Year of the Dog: Dog portraits becoming more popular

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The year of dog is giving people all the more reason to get photographs of their pets. And for some professional advice on getting the portrait right, Sun Ye reports from Beijing.

Time, and time, and time again. The uninitiated model of the day, 4 month-old Jiujiu is constantly sidetracked. It certainly exhausted me, but not the sought-after pet photographer Zhang Tianhang, who manages to turn out these and tells us lesson NO.1 for getting the photos right.

ZHANG TIANHANG PHOTOGRAPHER "What you do is go with the flow, BE PATIENT, wait, observe closely, and catch the best moment in what the dog does naturally. Pets are different from other subjects: they won't listen to instructions, they won't pose. They might respond to food and sounds, but not always."

Thousands of pet dog assignments are in the portfolio, Zhang said his clients are so taken to their dogs these days, that many might skimp on themselves but pay for hundred-dollar (equivalent) photo shoots without blinking an eye.

WANG YIHUAN JIUJIU'S OWNER "I started getting my dog photographed when I first learnt of it six years ago. I wanted to give him the best of everything I can. My first dog passed away last year, and the photos are so dear to me now. I will get new ones with Jiujiu every year."

She says Jiujiu is too young to understand her need and care for him. But they have a special bond that none can break. And that's lesson No.2.

SUN YE BEIJING "We asked the photographer what's the secret of getting really good dog photos, and he said it's all about love."

ZHANG TIANHANG PHOTOGRAPHER "They feel you and they mirror your attitude, they need to feel they're welcome and loved to relax, respond to you, and be themselves."

And as all great demonstrations of love go, it's take me as I am. Sun Ye, CGTN，BEIJING