Community Corner: Meet Photographer Anne Geier
This week we were delighted to chat with esteemed dog photographer, Anne Geier, who lives in Austria. We sat down with her to talk about her dream job for this week’s community corner.
Photo Credit: Anne Geier
We came across your account on Instagram (@anne.geier.fotografie) and fell in love with your ethereal style. In fact, in one recent post you wrote, “What I mean when I say I take photos of dogs out of a fairytale.” Can you tell us more about how you developed your vision for capturing dogs in such a dreamy way?
As a dog photographer, I have a mission: to create memories that last a lifetime. For me, photos are the return ticket to a very special moment, to a loyal gaze, a wagging tail, a shared adventure in breathtaking landscapes. It quickly became clear to me that I wanted to capture dogs and landscapes together and show their personalities. Our four-legged friends are such unique beings, and I wanted to add a bit more magic to the images. I want to tell the story of the dog in stunning photos. Whether playful, majestic, or full of joy, I try to capture the dog's character. To infuse my photos with this magic, it's important to connect with the dog, to see what it naturally offers. I work only in the best possible lighting conditions - that already adds much more dreaminess to the photo. Additionally, I always try to take advantage of specific weather situations, such as fog or unique lighting conditions, to enhance the enchantment. My goal is to create the photo as optimally as possible during the shoot, but of course, post-processing still plays a significant role for me. This is where I achieve the finishing touches and give the dogs that sparkle back in their eyes.
Photo credit: Anne Geier
Did you go to school for photography? How did you learn the craft?
Not really. After completing my high school diploma, I actually didn't know where my path should lead. Since I was a child, I always had a wonderful connection with animals, and ideally, I wanted my future profession to involve them in some way. However, all the professions I knew that had to do with animals were not suitable for me. I am very connected to nature, which probably led me to choose my geography studies at that time. During my studies, I started with photography because of my first dog, Cindy. First I just wanted to capture moments of her but soon a real passion developed. So I spent all my free time to improve my photography and post processing skills. I took photos of so many dogs to get better and better.
Photo credit: Anne Geier
Do you travel a lot for work? Tell us about some of the most interesting places you’ve been to capture dogs.
Yes, I travel a lot for photography. In recent years, I have embarked on photo journeys with my two dogs Finn and Yuri to capture specific motifs. Since some countries were not accessible with my own dogs, such as Iceland, I traveled there and found dogs to photograph. Since some years I provide customer shoots and workshops outside of Austria, taking me to unique locations. The world is full of fascinating places, whether in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Norway, or Iceland; with enough exploration you can discover incredible spots that seem otherworldly everywhere. Even in my home region, the Salzkammergut, there are many wonderful places. However, I believe Norway will always be my personal highlight for photographing dogs, as it holds unforgettable memories with my own dogs.
Photo Credit: Anne Geier
We read that your dogs, Yuri and Finn, are street dogs from Romania. Tell us about your life with them. Do they come with you on shoots?
Yes, exactly. I have two dogs from a Romanian animal shelter. Both were about three years old when I adopted them. Finn has been with us since 2014, and Yuri joined us in 2017. These two dogs are simply wonderful and my biggest inspiration for creating photo motifs. Especially Finn loves to model - he is the loveliest dog on earth. Friendly to everybody and the epitome of calmness. And Yuri is or little wild bird who always makes us laugh. I've traveled a lot with both of them in our T4 van. We even went to Norway together and visited many other countries in Europe. I was able to realize a variety of my desired motifs with them. This often meant hiking in the middle of the night to be at the photo spot by sunrise - but Finn and Yuri were always ready and always did their best. The two of them are my everything, I could not imagine a life without them and without them, my photography wouldn't be the same. I am so thankful that these two dogs enrich my life day by day. Since Finn is already a bit older we didn’t travel that much. We enjoy the time in our home region which is also really beautiful. When I have a photo session with a client they are at home. It’s better for me because I can work more focused, Yuri and Finn can relax at home‚ and also it is more relaxing for the client’s dog. Because stranger dogs could be a distraction.
Photo credit: Anne Geier
What’s your advice for members of our community who want to improve their dog photo skills? Are there any podcasts to listen to or books they should read? My tips for dog photography:
1. Build trust and become an attentive observer. Before you start photographing take time for the dog, let him accept your presence so that he can relax in front of the camera and work patiently. The most beautiful and, above all, lively photos emerge when the dog feels comfortable and doesn't have to pose like a statue. Capture different moments and natural expressions. Dogs are often in motion, so try to capture their energy. Photograph them while playing, running, or jumping to get dynamic images.
2. Photograph in the best light to create a positive atmosphere in the image. Soft light minimizes harsh shadows and contrasts. Ideally, use the time just after sunrise or before sunset.
3. Work with shorter focal lengths to capture vibrant images and convey the feeling that you can almost touch the dog. Did you know that the 50mm lens shows our beloved four-legged friends as we perceive them in reality? The perspective of the 50mm approximates what we see with our own eyes.
4. Focus on the Eyes: The eyes are key to expressive animal portraits. Ensure the dog's eyes are sharp and clear to create an emotional connection in the photo.
5. Choose Creative Perspectives: Experiment with different angles and perspectives to create unique and interesting photos. Especially if you want to combine dogs with fascinating landscapes it’s necessary to use different perspectives to show the landscape as well as the dog in a nice way. For classical close up portraits of dogs, choose the eye level of the dog as your perspective.
6. Mind Technical Aspects: Pay attention to depth of field, focus, and exposure. Experiment with your camera settings to make the most of each light and situation. Take care that you don’t use a too long exposure to avoid camera shake - a dog is always moving a bit. To create a great depth of field try to include a foreground to create three layers: the foreground, the main layer with the dog and the background. This will make your photo much more captivating.
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