How to Create Award Winning Dog Photography

There are extraordinary instances in photography when your finger presses the shutter and something inside you knows you’ve just captured a special image. “Spot On” was one of those magical moments; like the crack of a bat hitting the sweet spot, when you don’t even have to see where the ball lands. In this instance, I didn’t need to check the back of the camera, I just knew this image would go on to have an incredible competition journey. The light, the expression, the timing; everything aligned perfectly.

I photographed Lunabelle back in 2022, when she was a striking 3-year-old Australian Cattle Dog with a calm, steady presence. More than just a companion, Lunabelle was a certified therapy dog who worked side by side with her mom in a first-grade classroom. She spent her days surrounded by the chaos of young children; a job that certainly requires a special kind of temperament. Nothing seemed to rattle her, and I knew I wanted to capture that steadfast poise in a portrait.

Working breeds like Lunabelle are intelligent, energetic, and easily bored, so when they’re in the studio, I tailor the session to match their character. The key is to let them set the pace. Once a dog feels comfortable in the studio, that’s when I pick up the energy, shifting into a more dynamic rhythm to keep their attention and spark their interest.

As the session progressed, I watched Lunabelle settle more into her surroundings. Near the end, as her energy waned and her interest began to drift, I knew I had to put aside the usual attention getting tactics (various whistles, squeakers, toys, treats, etc.). If you’ve ever been in the studio with me, you know I’m not shy about howling like a wolf, meowing like a cat, or hooting like an owl, if it helps create the perfect expression. I’ve long since stopped worrying about how silly I look. If I get the shot, it’s worth it.

Photographing a black and white dog on a black background presents its own set of challenges. Deep blacks can swallow detail, and contrasting whites can easily blow out. That’s why I always test my lighting setup with my trusty black-and-white stuffed dog before every session. It gives me a solid baseline to fine-tune the light ratios and balance the highlights and shadows.

I used my Canon EOS 5D Mark III with a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L lens, shooting at 50mm. My go-to settings are fairly consistent: 1/125 sec shutter speed, f/13 aperture, and ISO 100. My lighting setup included two Einstein 640s for the main light and fill, and a Digibee DB800 kicker light to bring separation and depth, especially helpful for darker fur and black backgrounds.

Post-processing was pretty straightforward. After cropping and balancing highlights and shadows, I zoomed in for the finer details, removing tiny bits of fur, specks of dust, crumbs of treats, and cleaning up other distractions. The chrome legs of the chair were particularly reflective, so I dialed those down significantly to keep the focus on Lunabelle. I spent the most time on her eyes and coat, bringing out the texture and life in her gaze and ensuring the blacks held their richness without losing detail.

“Spot On” began its image competition journey in 2023 when I submitted it to the PPA Merit Image Review, where it received Imaging Excellence. That same year, it merited at the Texas PPA state competition and earned third place in the Studio Portraits category at the Animal Image Makers International Image Competition. With a few refinements, I entered it into American Society of Photographers’ (ASP) 2024 Images of Distinction, where it earned a Seal of Distinction.

But the journey didn’t stop there. The image went on to win Gold, place in the Top 100 Images, and receive Fourth Place in the Portrait category in the 2024 MPI International Image Competition. Most recently, it placed second and earned a Platinum Medal in the Pets and Domestic Animals category at PPA’s 2025 International Photographic Competition.

For me, photography is about more than just taking pictures; it’s about capturing meaningful portraits that tell the story of each incredible dog and the bond they share with their people. Their time with us is never long enough, which is why it’s so important to preserve those memories and to honor who they are and how deeply they are loved.