Robbie The Black Lab (Click to enlarge)

Robbie is gorgeous.  Let’s not quibble.  There’s not a photog alive who could not make a stunning portrait of him.  This is the thing to remember: light the coat from all angles so the sheen is evident.  If you’re looking at the small thumbnail, click the image again.  Regardless of your backdrop, if you light the coat you’ll get the shot you’re expecting.  Use a hair light.  That will help.  Refer to How To Set Up Your Pet Photography Studio for an explanation.

Although it may seem to some that it’s too early to be thinking about the holidays, I would say, au contraire, mon ami.  As a photographer you are not only recording the moment you’re in, you’re recording the moments to come.  Sound crazy?  Not so much.  Consider the bride.  She’s photographed before the wedding…sometimes well before the wedding.  She wants to be sure to get those all important studio shots.

My point is that in our controlled studio environment we often shoot out of season shots, because it’s about the mood the client is (or you are) in.  After Katrina we had requests to shoot themes people had taken elsewhere, but lost the pictures.  They wanted to duplicate them with us.  Remember, your studio is your set, and your set is wherever you’re controlling the environment.

Hoss The Noble Rottweiler (Click to enlarge)

Before we found out that Michael Vick wouldn’t be playing in the New Orleans Super Dome against the Saints this weekend, Sisters Pet Pics had decided we were going to organize other pet businesses to donate to an animal rescue group every time Vick was sacked.  Then we realized he’s still under suspension and would not play this weekend.

I feel as though I open my mouth to scream my horror and instead of a roar, I hear only a whisper.  I listened to Howie Long give his analysis of poor misunderstood Michael Vick on Sunday, and thought surely this is not the opinion of most citizens.  Certainly this is just the voice of another rich footballer who believes his talent should circumvent laws and mores of a civilized population.  His diatribe began with the camera swinging in close to show the butch cut Howie giving America what he believed was a civil reminder that our laws of crime and punishment must be served.  Thereafter, all is forgiven.

Though not shocked – after all he’s a football player, and probably a friend of Vick’s to boot – I couldn’t help but wonder what the women in his life might think.  Really, I thought, really?   Is it men who are likely to forgive these heinous crimes?  Is it a testosterone knitting club where the clicking of needles drowns the screams of burning dogs and the humans who loved them?

But oh no.  It is not an isolated Howie Long opinion.  Apparently the network agreed; they allowed him the expensive air time with no rebuttal aired or scheduled.  Then I read in today’s Baltimore Sun, that columnist Susan Reimer, has joined with other loud voices to say that Vick has served his time, so get off his back so he can get paid the big bucks and play some football, for goodness sake.  She says, “This is about the humiliating tour of self-flagellation he has been forced to walk, and will continue to walk if the Humane Society bullies have anything to say about it.”  What?!  We should worry about humiliating him?  And the Humane Society, the same Humane Society who has made him a spokesman, are bullies?

Reimer writes:

“But the worst of it is, Mr. Vick is now on a leash held by the Humane Society’s Wayne Pacelle. Mr. Vick has to make any number of appearances on behalf of the society, confessing to the error of his ways. ‘If Mike disappoints us, the public is going to see that,’ Mr. Pacelle told Mr. Brown on the same “60 Minutes” broadcast.”

There goes my testosterone theory.  It seems the polls are in.  Most of America believes he’s served his time; live and let live.  Steal money from rich people?  We have a problem with that.  But electrocute dogs for fun?  What the heck.  Quit bullying him.  And I was angry with the Humane Society for even colluding with Vick to be a spokesperson.  Sheesh.  The HSUS turns out to be the bullies in this, not the sick and demented Michael Vick.

More from Reimer:

“Don’t misunderstand me. I love dogs. Ask Amber, Lulu and Sugar. But I love human beings more, and what Mr. Vick is being required to endure is its own brand of cruelty. People with houses full of filthy, flea-bitten dogs and cats or farms with starving horses generally pay nothing close to the price Mr. Vick has paid, in freedom, money or reputation.”

Is this a whisper?  Are there others who are appalled?  Why aren’t we speaking?  Why aren’t we screaming?  Are we afraid to?  Are we afraid to be called cranks?  Crazy?  Are you feeling like you’d like to call in the authorities to certify your un filthy house, your un flea-bitten dogs and cats,  or your farm with well fed, loved and cared for horses, to be allowed to voice your outrage?  What has become of our nation that we must pass the standards of a cruel and boisterous class of people or be humiliated ourselves for voicing what children know before they are indoctrinated otherwise:  do not hurt the defenseless…ever.

