Photographing Dark Haired Cairns

[Herdman90]

Would anyone like to offer some tips to getting good photos of dark-haired Cairns? Dubh and Donnan are black and brown brendels, respectively, and getting a good detailed shot of them is a neat trick. Also, their eyes always turn out a pale cloudy blue or green.

[hallswel]

there is a website called dpchallege where people post pictures to a theme and they are rated and they leave comments. They are very helpful you could try a photo site like that. You don't have to be a paying member to get help. But they are really honest with comments and sometimes even when you think you have a good shot they shoot you down!

[Marmielin]

They are sooo cute. When I try to photograph Tink, she turns her head every time just before I get the shot. I'm sure not good at it!

Lindab

[Toto times 2]

I have a brindle and it is really hard to get good pictures. A light background and flash help a lot. Your pics are great. I love the potted cairn.

[MikeC]

Duffy is a red brindle and I find that photographing him against a white or light colored background works nicely. See below. Give that a try.

MikeC

[Guest mrskti]

I have the same problem with Dori, wouldn't you know she had to sit in front of the Navy Blue sofa! Silly girl.

[Guest Darcy's Mom]

I love all the pics & pups. The dark brindle is difficult to get a good shot. But just wait a few months...they probably will lighten up a bit. My Darcy was solid black as a young pup but as she has aged (she's now almost two) she has a lot of grey and some brown and a red beard.

[Eliz222]

I find that it's easier to take pictures of my two Cairns without a flash. I try to take them outside, or by a window. Scout has alot of red highlights which really show up when using a flash. She appears to have alot more red than she has in real life. Taking pictures without a flash helps some.

Here is with a flash

Here she is without a flash

The second picture was taken year after the first one, and she is beginning to change colors (her hair is ALL red under the black). You can see how much the flash picks up the red in her hair!

[toomanypaws]

My trick is not only taking the picture in the daylight, but using my software program to enhance it. I have 2 dark cairns. I didn't have my digital w/ my oldest, Kiara but she had alot of red in her which helped her to photograph easier. With my youngest one Hannah, she is so dark around the face that it's hard to capture her. I bought software so that I could enhance her photo. I find that if I sharpen an image of her, more highlights will show. Also, if I get her face shaded, she will look too dark to see. Here's an example of a picture taken of Hannah as a young pup shaded (sun went behind the clouds), notice how dark her face is:

Here's her when the sun came back out and then sharpening the image:

For indoors, I always hook up a bright light on her like the photo studios do and then edit the picture if the eyes need to be darkened.

BTW, I think your pups are adorable!

Beth

[wheezie23]

I had a difficult time getting good pictures of Scruffy too. I found also that a flash tended to wash out his face. I like outdoor pictures of him best, and get in good and close. This one is still my favorite:

[Toto times 2]

I have to admit I have to alter most of my photos of Ghillie who is quite dark. I have a Photoshop Program which allows you to adjust the light.

It is definitely a problem. Ghillie is so dark I can't see him in the yard if he's sitting under a bush or in the shadows. I'll be calling him and finally spot him and he's sitting there with the most angelic expresion as if to say I've been here all along.

[Herdman90]

Thank you all for your advice. Bright outdoor lighting appears to produce the best photo situation, and indoors with bright light but no flash would be the next best option.

Gee thanks, ya'll, you're swell!

[Marmielin]

Scruffy looks just like my Tinkerbell. With her, though, she turns her head just as I snap the picture, and by the time it captures her, we get the side of her face or something. Hard to get a good face shot. She doesn't stay still long enough.

Lindab

[Bekah]

Marmelin, Liddy is a head-turner, too. One trick I've learned is to get the camera ready and then make a high-pitched noise to attract her attention. It sounds ridiculous, but it works and sometimes I can get that cute Cairn headcock, too.

[Eliz222]

Taking pictures of two Cairns together can be a challenge too. I will sometimes say "cookie" right when I want to press the shutter button. I have the best pictures of their alert faces, ears all perked up, waiting for a cookie! LOL! Of course, they love it because then they get a cookie!