WHY ACTIVE DOGS MAKE FOR EXCITING SESSIONS
We have all been guilty in one way or another of comparing our lives to others, myself included.
If you have ever caught yourself looking through images of stunning dogs and questioning the idea of your pup cooperating for portraits, don’t worry. I hear statements like that quite often, especially when a client schedules their pet session with me where they will typically mention something along the lines of:
‘Good luck getting a good photo of him, he never sits still.’
‘My dog isn’t very photogenic.’
‘There is no way my dog will look at the camera, they have the attention span of a squirrel.’
The list goes on and on, however; I always stop and smile before reassuring the fact that just because your pet doesn’t want to sit for long periods of time or is a bit camera shy most certainly does not mean I won’t be able to photograph them appropriately. It just means that I am going to switch up my shooting method and create a gallery that does exactly what you hired me for, capturing your dog’s personality.
There is nothing worse than going through the effort of scheduling a portrait session but when you look through your gallery, you just don’t feel that emotional connection to the portraits or see the unique personality your pet has. While some dogs can make a beautiful portrait by sitting in one place, other dogs take to the air for stunning action shots. Let’s go over a few ways that your active dog can be the perfect model for professional portraits.
I get it, trust me, having a high energy dog that oftentimes does not want to sit still, especially when they meet a new person can be overwhelming. But don’t let that deter you from getting the perfect portraits that only your dog could create like that one little look or funny jump that sets them apart from other dogs. Oftentimes I will encourage clients to bring their dogs’ favorite toy(s) to chase and let their energy out, and guess what? Those are the images we create as an impact piece for their wall because they authentically stand out from the more posed and obedient shots. This is also especially true for multi-dog sessions with dogs who love to play!
Maybe you have a dog with a job and the idea of having a posed portrait just doesn’t fit the vision you have when you see them out there doing their thing everyday. Working dogs hold a special place in my heart because I can always see the genuine pride they have in what they are doing tied together with their owner’s reaction to seeing their hard work pay off through their portraits. Hunting dogs require patience, obedience and direction in what they do which of course requires hours and hours of training with their owner. Yes, most working dogs will have the ability to pose for specific shots, but it makes a much larger statement to see a piece of art featuring your dog doing exactly what you have dedicated your time training them to do.
While some dogs enjoy the act of staying in motion no matter how goofy they may look, others hearts leap at the chance to bound through their session. You know what I am talking about, the dogs who are either closely related to the kangaroo or possibly dolphins. If your dog matches that description, I promise that you will fall in love with your final gallery. Remember, this is an experience to honor the bond you share with your pets and something you can look back on for many years to come, why make them pose for something that doesn’t express who they are?
Don’t worry, being based in Western New York I also understand that we exist in wintery state for what feels like more than half the year which means we have the opportunity to spotlight the snow dog in your life. If you have a pup that absolutely loses their mind every time snowflakes hit the ground, believe me when I say, book a session now because the images are remarkable! Just take a moment and think about the moment you let your dog out in the morning and are greeted with a fresh blanket of snow. Does your dog run with their nose in the snow, roll around, bound through the banks, or try to catch as many snowflakes as possible? The opportunities are endless in the snow and make for a unique piece of artwork to finish your home with in all the right ways that will make you smile every time you see it.
Phew! It is hard work looking at incredible dogs doing the one thing they love most isn’t it? Take a look at your dog the next time you take them out to play and if you are anything like most other active dog owners, you won’t be disappointed with the true to character portraits created!
Do you have an active dog in need of authentic portraits to decorate your home with? Head on over to the contact page to learn more about what I can create for you and your home.