Read more Reimer if you can stomach it: Call Off The Dogs; Vick’s Paid Enough.  I suggest you write to her editor to make your voice of dissent heard.  You don’t need any authority to certify you good, sane and worthy.  Speak your mind, or others will speak for you.

Three Cats & Chihuahua (Click to enlarge)

Easy to see who is it here, isn’t it?  This isn’t one of the proofs my customer chose, but it’s one of my favorites.  I happen to know the Chihuahua (so do you-see The Mothering Kind).  Yep, it’s Phoebe.  She is looking at her mom and dad, not at the jumping, noise-making, toy-waving photographer, as her cat sisters are.  But that’s Phoebe as I know her.  Although the predominant species in our studio is dog, we do get a number of cats as well.  It’s always a challenge, but I’m never disappointed.  This composition was quadruple the challenge!  Nope, no Photoshop technique to report, just patience.

Yesterday I spoke of one of the four elements to better pet photography (see Eye Contact), Planning.  Today it’s Patience.  I can hear you now, “Come on, tell me something I don‘t know“.  Well, I can’t.  This is not magic.  It’s not mysterious.  If you want to make better pet captures, you just have to work at it, and if you follow the advice I’ve employed in and out of my studio since 2005, you will have portraits you can be proud of too.  Patience is an integral element, without which nothing noteworthy will happen.

You can do what I’m doing.  You can hang out a shingle, and charge for what seems like fun, but the captures better please your customers, because most of the fun in our studio is watching the faces of the human companions as they are surprised that their little Phoebe, or Samantha, or Priscilla, or Presley (pictured here) could behave so wonderfully, and look so photogenic.  They know they have a beautiful family.  They just didn’t know they would look so nice on a wall, or a mantle, or a table.

Occasionally I will hear of an event where someone with a camera and skills will announce they are taking pet photos, only to find out they’re sitting on the side of a highway, in an unfenced cement parking lot, when it’s 95° in the shade.  You could do much better.  You know your pet.  You have the ideal location.  You just need to learn about your camera and employ four elements and practice.

As always, please comment on this post or photo.  Don’t forget to post your pics of your hard working dog at work for Take Your Dog To Work Day.  You have until Friday, July 3rd to get them posted to get a free dog toy.  See Happy Take Your Dog To Work Day for details.

Maxine-Dachshund, Vivienne-Poodle, Bentley-Schnauzer (Click to enlarge)

This very diverse family arrived for their close-up ready to pose, don’t you think?  Their proud dad is probably receiving cards, gifts and kisses on this day, celebrating his commitment to raising  a family…of whatever life he chooses.  Sisters Pet Pics recognizes all those men who open their hearts and resources to raising children of any species.  Just as our recognition and celebration of mothers (see Happy Mothers Day Y’all!) extended to those of any gender who step up to the responsibility of caring for another, to us Fathers Day applies to all those who may be both parents to their families.

Perhaps you are a dad who shares responsibilities for the family with another; more raised glasses for the commitment to an adult as well.  These are tough times, as we hear daily from our favorite newscasters.  Somehow it makes it doubly difficult to keep families together.  Every day we hear statistics of families breaking up and pets being left behind.  Sisters Pet Pics hopes for better times, but more than that, we hope for these times to be shared…by another.  Grab that person closest to you, pull them close, and tell them you love them…anyway.  Because happiness must be shared to be felt.  Maxine, Vivienne and Bentley know this because they share their happiness with their dad.

Hope The Chihuahua (Click to enlarge)

Meet Hope.  Don’t let her butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-my-mouth head tilt fool you.  She’s a tough cookie and very protective of her mom (her mom is protective of her as well )  But she was sweet, cooperative and willing during our time with her.  Though this isn’t a get-up your dog would wear in everyday life, it sure is entertaining to trot some of these outfits out for a photograph.

I have a sister who is disturbed by photos of dogs in clothes.  She’s a dog person, but it makes her uneasy to see dogs in clothes.  She prefers those images where the dog is a dog.  In my studio I like to take many images of everything an animal and the animal’s human companion will provide.  At least some time during the shoot I like to take a “naked” shot too.  That is my job, as I see it.  If mom and dad arrive with a satchel of garments I try to shoot as many of them as possible in the time allotted, because these clothes are items that won’t be worn for any other purpose.

Some readers may know about our Frida Kahlo; see my post Let’s Talk About Frida Kahlo.  I had never had a little dog who would tolerate dress-up before, and couldn’t wait to adorn her with dresses and jewelry.  She is a wonderful sport about these items that provide endless peals of laughter and amusement for us.  Though I wouldn’t let her run about the house unsupervised with the other dogs in a  good dress (the other dogs would take it off her in short order) she seems quite comfortable in a little sundress.

