How to Get a Good Photo of a Wiggly Puppy or Hyper Dog

To get a good photo of a wiggly puppy, hyper dog or squirmy kitten, tire them out first, use burst mode, and shoot at their eye level in a calm, bright room. You don't need a perfect pose. You need one frame where the face is sharp and the eyes are open.

Here's how to catch that frame without chasing your pet around the house for an hour.

What counts as a usable photo

Before you start, know what you're aiming for. For a portrait you only need one photo that checks a few boxes:

• The face is sharp, especially the eyes
• Both eyes are visible and open
• The face fills a good part of the frame
• The light is soft and natural

That's it. Your pet doesn't have to sit, stay or look regal. A tilted head, a slightly open mouth or a happy panting grin all make great portraits. Sharpness matters far more than a perfect pose, which is great news for a pet who has never sat still in their life.

Set the stage before you start

1. Tire them out first. A walk, a game of fetch or ten minutes of zoomies beforehand gives you a calmer subject. For puppies, a nap is even better: catch them in the sleepy, curious minutes right after they wake.
2. Pick a quiet room. Close doors, turn off the TV and move other pets and people out. Fewer distractions means more eyes on you.
3. Choose bright, soft light. Near a large window works well, or in open shade outside. Bright light lets your phone use a fast shutter, which freezes motion. Dim rooms cause blur.
4. Clear the background. A plain wall or floor keeps the focus on the face.
5. Have treats ready, cut small so they get eaten fast and your session doesn't turn into a snack break.

Use the right phone settings

• Burst mode is your best friend. Press and hold the shutter button (or slide it, depending on your phone) and the camera takes many frames per second. Pick the sharpest one afterward.
• Tap on the eyes to lock focus there before the pet moves.
• Use the main 1x lens. It's the fastest and sharpest. Skip zoom, which loses detail.
• Try the live or "action" modes only as a backup. A real photo taken in bright light usually beats a video screenshot, though a paused video frame can rescue a great expression.
• Turn off the flash. It startles young animals and flattens the face.
• Wipe the lens. Puppy noses leave smudges.

Treat and toy tricks that work

1. Hold a treat just above the lens. Their eyes follow it and they look straight at the camera.
2. Ask for a "wait" or "stay" for just two seconds. You don't need a long hold. Give the cue, take a burst, then reward immediately.
3. Save a squeaker or a favorite word for the exact moment you're ready. One squeak gets ears up and a head tilt. Use it once or twice, because it stops working fast.
4. Toss and shoot. For a ball-obsessed dog, throw a toy, and snap burst photos as they look back at you with it.
5. For kittens, use a wand toy. Dangle it just above your phone and shoot as the kitten looks up. Their sunny window perch is often the best studio.
6. Reward often. Short sessions with lots of praise keep it fun. Stop after five minutes, then try again later.

Bring a helper

A second person makes everything easier. Your helper stands behind you, holds the treat or toy and makes the noise, while you only worry about the camera. They can also gently steady a squirmy puppy, with a hand on the chest or a hold in the lap, until you're ready to shoot. For a very wiggly pet, ask the helper to let go just as you press the shutter.

Timing: the best moments to shoot

• Right after a walk or play — Why it works: Calm, happy and a little tired
• Just after waking from a nap — Why it works: Soft, sleepy and curious
• Just before a meal, with a treat in hand — Why it works: Focused and alert
• First thing in the morning — Why it works: Calm house and soft window light
• Right after a big sniff or a zoomie — Why it works: Happy, relaxed face

Avoid the hour before dinner for a pet who goes frantic, or the evening witching hour when puppies get wild.

Get down to their level

Standing and pointing the phone down gives you a big forehead and tiny body. Instead, kneel or lie on the floor so your phone is level with their eyes. For a kitten or small puppy, put them on a sofa or bed so you don't have to stretch flat on the floor, but stay close to catch them. Fill the frame with the face and chest, and move closer instead of zooming.

When nothing works today

Some days your pet simply won't cooperate, and that's fine. A few ideas:

• Try a different time of day
• Take a video and pause on the best frame
• Look back through your camera roll. There's often a great shot you forgot, perhaps from a sleepy moment on the couch
• Relax. If your pet is grown and the photo is a little soft, our guide on using an old or blurry photo explains what still works

Checklist before you upload

• Face sharp, eyes open and visible
• Face fills most of the frame
• Natural light, no flash
• At your pet's eye level
• The original file, not a copy from social media

For more on light, angles and phone settings, see our full guide to the perfect pet portrait photo. If your pet has dark fur, our black pet photo tips will help too. Portraits work just as well for dogs and cats, and young pets grow up fast, so a portrait of this stage is something you'll be glad to have.

Ready to try it?

Upload your best frame, even if it's the only sharp one from a hundred, and you'll get a free, watermarked preview in about 30 seconds, with no account or card needed. You only pay if you love the preview, and what you see in your free preview is what we print. Create your pet's free preview.