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In the four years since Terry Scheller and I have been operating our pet portraiture business called Sisters Pet Pics, we have accrued many tips and tricks to capturing what we think are compelling studio pet portraits. It is my intent to post many of those tips right here and hopefully you’ll post some of yours. We hope many of you join us in the conversation.
If you are considering an appointment to have your pet photographed in our studio, use the drop-down menu under Categories, in the left side-bar, to sort for available backdrops.
Continue reading Hello Fellow Pet Photographers And Enthusiasts
Although you can enjoy whatever there is to enjoy here at Sisters Pet Pics Blog without doing anything but visit and read, you can get the most by participating in discussions about your photos and your pet. How can you do that you ask? Easy. You can begin by commenting on photos I have posted. Give me your opinion…I’m thick skinned about critique, so don’t worry. I have learned sooo much from others’ critiques and you will learn too as you critique another photograph. Continue reading How This Works
 Finn The Jack Russell Terrier (Click to enlarge) When the excitement has passed it’s time to look at what brought us here. Photography. Though I’ve written many times that this is not rocket science, one must have a certain desire. What most of you are looking for are images of your pets and family which reflect the mood and tenor of the moment. If you lack the desire to capture this, you will fail.
What do I mean by desire? When a once-in-a-lifetime event occurs, you want to be ready for it. If you don’t want to be shooting during it…well then, that’s why you hire a pro. Perhaps I’ve led you to believe that professional photographers aren’t worth their fees. If you’re willing to invest thousands in equipment, and if you’re willing to study and practice for years to achieve consistent results, then perhaps a pro wouldn’t be worth it for you. However, notice I said ‘perhaps‘. If you’re shooting, you’re not playing. You’re working.
Still…if you’re willing – desirous – you can get good snap-shot results and still enjoy your day. Get ready. First thing to do is check your equipment and supplies. Gather enough film/discs, batteries, lenses, filters, etc. to take you through your event. Camera malfunction? That’s why pros have back-up cameras. You can achieve good results, but not if your equipment fails.
Here comes the most important thing. I’ve said and written it so many times the words come out on their own when I sneeze. Read your manual. You need to know how your camera works. Before you pack your equipment and supplies you need to know how to operate your camera. During a once-in-a-lifetime event is not the time to learn it. I’m not saying that you can’t learn something new during the event; I’m saying that your fingers need to know where they’re going and what they’re doing on your photographic tool. The more you know the better your images will be.
Of late I’ve seen some astounding amateur photographs of the many events that occur in this part of the world in the first two months of the year. Really admirable captures. Some images I’ve seen improved by those who read this blog…and you know that makes me feel good! But let’s not make this luck. Practice good photographic techniques and follow basic rules, and you’ll be able to document your adventures with stunning images which will last for lifetimes.
 Backyard Tortoise (Click to enlarge) First I want to draw your attention to this guy on the left. Click the image and you can see her larger, the way I intended the photo to look. Organic. Dark. Other-worldly. Just as they have lived for thousands of years. What if I picked her up from my backyard, put her in a box and decided to keep her? Would it matter how I kept her? In an aquarium? How about in a protected sanctuary complete with room to roam? How about enough room which would equal what she would need in the wild?
I pose these questions today because I’ve been thinking of their answers after reading a horrible story which happened in Orlando yesterday. An Orca trainer at the Sea World park was dragged into the pool by the largest Killer Whale in captivity. He jumped from the pool, grabbed her by the waist and thrashed her back and forth. She was pronounced dead on the scene.
Dawn Brancheau, 40, was an experienced trainer at the tourist attraction. I have no doubt that she had Tillikum’s best interest at heart. He is a 12,000 pound mammal living in the park since 1992. Ms. Brancheau had worked with Tillikum for 16 of the 18 years he spent in Sea World’s confinement. He was born in 1981 and spent two years with his mother. Most males spend their lifetimes with their mothers and the rest of the pod. In 1983 he was abducted and sent to live at Sealand in Victoria, Canada where he performed and lived with two other females who picked on him constantly. This arrangement lasted for 9 years before Tillikum’s first incident (sic). Trainer Keltie Lee Byrne fell into a tank holding Tillikum and two other whales. They pulled the trainer under water until she drowned. Tillikum was then sold to Sea World.
You can find much information about the life and times of this creature. Then multiply it by the thousands of captive whales sometimes kept in enclosures which to them are no larger than a bathtub. Is it our right to capture and own exotic wild animals? I dream of visiting different oceans and taking the tours to view these creatures with my camera. I know I will experience the majesty which is in their nature. I have seen video of breaching and playing behavior. I see their dorsal fin as it’s meant to be – erect and magnificent, not flopped as are those in captivity. Should that not tell us something?
Which brings us back to this lovely terrapin. Is it our right to pluck her/him from her/his environment? We can, but is it our right? We can even rationalize our capture with the idea that we are protecting it. But have we interfered with the possible reproduction of more of them? Are there any among us who have not kept lightning bugs in a jar…perhaps until their deaths? I know I have partaken in such experiences myself…but I can’t help but notice that there don’t seem to be as many of them as there used to be.
