As the dog days of summer roll in with their sun-soaked afternoons and lazy, carefree vibes, there's no better time to celebrate the joy and beauty of our four-legged friends through the art of photography. We're highlighting some talented dog photographers on Instagram who capture playful pup shots that stand out from the rest. Dive into their feeds for a refreshing dose of canine charm and summer inspiration, and see how they expertly use their Sony Alpha gear to showcase the unique personalities and delightful moments of dogs enjoying life. This week’s Alpha Female+ Weekly Micro-Grant theme is also Furry Friends! Join the Alpha Female Facebook Group to learn more and enter for your chance to win $500!

Summer is all about sun, fun…and our furry friends! Check out this group of dog photographers and some of their amazing pup pictures.

Dog Photography by Amber & Garrette – @hearts_and_hounds

Sony Artisans Garrette and Amber Baird have a dog photography business called Hearts and Hounds. The duo puts their professional skills to work, capturing high-level portraits of dogs that really make their personalities shine in each image. What do they use to capture such stunning shots of pups? They say the Sony Alpha 1 is the perfect tool, and that combined with one of four G Master lenses – the Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master, Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master, Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II or Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master – provides them with the quality and mobility they need. See more of their pro dog photography and read more about their gear in What’s In My Bag: From Lenses To Bird Calls, Here’s The Perfect Kit For Dog Portraits.

Ben Moon – @ben_moon and @noribythesea

Sony Artisan Ben Moon’s rescue pup Nori, who you might remember from Moon’s short film One Lens, One Body, One Dog's Day Living By The Sea, turned eight years old this year and continues to be his ultimate adventure companion. See the images below marking Nori’s birthday and be sure to watch the short film that he created using the Sony Alpha 7S III and Sony 34mm f/1.4 G Master.

Lindsay Baca – @lindsaybaca

Pet photographer Lindsay Baca has been photographing dogs for over a decade, having photographed over 1,000 of our furry friends. “Dogs are simple and pure beings of light, love, and hilarity. They teach me to listen in a different way, and for me to be listened to in another way. In caring for them, they inspire me to be a better human by taking better care of myself and others, to be in the moment, and to fully enjoy being alive on this incredible planet. I truly cannot imagine life without dogs.” We couldn’t agree more. Follow her on Instagram to fill your feed with cute doggos and see more of her images, plus the gear she uses in What’s In My Bag: Check Out This Paw-some Kit For Pet Photography.

Ippei & Janine – @ippei.janine

Ippei & Janine are a lifestyle photographer couple based in Tokyo. They specialize in timeless cinematic images to tell the unique stories of their clients, covering the corporate to the family and everything in between – like man’s best friend. Check out these cute shots they took with the Sony Xperia VI and read more about their complete professional kit in What’s In My Bag: A Complete Kit For Cinematic Weddings & Engagements, Outdoor Lifestyle & More.

Olivia Rosendahl – @olivias_pfotografie

Olivia Rosendahl is a dedicated macro and nature photographer whose other venture is dog photography. She took the image below with her Sony Alpha 7 III and the Sony 85mm f/1.8, one of her favorite lenses for dog photography. “In addition to its great performance in nature photography, I frequently use this lens to capture images of dogs, a key component of my secondary business,” she explains. “The decision to select a Sony lens comes from the understanding that the seamless integration of a Sony lens with a Sony camera yields optimal performance, ensuring that each shot shows a harmonious synergy between equipment and artistry.” Learn about the complete kit of gear she uses in What’s In My Bag: A Simple Kit For Photographing Playful Puppies & Delicate Details and follow her for more beautiful nature and playful pups in your feed.

Arletta Fussell – @ourpacificnorthquest

When photographer Arletta Fussell first got into photography in 2019, it was just to take better photos of her dog on their adventures. Fast forward and her main focus is still her dog, but it has expanded to capturing friends and clients, the beautiful landscape of British Columbia, and continuing to document their adventures wherever the trail takes them. She uses the Sony Alpha 7 IV for her dog photography. “My favorite features of the Alpha 7 IV are the live tracking autofocus, which is essential for dog photography, and the flip out screen, as a lot of my photos are taken at awkward angles (or while on the ground).” You can learn more about her complete kit in What’s In My Bag: How This Photographer Uses Her Key Cameras & Lenses For Outdoor Pet Adventures.

Rachel Jezowski – @wildgoldens

Photographer and creative director Rachel Jezowski has been photographing her adventures with her dogs and sharing the images and videos of her beautiful goldens on Instagram. She took the shot below using her Sony Alpha 7 III. She also likes to help coach others who are photographing dogs or doing other commercial work, and you can get some of her dog photography advice in 5 Tips For Better Pet Photos To Immortalize Your Furry Friends.

Chris Van Riel – @the_riel_chris

Photographer Chris Van Riel captures sporty canines. To show their character and expression, motion is his tool. By setting up at a low angle and getting just the right timing, he can capture epic shots of dogs flying through the air.Just look how happy this little pup looks! Learn more about how he captures images like this one in his Pro Tips To Photographing Dogs In Action.