Annual 'Pets with Santa' Charity Fund-raiser Photo Shoot

[tirediron]

So, yesterday's potential crisis in my annual 'Pets with Santa' shoot for Vancouver Island Compassion Dogs, a local charity that trains and provides service animals for Veterans with PTSD was somewhat averted, thanks to some last-minute donations from local businesses. While the set decoration isn't quite what I hoped for, it was better than I thought I might get... as always, comments, critique and suggestions appreciated.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

 

[Ysarex84 78]

Very well done and all should be pleased with the result. Your efforts in a good cause are above and beyond.

Joe

 

[vintagesnaps]

That's a nice set John, lovely portraits you did for them. That background wasn't the best decor but better than it was sounding the other day (and I had no suggestions to offer! lol). The cat however looks unsure... whether about you, Santa, or the necklace/decoration it's wearing I don't know!

 

[tirediron]

Very well done and all should be pleased with the result. Your efforts in a good cause are above and beyond.

Joe

Thanks!!!

That's a nice set John, lovely portraits you did for them. That background wasn't the best decor but better than it was sounding the other day (and I had no suggestions to offer! lol). The cat however looks unsure... whether about you, Santa, or the necklace/decoration it's wearing I don't know!

Thank-you! Cats... well... they're cats!

 

[Derrel]

#7 cracks me up! That pooch! Oh man, how sweet!

 

[smoke665]

I'm with Derrel #7 is the hands down winner. The first one would be close if if was cropped in like the last. In looking at the set I'm assuming the hotel was able to get you a better setup.

 

[tirediron]

#7 cracks me up! That pooch! Oh man, how sweet!

Thanks Derrel- the thought bubble reads, "But... you said "treat"... "

I'm with Derrel #7 is the hands down winner. The first one would be close if if was cropped in like the last. In looking at the set I'm assuming the hotel was able to get you a better setup.

Thanks Smoke, cheers!

Yes, we were able to get a better set-up than was originally anticipated; The background isn't great, but it's 100% better than a floor-to-ceiling windows!!!

 

[acparsons59 6]

Nice photos. I wonder what they asked Santa for.

 

[smoke665]

As you were obviously faced with multiple challenges of location and subjects, inquiring minds would like to know a little about the behind the scenes. Lighting setup, types, locations, modifiers, etc. We're you able to use a general setting or did you have a lot of moving, adjusting in between? Did you have a helper directing things on set, or were you on your own?

 

[Braineack]

poor fat cat...

 

[Jeff1547 47]

Nice set...............................Ba Humbug.....

 

[zulu42]

Love these! Great work.

 

[tirediron]

Nice photos. I wonder what they asked Santa for.

Thanks - I think steak was high on the list!

poor fat cat...

23 lbs of fat cat... seemed happy enough; for a cat. That is to say, utterly disdainful of everyone and everything around.

Nice set...............................Ba Humbug.....

Thanks, and yes!

Love these! Great work.

Cheers!

As you were obviously faced with multiple challenges of location and subjects, inquiring minds would like to know a little about the behind the scenes. Lighting setup, types, locations, modifiers, etc. We're you able to use a general setting or did you have a lot of moving, adjusting in between? Did you have a helper directing things on set, or were you on your own?

Lighting is a basic two light set using reflecting umbrellas and does not change. I light the set to provide a fairly even, relatively shadowless exposure which gives me the best overall image. When things are busy, I may only have 2-3 minutes at most per session, and while it would be great to move the lights and adjust everything for optimal exposure, it ain't feasible.

Here's a BHS shot:

Lighting is two Speedotron Brownline M11 heads firing into 42" (left) and 60" (right) reflecting umbrellas at 200 w/s each. Exposure was 1/200, f9 and ISO 200. Not yet in place are the 3 20# sandbags that go on each C-stand leg.

Patrons enter, pass the swag table and register (this year we used an all-electronic set-up which worked VERY well) and pay. The person doing the registration gives the patron a card with their session number and also writes the it on a Post-it Note and hands it to the "wrangler" who brings the pet up, gets him/her in position and then holds the Post-it Note up and I take a quick shot, so that the first image of every session is always the session # and something of the animals, so if things get totally messed up, I can go through and figure out the order by pet description (which works well until you get four black labs in a row and they get out of order... apparently you really can tell them apart!).

There's also another volunteer set left in case of runners and to head off any waiting animals who decide that queuing sucks and they're going to see Santa NOW!

 

[smoke665]

@tirediron thanks for information. Nice even illumination in a fairly large high ceiling area. I've suspected that my AB400's have been slightly weak in anything but up close and personal, you set up reinforces that thought. Thanks again for sharing.

 

[vintagesnaps]

Gee, you didn't want to set up over there by the signs and the big red arrow and the fire extinguisher??

Your cozy corner worked pretty well!