Cameras can be scary to animals
Make Them Comfortable!
Don't start taking photos right away. It's best to take the dog potty beforehand, so that they won't try to during the shoot! Bring them someplace where they'll feel comfortable & relaxed (i.e. outside in a quiet area). Let them explore for a bit and get some energy out; they'll be less likely to avoid the camera.
Desensitize Them to the Noise of the Camera
You can start by taking photos of other things away from the dog, while rewarding them with treats to show that the sound of the shutter isn't a threatening noise. If you start by pointing the camera directly at them, the combination of the lens looking at them and the shutter sound might frighten them too much. If they can't get used to the noise, you can always use a larger lens and stay farther away from the pup.
Toys, Toys, Toys!
Have fun with it! Use toys!
Tennis balls, squeaky toys, ropes, etc. Using a toy helps keep the pup distracted from the camera pointed at it, and you can get some adorable shots of them being themselves. Having toys on hand can also help you direct the pup to do what you want them to during the photoshoot.
Quick tip: making funny noises with your mouth works to get a cute head tilt pic!
Keep a Safe Distance
To keep your camera lens safe from potential scratches, don't get too close with the camera and pay very close attention to if/when the dog jumps during the shoot.
Investing in a Clear Lens
When I did volunteer work for a few animals rescues, I learned that a clear lens is helpful in keeping your expensive lenses safe from damage. They're very affordable to buy on Amazon, if you choose to get some! Clear lenses do lessen the quality of the image, but I personally think they're worth it when photographing dogs you aren't familiar with.
Once, a fellow volunteer was handling an adoptable dog, while I photographed them for their website profile, and they let the dog jump right on top of me in the middle of shooting. The dog's nails scratched straight across my clear lens permanently destroying it. I couldn't continue with photos for the day, because I didn't have any spare clear lenses to replace the damaged one with; I'm just glad it wasn't the actual lens that got ruined!
