Frida Kahlo The Courageous Mexican Dog (Click to enlarge)

Sisters Pet Pics' Studio (Click to enlarge)

Hooray!  We’re in!

Yes, we’re recovered from our wonderful Grand Opening Bark Bash.  The only complaint I have is only 9 doggies came.  Apparently the dog parents wanted to have all the treats to themselves.  I hope the four-legged folks gave them what-for when the peeps got home!  But we were tickled and humbled by the human turnout.  We love you all!

I’ll be posting some of the attendees over the next few days.  In the meanwhile, for those of you who don’t know her, meet our precious Frida.  I made some captures before folks started to arrive.  Frida was dressed in her New Orleans Saints finery.  Just because it was a bye week doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten.

When going through the proofs, I found it quite interesting to note that the best photos of Frida were of her right side.  I had always thought it was me choosing to photograph the right (not the eyeless left) side, but no, it’s Frida.

Two of the attendees came all the way from Hattiesburg, MS.  They were interested in pet photography and wanted to see our set up.  I was so pleased to speak with them.  This blog is about Better Pet Photography.  It’s not magic, unless you subscribe to the notion that the subjects bring their own magic – as I do.  It’s learning the fundamentals of photography and working with the humans in the room to make those great captures.

This shot of Frida was made without a speedlight.  I bumped the ISO to 1250 – I can do that with little noise now that I work with a Nikon D3, yea!!!  On the steps of the French Quarter scenic it’s relatively dark so I chose an aperture of f3.2, which worked fine for me.  As long as that area around her eye was sharp, I liked it.

Frida was in her treat glory.  There were plenty of goodie-bags to go around, and the treats were flowing with only 9 dogs to share them!  Frida didn’t seem to care that the treats were hard.  She said, “No problem, mom, I’ll use both my teeth to eat them!”  Yikes.  She had a wonderful time.  We were still partying at 8PM, but Frida couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer.  She asked to have her dress taken off and crawled into her carrier.

I want to thank all those who brought plants, gifts and flowers, they were quite unexpected and touched us deeply.  I’ve said this before, but I’ll have to say it again.  We have the best people and animals in our studio…and it doesn’t seem to matter where the studio is!  Thank you all!

Rhome The Chihuahua Mix (Click to enlarge)

Come on, admit it.  Sisters Pet Pics gets the prize for the most adorable creatures in our studio.  This little girl almost breaks the cute mold, doesn’t she?  Rhome has found herself in a home with other Chihuahua mixes and a woman who understands them.

Chihuahuas, for those of you who don’t know any, will break your heart with their love, but in the flit of an eye-blink can defend the home fires.  I’ve spoken often of Frida, the Chi that I live with and love.  She doesn’t have the full-toothed smile that Rhome has, as she’s missing most of her teeth, but that doesn’t stop her from defending our home from a repair person who dares to cross our threshold.  Diving at his or her pant leg is something that I have to protect them from, or I may not get our A/C fixed.

Rhome was not of Frida’s line, though, as she was just as sweet to us as she looks.  Do you have a Chihuahua that you have pictures of?  Post them here for discussion or just for fun.

B/W Photo of Pixie the Long Haired Chihuahua in Her Blue Hand Tinted Dress (Click to enlarge)

Posing your pet in the studio can create challenges that shooting in the field doesn’t.  It may be a lot easier to have your assistant either throw a ball or toy out and have your dog run after it or have your assistant walk your dog out and call your dog back.  Head on action shots can be quite compelling, especially with a long haired subject, as the hair parts in the wind.

You will need to remember to get down on their level, and get a reading on the subject in the range that you intend to shoot, or at the spot you intend to shoot.  If you have a camera which can shoot continuously, you’ll have to check the range.  Have your assistant walk the subject to the spot or spots.  Get your reading, set your camera.  Now either throw something your dog wants to chase, or have your assistant walk your subject well past the spot.  Use your auto-focus (Read more about focusing in the Focus Problems post).  Get a bead on your subject and hold it.  If you have a continuous setting (check your manual), just keep shooting.  Be prepared for your subject to get larger, the closer s/he comes to you, so keep the focus on eyes.  Some of the close up shots will be quite interesting.  Oh yeah, you may want to practice rolling out of the way.  If your subject is a large animal, obviously don’t lie on the ground, but these head-on shots with moving large animals can work out very well.

