniff it. This will help the dog to get acclimated to the camera.
• Have treats handy: Almost all golden retrievers would do just about anything for rewards. Hence, it will be a good idea to have toys or tasty treats ready when heading out with the intent of a photo shoot.  They are more likely to be patient with the process if they know that they will get treats at the end. Treats can also be great for luring the dogs into the perfect position.
• Do not have to be flashy: One of the biggest mistakes people make while photographing dogs is that they use the flash of the camera to add light to the shot. Flash can actually give the dogs a washed-out look and glowing eyes. Moreover, a quick blast of light can spook the golden retrievers and/ or damage to their sensitive eyes. The ideal way to click the pictures of a pup would be to take them outdoors and leverage the natural light.

While experienced photographers like Bruce Weber are well-versed in how to photograph their pets, amateurs can be significantly benefited from the tips mentioned above. Weber collaborated with Detroit-based brand Shinola on a line of American-made pet accessories, including leashes, collars, beds, and toys. His adoration and love for dogs are truly heart-warming and beautiful. Weber even penned a sentimental photo essay that became the lush cover story for the December 2016 issue of Vogue Italia called ‘A dog is not just for Christmas’.