Use these tips to improve your pet photography skills in no time. Table of Contents: Have you ever tried to take a great photo of your pet, but are disappointed with how it turned out? The lighting is too dark or the flash is harsh, they blinked or aren’t looking at the camera, or they just won’t stay still? This used to happen to me all the time, until I figured out how to take amazing pet photos. It may seem nearly impossible to take a good photo of your pet, but with these few simple tips, anyone can improve their pet photography skills, even if the only camera you have is the one on your iPhone or Android phone.  After all, it’s so important to preserve memories with your dog or cat (or other pet!). Our pets are a part of our family, and capturing everyday moments helps us to be able to hold on to these memories for years to come. It’s also enjoyable to be able to look back on your pet photos during their different life stages, like looking back on puppy photos now that your dog is an adult. Another reason for wanting to take great cat and dog photos is for sharing them with family and friends. You can share your photos through text messages, or post them on social media with a funny or cute caption.  Follow these easy tips to improve your pet photography skills. How to Take Better Photos of Your Dog or Cat on Your Phone Whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone, these tips will help you to take better photos of your pets! 1. Use natural lighting As advanced as phone cameras have become, they’re still not great with dim lighting or indoor lights. Whenever possible, use bright natural light, which you can get during the day near a window or by going outdoors. Make sure your pet is facing the source of the light, not creating a shadow on their face. Try to avoid using a flash unless absolutely necessary in the dark, as it can create harsh shadows, glowing eyes, or even scare your pet. 2. Keep the background simple When taking a pet portrait, multi-colored or cluttered backgrounds can be distracting and take away the focus from your pet. If possible, try for solid backgrounds like a wall or couch cushion, or backgrounds that have all similar colors, like grass and trees. Of course, if it’s a special moment, snap away, because you don’t want to be so concerned with finding the perfect background that you miss the entire photo opportunity. 3. Tap to focus The phone camera uses auto focus, and it doesn’t always get it quite right. But you can direct the focus by tapping on the screen in the place you want the camera to focus, which is usually on your pet’s eyes. You can also try experimenting with your phone camera’s portrait mode. If you can get your pet to stay still long enough, portrait mode can take beautiful photos of your dog, cat, or other pet. It will focus on where you tap, and soften or blur the rest. 4. Get down on their level You can really capture your pet when you get down at their level, rather than taking every photo from above. You can also experiment with different angles for variety. Related: The Best Dog Quotes About the Love We Share With Our Pets 5. Grab their attention by holding a toy or a treat A trick to getting your pet to look at the camera is to hold a favorite toy or treat near the camera. It will help to hold their attention long enough to snap your photo. Don’t forget to reward them afterwards for their attention! 6. Take numerous photos rapidly I always think I captured a great photo, only to see that my dog blinked or momentarily looked away when I took it! By hitting the shutter button numerous times, you’ll increase your chances of catching a winner, and you can delete the extras that you don’t need. 7. Capture your pet’s personality In addition to having nice sitting portraits of your dog or cat, you should try to photograph them in a way that captures their personality. What unique traits or quirks do they have? What’s their favorite activity, favorite toy, or favorite sleeping position? Does your dog love grabbing a toy and doing a play bow, or does your cat love rolling on the floor? Let their natural behaviors shine through in your photographs. 