Get Cute Pics of Your Dog on Vacation

Tips to Get the Best Dog Photos on Your Trip

Getting the perfect vacation photo of your dog may seem impossible, but there are certain things you can do that will help set you up for success. I love taking my dogs to a variety of places on trips and getting some great shots so I can look back on the memories that we’ve made. This guide is for those of you that find yourself struggling to get a decent picture of your dog when you’re out and about or that frequently get frustrated with how your photos turned out. Here is a shortlist of things you can do to get cute pics of your dog on vacation, so you can start focusing more on enjoying your trip instead of recording it.

If you are looking for the perfect place for your dog’s vacation photos, visit our Etsy shop and take a look at Remington’s Pup Passports! We also have some great tips on how to get ready to take your dog on vacation. and a Traveling Pet Owners Facebook group where you can ask questions and share fun travel stories about your dog!

How to Get Cute Pics of Your Dog on Vacation

There are several things you can do to help make sure you have the most success in getting a good photo of your dog in public. Some tips are things that you can work on when you are at home and others involve things that you will want to do when you are getting ready to take your vacation photos. These tips will involve some things that you will ask your dog to do, and things that you need to do to set your dog up for success. From getting your pup used to new situations and places, to a few crucial commands, these are the things that I recommend so that you can get a good photo of your dog when you are on vacation.

Full disclosure: I take all of these photos with my phone AND I am well known for being a HORRIBLE picture taker. So, if I can get some decent pictures of my dogs, so can you!

Socialization

The number one thing that will help you get good photos of your dog on vacation is making sure that they are comfortable in a variety of places and surroundings. Socialize your dog by taking them on regular walks in a variety of pet-friendly areas. This will help them start getting used to a variety of situations which will help your dog be more relaxed. When your dog is relaxed and comfortable, it is easier for them to focus and will help them give you the perfect happy-go-lucky look for your pictures.

Commands

Do you ever wonder how people get photos of their dogs looking in a particular direction or in a certain pose?  It is not as hard as you think if you train your pup with a few vital commands. Once your dog has these basic behaviors down, you can use them to create a variety of poses with a little creativity (especially if you have a second person with you). After you and your dog have these basics down, you can build off them to train your dog for even more difficult poses.

Here are my 5 favorite basic commands for getting a good dog photo:

Look

Training your dog to look at you on command is helpful in so many situations, but especially picture taking. You can use this behavior to make sure your dog is looking directly at the camera or off into the distance. This is a behavior that you can combine with sitting or lay down in order to get a shot of them looking over their shoulder or off to the side. It works best if you have a 2^nd person to work the camera, or to give the command for you if you want to be in the photo with your pup.

Sit

This is a basic behavior that your dog probably already knows. You may need to work a bit on it to make it stronger and more consistent in order to use it on your trips. Having your dog be able to sit in front of a statue or waterfall can create a great photo!

Lay down

“Lay down” is another basic command that is useful depending on the vibe you are going for or what you may be trying to get in the background. This is a great pose if you are looking for a relaxed, chill picture or if you are having issues getting certain aspects of the scenery that your pup may be blocking.

Stay

Use this command if your dog needs a little reminder to stay in their “sit” or “lay down” position. It is also crucial if you want a picture of them standing in a certain place or position.

Place

“Place” is a behavior that does require a pre-trained mark of some kind. This can be a small disc or mat. Once you have given your command, your dog will know to go to the designated place which will help you get them in the perfect spot for your photo or action shot. You want to be mindful to only use this command in an area where your dog can safely and legally be off-leash or keep their leash on during your picture taking.

Get Creative

Once your dog has these commands down, you can move on to more difficult behaviors to increase your pup’s pose portfolio. You can get as creative as you want and teach your dog how to balance on its hind legs, tilt its head, take a bow, and more.

Find the Perfect Spot

Another important part of getting the perfect photo is finding the perfect spot. In order to find the ideal spot so you can have a positive experience taking a memorable photo of your dog, you will want to keep the following things in mind.

