Siamese Kittens (Click to enlarge)
We have clients who have evolved into our friends during these years of running our studio, Sisters Pet Pics, and this morning we were sent a cell phone photo from one of these friends. It’s of one of our favorite Chihuahuas in the whole world, Phoebe. But it wasn’t of Phoebe alone. The remarkable composition was of Phoebe’s fostered kittens. Well, apparently Phoebe thinks they’re her kittens. Phoebe’s mom and dad are fostering 4 bottle-fed kittens from the St. Tammany Humane Society (remember what I said about this being puppy and kitten season a couple of days ago). What’s particularly remarkable about the composition was how nurturing Phoebe was being to these 4 walking-all-over-her kittens! Now, Phoebe’s mom and dad won’t argue that Phoebe was the most laid back Chihuahua in the pack, and Phoebe would probably be deemed least likely to be the mothering kind, but there she was nuzzling her new babies as sweetly as her dad and mom do while they engage in ’round the clock feedings.
No, this photo is not two of the fostered kittens, but they serve to show an example of how you can shoot young animals. Gorgeous kittens, aren’t they? Let’s start with eyes. We make a rule in our studio that we don’t shoot young animals until they are at least 6 weeks old. The reason for this is that popping lights can damage tender retinas. After 6 weeks this is not likely to happen, but even then we are careful not to be excessive. Of course if you are not using a flash then you’re good to go. These little fellas were past 6 weeks and were tracking feather toys accurately, which allowed me to get them to look at the camera.
Using a prop can help contain young animals. This and other beads, baubles and boas help build a fence that some of these youngsters don’t quite know how to get out of immediately. It slows them down long enough to get shots like this. If they were more active, the boa serves as a screen for an arm under it to anchor the subject and still be out of the shot. In future posts I will show you other things like cloths and blankets that can be used for the same purpose. We also use what we call auto-grouping props such as decorative boxes and baskets with consistent success.
Let’s wish Phoebe and her mom and dad all the best with their fostering duties and of course let’s wish those babies the best lives possible. The fostered kitties have names, folks…you know what that means, don’t you? They just may end up having the best lives ever!
As always, comment on my post or photo, or post one of your own. Exif: 1/250, f22, ISO 200.
Recent Comments