DIY pet photo project
With a little practice, taking a great photo of your pet is a snap. Learning to zoom in on the face, choose the right angle, and get a sharp photo is all part of the process, but what do you do once you’ve mastered the basics? Set your dog apart with a cute photo project, of course.
There’s quite a lot you can do to make your dog’s photos that much more adorable, and you can make memorable photos easily with a few simple props. We’ve all seen a dog that looks super adorable with a “TY” tag on their collar, or a puppy sitting in an over-sized coffee cup. If you want a cute and versatile prop you can make yourself, a booth is a great prop that can be used in multiple ways.
How to make a “kissing booth” photo prop
What could be cuter than your own little smoocher sitting behind a kissing booth, hoping someone is interested in some cuddles? Or if your puppy is a good listener, they can offer a psychiatry booth similar to Lucy from Peanuts.
All you need is:
A wooden crate
Two dowels
A wood board the length of your crate
Wood glue
Zip-ties
Some paint
To create the booth, place the crate upside down. You can paint the crate if you like, or leave it natural. Zip tie the dowels to the back of the crate (it will be facing away from the camera and not seen) then lay the crate so the dowels are flat on your work surface and glue the board across the dowels. You may also want to add a little wood glue where the dowels are zip-tied for added security.
Paint the board with the message of your choice, such as “Kissing Booth.” If you’re not sure what sort of message you want, or you’re hoping for a versatile prop, consider painting it with chalkboard paint and chalking a new message on each time.
Let the booth dry, and turn it right side up again. It’s done!
You can dress it up farther with an advertisement for how much services cost, or add other props such as hearts for valentines day, or books and glasses for a psychiatry booth. If you’re indoors, you may also want to put up a backdrop to keep clutter out of the picture.
How to capture the moment
Place your puppy behind the booth, and keep the camera low enough so that it is level with the dog. You can encourage your puppy to smooch visibly with a bit of peanut butter on the nose, or simply catch them being their natural, cute selves.
Even if your pet simply sits and looks at the camera, their hopeful mug will be the cutest thing you see all year. Don’t be discouraged if your pet isn’t the type to stay in one place for long, with this prop the bloopers are usually as cute as the photo booth, so take your time and have fun with it.