Taking Great Photos and Videos of Leonbergers

A professional content writer by the name of Ryan Goodchild contacted me about me posting a Leonberger related post he had written on my Leonberger blog, which I am certainly happy to do. The title is “How to Take Stunning Photos and Videos of Your Leonberger Dog”. I should mention that I used my Samsung Galaxy phone to take less than professional photos of our Leonberger. I’ve included a few photos of our Leonberger below, but most of the photos are from friends or stock photos. However, me not having many great photos that I took myself, won’t stop you from learning how to take great photos. See the article below. While Ryan did all the writing, I added photos.

The photo tile above includes three photos of our Leonberger Bronco. One from when he was a three months old puppy and one from when he was 12 years old, and in one photo our mini-Australian Shepherd is biting his tail. There is a shutter stock photo ID:731020957  by Peter Josto, a photo of a woman and her Leonberger dog, asset id: 1741753382 by Elena Podrezenko, and two photos showing Leonberger puppies with flowers, asset id: 561113224 and 561111403 by Akbudak Rimma and . The photo of five Leonbergers wearing patriotic hats lying on grass by a lake was taken by Jen O’Keefe, (from left to right; Obi, Delfi, Aslan, Gryphon, Digory). There is also a photo of six Leonbergers celebrating a birthday. That photo was also taken by Jen O’Keefe.

How to Take Stunning Photos and Videos of Your Leonberger Dog

Leonberger dog owners who love Instagram dog photography often discover a frustrating truth: photographing large dog breeds is both deeply rewarding and deceptively hard. A Leonberger’s size, dark coat, and constant motion can turn sweet moments into blurry frames, while shedding, drool, and aging-pet sensitivities add real pet photography challenges. On top of that, Leonberger personality capture depends on comfort and timing, and anxious dogs read tension fast. With a few grounded principles and a supportive dog owner community mindset, those everyday moments can become images worth sharing.

Photo of a Leonberger sitting on snowy ground. There is a lake in the background as well as snowcapped mountains.
Leonberger in a beautiful landscape. Shutterstock-ID:1333669760 by Britta Paasch.

Quick Summary: Leonberger Photo and Video Tips

  • Use an adjustable tripod and remote-friendly setup for steady, stress-free shots.
  • Use natural lighting techniques to bring out your Leonberger’s coat and expressions.
  • Choose a comfortable, familiar location so your dog stays relaxed and engaged.
  • Try flattering dog photo angles to highlight size, face, and signature fluff.
  • Practice patience during pet photography to capture calm, authentic moments on camera.
Photo of a Leonberger swimming water and there is green tall grass in the background. The Leonberger has a ball in his mouth.
Leonberger swims with a ball. Stock Photo ID: 720242263 by Christian Mueller.

Polish Leonberger Clips with AI-Assisted Video Creation

Once you’ve nailed the basics, good light, a clean background, and a steady angle, you can make your Leonberger videos feel even more “finished” with a little AI help. AI-assisted editing can tighten the story in your raw footage, smooth over rough moments, and add subtle creative effects without requiring advanced skills. With an AI video generator, you can turn a simple clip into dynamic, engaging Instagram content by adding cinematic b-roll effects, smooth camera motion, and stylized visuals, all from a text prompt or existing footage. If you’re curious what that looks like in practice, explore tools designed for high-quality video generation.

Set Up and Capture Camera-Ready Leonberger Shots

These steps turn “hope for a good moment” into a simple routine you can repeat on walks, in the yard, or at home. You will set up your gear, pick flattering angles for a big fluffy dog, and use quick cues and rewards so your Leonberger looks engaged in both photos and video.

