Pet portraits with the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR

Walkies

Taking dogs on a walk, particularly one they know well, is a great opportunity to capture their personality at its most authentic. Our walk began mid-morning at Bluebell Woods, an area that my fiancée Sarah, Moose, Margot and I have visited many times before. It is a beautiful spot, carpeted with bluebells in early spring, with fallen logs for the dogs to leap over, a river for Moose to swim in, and plenty of leaves for them to play in. As well as lots of dog treats I took along the Nikon Z50II and NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR, a compact, high-quality pairing that is brilliant for photographing dogs and other animals, especially when they are on the move, with built-in VR adding an extra bonus.

Ready for adventure

We’d just set out when Margot suddenly stopped, bright-eyed and alert. The sunlight filtering through the trees was too beautiful to ignore, and I wanted to include it to give a real sense of place. I was able to create soft bokeh that helped Margot stand out from the woodland behind her, while keeping enough of her body in focus. As this was taken in slight shade, I used a fast shutter speed and raised the ISO to freeze any subtle movements.

Alfie’s top tip: Use commands such as ‘sit’ or ‘stay’ to your advantage, then get low and frame at eye level to enter your dog’s world, leading to portraits with more connection and personality.

Perfect profiles

A while later, we came across a sunlit patch of woodland with a fallen tree trunk and beautiful dappled light. By then, the dogs were more relaxed, which gave me the chance to capture Moose in a quieter, more natural moment that really shows his gentler side, a nice contrast to the action portraits that came later. The lens picked up the texture and rich tones in his coat beautifully, while the background behind him softened into a gentle blur. Following the rule of thirds, I framed tightly around his head and shoulders to emphasise expression and detail, placing him slightly off-centre with space to look into. That helped the portrait feel balanced and natural. I was also careful to position myself so that I avoided harsh shadows across the eyes. Rather than calling for his attention, I let him settle and waited for a moment where the head angle, expression and light all came together.

Alfie’s top tip: Stand back from your pet and use a longer focal length to help isolate them from their background.

Capture character

Next, we came across a bright, open clearing, perfect for a front-facing portrait. The moment Moose stopped to lick his nose after a treat, I knew I had it. It was completely unplanned, but it sums up his cheeky personality perfectly. Spontaneous moments like this can be just as strong as more carefully composed portraits and often reveal far more character. I framed Moose centrally to create a symmetrical, balanced composition that worked well with his direct gaze, while the vertical tree trunks added structure without pulling attention away from him.

Alfie’s top tip: Use burst mode when photographing pets, especially dogs, and definitely if you want to capture fleeting expressions. Here, the Z50II’s burst mode allowed me to capture a sequence of frames and select the one where the tongue position and expression worked best.

Eyes on the prize

Soon the woodland gave way to open fields, with plenty of space for the dogs to run around – the perfect place to capture some higher energy moments. Classic portraits are great, but I also wanted images that showed not just what the dogs look like, but how they behave, and jumping is one of their favourite things to do. At times like this, make it fun for you and your pet, as the results will be so much better!

Here, I crouched down with the camera at chest level and caught Margot mid leap as she jumped for the treat in my other hand. I used a tight crop, with Margot reaching towards the edge of the frame, to heighten the sense of movement and energy.

Alfie’s top tip: For dynamic shots like this, give your dog something to focus on just above or out of frame, then use burst mode and AF-C to keep up with the action. The Z50II’s animal detection makes this even easier.

Adventurous abstracts

On our way home, the sunshine began to fade and clouds rolled in, leaving soft, diffused light to work with. The dogs knew the walk was nearly over and were more than happy to make the most of a few final treats. I wanted to capture a portrait of the two of them together, and there is a real sense of anticipation and curiosity in their posture here. I love the synchronicity between them. It really speaks to their bond.

In my wildlife work, I often lean into creative compositions and slightly abstract framing, so I wanted this image to feel true to that side of my style. Framing wider kept the perspective natural. I really enjoyed using the Z50II here, especially being able to adjust Picture Controls and see the effect instantly, which made the process feel fun and interactive. The autofocus was also excellent, with AF-C Animal Detection and subject tracking helping me stay locked on even as the dogs moved quickly.

Alfie’s top tip: Soft light is perfect for artistic portraits, as it lets you focus on expression and composition without harsh shadows becoming a distraction, but don’t be afraid to raise the ISO to ensure your images remain sharp.

The softer side

Back home and tired after their big walk, Moose and Margot were far calmer and less reactive, which made it the perfect time to capture quieter, more closeup portraits with a softer, more subdued feel. I love photographing dogs from above in moments like this, focusing sharply on the eye while letting the rest of the face and fur fall gently out of focus. The eyes can reveal so much about your faithful friend, and often hold all the emotion a portrait needs. Natural light is especially important here, as flash can startle animals and can also create red-eye. By this point, your dog is likely to be more used to the camera as well, so it is worth slowing down and not rushing the shot.

Alfie’s top tip: These images were taken as stills from a video clip, which is a great reminder to try filming, too, especially as it can be a lovely way to capture your dog’s true behaviour and expression in those in-between moments.