Dog people seem to come in two distinct flavors: big dog and little dog folks.  I have friends, like my one sister, who love their dogs but who wouldn’t even think of dress up unless it’s Mardi Gras or Halloween.  My sister lives in Florida so leave Mardi Gras out.  Costuming.  Ahhh, this is understood.  But not clothes.  On the other hand I really don’t know anyone who lives with and loves a little dog who doesn’t have at least one item of clothing.  I would argue with anyone who says the dogs don’t love it as well.  Just watching Frida prancing about the store waiting for people to say how cute she is in her new dress is keeping both of us young.

I can hear you now, railing against the big/little labels.  “But wait I have big dogs and little dogs in my house.”  There are those hybrid types as well.  It’s true.  Here’s the test.  Have you ever been anywhere and you say, “Oh I wish I could get Lexie to wear this, isn’t this cute?”  You’re really a little dog person.  I don’t care if Lexie is a big Yellow Lab and you love her so much your heart swells.  You’re still a little dog person.  If you rescued a mini Dachshund tomorrow, the first thing you would do is buy her a shirt with rhinestones that says “There’s Only One Bitch In This House”.  Uh huh.  The only reason Lexie doesn’t wear clothes is because most of the funny things are made for little dogs.  Therein lies the demarcation between the two flavors of dog folks.  It’s all about the humor.

So let’s laugh with Hope and her mom because the moments of laughter will lengthen ours as well as our dogs’ lives.  Now, go out and buy Lexie a dress!

Molly & Maggie The Chocolate Labs (Click to enlarge)

Meet Molly and Maggie, two extraordinarily lovely Chocolate Lab puppy sisters.  If you listen closely you will hear them say, “Hiya, hiya, hiya”.  Molly and Maggie are examples of what happens when you push already good buddies close together.  Their front paws cross and in Molly and Maggie’s case, that resulted in their legs getting tangled in an adorable puppy-like pile.  One of the noises from my box of toys and noise-makers caused these silly girls to tilt their heads in exactly the same endearing way.  Although the sit is not perfect, and their mouths are open, to me it was a perfect studio composition with multiple animals.  Now don’t get all sheesh, she’s pretentious on me.  I know.  Nothing is really perfect (or else everything is…hmmm), but if you read my  Eye Contact post I talk about planning as a very important element to better pet photography.  This is always the shot in my plan.  Bodies close.  Legs crossed.  Heads tilted – and in the same direction.  Perfect.  But remember, I’ve never made a capture that could not be improved.  How could this one be improved?  Closing the angle would show less underbelly and more coat, for one.  Their sit could have been tight and alert and their mouths could have been closed as well.  But I’ll take this one with pleasure and pride.  Every time I look at it I smile.  I hope the mom and dad of these two smile when they see it too.

By the way, speaking of ‘hiya’, if you remember the ’50s children’s television show which started with a mischievous cat uttering the words, “Hiya kids, hiya, hiya”, then comment here with the name of the show for 10% off the purchase of any photographic package on your next visit to Sisters Pet Pics.  Why?  Because it’s been plaguing me for years and no one I ask has any recollection of this show.  I’m beginning to believe I made it up.  I think it was a show about a cat and dog which were represented by very primitive paper mache animals…or something like that.

Even if you don’t know the name of the TV show, subscribe to our newsletter, Better Pet Photography, and if your pet is featured you will receive 10% off any photographic package on your next visit to our studio.  Subscribing means you will receive one email message from Sisters Pet Pics Blog on Fridays, highlighting the topics of the week.  We do not pass on your email address to any third party.

Maggie May (Click to enlarge)

Yep, meet the real Maggie May.  Well, she thinks Rod Stewart wrote it for her anyway.  She’s been in our studio many times and each is better than the last.  Diva Maggie just brings it.  You may have a dog like that too.  One who will look at you and wonder, head tilt and all.  The only thing left to worry about is what color is your dog.  Black?  Uh oh.

Here’s what you need to know about shooting black animals. Either you decide in the beginning that what you are looking for is subtle drama and shoot with a dark saturated backdrop such as this red velvet or the high drama of shooting low key.  That is, black dog on a black ground, where the light provides the only definition.  Or you decide you want high contrast, in which case choose a white or light backdrop for your shot.  These decisions can be made in your studio or in the field.  Outdoors, that low contrast situation could be with dark green foliage as your ground.  You will have to refer to your basic photographic skills; you will find a reminder on our Skills page.

Although I often like the drama, there are situations where you may want a sharper contrast.  If you choose a light background and meter your subject you will get the definition you are seeking.

Exif:  1/250, f8, ISO 100.  Look at this beautiful girl.  I can’t do anything to improve her…I’m just the recorder.  Post your comments about trying to shoot your black or brown dog.