Festive fall dog portraits will bring a smile to your face

Austrian photographer Anne Geier discovered her second great love with the help of her first love – her dog Cindy. She had always had a passion for animals, but when Cindy came along in 2007, Anne became inspired to capture every moment.

Sadly, Cindy passed away this August leaving Anne incredibly grateful for the beautiful memories she preserved of her in photo form.

In an interview with Bored Panda, Anne said:

“Losing her left a big emptiness inside me. I miss her every day and now I appreciate it more than ever that I have made so many different pictures of her,”

Photography had been an interest of Anne’s for years, but it wasn’t until she found her muse in Cindy that she really began to hone her skill and develop it into a career.

She now specializes in taking soulful portraits of dogs. Most of her work is captured using the natural lighting and gorgeous colors of nature.

Some of her most moving portraits are those snapped during the honey glow and breathtaking foliage of Autumn. Her favorite shot of Cindy is one such photo.

Anne says:

“I like it so much because I think it’s one of the most soulful portraits I have ever taken. It shows Cindy´s character in every way – her good nature, her calmness, her beauty, her faithfulness and her balance.”

As any shutterbug who’s ever tried to photograph their pup knows, taking a high quality portrait of an always-in-motion dog is an art form in and of itself!

Anne advises:

“Firstly, you need to shoot at eye level: shooting at eye-level helps the dogs stance appear more natural and gives a different view to what we usually see…”

“…You also need to catch their attention: dogs are easily distracted, but those who like to play make good subjects for action images. For static shots use toys, treat or funny noises to keep their attention…”

“…Be sure to capture the lights in the eyes: ensuring you get light reflected in the dog’s eyes helps show their expression. You should also use a large aperture: to make the background blurry and keep the focus on the dog…”

“…And most importantly, have fun!”

Every now and then Anne will even snap a cat or two, but dogs are her main source of inspiration.

Anne and her new dog, Finn are always scouting out potential venues while taking their daily walks.

As they explore different landscapes together, she envisions where she’d like the dog to sit, what lighting would be best, and which weather conditions would provide the best mood for the portrait.

One of Anne’s many gifts is that she is able to create the photograph in her mind before she ever touches her camera.

To see more of Anne Geier’s stunning pup portraits, visit her website.

H/T to Bored Panda

All Photos c/o Anne Geier

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