My First Paid Pet Portrait Shoot!

[Photography Group]

Here are just a few of my first paid job! Maverick-the lab is getting older and Megan wanted photos of him. Both dogs make me appreciate mine though lol, as neither knew even sit or stay! So to say the shoot was challenging would be an understatement! But it was fun and I have one under my belt now! Let me know what could better for next time!

UPDATE-

She purchased four photos (but I gave her all of them because Maverick is old and these will be all she has of him) so I have actually  made my first real money from photography! Woo-Hoo!

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[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Beautiful. Well done. 

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Sandy, I love all the pictures. You did such a great job. I can't tell from the pics that it was challenging like you described. Good for you! Did you bring the chair as well?

I would love to have you take pics of me and my boys any time. It's kind of funny since we are trying to work on our photography skills snapping gazillion of pictures but when you look back, you don't have nice pictures of you and your doodles. I mean the ones like these, picturing a really special bond.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

And just to pick your brain. What camera setting do you use normally? For example, the pic #5 or 9. I just love how everybody is in focus.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

You did great given the conditions, LOL. It's funny how our own dogs are used to sit and stay and being tortured by the camera from the puppyhood.

So are you usually on the manual settings for the camera? I still have not made the transition. I'm either on Shutter or Aperture Priority.

Again, these pictures are great, Sandy.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Great job, Sandy. I am a sucker for Chocolate Labs and the other pooch is adorable.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

These are beautiful Sandy!  You did a great job!  

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think you did a great job. I especially like the last one. Amazing really given the two untrained dogs.

[DJ & Chance]

Nice, Sandy.  I really love the last one in particular.  Such a special moment.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Very nice....I'm sure she will treasure these.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Well done Sandy!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Awesome Sandy!   I love all the photos, but I especially love the third and fifth picture.  For the dogs not knowing commands you did and excellent job!  Way to go!!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Sandy you did a really great job! My advice for dogs who don't know how to sit or won't (EVERY dog at the shelter is this way. LOL) is as follows

-Get a squeaker. I've had the best success with actually just using the plastic clear squeaker out of a stuffed toy, if it's a visible toy, it can be too distracting. Get poised to shoot, squeak, snap the picture. You want to get those ears perked! 

-If the dog is super restless, try going for some running shots. Get the dog running towards you, across the frame, etc. 

-Get the dog jumping for a treat or something like that - you did this and I LOVE the result!

-Get the owner interacting with the dog - again, you did a great job!

-treats!

If I can't get a shot in the first few tries, I move on to something else. Stressing the dog and owner out is a bad thing. Just keep it casual, fun, and try to capture the dog's natural personality. You obviously know this -because these shots are great! I love them!