Take the Perfect Picture!

We received so many wonderful photos for this year’s GRRMF calendar contest, but many of them were not a high enough resolution. Please be sure if you are using a digital camera that it is set to the highest resolution and submit the full size (do not reduce size.) If you have an older digital camera, it may not have enough pixels to take high resolution photos.  If using a high quality photo cell phone, ensure it is also set to the highest resolution for best results. Horizontal aspect photos are requested for our submission for a monthly feature pup. When you have captured that special photo, send to our email address any time of the year at calendar@grrmf.org 

Here are some tips for taking the perfect golden photo:

Look your golden in the eye
Direct eye contact can be as engaging in a picture as it is in real life. When taking a picture of your golden, hold the camera at her eye level to unleash the power of those magnetic gazes and mesmerizing smiles. Yes this means stooping to her level. And she need not always stare at the camera. All by itself that eye level angle will create a personal and inviting feeling that pulls you into the picture.

Be mindful of your background
Make sure your background shows off your golden and doesn’t distract from her beautiful face. When you look through the camera viewfinder, force yourself to study the area surrounding your golden. Make sure no poles grow from the head of your golden and that no cars seem to dangle from her ears. Keep your arms and legs out of the photo and be mindful of household messes in the background.

Use the flash outdoors
Bright sun can create unattractive deep facial shadows. Eliminate the shadows by using your flash to lighten the face. When taking pictures on sunny days, turn your flash on. You may have a choice of fill-flash mode or full-flash mode.

Move in close
Your goal is to fill the picture area with your beautiful golden. Take a step or two closer before taking the picture and zoom in, if necessary. Up close you can reveal telling details, like a sprinkle of freckles or an arched eyebrow. But don’t get too close or your pictures will be blurry. The closest focusing distance for most cameras is about three feet, or about one step away from your camera. If you get closer than the closest focusing distance of your camera (see your manual to be sure), your pictures will be blurry.

Be a photo director
Take control of your picture-taking and watch your pictures dramatically improve. Become a picture director, not just a passive picture-taker. A picture director takes charge. A picture director picks the location. A picture director is also patient, waiting for that perfect golden moment. Have fun and we look forward to seeing all of the beautiful Golden faces!