Tallulah & Abby The Adorable Pugs (Click to enlarge)

Well, school’s back in session.  Summer’s over.  Vacation’s have been taken and photos have been processed.  Did you get the shots you wanted?  Are the results of your shutter trips what you had in mind?

If any of the above answers are ‘No’, then you’ve not been listening.  There are two documents which I would never leave home without.  The absorption of the information in each is absolutely necessary to taking really good photographs consistently.

First – YOUR MANUAL.  Your manual is not expendable.  Even if you came to me with your camera and wanted help, the first thing I would ask is, where is your manual.  I would have to read it in order to help you with your problem.

Second – Bryan Peterson’s Exposure.  I’ve mentioned this book many times since I began this blog.  In my opinion, it is the best, most succinct document ever written about the basics of photography.  If you understand every page, you could use your camera not only to capture snap-shots to document your vacation or trip, but to make artistic creations that are suitable for any wall display.  Something you can be proud of.

Tallulah & Abby don’t have to worry about such things.  All they have to do is watch with those engaging eyes and ”Voila’!  Sweet portrait.

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.

Dixie & Darlin' Christmas Yorkies (Click to enlarge)

I know you know these two.  Heck, I just posted them in their LSU outfits last week.  They’re all over this blog — just search for Dixie or Darlin’ in the search feature on the upper right to see them.  The reason I’m posting them again in different outfits is to illustrate a point.

When you looked at the holiday photo a few days ago with the three Shih Tzus you had to smile, didn’t you?  Come on, you just had to.  They’re all about intensity and Sebastian (the one on the left) has his lip all funny…and it just makes you smile.  These two as well.  With their little red top knots, but with just enough sincerity to spread joy.

In my mind a holiday greeting is supposed to spread good will and cheer as well as keeping friends and family updated.  This is Sisters Pet Pics’ fifth winter holiday season.  When people come in to our studio to have their portraits taken for cards, I can’t help but think how many smiles they must spread with their human and animal family photographs.  I just know the people receiving the card with Dixie and Darlin’ on it will smile broadly and will feel the warmth of cheer sent by Dixie & Darlin’s mom and dad.  I just love my job .

Sebastian, Mike & Leo The Shih Tzus (Click to enlarge)

These three sweeties came in with three generations of the most generous and sweet women.  No wonder these dogs were sweet.  Leo arrived first with Nana.  She seemed a little nervous about how the dogs would act.  Leo, however, did not seem nervous at all.  He got up on the table by himself, looked straight at the camera and smiled.

Mom and her adult daughter arrived next with Sebastian (on the left in the photo) and Mike the blondish Shih Tzu.  I believe the dogs own the mother and daughter, but all three women clearly love these dogs.  Sebastian, Mike and Leo were pretty self-assured and well adjusted.  Hiya, hiya, hiya to Leo and we got to work right away.

I had the leashes removed, but left collars on for the moment, just to control them on the table until the humans got the drill.  For those of you regular readers of this blog, you know I use all the humans in the room to assist.  It’s a good idea to leave the collars on until the last minute.  In the case of these three, the younger of the three women was on one side of the table, the other two were behind me, and Terry was working the hair light side, as always.

Terry was pushing from the left and the young woman on the right, photog makes a noise, dogs stop, snap to attention and pose.  It doesn’t always happen like this, but using a couple of our whistle noises was all that was needed.  I love these three dogs so much I may use this as my holiday card.  Just kidding, but it looks like trick photography, doesn’t it?  Nope, just interested and interesting dogs.  We had such a good time with these women and their dogs.  I hope you enjoy the resulting photo as well.

I know it may seem early to be thinking of such things, but if you’re thinking of booking an appointment for your holiday portraits and cards, make your appointment now, as our calendar is filling up.  It’s never too early to pick a theme and have us photograph it at Sisters Pet Pics.

Chaos Ensues (Click to enlarge)

It Ain't Easy (Click to enlarge)

My post today is meant to give y’all confidence.

This was a family shoot…sort of.  Here’s the story.  These dogs are litter mates.  Yeah, I know.  They don’t look alike, but litter mates they are.  Greyhound folks are a close knit group.  They all work very hard to make the remaining years of their charges be the very best.  As all these dogs are purebred and records are kept online, a little Google search will find litter mates  Such was the case here.

One of the humans found the others and organized this “family” portraiture session.  They’re all members of the Greyhound Pets of America (GPA) and arrived from all over.  This week I’m finalizing the 2010 GPA calendar layout and I came across the image in the left.  I couldn’t exactly put it in the calendar, but it’s a perfect example of the organized chaos that is sometimes witnessed in the studio.

I had to laugh out loud when I saw this image again and wanted to share it with you.  You see, it doesn’t always go smoothly.

Two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (Click to enlarge)

I began this blog in April of this year.  When deciding what photo to post since then, I tried not to show an overabundance of pets in costumes…in deference to my readers from other parts of the country/world.  But we’re in it now, folks!  From here through Mardi Gras it’s about the costume.  You may think that’s funny, but what’s even funnier is that this image was captured in JULY of 2008!  Uh huh.  July.  No reason at all to dress up, yet there they were playing the part.  That’s how we roll.

