Four Shiba Inu sisters, Kikko, Sasha, Momo and Hina, share a Facebook page with their owner, who posts group portraits of the dogs lined up on the sofa, the bed or the floor. Three of them often manage the classic Shiba look: alert ears, neat fox-like faces, eyes on the camera. Hina rarely does. In shot after shot she is looking somewhere else, caught mid-movement or pulling a face, and the result is a running joke that has made her one of the internet's favourite photobombers.
The page's captions, written in English and Japanese, lean into it with affectionate teasing of "Hina chan". Her behaviour is a good illustration of what anyone who has tried to photograph a dog already knows: animals do not pose on cue. Below are the posts that made Hina famous, with a few notes on each, followed by practical tips from a professional pet photographer on getting better pictures of your own dog.
Meet the four sisters
The Shiba Inu is the smallest of Japan's six native spitz-type breeds, originally used to flush birds and small game in mountain scrub. Adults stand roughly 35 to 41 cm (14 to 16 inches) at the shoulder and weigh up to about 10 kg, with a thick double coat in red, sesame, black and tan, or cream. The breed is known for being alert, clean and affectionate with its family, and also famously independent and stubborn, which helps explain Hina's attitude to the camera.
Shibas came close to disappearing during and after the Second World War, when food shortages and a distemper epidemic devastated the population; all modern Shibas descend from three surviving bloodlines. Today they are among the most recognisable dogs online, thanks partly to Kabosu, the Shiba behind the "Doge" meme.
The family's posts, including a greeting for a Hong Kong public holiday, suggest the dogs live in Hong Kong, though the page itself does not make a point of it.
Hina's greatest photobombs, 2020 to 2021
A lazy Wednesday
Wednesday mood... we want to do absolutely nothing! 水曜日の気分… ヤル気ゼロ！
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Tuesday, 4 February 2020
The first post in this collection, from February 2020, is captioned as a "Wednesday mood" in which nobody wants to do anything. It sets the tone for the series: three sisters roughly in position, and one who clearly has her own ideas about what the photo should be.
Hina's own festival
It’s 3rd March today, Girls' Day in Japan, a festival called "Hina Matsuri" (Doll Festival)! Hina: Yes, it’s my day!!! 「3月3日、今日はヒナの日だよ！ヒナのお名前は雛。女の子らしくって良いでしょ。」
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Monday, 2 March 2020
On 3 March 2020 the page marked Hinamatsuri, Japan's Doll Festival or Girls' Day, when families display tiered sets of dolls and pray for girls' health and happiness. The word hina refers to those ornamental dolls, so the caption has Hina claiming the day as her own, and the Japanese text adds that her name was chosen because it sounds girlish and sweet.
Handing over to big sister
Hina: Sister Kikko, you can look after us. I’m done! 「キッコお姉ちゃん、やっぱり私達のお世話して良いよ。ヒナ昨日でもうやり切ったから！」
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Monday, 25 May 2020
In May 2020 Hina "tells" her eldest sister, Kikko, that she can take charge of looking after them all again, because Hina gave it everything the day before.
Holiday chaos
Happy holiday 🇭🇰! 今日は祝日！ところで、誰かさん… また…
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Tuesday, 30 June 2020
Posted at the end of June 2020 with a Hong Kong flag and holiday greeting, this one carries a Japanese aside along the lines of "by the way, someone... again", a gentle hint at who has ruined the shot this time.
A Monday morning smile
Hina says she wants to make you smile on Monday morning... let her be! 憂鬱な月曜日の朝… ヒナ、皆んなを笑顔にさせたいって、頑張ってた！
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Sunday, 30 August 2020
For a gloomy Monday in late August 2020, the caption insists Hina was simply trying her best to make everyone smile. It is a kind reframing of a classic outtake, and one the page's followers clearly enjoyed.
Two posts from the same September day
Hina... never fails!!! ヒナちゃん… 決して期待を裏切らないよね！お姉ちゃん達も笑ちゃってる。
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Two posts from 22 September 2020 show how reliable Hina is. The second is captioned "never fails", and the Japanese text notes that even her older sisters look as if they are laughing. Group photos of several dogs are hard enough; with Hina in the frame, the outtake is almost guaranteed.
Smile like us
Smile like us! Tomorrow is Friday! みんな私達の笑顔真似して！明日は金曜日だよ！
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Wednesday, 14 October 2020
In mid-October 2020 the sisters invite followers to copy their smiles because Friday is nearly here. Shibas are known for a wide, open-mouthed expression that many owners call the "Shiba smile", and here at least most of the sisters deliver it.
