How to Get the Purrfect Dog Action Shots

11 Pro Tips to Capture Dogs Flying in Mid-Air

There’s something magical about freezing that split-second moment when a dog is literally flying through the air; ears flapping, paws off the ground, pure joy on their face. It’s one of my favorite types of shots to capture as a pet photographer and probably the most rewarding because… let me be honest: it’s also one of the most challenging.

Whether you’re a photography enthusiast or a fellow pet pro pet photographer, here are my go-to tips for capturing those jaw-dropping action shots. These are based on years of experience (and the occasional dog collision, more on that below!).

1. Choose the Right Path

Want the dog to run straight toward you? Try shooting on a narrow path or trail to naturally guide them. Open fields seem like a good idea, but it actually makes it quite challenging as they might decide to run in a different direction from where you are crouching or laying down. A defined path gives them a “track” to follow and keeps them aimed at your camera. Bonus points if there’s trees, fences or anything else on both side of the path to make sure they stay on track. (Plus, leading lines are always a great composition technique!)

2. The Right Shutter Speed is Critical

To freeze dogs in motion, you’ll need to set your shutter speed quite high for lighting fast pups. If we’re talking about pugs, that might be a different story! I personally like to stick around 1/1250, while with some dogs it might be ok to set it lower, I prefer making sure my shots turn out crispy sharp. By the way, don’t be afraid to bump that ISO if it means getting tack-sharp results. Nowadays, you can effectively remove grain from the noisiest images without affecting the quality. (Topaz Labs is my fav!)

3. Chase the Light… But Keep it Soft!

As you may already know, light is a key factor in photography and it’s not any different with pets. But beware of the type of natural light. Look for soft natural light, ideally at golden hour (early morning or late afternoon). On top of improving focus accuracy by having enough natural light, this will also create the most flattering light for those awesome flying dogs shots. On the other hand, harsh lighting and dark shadows of mid-day sun can make it very challenging for your camera’s focusing system. Also, I usually try to shoot with the light behind me, facing the subject, which also helps with focus accuracy. That being said, don’t be afraid to try with the light behind the dog to create some awesome backlit shots.

4. Pick the Right Lens

Some lenses will generally perform better when it comes to capturing fast paced action, especially when the subject is going straight towards your camera. I would suggest a fast lens (preferably with a wide aperture), you’ll see how much of a game changer it is. My favorite? The 70-200mm f/2.8. It’s sharp, fast, and allows me to compress the background beautifully and isolate the subject from the background. But don’t worry, you can still get great results with many lenses. The key is having a lens that offers quick autofocus.

5. Setting Your Autofocus for Success

When it comes to any subjects coming towards the camera, you want to make sure to keep the focus on the subject as it gets closer. This means setting your autofocus to Continuous AF (or AI Servo on Canon) to make sure it keeps tracking as it’s moving towards you. Some cameras have a better performing autofocus system, but one thing’s for sure, lighting fast subject like Border Collies will give any camera a run for it’s money.

6. Switch to High Burst Mode

High burst mode means more frames, and that means more chances of nailing the moment. Setting your FPS to the highest, which can be 5, 10 or even 20 (If shooting in RAW) will maximize your chances of catching the perfect airborne leap.

7. Get Low.. Like Belly-on-the-Ground Low!

Perspective is everything. Being on the same level as the dogs makes for more dramatic action shots. It also helps emphasize the air between the dog and the ground. Just watch out, they might use you as a speed bump. (which they sometimes miss) Which brings me to…

8. Dodge & Duck

If you’re lying down, don’t wait too long to duck. Trust me, some dogs are so focused that they might just run right into you. I’ve learned this the hard way more than once. I know, I should of learned the first time, but I like to live on the edge, what can I say! 😅

9. Test Different Autofocus Area Modes

Every camera reacts a little differently and that’s why it’s important to see what works best. I personally love using 3D Tracking on my Nikon, but sometimes switching to a different area mode works better depending on the dog’s speed or size. Something I would suggest, is starting with a larger AF area mode, and then decrease if your camera is struggling. It’s all about trial and error!

10. Camera Focus Tips

Some dogs (especially black ones with dark eyes or lots of facial fur) can be harder for the camera to lock onto. Want a cool trick? try stick a tiny colored sticker or putting on something like a hair bow on their forehead’s fur to help the focus point lock, then remove it later in editing!

11. Practice Makes Perfect (and Then Some)

These shots are tricky. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t nail them right away. The more you practice – especially with different dogs, lighting, and locations – the better you’ll understand what works. Be patient with yourself, and with your dog model! Remember, we all start somewhere – but practice makes perfect as they say!

Final Thoughts

Capturing dogs mid-flight is one of the hardest shots, but also the most rewarding things about pet photography (in my opinion!). It takes a mix of technical know-how, patience, and sometimes a bit of luck (plus a treat or ten).

Keep practicing and have fun!

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