I speak often about directing the shot either in your imagination or your clients’.  I am inspired by the coats and colors of the animals and whatever their human companion has brought for them to wear or be posed with.  The only rule in my studio is that no one is allowed to be hurt or be put in danger.  After that, sky’s the limit.

So get ready to to see what my clients and I have come up with over these past 4 years.  Some will make you smile, and I suspect some will inspire you .

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.

Dixie & Darlin' With Tiger The LSU Mascot (Click to enlarge)

You’ve already met these two sweeties when they were babies, You Don’t Have To Be A Professional Photographer To Get Great Shots.  Yeah, I know, they make me look good.  They’re all grown up now and these two cuties go everywhere with their mom and dad…yes, they go to the games too.  They travel in the family’s RV and party with the rest of the tail-gaters.  They just enjoy hanging with their pack.  As their mom told me a few days ago when this shot was taken, they don’t know they’re not supposed to wear clothes.

They’re always comfortable, so who cares that someone is always snapping shots of them.  The secret to memorable shots is the composition.  No props?  It’s still about the composition.  But the easy way to these cute shots is to theme it up.  It doesn’t matter who captured this image.  Someone is sure to say, “Ahhh, how cute”.

Weezy, Emma & Frisco Believe (Click to enlarge)

For those of you who are raising children and think you need to leave whimsy behind, take a look at this year’s Halloween composition from our very creative clients.  Every year they bring 12 year old Frisco (Peter Pan), 8 year old Weezy and 3 year old Emma into the studio to make their fantasy-themed Christmas card.  This is 2009’s version.  Take a look at 2008’s 1950 All Over Again.

It’s starts with the planning of fun.  Emma wanted to argue with Weezy about who was going to be Tinkerbell, but as soon as she saw Wendy’s costume, she let Weezy win the wings.  Frisco just thought it was another good place to rest awhile.  But Emma…she’s in her glory.  She believes.

Photography is a medium through which we express ourselves.  Perhaps you are the subject.  You can express whatever you wish just as any actor in front of a camera.  If you are behind the camera, you direct.  Either you direct your own vision or someone else’s, but you express yourself too.

These shoots are the most fun.  The collaboration makes everyone’s vision unfold.  So when someone else has a vision they would like you to capture, jump in, participate, enjoy…believe.

Mike Myhal With Mandy & Susie (Click to enlarge)

Of course you do.  How can you watch your beloved dogs all moments of their outdoors day?  I know I can’t.  There are many hazards which can befall your dogs when they are unattended.  We all try to keep them safe from them, but one in particular has happened to us, and I want to share it with you so you can be aware and take precautions.

Some years ago I lived with and loved a Sheltie, Sky, and a rescued Vizsla mix, Digger.  Yes, Digger was a digger, but she generally kept her digging away from the perimeter.  Sky was a tiny blue merle with the sweetest of dispositions.  She was partially blind and  fearful of storms.  Our dogs were allowed to go indoors or out through a doggie door 24 hours a day.  The yard was fenced on 4 sides with chain link except for a wood gate over the paved driveway.

One day I arrived home after a storm to find the corner of the gate had been completely chewed and pulled away to the size of a basketball.  Two of our three dogs, Sky and Digger, were missing.  One or both of them must have become so stressed during the storm that they tore a hole big enough for both to crawl through.  We found Sky on the side of the road a few hours later.  We never found Digger, though we never stopped looking.

I tell you the nightmare of this story to emphasize the importance of keeping your pet safe…always.  I did not, and still mourn the loss of my two friends.  I will never let this happen again.  Today our dogs live within the confines of a wood privacy fence, but we also have a Hidden Fence.  Now, I know there are those who will tell you that this is cruel and animals should not be forced to wear these collars or be exposed to brutal punishment during the training.  The man in the photograph to the right is Mike Myhal, owner/operator of Pet Care – Hidden Fence.  He’s with his beloved dogs, Susie and Mandy.  Mandy, on the right, is 17.  Both these dogs are just as gentle as is Mike himself.  He has a method of training which is quite humane.  His exclusive GentleStart Method focuses on creating the least amount of stress and distress.  No other company in the hidden fence industry shares this strategy.

I can attest to the product.  Our dogs are safe and have the run of the place.  Although our Dachshunds would escape in a heartbeat if they could get to the perimeter, they busy themselves with digging mine holes in the middle of the yard instead.  That’s just where I want them.  I’ve had this fence since I lost Sky and Digger 9 years ago.  Visit Mike’s site for more information.  Give him a call if you’re still unsure.  Believe me — the peace of mind the fence gives us is worth every penny.  Want to talk more about this subject or others?  Post a comment here.  I’d like to know what you think about this fence.

For the next clue in the Where In The World is Sisters Pet Pics Contest (Check the last week of posts to get more clues and explanation):  On your way brake for ducks and their babies…perhaps some geese too!  Come on folks, you have to guess online to be eligible for the 10% discount.