  1. Lock in a stable, dog-safe setup
    Start with a phone or camera you already own, then add stability: prop it on a solid surface or use a tripod at about chest height for your dog. Turn on grid lines, wipe the lens, and pick a wide frame so you are not constantly re-aiming while handling your Leonberger. If you can, connect a Bluetooth remote or use a 3 to 10 second timer so your hands stay free for cues and treats.
  2. Choose an angle that flatters size and fluff
    Drop your camera to your dog’s eye level to make your Leonberger feel present and powerful rather than “tiny in a big world.” Frame with breathing room so the pose looks natural, and follow the composition reminder to give the dog space in the direction they are looking. For extra sparkle in the eyes, turn your dog slightly toward the light and avoid shooting straight into the bright sun.
  3. Rehearse two easy cues for “photo mode”
    Pick one stationary behavior like sit or down and one attention cue like “look” or name response, then practice for 30 seconds before you start shooting. Keep sessions upbeat with tiny treats or a favorite toy, and reward fast for eye contact. Research on an increase in non-verbal communication highlights how attention and interaction can build, which is exactly what you want for a focused expression on camera.
  4. Use remote shooting to capture the best expression
    Stand just behind or beside the camera so your Leonberger’s gaze lands near the lens, then click the remote in short bursts while you cue and reward. For photos, take 10 to 20 frames quickly because the “perfect face” comes and goes in a blink. For video, keep clips to 5 to 15 seconds and repeat the same action (sit, look, release to sniff) so you get clean, usable takes.
  5. Get both a still and a clip from each setup
    Once you have a good pose, grab one sharp portrait, then immediately record a short video of the same scene with one simple movement like a head tilt, a step forward, or a gentle tail wag. This creates a matched set you can share across platforms without reinventing the session. Finish with a jackpot reward and a quick break so your dog stays eager the next time you bring out the camera.
An old Leonberger is lying down. In the background is beautiful nature, plants, and mountains.
Leonberger in nature in Norway. Stock Photo ID: 1779931691 by Britta Paasch

Habits That Make Leonberger Shots Consistently Great

Stunning Leonberger photos and videos come from routines your dog can predict and you can repeat. These practices fit real life, so your handling, timing, and results improve week by week.

Two-Minute Location Scout
  • What it is: Walk your route and pre-pick two clean backgrounds and one shaded spot.
  • How often: Weekly or before a planned shoot.
  • Why it helps: You spend less time searching and more time capturing great expressions.
30-Second Calm-and-Focus Warmup
  • What it is: Practice sit, down, and one “look” rep, then release to sniff.
  • How often: Before every session.
  • Why it helps: Your Leonberger settles faster and offers steadier eye contact.
Light Check Habit
  • What it is: Note sun direction, then move to open shade or side light.
  • How often: Every time you arrive.
  • Why it helps: Flattering light keeps fur detail and reduces squinting.
Settings Baseline Card
  • What it is: Save a note for aperture, shutter speed, ISO starting points for portraits and action.
  • How often: Per milestone, then adjust seasonally.
  • Why it helps: You get sharp eyes more often with fewer guess-and-check minutes.
Fifteen-Minute Editing Finish
  • What it is: Run a standardized photo-editing workflow for one photo and one clip.
  • How often: Weekly.
  • Why it helps: Your best moments become share-ready instead of stuck in your camera roll.
Photo of a Leonberger standing in snow. In the background there is snowy forest.
Leonberger standing in a snowy forest. Shutterstock-ID: 705193912 by Eric Isselee.

Build Confidence by Practicing and Sharing Leonberger Moments

Big, dark-coated, fast-moving floof can make it feel like the camera never catches what makes a Leonberger so special. The steadier path is the mindset used throughout: simple, repeatable habits, scouting, small patience cues, and a light editing routine, supported by community support for dog photographers who trade tips and celebrate wins. With regular pet photo practice, confidence builds and more sessions end with sharp eyes, true color, and videos that match real-life charm. Consistency captures the Leonberger you love, even on ordinary walks. Pick one tip to try on the next walk, share one memorable dog image, and set a long-term pet photography goal worth revisiting. Those small choices preserve connection and joy, and they keep celebrating Leonberger beauty as a calm, lasting part of life.

Rollo is Seven Years Old Today

Rollo our mini-Australian Shepherd is turning seven years old today (October 12, 2025). This evening, we sang to him, in English, Swedish and French, and he got a pupcake (cupcake specifically for dogs) and piece of filet mignon. Later today (October 12) he will get celebrated again and have more pupcakes.

To celebrate Rollo’s birthday, I am posting 20 photos I took of Rollo today, or rather earlier this evening (October 11), as well as photos from the recent past, and also photos that are a year or older. Some of the older photos are with our late Leonberger Bronco. The first six photos I took today. If you’ve been following my blog for some time, you may have seen some of the older photos already.

