Teaching Dog Photography at Sir Winston Churchill

Last month, I was invited to Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in St. Catharines to share some dog photography tips for students in the school’s graphic design and photography courses. We had a handful of terrific dogs from Therapy Tails Niagara join us as models—offering the students a unique chance to put their skills to the test with some very lovable subjects.

Spaniel mix therapy dog sitting on the lawn in front of Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in St. Catharines

Dog Photography Tips for Students: Working with Dogs in Busy Environments

We started the day with a conversation about the fundamentals of working with dogs during a photo session. Dogs, as we all know, don’t take direction the same way people do—so I walked the students through a few simple techniques to help make the most of their time behind the lens:

How to approach a dog: Always calmly and with respect—especially when working with therapy dogs or those who may be nervous.
Reading body language: Understanding the difference between relaxed and overwhelmed behaviour is key to knowing when (and when not) to keep shooting.
Getting their attention: We talked about using sounds, treats, movement, and vocal tone to help bring out those alert ears and bright expressions.
Working through distractions: Since we were shooting outdoors on school grounds, there was no shortage of movement, noise, and activity. I offered suggestions for keeping the dogs focused while still being patient and flexible.

These dog photography tips for students focused on real-world techniques—useful whether you’re working on a class project or just photographing your own pup at home.

Chihuahua therapy dog peeking through pink flowering shrubs at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in St. Catharines

Scouting the Best Locations Around the School

Once we covered the basics, we walked the school grounds together and discussed which areas would make the most effective photo backdrops. We explored the front, sides, and more tucked-away corners of the property, looking at things like light quality, background texture, and composition.

It was great to hear what the students noticed as we compared locations—and I could tell they were beginning to see the environment in a different way, which is half the battle when it comes to location-based photography.
What stood out most to me was how engaged a lot of the students were. They asked thoughtful questions, and dove into the challenge with gusto. I spent most of the time chatting with the students and answering questions, but I did manage to capture a few images of our gorgeous models in the various locations we discovered.

A huge thank you to Therapy Tails Niagara and their volunteer teams for making this kind of experience possible—and to the staff at Sir Winston for the invitation. It was a pleasure to be part of something that blends creativity, compassion, and real-world experience for the next generation of photographers, be they hobbyists or aspiring to go “pro”!

Did you know?

Therapy Tails Ontario is a non-profit that sends certified volunteers and their dogs into schools, hospitals, senior homes, libraries, and community spaces across Niagara, Hamilton, and Burlington. They operate on the simple premise that having a dog in the room changes things — and frankly, is any dog lover suprised? These teams support people living with anxiety, stress, disabilities, and dementia, all through the power of a dedicated volunteer and a very good dog. The work they do is remarkable, and the people who show up for it even more so.