If you think that I’m a little preachy today, reconsider. I am owned by an exotic bird. She was not wild-caught. She was bred and hand-fed in Louisiana. But is that right? I just pose the questions as I try to figure it out for myself. It is not possible to return her to the wild, as she has imprinted humans and she is now 16 years old. But what of those animals ripped from their wild flocks, prides, herds, pods, colonies or troops (apes)?
I know the answer for me. When we know better we do better. Perhaps it is time for us to look at these experiences we deemed harmless and teach our children to enjoy the wildlife as they live – wild. The only capture necessary to learn of these glorious creatures is photographic.
 Budweiser Dalmatian (Click to enlarge)  Budweiser Clydesdales (Click to enlarge) Our New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV. To those of us in southern Louisiana it didn’t seem like winning a game. It seemed like something more. A symbol of hope or even a reminder that anything is possible.
The city of New Orleans put on the biggest parade anyone has ever seen here. Some estimates had the crowds at 800,000. I was one of those. It was a sight to behold. My experience can be viewed at Sisters Pet Pics Goes to the Saints Victory Parade.
One thing about having a good camera with a good telephoto lens is that you are privy to visual information that the casual observer may not notice. Any photograph gives you one opportunity to capture more information than the naked eye; a telephoto lens gives you another. Both give you needed time to process what you’ve seen.
After the beads have been thrown, after the stars have passed, I get to process again what I saw. Yes, I saw talented athletes, brilliant coaches, and even kind and generous citizens. Do you sense a ‘but’ coming? There is.
If you view the slide show you will probably see the photos quickly. It will give you the feeling of having the floats pass before you. You will also see the images not cropped. You will see happy people riding behind the animals celebrating as we do in New Orleans – by throwing trinkets to the masses. But at my computer I saw something else that disturbed me. The men in green are not smiling in any of the shots I saw of them that entire day by many other photographers. The Dalmatian is doing her/his job but somehow s/he doesn’t seem too happy about it either.
Come on, you may say. Get a grip. Perhaps. But Dalmatians are horse dogs. They like to hang with them. It has been written that they prefer the company of horses. They feel the horses. Then I looked at all the photos I had of the Clydesdales, and I cropped them close. This is what I saw. The bridles are too tight. Even with loose reins the bits are digging into their mouths. I also noticed that the harnesses are so tight across their backs that they appear to lift their tails even at rest.
At one point I saw one of the middle horses throwing his head with his mouth open and his tongue out. The insiders – the men in green, the Dalmatian, the Clydesdales – are not happy for good reason. This was not a celebration for them. They are being unduly and unfairly burdened.
I had always wanted to see the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. This was my first opportunity. I will be watching for them again. And I won’t let my emotion cloud my judgment.
 Lily The Delightful Rat Terrier (Click to enlarge) This sweet little girl has never had issues with aggression because she has never been abused or neglected. Terry and I work with many dogs of all different breeds and all different histories and behaviors. We think we know what we’re doing and have a process whereby we ask human companions if their dogs will be alright with us touching them. But even a professional can make a mistake.
I usually say I have only one rule in my studio. No one should get hurt having their picture taken…ahhh but if a naughty photog doesn’t use good common sense the blood flowing won’t be the subject’s. Here’s a reminder for all those dog lovers who come in contact with many dogs they don’t know. Always, ALWAYS ask the human companion (the only one in the relationship who speaks English) if the dog you’re approaching will be all right being touched BEFORE you touch her/him.
Yup. Terry got tagged today. She was distracted and didn’t follow our own rules. She offered her hand to an aggressive dog AS she was asking about the dog. This rescued dog has issues because of being abused in his former life. Uh uh. Nope. Not smart to offer him a bite. This is a lesson to all those with children as well. Teach them NOT to extend their hands to ANY dog they haven’t asked about.
We want to tell those involved that we realize our part in the mishap. It was a lesson learned by all. Communication is the key.
 Christmas Family With Rainbow & Bella The Yellow Labs (Click to enlarge) No, nothing has happened to these two wonderful Labs, Rainbow and Bella. They are fine. They were hearty, rambunctious, inquisitive and playful when we last saw them. That’s the job description of Labrador Retrievers. It’s also what gets many of them in a lot of trouble.
I post these girls today because I’ve just received word that a friend of ours is waiting to find out if her two beloved Labs will live after eating part of a Sago Palm. She asked me to post something to warn others of this deadly plant. The ingestion of very minute amounts of this plant can cause irreparable damage.
Recently I had a conversation with someone concerning the danger of dogs having access to chocolate. She said she gives her dog chocolate because he likes it. I said she is lucky because it’s poison to some dogs. I’m afraid many might think the same of a Sago Palm. Unlike chocolate, however, Sagos can kill ANY dog, any cat and any horse. My friend’s two Labs are both in a coma as we speak.
Don’t believe me? Check out HappyDogsPlay.com’s post on March 20th last year. Sisters Pet Pics has a Toxicity page with three great sites listing all dangerous and poisonous plants to animals. Top on the list? SAGO PALMS! Still not convinced? Go to Snopes.com’s entry about Sago Palms. They researched it and deemed this warning TRUE (!).
