Five Tips for Photographing Your Hound

Clara Allansson
Dec 5, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Sighthounds are graceful, sensitive and naturally photogenic, but capturing their elegance on a phone or basic camera isn’t always straightforward. Their long limbs, deep chests and expressive faces look their best with a little planning, the right angles, and thoughtful use of light.

Here are five simple tips to help you take photographs you’ll genuinely love, even without professional equipment.

1. Pay attention to your background

Before you lift your phone, take a moment to check what’s behind your dog. A cluttered background or a tree appearing to “grow” out of their head will distract from their beauty. Look for clean lines, simple colours, and open spaces. A plain wall, a quiet path or a wide field will help your dog stand out without visual noise drawing attention away. You can also look for natural framing elements to use to frame your dog, for example an archway, a doorway or a branch.

2. Get down to or below their eye level

One of the most common mistakes is photographing dogs from standing height. This flattens perspective and can make your sighthound appear shorter or broader than they are.

Instead, crouch down, sit on the ground, or even lower your camera slightly below their eye level. This emphasises their elegant neck, classic outline, and long, slender lines, instantly adds more depth and creates a more flattering image.

3. Use soft natural light

Natural light is ideal for sighthounds because it highlights their fine coats and delicate features without harsh shadows. Avoid bright midday sun, which can create strong contrasts on their face, especially if you have a black hound.

The best light is early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is low and gentle. Overcast days are also excellent for evenly lit, soft images. If it’s sunny, try photographing in the shade of a tree or next to a building for smoother, cleaner results.

4. Use a treat or favourite sound to get their attention

Getting your sighthound to look at the camera can be tricky. A simple trick is to hold a treat or small squeaky toy right next to your phone lens. This encourages them to look directly at the camera without confusion.

Remember to keep it fun and don’t keep asking your hound to pose time after time, our goal is a moment of curiosity and engagement, not pressure.

5. Make the most of their beautiful silhouette

A sighthound’s outline is one of their most striking features. Use it to your advantage by photographing them from the side in open space. This allows you to capture the sweeping curve of their back, deep chest, and slim waist.

If the background is busy, shift your angle or lower yourself until you have clean sky or open land behind your dog. Silhouettes are particularly effective at highlighting their elegant shape and unique structure. A top tip is to try this during sunset and you can create the most beautiful silhouette with a warm orange background.

Editing your images on your phone

Once you’ve captured your shots, a little editing can make them shine even more. Several user-friendly apps offer powerful yet simple tools:

Lightroom Mobile: Fine-tune exposure, colour and clarity with professional-level control.
Snapseed: Intuitive editing tools for cropping, adjusting light, and enhancing colours.
Built-in phone software: iPhone and Android devices now allow adjustments for light, colour, and even removing minor distractions.