As a professional dog photographer for over three decades, it still a fun and exciting challenge to photograph multiple dogs, especially when they are of different sizes and different breeds. My goal always during the pet portrait session is to make sure they all look good in the final portraits that my client might purchase.
I use a variety of noise makers, squeakers, sounds, words and whatever else is needed to get and keep the dogs’ attention and their expressions interested in me and my camera while I am taking their portraits.
On a dog portrait session like this one, it is true that the they don’t stay this way very long–sometimes for just a a split- second. Timing and anticipation are everything. Another thing that is really important is patience. I often tell my clients at the beginning of the pet portrait session that I have a two-fold philosophy A) I have endless patience and B) Nothing that happens during the portrait session is a problem. This helps them relax and not feel anxious or stressed about whatever behavior their dog might exhibit while the portraits are being taken.
I must confess it is a great feeling to capture a dog portrait like this one amidst all the hectic activity that transpired during the session. Being a pet photographer is exciting and rewarding and now in my 37th year in business I enjoy it more than ever.
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