Some people might have a potted Sago in their home. If you live with cats PLEASE, PLEASE get rid of the Sago. It’s deadly.
I hope my readers heed this warning. If you have a plant and nothing has happened yet (as occurred with my friend’s Labs) you have a ticking time bomb in your yard. It’s only a matter of time until a seed is next to some other tasty morsel and it’s ingested by your beloved pet. Don’t let this happen to you dear reader.
 Dozer The Gentle Giant Mastiff (Click to enlarge) This big guy is about a year old and very gentle, but you can see his nobility as he poses with his friend. One gets the feeling that Dozer regards this little girl as his charge…and so she is.
Mastiffs are bred to protect their families but their dominance varies. They’re highly intelligent and rarely bark. They prefer to hold an intruder at bay either by cornering them or lying on top of them than an all out attack. These characteristics seemed to be internalized in Dozer as he was easily moved about by the very small mother of this little girl.
To photograph a huge indoor animal like this you need to know a little about their nature. His youth and size would prevent him from presenting a tight sit. My preference for the 45° angle wouldn’t have improved the shot because of his right rear leg. The interest in this shot isn’t so much about Dozer as it is about the extreme size difference between him and a six year old girl. His head is about the size as her torso as you can see, and though he is not looking at the camera he seems to be scoping the territory to protect her, doesn’t he?
 Santa & Allie The Shih Tzu (Click to enlarge) Spoiler alert! Get the kids out of the room. That’s Terry as Santa  . This was Sisters Pet Pics’ 5th winter holiday. We’ve offered Santa as an option before, but this year we had the three dimensional French Quarter scene as an option too. We just thought some of those shots were just as cute as can be.
Allie is one of the sweetest Shih Tzus ever. Sweet and inquisitive, she always brings it when she comes into our studio. Oh yes, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen her. Just type her name in the search feature (upper right on this page) to see other shots of her. She loves the attention she gets when she’s dressed up, but her dad still prefers her naked self. I’ll be posting more of Allie soon.
In my opinion, when a small dog or animal is posed with a person it’s best to get the heads close or you’ll lose the dog. You will have to be aware that at the moment when the ears go up or the head tilts, part of the human face will be obstructed, which may impact negatively on the composition. So set the animal up to allow for this, because when you make your noise and you get the animal look you want, you may not get another chance.
 Yorkie With Family (Click to enlarge) I hope you made many captures over your holiday season. They will allow you to have those feelings as often as you desire. It is the only sure way to capture a moment, yet it still amazes me that families get together once or twice a year or less and neglect to record the experience. Life is short…memories are frail.
Meet Sweety and her family. You could call any one of the three sweetie and you’d be right. I loved these folks and though the humans aren’t wearing the same color on top as I’ve recommended in past posts, you can see that it works nevertheless.
I want you to notice the triangle the three faces make in this photo. When you’re composing your shot look for the lines and shapes your composition makes. This shot would be a lot less interesting if the heads were in a straight line.
I’d love to see your holiday shots. Post them here!
 Afghan Hound at Lure Coursing Event (Click to enlarge - click twice to enlarge again) My best wish for all you aspiring photographers is that you get a chance to photograph an Afghan at a full run. There is something about their coats that stops me dead in my tracks. I was one of the spectators at a Lure Coursing event in southern Louisiana in November. It is a joy to watch these running dogs because no one teaches them to do this…it’s just what they want to do. All the humans have to do it sit back and watch them. Either they do it or they don’t. This fella did. Doesn’t his tail look like an integral part of the run?
The photographic technique is stop-action, not panning. Though I moved the camera with the dog as he ran, my shutter speed was too fast to streak-blur the grass as would have happened if I shot at perhaps 1/60 or thereabouts.
I didn’t want much of a depth of field for this (f5.6) and I didn’t want a smidgen of blur on the dog, so I used a shutter speed of 1/1000. We’ll talk more about panning soon.
If you’re interested in seeing more of these shots they can be viewed at Sisters Pet Pics Proof Section – Lure Coursing.
 Zeke, Whitney & Reba The Who Dat Dawgs! (Click to enlarge) It seems Who Dat fever is spreading far and wide. As the weeks wear on and the home teams falter even the most zealous out-of-state-fan begins to look for a possible contender. And when they do:
What to their wondering eyes do appear, but 11 at any one time without fear!
They throw e’m, they run ‘em stoked with more zeal than before.
They stop ‘em, they block ‘em and still they bring more!
On Henderson, on Colston both Thomases too.
We love some Bell ringing and Gay talkin’ with our hero the Drew.
On Scotty, on Willy, with Darren and Mike.
There’s still more in the wings just waiting to fight.
The smell of brown bags seems distant today.
We look over our shoulders, is there a piper to pay?
But no, there seems none, our boys keep comin’ instead.
Don’t worry folks if punting is done we got Morstead.
So to all who have waited for days such as these,
Don’t let them tell you the best is not Brees!
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