Every Coat Tells a Different Story

A great dog portrait depends on capturing the things that make your dog *your dog* — and a huge part of that is the coat. A fluffy Samoyed, a sleek Greyhound, a curly Poodle and a wiry Terrier each need a slightly different approach to photograph well.

This guide walks through the main coat types and how to get a portrait-ready photo of each.

Fluffy and Long Coats

Breeds: Golden Retriever, Samoyed, Pomeranian, Border Collie, Shih Tzu, Australian Shepherd.

Fluffy coats are gorgeous but easy to lose. Photographed badly, all that texture blurs into a vague cloud.

How to capture it well:

Get close so individual strands and the soft halo of fur are visible

Use soft, slightly directional light — backlighting in particular makes a fluffy coat glow at the edges

Make sure the photo is sharp; motion blur destroys fluffiness instantly

Catch them freshly brushed for the fullest, most flattering look

Short and Smooth Coats

Breeds: Greyhound, Boxer, Beagle, Dalmatian, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Labrador.

Short coats show off muscle, shine, and the shape of the body. The challenge is keeping them from looking flat.

How to capture it well:

Use directional light to bring out the sheen and the contours underneath

A glossy short coat picks up reflections — soft window light works better than harsh sun

Markings (like a Dalmatian's spots or a Beagle's tricolour) are a defining feature — make sure they're clearly lit and in focus

Dark and Black Coats

Breeds: black Labrador, Rottweiler, black Pug, Schnauzer, Newfoundland.

Black coats are the classic photography challenge. In poor light, every detail vanishes into a shadow shaped like a dog.

How to capture it well:

Use bright, generous light — far more than feels necessary

Avoid dark backgrounds; a lighter background separates the dog from the surroundings

Look for the subtle colour in a black coat — the browns, the blue-blacks — which good light reveals

The eyes are critical: with a dark coat, the eyes are often the only point of contrast, so keep them sharp and catch a little light in them

Curly and Wavy Coats

Breeds: Poodle, Cockapoo, Labradoodle, Bichon Frise, Portuguese Water Dog.

Curly coats have wonderful sculptural texture — the goal is to show the curl clearly.

How to capture it well:

Photograph after grooming, when the curl is well-defined

Use even, soft light so the curls have gentle shadow and dimension without harsh contrast

Get close enough that the texture reads as distinct curls, not a fuzzy mass

Wiry and Double Coats

Breeds: Jack Russell, Wire Fox Terrier, Schnauzer (wiry); Husky, German Shepherd, Akita (double).

Wiry coats have rugged character; double coats have impressive volume and often striking markings.

How to capture it well:

For double coats, capture the full ruff and volume — slightly further back than for a short-coated dog

For wiry coats, sharp focus shows off the rough, characterful texture

Strong markings — a Husky's mask, a Shepherd's saddle — should be clearly visible and well lit

What Stays True for Every Breed

Whatever the coat, three things matter most:

1. The eyes — sharp, catching a little light, at your dog's level

2. The light — soft and natural, never harsh sun or flash

3. Honest colour — skip the filters, so the portrait starts from your dog's true colours

Mixed Breeds Are the Best of All

If your dog is a mix, don't worry about which category they fall into — that combination of features is exactly what makes them unique, and a good portrait celebrates it. Photograph the dog in front of you, not a breed standard.

See Your Dog as Art

Whatever their coat, upload a clear, well-lit photo and preview your dog in a range of portrait styles.

Create your portrait →

Dog Portraits by Breed: Getting Every Coat and Character Right

Every Coat Tells a Different Story

Fluffy and Long Coats

Short and Smooth Coats

Dark and Black Coats

Curly and Wavy Coats

Wiry and Double Coats

What Stays True for Every Breed

Mixed Breeds Are the Best of All

See Your Dog as Art

Get pet portrait tips in your inbox

More from the blog