The only one who knows it's Monday
Hina: I’m the only one who knows that it’s Monday today... 「ヒナだけ今日は月曜日って知っちゃった… お姉ちゃん達に言うべきか悩んでるところ…」
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Sunday, 1 November 2020
On 1 November 2020 Hina's expression is explained as the face of a dog who has realised it is Monday and is wondering whether to break the news to her sisters. Captions like this give each outtake a little story, which is a big part of the page's charm.
Good morning, Sunday
Good morning! Have a beautiful Sunday! みんな、おはよう！素敵な日曜日過ごしてね。
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Saturday, 14 November 2020
A simple weekend greeting from mid-November 2020, posted in both languages like almost everything on the page. Part of the fun of scrolling through the series is spotting what Hina is up to in each frame.
"Did you hear me?"
Hina: Did you hear me? I just wanted to let you know all that... it’s Friday!!! 「ねえ、今ヒナの声聞こえた？みんなに教えてあげたの、今日は金曜日だよ！って。」
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Thursday, 10 December 2020
In December 2020 Hina is caught mid-expression, and the caption imagines her shouting to the world that it is Friday. Dogs often bark, yawn or lick their lips when they are excited or slightly unsure, so a "talking" photo is a common result of shooting several dogs at once.
Happy girls, especially Hina
Happy girls, especially Hina...! みんな嬉しそう、特にヒナちゃん…！
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Another December 2020 post notes that everyone looks happy, and Hina most of all. Even when she spoils the symmetry, her enthusiasm is the reason people keep coming back.
A happy Sunday
Happy Sunday! 日曜日楽しんでる？
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Saturday, 12 December 2020
A pre-Christmas weekend post from 12 December 2020, asking followers whether they are enjoying their Sunday. By this point in the year, followers knew exactly which sister to look at first.
Cheering up mama
Hina: I’m doing this to cheer mama up! 「ママちょっと落ち込んでるから、これで少しは笑顔になるかな？ヒナ、これからも頑張る！」
Posted by 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina on Saturday, 9 January 2021
The most recent post here, from January 2021, says the owner was feeling a bit low and Hina pulled her funniest face to cheer her up, promising in Japanese to keep trying her best. It is a sweet note to end on, and a reminder of why people love their imperfect pets.
Why Hina's outtakes beat the perfect shot
A row of four identical, well-behaved dogs would be pleasant to look at. A row with one dog yawning, rolling or glaring sideways is funny, because it breaks the pattern the eye expects. That contrast is the whole joke, and it is why outtakes often become the most treasured photos in a family album. They capture personality, not just appearance.
It is worth saying that these posts are a selection, and Hina presumably sits nicely some of the time. But the page has built a following by celebrating the shots that go wrong rather than deleting them, and that is a good lesson for any pet owner.
How to take better photos of your own dog
Professional pet photographer Mark Rogers shared advice with DogTime that still holds up. In short:
- Let your dog meet the camera. Clicks and flashes can unsettle dogs. Let them sniff the camera, then casually photograph the room until they lose interest. Avoid waving treats, pushing the lens in their face or using an excited, high-pitched voice.
- Time the session. Go for action shots before a walk or run, and calm portraits afterwards when your dog is tired.
- Use soft, natural light. Morning, evening, overcast days or open shade outdoors avoid harsh shadows and washed-out colours. Indoors, open the curtains; if you need a flash, bounce it off the ceiling instead of firing it straight at your dog.
- Get down to their level. Kneel or lie down so the camera is at eye height. Photos taken from standing height tend to look generic.
- Keep the background simple. Plain grass, trees or sand make your dog stand out. Put some distance between the dog and the background, avoid branches that seem to sprout from their head, and pick a background that contrasts with their coat.
- Bring a helper. Someone holding a squeaky toy beside the camera can win you a head-on look or a neat profile, though some dogs get too excited.
- Shoot a lot. Take many frames and try different angles: head-on, profile and three-quarter views. As Rogers put it,
The best shots are often the spontaneous ones.
Extra tips for group photos
- Use a fast shutter speed or your phone's burst mode, then pick the frame where most faces look your way.
- Seat the calmest dogs first and add the wriggliest one last, as close as possible to the moment you shoot.
- Reward everyone after each attempt and keep sessions short so it stays fun.
- Keep the outtakes. As Hina proves, they may be the pictures everyone loves most.
The joy of imperfect pictures
Hina's photobombs travelled far beyond her family's page because they are relatable. Anyone with a dog, a child or a camera-shy relative knows the feeling of a photo that will not cooperate. Rather than chasing perfection, her owner turned each spoiled shot into a small story, and in doing so made Hina the star of every picture she tried to ruin.
Sources: Photos and captions from the Facebook page 柴犬／Shiba Inu - Kikko, Sasha, Momo & Hina; first shared by Earth Wonders; photography tips from Mark Rogers via DogTime; Wikipedia: Shiba Inu; Wikipedia: Hinamatsuri.
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