8. Be patient Sometimes it takes time to get your pet to cooperate. If they aren’t in the right mood, try again later. If your pup is too full of energy to stay still long enough for a nice photo, switch to taking a video. Then when you play it back, you can pause it and take a screenshot picture. You might even end up with a hilarious action shot! This isn’t always perfect, as sometimes it’s difficult to pause the video in a way that looks fully in focus, but it’s a good backup plan and it’s nice to have the videos to look back on. By keeping these few tips in mind, you’ll be taking cute dog photos and funny cat photos in no time! Keep practicing and experimenting, and before you know it, these phone photography tips will come naturally to you and you won’t have to even think about it.  Once you’ve taken some great pet photos, don’t forget to print and frame some of them! Photos aren’t meant to be lost on our camera rolls, they should be displayed in our homes so they can bring us joy whenever we see them. For some great beach-inspired picture frame ideas, check out this post. Related: From Valentine’s to New Year’s: 102 Year-Round Dog Instagram Captions to Celebrate Every Holiday with Your Pup Save These Tips for Taking Better Photos of […]

The best dog bowls that will fit in with your beach or coastal home decor. If your home is decorated in a beach or coastal decor style, you’ll be happy to have dog bowls or cat bowls that blend in seamlessly with your carefully curated space. This list of cute coastal dog bowls will help you add to your coastal home decor instead of taking away from it. These selections of coastal dog bowls include ceramic dog bowls, stainless steel dog bowls, stoneware dog bowls, and elevated dog bowls. What you won’t find in this list is plastic dog bowls, as we feel they don’t have the weight needed to stay in place without sliding around while your dog is eating or drinking from them. The bowls in this list are heavier or harder to move, which prevents moving and sliding. You’ll also find a variety of styles, including colors in sand and ocean hues, coastal-inspired patterns and prints, and combinations of the two. The bowls in this list can be used as dog water bowls or dog food bowls. Many of these bowls come in numerous sizes to choose from, so whether you’re looking for dog bowls for small dogs or dog bowls for large dogs, you should be able to find something that suits your pup. Of course, these bowls can also be used for a cat! This article is about cute coastal dog bowls that will look great in your coastal or beach home. 15 Coastal Dog Bowls 1. White and Aqua Ceramic Bowl 2. Grey-Beige Ceramic Bowl 3. Blue Waves Ceramic Bowl 4. White Geometric Ceramic Bowl 5. Gradient Blue Ceramic Bowl 6. Wavy Stoneware Bowl Related Post: 100 Fun Beach Dog Names for Your Seaside Pup (or Cat) 7. Ceramic Dog Bones Bowl 8. Cream and Blue Stoneware Bowl 9. Ceramic Bowl With Marble Design 10. Ceramic Cream and Blue Bowl 11. White Ceramic Patterned Bowl on Wood Stand 12. Seafoam Stainless Steel Bowl 13. Navy Stoneware and Wood Bowl Related Post: The 13 Top Dog Training Books Every Dog Owner Needs to Know About 14. Wood and Stainless Steel Elevated Dog Bowls 15. Stainless Steel Bowl With Blue Non-Skid Bottom Save These Coastal Dog Bowl Ideas Pin this graphic on Pinterest, or bookmark this page, so you can continue to refer back to it. And don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for more beach and coastal lifestyle inspiration. This article was about 15 cute coastal dog bowls that will match with your coastal or beach home decor. After working to have a cohesive look with your coastal home decor, you don’t want your pet’s items to clash in your space. These coastal dog or cat bowls will help you achieve the coastal look you love while providing your pet with quality items. With a variety of bowls to choose from, including beach colors like white, sand, and various shades of blues and greens, and choices including ceramic and stainless steel bowls, as well as some bowls, we hope you’ve found something that will go well with your coastal or beach home decor. Which of these coastal bowls is your favorite? Does your pet prefer ceramic bowls or stainless steel bowls? Let us know in the comments.