Washing Rollo

Rollo our mini-Australian Shepherd is looking into the camera. He is wet.
Before the festivities Rollo needed a bath. He is getting washed in the sink. He was not happy.
Our mini-Australian Shepherd is looking into the camera as he is sitting in the sink getting washed. He is wet and not happy.
When are you going to be done with this washing stuff?

Birthday Photos of Rollo

Our daughter is putting a blue birthday hat on our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo.
The birthday hat is coming on. He does not like the hat, so it did not stay on long.
Rollo our mini-Australian Shepherd has his paws on the table and he is wearing a blue birthday hat.
We are getting the pup-cake ready, and we are going to sing Happy birthday in several languages. Rollo very much appreciates us singing to him in multiple languages, but mostly he appreciates the pupcake. A pupcake is a cupcake made especially for dogs. We humans had cupcakes.
Rollo our mini-Australian Shepherd is standing with his paws on the table, and he is looking to the right. He is wearing a blue birthday hat.
Rollo is ready.
Photo of our mini-Australian Shepherd being fed a pupcake.
Finally Rollo gets his pupcake

Recent Photos of Rollo

Photo of our mini-Australian Shepherd being sitting on a leather sofa and looking at a pupcake.
Rollo and a pupcake on a table.
Photo of our mini-Australian Shepherd sitting on the floor in front of a Rolo candy.
Rollo and a Rolo candy. Rollo was not named after the candy bar Rolo as often incorrectly assumed. Rollo was named after the Viking king who sacked Paris. You can say he was on a roll.
Photo of our mini-Australian Shepherd lying among the covers on our bed.
Rollo likes to sleep in our beds
Photo of our mini-Australian Shepherd being a bit wet
Rollo is wet, not from being washed today but from rain on another occasion.

Older Photos of Rollo

A mini-Australian Shepherd wearing a blue party hat. He is not looking happy.
This is an old photo from his fourth birthday. He is unhappy with the hat.
On the left there is a big Leonberger dog bending his head down to sniff a small mini-Australian Shepherd lying on the grass.
Rollo almost six years ago. He had just arrived at our house. Our Leonberger Bronco is welcoming Rollo.
Our mini-Australian Shepherd is lying on the grass and looking into the camera.
Rollo our mini-Australian Shepherd puppy.
A mini-Australian Shepherd puppy lying on a blanket and looking into the camera.
Close up of Rollo as a puppy.
The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd puppy peeking out behind a red sofa and looking straight into the camera.
Rollo peeking out behind the sofa.
The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd puppy biting an orange volleyball.
Rollo playing with a volleyball.
The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd biting a Leonberger’s tail
Rollo frequently bit our Leonberger Bronco’s tail, and he even swung in it like a swing. He climbed all over Bronco. Bronco was very patient with him.
The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd looking into the camera. He is next to a chewed-up shoe.
When Rollo was young, he loved chewing shoes. Here the artist is posing with his art.
The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd and a Pug and young woman in between them petting them both.
Our daughter with our mini-Australian Shepherd Rollo and Pug Daisy.
The photo shows a mini-Australian Shepherd sitting in a stroller.
Sometimes there are scary sounds and Rollo wanted to sit in the stroller we bought for our Pug Daisy. We have not been using that stroller since Daisy passed.

To see the blog post from Rollo’s sixth birthday click here and Rollo’s fifth birthday click here.

25 Photos of Leonbergers in Nature

In the past I’ve made a few posts featuring 25 photos of Leonbergers around a certain theme. This is one more of those posts. This time it is photos of Leonbergers in nature, whether it is in a park, in our yard, on top of a mountain, swimming in a lake, a forest, etc. The first half of the photos are of our Leonberger Bronco or Leonberger photos by a friend. The second half of the of the photos are shutter stock photos. Below are the previous 25 photos of Leonbergers posts.