Sometimes posing in the studio is a piece of cake…as it was with the adorable Pixie.  Come on, don’t you think it was time to show a teeny-tiny someone in a dress?  Perhaps she thought she couldn’t move in her clothes, but in any case she did everything we asked.  That’s not always the case.  Try to get a smaller angle than is pictured here.  A 45° angle is perfect.  Still, this is pretty sweet.  I like to have them looking at the camera, but the off-to-the-side whistful expressions are good as well.  This is a black and white with a digitally hand tinted dress.  It’s quite easy to do with Photoshop and layers.

Nicki The Chihuahua (Click to enlarge)

We have just learned that Gidget, the Taco Bell dog, has passed away at a whopping 15 years old.  Yep, 15.  We know that the family…the real family…of this dog is grieving today and we send our condolences.  Sue Chipperton, the trainer, said that Gidget would delight the crew on the set with her antics.  She loved her work and always knew where the camera was.

You don’t believe Gidget posed for the camera?  I do.  I lived with, and loved a Miniature Dachshund named Sonnen many years ago.  We were business partners as well.  Sonnen and I had an advertising job in the French Quarter.  I carried a sign-board with the names and logos of local businesses painted on it, and I handed out flyers with a map to the restaurants and other establishments to the tourists.

Sonnen carried a balsa wood, teeny, tiny sign herself.  Hers was so small, there was only one word on it, ‘Information’.  She absolutely loved this four hours every day.  Of course we attracted a crowd in Jackson Square, and when she heard a camera click, she would raise a front leg, and turn to pose for the clicking camera.  People couldn’t believe she knew where the camera was.

Yes, some dogs just know how to be stars.  Gidget and Sonnen were two of those.  Nicki, the Chihuahua posted here in black and white, is alive and well, but those of us who have loved and lost our best friends will never stop missing them.  It doesn’t take much to feel the sting of tears again when news of another rainbow crossing reaches us.  Adios, Gidget.

Charles The Chihuahua Beagle Mix (Click to enlarge)

Digital Painting of Charles (Click to enlarge)

I’m aware that the trend in pet photography is more journalistic in style.  When dogs are free to roam and play at their homes, or in the parks, they exude joy.  Those are moments that family members wish to document and save, for sure.  In the studio it may be a little more difficult to engage them in a playful manner in the particular spot in front of the equipment, but it is certainly possible.  Pet photography can take many directions, all of them interesting.

This is Charles.  His formal portrait was a present from his human mom to his dad.  Though it’s not the animated, cracked mouth, smiley face that his dad may love, it shows that Chihuahua intensity that I see so often in the studio.  When I see the tight lipped, concentrated stare I feel as if I’m gaining access to a side of the animal that is not often seen, yet is the essence of his being.

If you are shooting a pet that you live with, you have many options, as your documentation doesn’t have to happen in a day or an hour.  You are at liberty to tell your story over the course of a lifetime.  I am sharing what I know about photographing pets so that you may have all of these moments in your library.  If you are an aspiring pet photographer or are currently working as one, you’ll want to provide what your client seems to want.  However, it is your job to show them what is possible as well.

In the digital painting on the right, I chose to use that intensity to show a softer vulnerable side, that I believe is Charles’ story.

Frida Kahlo The Chihuahua Kisses The Sky (Click to enlarge)

You’ve met our Frida before.  Befitting of her stature, hers was the first photo posted on this blog, Let’s Talk About Frida Kahlo.  Although she’s kind of new to us – we adopted her about 2½ years ago – this week was the first presentation of her senior-ness.  We knew she had a little age on her when she came into our lives at 8 or 9 years old, but she’s always acted so puppy-like, my fear of saying good-bye to another love of my life did not surface…until now.

Frida might be 10 or 11…or even 12.  She has the personality and demeanor of a puppy and we encourage that, but…did you see that?  Was that a limp?  No.  Can’t be.  She’s our silly little girl, but then it happened again.  Finally after watching her so closely for two days that she told me in no uncertain terms to, “Step awaaaaay from my behind.  Really, I’m not kidding QUIT IT!”  I was too worried to listen.

