Using flash in dog portraits

[markyboy.1967]

I have been asked to photograph a few pets in the coming weeks. I have photographed 1 dog in the past but without the use of flash and they turned out fine. Now as i will be limited to a weekend and cant count on the lighting i may need to use flash. So how do i avoid the flash effecting the eye and turning it to that green colour. I have 2x SB900`s for flash and the shoots will be outdoors in local parks/golf courses etc.

 

[parkmoy]

I'm assuming it's caused in the same way as red eye in humans so get the flash off camera?

 

[djinn]

In my experience with dogs it`s very hard to avoid it, Ive even tried the `redeye` features on the flash but this had the effect of giving the dogs a beady eye look and not the soulful look most owners are looking for and the dogs did`nt like it one bit. So long as you keep the flash off the camera you should be fine but dogs do tend to look about a lot especialy where distractions like flash are concerned and you may find ( like I have )that the best pic`s have some`greeneye`so its off to photoshop i`m affraid.

 

[POAH]

don't worry about green eye Mark, easy to photoshop out. I pretty much always use flash my Marley cause he is a dark GSD

 

[LongLensPhotography]

I don't see why you'd struggle with d700 and 2.8 lenses for light w/o flash.

If you do use flash you need to make sure it doesn't bounce back to the camera (i.e. flash can't be anywhere near the camera - subject line)

 

[TCR4x4]

Ive never used flash for any of my dog stuff, but Im sure there are times where it is necesaary. Bounced or diffused OCF would be the best bet I guess.

I personally prefer the natural light look. Nikon D700 and f/2.8 and f/1.8 lenses.

DSC_8978 by TCR4x4, on Flickr


Sebbe in the snow by TCR4x4, on Flickr



Full flight by TCR4x4, on Flickr​

 

[markyboy.1967]

Thanks for the comments. As for using flash with 2.8 lenses---i plan one of the shoots in a forrest area and it has allot of cover overhead. I think i will be using f7ish most of the time when i want the full dog running to be in focus. Other times i will be at the other end using anything from 1.8---5.6 for the arty shots.