Coastal-inspired dog and cat names that are both unique and meaningful for anyone who loves the beach, sailing, the ocean, or island life. Table of Contents: Choosing the right name for your pet is a big decision. If you love spending time at the beach or being out on the water, naming your dog a beach-inspired name can be a fun way to honor both your love of the beach and your love of your new pet. I’ve gathered what I consider to be the best beach dog names, from the most common dog names related to the beach, to more unique beach dog names. The list is broken into categories so whether you’re interested in beach themed dog names, nautical dog names, saltwater and ocean dog names, surfing dog names, beach and ocean animal dog names, island dog names, or beachy dog names from movies, television, and books, there’s something here to help inspire you. Most of the options from the list below will work as male dog names or female dog names, as many of these are gender neutral names. And if you’re interested in dog names with meaning, I’ve included the meaning behind each beachy dog name so you can see if it will suit your pet. Don’t forget to save this list on Pinterest so you can refer back to it, and give me a follow for more fun pet resources! Check out the best beach dog names for anyone who loves the coast and is considering a beach themed dog or cat name for their new pet. Best Beach Dog Names: 1–25 Beach Dog Names These beachy dog names are cute, funny, and unique for anyone who loves living the beach life. And if your dog is more of a shore dog than an ocean dog, some of these will be especially fitting. Azure – The color between blue and cyan, often described as the color of the sky on a clear day. Additionally, the French Riviera is referred to as the Azure Coast. Beachy – Relating to the beach. Blue – The color of the sea and the sky.  Breaker – A wave that breaks into foam on the shore. Breeze – A sea breeze is wind that blows from the sea toward the land. Breezy – A pleasant wind; also used to describe someone who is happy and confident.  Briny – Salty water; the sea. Choppy – Small, rough waves. Cruiser – A powerboat equipped for living onboard; a beach cruiser is a one-speed bicycle for leisurely riding. Current – A body of water moving in a particular direction. Drifter – A person or object that drifts; a fishing boat with a drift net; a person who travels aimlessly. Hurricane – A tropical storm with strong winds, rain and thunderstorms. Jetty – A structure that projects from the land into the water as a breakwater to protect a harbor or coast. Ocean – The body of salt water that covers over 70% of Earth’s surface.  Rocky – A shoreline that’s full of rocks. Roxy – A Persian name meaning “dawn,” “bright,” and “star”; the name of a surf brand for women. Sandy – Composed of or covered with sand. Shandy – A drink made by mixing beer with lemonade that’s lower in alcohol, making it a good beach drink while sitting in the sun. Stormy – When the sea has large waves due to rainy or windy conditions. Sunny – Bright with sunlight.  Surfer – A person who uses a surfboard to ride a wave toward the shore. Taffy – A sweet, chewy candy that can frequently be found for sale on beach boardwalks.  Tide – The rise and fall of waters from the attraction of the moon and sun; high tide and low tide.  Wavy – Having or rising in waves, as in the sea. Windy – A lot of wind, or more wind than usual. Make Your Pet Official With a Personalized Tag Best Beach Dog Names: 26–45 Nautical Dog Names These nautical dog names are related to ships, sailing, and sailors. They’ll be unique female dog names or unique male dog names. Beacon – Beacons help to guide navigators. An example of a beacon is a lighthouse, which is used to help navigate around obstacles. Bosun – The leader of the deck team on a ship or yacht who is responsible for maintaining the exterior. Captain – The commander of a ship. Dock – A structure extending over water from the shore that boats can be secured to for loading and unloading. Dory – A small flat-bottomed boat with high sides; a large fish with silver scales; a kind-hearted fish in the Disney/Pixar animated film Finding Nemo. Fender – A bumper on the side of a ship or boat to prevent cushioning if it touches another ship, pier, or dock in order to prevent damage. Finn – The Finn dinghy is a single-handed sailboat and former men’s sailing class in the Olympic Games (1952–2021). Fish use fins (spelled “fin”) to propel, steer, and achieve stability. Fisher – A person or animal that catches fish from a body of water. Harbor – A sheltered body of water for docking boats and ships. Haven – A sheltered body of water for docking boats and ships. The USS Haven was a hospital ship built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Jetsam – Objects thrown overboard to lighten a ship’s load.  Keel – The central structure on the bottom of a boat or ship that supports the frame. Marina – A dock that provides secure mooring for small pleasure boats. Mariner – A sailor; someone who navigates or assists in navigating a boat or a ship. Morgan – A Welsh name meaning big bright sea.  Pirate – A person who attacks ships at sea to steal from them. Sailor – A person who works on a boat or a ship. Skipper – the captain of a boat or a ship. Splash – Water […]