Safety

The most important thing is to make sure it is a safe spot for your dog to be. Make sure you don’t try to pose your dog near any dangerous ledges that they could slip off of. You will also want to make sure the area is free from anything that they could get hurt on like sharp edges or rotten logs. Keep an eye out for any toxic plants, wildlife, or food left behind by previous visitors that can make them sick.

Follow the Rules

Pay attention and follow the rules. Some places restrict access to certain areas to protect wildlife or the site itself. It’s important to follow these rules to make sure the area is around for years to come. Just as importantly, you want future dogs and their owners to be able to enjoy the space. The more dog owners that don’t follow the rules, the greater the chance that the location will stop allowing pets or close down to the public completely.

This also includes obeying the location’s leash laws. Please don’t take your dog off-leash if it’s not allowed and especially if they aren’t fully trained. This means that they have bulletproof off-leash training. It would be horrible to lose your dog just because you were trying to get the perfect picture. You can always Photoshop the leash out of the picture which is a much safer bet than risking losing your pet. Another option is to set up the shot so you can’t see the leash, you just have to be a little creative.

Be Considerate and Plan Ahead

Everyone wants to get the perfect Instagram shot and every location is guaranteed to have a few spots that everyone flocks to. It may be frustrating to have to wait your turn or even consider having to find another ‘perfect’ spot but try not to be a jerk. When it is your turn to take a photo, don’t take all day. Your dog is most likely not a trained model. It can take a long time (maybe never) to get the picture that is in your head. Plan on having a few minutes to take as many photos as possible and hope for the best.

This is where the tips mentioned above will come in handy because they will improve your chances of getting the photo that you want. If you know that it typically takes a while to get your dog in position and to calm down enough for a good photo, try to get to the popular spots early so you aren’t holding up the line and to limit the distractions for your pup. This is a good rule of thumb for non-dog owners too. This is especially crucial in tight spots where you may be blocking the path while taking the picture which prevents others from continuing their journey.

Taking the Photo

When you are trying to take a great vacation photo of your dog, make sure you pack your patience! It’s always best to be flexible with your expectations. No matter what you do, there are many things that you can’t control when you and your pup are adventuring out and about. Just when you are about to click for the perfect shot, any number of things may happen that will cause your dog to move like a loud noise or another person or animal suddenly coming into view.

Be flexible

Being flexible is just as important as being patient when trying to get the best photos. You might not have time to wait for the original perfect photo spot to be free, the lighting may be wrong, or your dog may be having trouble staying focused and on task. Don’t let these things ruin your day.

Be flexible with your original expectations. Sometimes the perfect shot that you have in your head is just not possible and that’s okay. It might be best to take a break and try to get a particular shot later in the day or you may need to find a different area that will work better for your dog. Be open to finding the perfect spot for your pup and remember that the photo should remind you of the positive memories that you and your dog made that day.

Take a lot of pictures

Take a ton of pictures. With each ‘shot’ you want to get; you should take as many pictures as possible. The more pictures you take, the better chances you have of getting a good photo. Dogs don’t typically stay perfectly still for very long so having your camera on sports mode can make all the difference in not getting a blurry photo. Even the best professional photographer takes a billion photos to better the odds of getting the perfect shot.

Another option is to take a video instead of still frames. This way you can go back and grab a screenshot and use that as a photo. My personal recommendation is to do both if possible, to better your odds of getting the best photo possible.

Even if you didn’t get what you feel is the perfect shot, remember that there is always Photoshop to fix small (or even big) mistakes. Many apps make it easy to crop out unwanted objects or people and adjust the brightness and contrast in your photos. This makes it easy to improve even the worse photo.

Practice makes Perfect!

As with most things with your pup, practice does make perfect. The more photo shoots you and your pup do, the better they will turn out. You will start to learn the best angles and poses that bring out the best of your dog. They will also start to learn what you expect from them which will make the whole process much quicker and less stressful for all involved. The best part is that these skills will not only help you get the best pictures possible of your dog when you are on vacation, but they can also help you get great photos for holiday cards, calendars, and wall art. It will even help if you want to work towards your dog becoming a model someday!

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