Dog Mama

Jen Ha is a freelance graphic designer, founder of design studio Fox & Bagel and dog mom to a spunky Shiba Inu named Hoku. They live in sunny Southern California and enjoy growing vegetables, hiking through the woods, and a solid avocado toast.

What are your favorite tips for creating a cohesive, beautiful, and unique Instagram feed?

A consistent aesthetic and an authentic voice goes a long way. I’d say that the most important thing is being true to your own unique perspective instead of solely following social media photography trends.

What tips do you have for dog owners new to Instagram wanting to create a beautiful and popular account for their dog?

Don’t start an account for the sole purpose of becoming popular and monetizing it, but do it because you love capturing and sharing the everyday moments with your pup with others. In the process, hone your aesthetic and find your voice (be it conversational, humorous, informative, or even silly “dog speak”) and the right audience will find you.

As a pro photographer, what are your expert tips for capturing photos for Instagram?

I use my phone for Instagram Stories and my DSLR for my Instagram feed. My go-to apps for editing for Stories are Snapseed, A Color Story, and Unfold. With my feed, I edit primarily in Photoshop.

I love natural, diffused, even lighting so partly cloudy days are my jam. With dog photography, I use continuous high speed or burst mode to really make sure I’m able to capture the perfect moment.

Don’t be afraid to try different angles and perspectives to get the framing just right, even it means lying on the ground or really getting into the leaves.

Sure, some passersby may think you’re a crazy person but as they say, “anything for the ’gram”—within reason, of course! Always be safe and respectful of others, of property, of the rules.

Your work is fun and creative while still being aesthetically beautiful. What work goes into a photo on your feed?

I love using what’s available around me when it comes to props and knowing what time of day will produce the best light. I try to keep my images relevant to our daily lives and what we’re loving at the moment so I don’t usually find myself buying things solely for placing into an Instagram image.

When I find myself needing to shoot something for commercial purposes, however (for instance, a book that needs to stay open or a round object that needs to stay in place), I’ve found mounting putty to be incredibly useful.

1. Camera (phone or DSLR) and editing apps.

2. Something your dog will look at—be it treats, toys, or something that makes a funny sound.

3. A clean background (a little bit of tidying before taking a photo goes a long way—be it taking a twig out of the frame or hiding a tissue box).