A special guest blog post from Eva Noth Photography. For more pictures from this photo shoot, you can visit our Facebook Page! Towels? Check. Shampoo? Check. Camera? Wait, what's that for?

Bath days at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash and Grooming can be fun and fresh smelling days around our house. After all, who doesn't love a sudsy pup - and all while not having to break your back or do all the clean up? Which leads me to the camera - none of us can resist taking a cute picture of a dog especially at bath time, and with portable cameras on our smart phones, we never have to miss an opportunity, even at the dog wash! Want a little help to avoid the drowned rat look with green demon eyes in your next photos? Here are my top 5 tips for taking better pictures of your dog in the tub:

Tip 1. Treats and Toys

Bath time can be a scary or unhappy time for some dogs, no matter how cutely miserable they look! Using treats and toys to bring out that happy pup smile can really make a difference in your pictures. Bubbly Paws has an amazing selection of delicious and fun treats and toys that can make bath time a reward and get those ears to perk up in the tub - and only an arm's stretch away!

Tip 2. Get Down on their Level

Nothing is more interesting than seeing the world the way your pet does. Try crouching down or putting the camera near their face on the edge of the tub to capture them from a new or silly angle. You will be amazed how different the world and bath time looks from down there!

Tip 3. Avoid the Drowned Rat

Some dogs just don't look good soaking wet, in fact, they resemble that "drowned rat" rather than a dog (What happened to that cute fluffy dog I brought in???). If you want to do some photos in the bright and fun colored tubs at Bubbly Paws, try to take your pictures while your dog is sudsy but not soaking wet. Another tip, leave its head dry until you are done with photos - nothing says adorable like a big fluffy head and sudsy skinny body!

Tip 4. Turn Off Your Flash

The auto function on our cameras makes taking pictures easy, but it also can cause some pretty freaky looking pet pictures. By turning off your flash, you avoid the notorious "demon green eyes" that make your photos turn out wrong. A bonus to this technique: many pets are scared by flashes so this makes having a picture taken less stressful!

Tip 5. Have Fun!

Animals pick up on our moods much better than other humans and can sense when we are angry, stressed, sad, or frustrated. Don't try to force your animal to be what they aren't (ex. If your dog hates bath time, don't get mad when they perpetually express their stress by panting when you wanted a closed mouth picture) as you will both become stressed and frustrated. Allow you and your pet to relax and have fun instead. Dance to the fun music at the shop and enjoy your fresh smelling pooch! After all, bath time with your pet should make you happy, not frustrated.

I hope you enjoyed the tips and will be trying some photos in the tub next time you visit Bubbly Paws! If you have any more questions or want to book a pet photography session please contact me at info@evanothphotography.com or check out my website at www.evanothphotography.com.

Family Pawtrits

Top 5 Tips for Taking Better Pictures of your Dog in the Tub