Our Leonberger Bronco standing on grass in front of bushes with flowers.
Our Leonberger Bronco at a park close to our house. On his right front leg there is missing hair from a surgery he had (toe amputation).
Our Leonberger Bronco lying on green grass and you can see our brick house in the background.
Our Leonberger Bronco on our front lawn.
Our Leonberger Bronco’s head is sticking up above the bushes.
Our Leonberger Bronco in the bushes.
Photo of a Leonberger swimming in somewhat calm water.
Our Leonberger Bronco is swimming in White Rock Lake nearby Dallas, Texas.
Photo of a Leonberger standing in somewhat calm water.
Our Leonberger Bronco is standing in White Rock Lake nearby Dallas, Texas.
Our Leonberger Bronco is standing in our backyard as a sunray is shining on his head. He looks like a saint.
Our Leonberger Bronco in the backyard. He was a saint.
Photo of a Leonberger standing on top of a bench and there are trees and a small red cabin in the background.
Amie, a female Swedish Leonberger on top of Skuleberget (Skull Mountain) in northern Sweden.
Photo of a Leonberger standing on top of a bench and there are trees in the background.
Amie, a female Swedish Leonberger on top of Skuleberget in northern Sweden (Norrland).Amie and her owner had climbed the mountain.
View over fjords and mountains in northern Sweden.
The view that we and Amie had from the top of  Skuleberget in northern Sweden. The area is referred to as the High Coast.
Photo of seven Leonbergers by the beach.
The Leonberger Digory with friends at the beach some years ago. Photo Jen O’Keefe.
Five Leonbergers wearing patriotic hats lying on grass by a lake.
This photo was provided by Jen O’Keefe, Urgent Animal Care of Arlington. From left to right; Obi, Delfi, Aslan, Gryphon, Digory.
Six Leonbergers wearing funny hats sitting on a barge, by a lake, in the countryside.
Caspian (Obi’s nephew), Austin (Obi’s son), Delfi (our 10 yr old, living with lung cancer), Obi (now 7 and a veteran), Digory, and Rilian (Obi’s son). They all wish everyone a Very Happy New Year!! Photo by Velvy TheLion.
Picture showing four Leonbergers running across a river.
Shutterstock-ID: 959582 by Ingvald Kaldhussater.
Photo of a Leonberger standing in snow. In the background is snowy forest.
Leonberger standing in snow. Shutterstock-ID: 705193912 by Eric Isselee.
Photo of a Leonberger puppy running in green grass on a field.
Leonberger puppy. My guess is that he is around two months old. Shutterstock-ID: 629624396 by TOM KAROLA.
A majestic looking Leonberger is sitting on a green hill.
A majestic Leonberger. Shutterstock-ID: 731020957 by Peter Josto.
Photo of a Leonberger running out of water with big waves.
Leonberger on the beach. Stock Photo ID: 1110805445 by Lolostock.
Photo of two Leonbergers swimming in a pond.
Two Leonbergers swimming. Stock Photo ID: 1989806678 by Taibomaus.
Photo of a Leonberger sitting on snowy ground. There is a lake in the background as well as snowcapped mountains.
Sitting Leonberger. Shutterstock-ID:1333669760 by Britta Paasch.
Photo of a Leonberger sitting on snowy ground. There is a lake in the background as well as snowcapped mountains.
Sitting Leonberger. Shutterstock-ID:1333669760 by Britta Paasch.
Photo of a Leonberger and a pug running in snow. The pug is a head of the Leonberger. There is a snowy forest in the background.
Leonberger and pug running in the snow. Shutterstock- ID:1659034960 by AnetaZabranska.
Photo of a Leonberger puppy running in snow towards the camera.
A Leonberger puppy running in the snow. Shutterstock Stock Photo ID: 2056502327 by Nikky de Graaf.
Photo of two light brown Leonberger puppies playing in the snow in the forest.
Two light colored Leonberger puppies playing. My guess is that they are three months old. Shutterstock-ID: 2141564415 by AnetaZabranska.
Photo of a Leonberger puppy standing in the snow. He has snow on his nose.
A Leonberger puppy standing in the snow. Shutterstock Stock Photo ID: 2390810457 by VeronArt16.
Photo of a majestic dark and wet Leonberger standing in a river/
Leonberger standing in river. Photo by Stephanie Lucero on Unsplash.

Note, I am going to a CCL conference this weekend and the beginning of next week, so I will not be posting or do anything related to blogs for a while.