What Does Elke Vogelsang Use to Take Her Hilariously Expressive Dog Portraits?
German-based photographer Elke Vogelsang is known for her whimsical, intimate, and playful dog portraits. Her unforgettable work has reached a global audience, being featured in leading publications from HuffPost to National Geographic.
Originally published September 27, 2018, by Brooke Arnold. Updated October 16, 2026, by PHLEARN Staff: sections, a What’s in the Bag summary and kit cards added; Elke’s words unchanged apart from small typo fixes.
Here is the camera gear Elke Vogelsang carried in 2018 for her dog portraits: a Fujifilm X-T3, four Fujinon lenses, a portable flash, and the treats and squeakers that get a dog’s attention.
The self-taught photographer is a dog lover through and through, and it shows in the way she captures the unique personalities of each pup she photographs. (For another pet photographer’s kit, see Anne Geier’s camera gear.)
To get a better idea of how Elke captures such hilariously expressive shots, take a look at what she keeps in her gear bag.
- CameraFujifilm X-T3
- Favorite portrait lensFujinon 90mm f/2
- OutdoorsFujinon 50-140mm
- StudioFujinon 16-55mm
- LightJinbei HD610 HSS
- BagVanguard Quovio 49
How Elke Vogelsang Chooses Gear
Tell us how you go about deciding which gear is essential to your work.
As I shoot animals, I love to use equipment that is versatile and not too obtrusive. It needs to be convenient and easy to handle. I often work with only one hand on my camera, as I’ve got treats or a ball or a squeaker in my other hand.
I often work with only one hand on my camera, as I’ve got treats or a ball or a squeaker in my other hand.
Elke Vogelsang
Therefore, the controls should be easily reachable and parameters set quickly. The equipment should be lightweight and compact. A fast autofocus is a great plus as I often shoot fast dogs in action.
Cameras
Store links in this article are affiliate links, so PHLEARN may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate, PHLEARN earns from qualifying purchases.
Cameras
Fujifilm X-T3. I’m a Fujifilm X photographer and have shot entirely with Fujifilm X cameras for a few years now. The handling and compact design of the X series was a major factor in my decision to switch to a mirrorless system. The X-T2 already is a wonderful camera and offers superb picture quality, but the new Fujifilm X-T3 offers a very fast autofocus, which is a major benefit for pet photography.
Lenses
Lenses
Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22, 76-213mm (35mm Equivalent), Weather-Sealed Construction
137mm (35mm Equivalent), Quad Linear Autofocus Motor, Weather-Sealed Construction
X-Mount Lens/APS-C Format, Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22, 14-Seal Weather-Resistant Construction
Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16, 24mm (35mm Equivalent), Floating Focus System
When I shoot clients’ dogs, I like to be as versatile as possible. My outdoor portrait and action lens is the Fujinon 50-140mm. I use it for most of my outdoor shots with clients’ or model dogs. When I shoot my own dogs, I prefer to have a lens that is more lightweight, as I’ve got a camera with me all the time when walking the dogs or being in the garden with them. My absolute favorite portrait prime is the Fujinon 90mm f/2.
For my studio work, I use the Fujinon 16-55mm entirely as it allows for funny and quirky wide-angle shots, but also a natural and elegant portrayal of the dog when used in the tele range.
If I was told that I could keep only two lenses, I would choose the Fujinon 90mm f/2, as it offers a wonderful bokeh for portraits and is also fast for action shots, and the Fujinon 16mm f/1.4, as it offers a very large aperture and is pin sharp.
Lighting
Lighting
600Ws, GN80, 9 steps of power adjustment, 14.8V/6000mAh large capacity lithium battery pack
I shoot with a Jinbei HD610 HSS. With this flash you can shoot with high shutter speeds indoors and, as it’s mobile, outdoors, too. For shots with action of any kind (e.g. snapshots, shaking, jumps, runs), it’s the perfect flash to freeze action with compact and handy equipment.
Bag and Extras
Bag
I’ve got a Vanguard Quovio 49. It has accompanied me to sessions for a few years now and is as good as new even though it has to endure quite a lot – dogs jumping on it, being covered in sand and dust and so on. It’s a trolley so you don’t have to carry it.
Miscellaneous Items
When it comes to photo editing, I don’t want to be without my Wacom Intuous Pro anymore. I don’t know how I ever managed to do without a graphic tablet!
Next to my gear, there are actually a few important things that have nothing to do with photographic gear – treats, a ball or toy, and lots of patience. I also keep a collection of noise-makers, like squeakers and whistles, to try to attract the dog’s attention.
Next to my gear, there are actually a few important things that have nothing to do with photographic gear – treats, a ball or toy, and lots of patience.
Elke Vogelsang
Common Questions About Elke Vogelsang
Who is Elke Vogelsang? A self-taught, German-based photographer known for whimsical, intimate and playful dog portraits. Her work has been featured in publications from HuffPost to National Geographic, and she is the author of the book Nice Nosing You: For the Love of Life, Dogs, and Photography.
What camera does Elke Vogelsang use? When this article was published in 2018, a Fujifilm X-T3. She had shot entirely with Fujifilm X cameras for a few years by then, and says their handling and compact design were a major reason she switched to mirrorless. The X-T3’s very fast autofocus is the reason she gives for choosing it for pet photography.
What lens does Elke Vogelsang use for dog portraits? Her absolute favorite portrait prime is the Fujinon 90mm f/2, for its bokeh and because it’s also fast enough for action. Outdoors with clients’ dogs she uses the Fujinon 50-140mm, and in the studio the Fujinon 16-55mm, which handles both quirky wide-angle shots and more natural, elegant ones. If she could keep only two lenses, she’d pick the 90mm f/2 and the 16mm f/1.4.
How does Elke Vogelsang get a dog’s attention? With treats, a ball or toy, and lots of patience, plus a collection of noise-makers like squeakers and whistles. She often holds one of them in her other hand while she shoots, which is why she wants a camera she can work with one hand.
To see more of Elke’s delightful dog photography, visit her website or follow her on Instagram or Facebook. Or, check out her book, Nice Nosing You: For the Love of Life, Dogs, and Photography.
Join the conversation