Photoraphing Puppies

[Richard Crowe]

Puppies are inherrently figity and will definitly move or turn at the worst possible moment when you are shooting their picture.

There are two ways we use to secure our puppies:

First is using a narrow black show lead. Get behind your couch or chair and hold the pup in place with the show lead which is easily removed from the image using an editing progarm if you desire. Covering the couch with a blanket or other type of cloth helps keep distractions down.

Secondly, one person sits on the couch. The photographer completely covers that person with a blanket. We use a black Vellux blanket from JC Penny which is great but, just about any type blanket will do. After covering the "puppy holder" the photographer places the pup in that person's lap. Then the photographer can direct how the "puppy holder" should position the pup. It works great because the image doesn't include the "holder's"hands which are distracting but, the pup is still stabilized.

BTW: using a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera helps because of the virtual eminination of the time lag between pressing the button and the camera acquiring the image. Also having a hotshoe flash which can be bounced makes world's of difference. Prices have really come down. New camera/lens outfits can be had in the area of $500 and you can often find a used older (in digital years) DSLR and lens such as the Canon XT (350D) for less than $200.

[Richard Crowe]

A DSLR has a hotshoe which will accept an accessory flash unit. Using this hotshoe flash, you can point it up towards the ceiling which will bounce the flash down to your subject and will provide softer better lighting as well as eliminating the notorious red-eye effect in humans and the spooky blue-eye effect in our dogs. It eliminates the "deer in the headlights" look that is so common with straight on flash.

Although the flash units from the makers of your camera (Nikon, Canon, Pentax, etc.) are excellent, they can be somewhat pricey. Lots of folks on several digital photography forums I belong to, are using the Yongnuo YN-465 hotshoe flash which seems to run arount $60-$70 depending on the eBay ad you select. I have no personal experience with the YN-465 but, the specifications indicate that it would be quite a useful unit.

When bouncing a flash, it is helpful to use a reflector diffuser. You can fabricate your own by following the plans at:

http://super.nova.org/DPR/DIY01/

However, I much prefer to use the Joe Demb Flash Diffuser Pro which I believe gives me superior lighting as well as a lot of flexibility.

www.dembflashproducts.com

[Penny, Comiskey & Beemer]

Thank for the info...we got our grandson a DSLR for his 16th birthday today....I will pass along this tip and maybe we can get some good shots of our doodles finally....thanks again.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks for the tips!