Capturing video of your dog sounds simple enough—just hit record and go, right? But if you’ve ever reviewed your footage only to find blurry images, chaotic framing, or missed moments, you’re not alone. Filming pets, especially dogs who are constantly on the move, comes with its own set of challenges. Here are the top five mistakes pet owners make when filming their dogs, and some easy tips on how to avoid them to create clear, beautiful, and cinematic videos you’ll love sharing.
If you want more tips and tricks, check out my course, FILM YOUR DOG - Smartphone Method. It’s a fun, step-by-step online course designed to help you get professional-looking videos of your dog using only your smartphone, perfect for beginners and pet owners who want to bring their dog's adventures to life!
Mistake #1: Filming Without a Plan
One of the most common mistakes is diving straight into recording without giving your shots a little thought. Filming randomly often results in disorganized footage and missed opportunities for truly memorable moments.
How to Avoid It: Think about the shots you want in advance. For example, do you want a close-up of your dog’s face, or an action shot of them running in a park? Don't worry, you don't have to overthink this, however, having a bit of forethought will make your footage look more intentional and cinematic. And with a little practice every day, using these kinds of shots will become second nature. In FILM YOUR DOG - Smartphone Method, I provide a Shot List Inspiration Guide to help you plan your scenes and capture beautiful, story-driven videos.
Mistake #2: Shaky Camera Movements
Dogs rarely stay still, and chasing after them can make your footage shaky and hard to watch. This can quickly turn an exciting moment into a chaotic, blurry mess.
How to Avoid It: Stabilize your shots by either holding your phone with both hands and having your arms held close to your body or braced against a solid object or investing in an affordable smartphone stabilizer. If you’re on a budget, even a steady grip can reduce shake. Try to keep your movements smooth and deliberate; for example, slowly pan as your dog moves across the frame. In my course, I go over techniques for maintaining steady shots and introduce beginner-friendly cinematic movements that add a professional feel to your videos.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Lighting
Good lighting is essential in filmmaking, but it’s easy to overlook when you’re focused on your pet’s antics. Filming in poor light can make your footage look grainy, dark, or muddy, especially on smartphones.
How to Avoid It: Natural light is your best friend when filming outdoors or you can utilize the light near a window indoors. Aim to shoot during the “golden hour,” about an hour before sunset, when lighting is soft and warm. Indoors, position yourself to get as much natural light on your dog as possible. FILM YOUR DOG - Smartphone Method covers lighting basics and tips on how to make any setting work, no fancy equipment required!
Mistake #4: Forgetting to Adjust Camera Settings
Relying only on your smartphone’s default settings can limit the quality of your video, often resulting in unfocused or overexposed footage.
How to Avoid It: Take a moment to set up your phone’s camera. Enable the grid lines to help with composition, tap to lock focus on your dog, and manually adjust exposure if the scene is too bright or dark. In my course, I simplify smartphone camera settings so even beginners can feel confident capturing high-quality shots of their pets.
Mistake #5: Not Capturing Your Dog’s Personality
One of the biggest mistakes is focusing on technical aspects and forgetting to showcase what makes your dog unique. A video without personality might look polished but won’t capture the special quirks you love about your pet.
How to Avoid It: Let your dog’s personality guide your shots! If they’re playful, focus on capturing their energy. If they’re calm, try close-ups that show off their soulful expressions. Adding personality makes your video not just beautiful, but meaningful.
Ready to Start Filming?
By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to creating beautiful, cinematic videos of your dog using just your smartphone. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or simply looking to improve, these tips can make a huge difference in your footage. And for those who want a complete guide to filming your dog, my FILM YOUR DOG online course covers everything from planning and composition to editing and sharing your videos. And the best part? It can be completed in as little as two days!
Start capturing your dog’s best moments with confidence—no expensive equipment required!
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