I’ve never heard of a Chihuahua having arthritis.  Alas, Frida is now on pain meds and glucosamine.  The good news is, she’s less than 5 pounds so I can carry her.  The bad news is, she doesn’t like to be carried…she’s not your average Chihuahua.  The vet tells us that she shouldn’t jump around anymore.  Huh?  Frida thinks she runs the world, not just our home.  How do I keep her from jumping when she wants to?

In this funny image of Frida, that ever-present tongue (hangs out because she doesn’t have many teeth), is expressing its desire to lick the doggles off her face.  At first I didn’t like the image, but it’s so Frida.  Sometimes in the dark I can see her almost-irridescent tongue going a mile a minute.  It lets me know that all is well.  I don’t know what I’ll do when it stops.

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.

Coco The Long Coat Chihuahua (Click to enlarge)

To a photographer, it’s much more important to know the color of the animal than the breed or size.  When planning for a shoot, I need to know how many subjects are coming, and who is to be in the shots.  That information will get you started to planning for a backdrop.  If you’re learning to shoot someone else’s dogs, you’ll have more to consider when they arrive in the studio.

When I meet a dog for the first time I like to look quick, turn away and try to remember what it was about the animal that I remember.  If it’s a Greyhound, I’m sure I’ll remember the graceful lines, or perhaps striking colors or markings.  Sometimes it will be a huge Pitt Bull head or a Golden Retriever flag tail.  A wire coat on any of the Terrier group should be tack sharp to accentuate it.  In the case of Coco…well, you know.  It’s all about the ears.  So a photograph of this dog would be nothing without ears standing straight up.  If the animal has striking colors you need to be sure to see more body than I’ve shown of Coco.  When you learn more about your subject, other interesting qualities are revealed as well, but it’s important to highlight the striking quality, as that is what the human companion will relate to.

I mention this again because planning is one of the important elements to better pet photography.  See Eye Contact for more about elements.

As always, I invite comments and critique.  You will learn much by critiquing another photograph.

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!

Coco The Long Haired Chihuahua (Click to enlarge)

This personable little guy has the most faaaabulous tail!  This is Coco.  In some of the proofs his tail obscured his body!  But in this one it’s just right.  Coco’s tail reminds me to wonder if life is a coin flip.  Remember the trick phrase, heads I win, tails you lose?  Is life a predestined set-up?

I have become reacquainted with some old friends of late.  A couple of us found each other at an artistic venue in New Orleans.  Some of us found one another on Facebook and others were found by the Google and recent word-of-mouth inquiries.  There was a time when I was much younger that I could not have imagined my life without all these friends.  We functioned and dis-functioned as a family.  We alternately guided and misguided one another.  We hurt and healed, we loved and lost, laughed and cried, but never imagined grown-up lives without the bosom of friendship.  Yet we parted.  No one seems to know why or even when.  No big blow-up.  No horrible breaking.  I have come to believe it was a necessity.  Just as we must separate from the nest made by our parents, we may have to leave our enabling friends in order to grow.

We have.  Some have gone on to get degrees. Masters.  PhDs.  Some have successful careers.  Engineers.  Teachers.  Artists.  Some entered the corporate world and became extraordinarily successful.  We could not have accomplished these feats without the nest-leaving step.  For me those growing pains left spaces where my heart was once whole.  For these were not inherited relationships.  They were chosen.  Alas, my whole heart proved to be the source of my arrested development through no fault of these wonderful people.  But we have journeyed and have a chance to bring our knowledge and experiences back to the table of our friendship.  What an exciting time.

We make choices all through our lives that impact the remaining moments.  As trite as it may seem, every day is a beginning.  We can choose to be a butcher, a baker or candlestick maker at any time of our lives.  We do what we have to do to prepare ground for each of those choices.  My friends and I made separate journeys from our parents to one another…then away.  Then later in life…perhaps later than most…we made clear-headed successes of ourselves.  So is it a coin flip?  Heads or tails, you or I win?  Is there always a loser?  Does one depend upon the other?  I think not.  I think it’s possible it has much more to do with how much we like the head or tail.  And I choose tails…puppy dogs’, that is.

Take heed, younger readers.  As sure as you are that this is it…there are many more interesting plot twists ahead.  Enjoy.