It’s almost that time of year!!! What am I talking about? That time of year where dogs are allowed on beaches AND we wake up in the dark to capture stunning, colorful silhouettes during our dog photo sessions – woohoo!
What is a “Silhouette”?
A silhouette is a solid, dark image of a subject against a brighter background. Silhouette pictures usually show the subject in profile. Silhouettes can be captured at any time of day, but sunrise and sunset will bring stunning colors to the sky, which in turn create gorgeous images.
Why Silhouettes?
I promise the only reason to do silhouettes is NOT to make you get out of bed in complete darkness haha! We start early – a half hour or so before sunrise. The light changes quickly so we do photograph at a fast pace. The variety of images captured in such a short amount of time is amazing!
One of my favorite reasons for doing silhouettes? It’s a beautiful and unique way to showcase the bond between dogs and their owners. I love the connections that can be created.
The Artwork
Is there a specific type of artwork that works best for sunrise silhouette photos? Yes! These images show lovely on metal. Metal pops color nicely and it is a more “modern” style. If you live in a rustic cabin in the woods, I’m sorry to say I might not be recommending this type of session for you IF you are looking for wall portraits. (An album is perfect if you love a beach adventure and want to create these memories, but your interior decor doesn’t quite fit the pops of color) Rooms that are more modern and “white and bright” display sunrise silhouettes beautifully, like the image below.
My Beach Picks:
What are my favorite beaches to photograph sunrise silhouettes?
- Plum Island Beach, Newburyport, MA
- Salisbury Beach, Salisbury, MA
- The Headlands, Rockport, MA
- Singing Beach, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
- Wallis Sands, Rye, NH
These are a few of my “go-to” beach locations on Boston’s North Shore – and I had to add in one of my favorites further north on the NH coast! Interested in one of these sessions? These are perfect through the winter! The beaches in our area only allow dogs within certain time-frames of the year, usually between Columbus Day and Memorial Day.
Thank you so much for stopping by! This blog is part of a circle of Professional Pet Photographers from around the world. Next up is Angela Schneider of Big White Dog Photography in Spokane, WA, having fun with accidental silhouettes, sunsets and dog photography. Not only is Angela an amazing dog photographer, she is also a wonderful writer and her posts are always enjoyable to read.
If you haven’t hear, Say Paws 2022 just launched! This calendar raised over $13K for the MSPCA at Nevins Farm – incredible! Start your holiday shopping now and purchase right here:
Love your explanation on why you like to do silhouettes & the type of artwork that shows the best of that style. The silhouette shots are gorgeous.
Your silhouettes are simply breathtaking. I’m such a fan.
Wow! Beautiful silhouettes!
You’re a genius to talk about the artwork! I totally overlooked that. Beautiful work!
The silhouettes you’ve captured are gorgeous Darlene!!
I can’t deny the pangs of jealousy I feel when I see your beach sunrise images, but then I think about the nor’easter that’s winding it’s way to you right now and reconsider LOL. Absolutely gorgeous work Darlene!