Another Dog Shoot...

[Stradawhovious]

I very much prefer the dog's mouth closed as in #3. A dog will pant if the studio is too warm or if the dog is anxious or nervous. Something to work on.

I will watch for that. I personally don't mind a little tongue every now again though.

(Are we still doing phrasing? Is that still a thing?)

 

[JacaRanda]

I like #3 best. Not as much in your/my face.

 

[Designer]

In keeping with your original premise (that of making formal photographs) having the mouth closed should be your ultimate aim.

I doubt if your garage was too warm, but it is an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people (you) and and unfamiliar action (posing on a stage).

Offering some suggestions to your humans, you can suggest that they go to touch the dog and reassure it that everything is o.k., then just as you are ready for the shot, you give a verbal command to the human, whereupon said human steps back out of the frame, then after the shot advances once again to the dog to keep it calm.

This would be a good time also to train your human to hold something of great interest to the dog in such a way as to "pose" the dog's head and eyes in the direction that would be ideal for a cherished heirloom of a photograph. I'd personally advise against an edible treat as you don't want lots of slobber showing in the photograph, or crumbs of treat on the dog's muzzle that you have to try to clone out later. A squeaky toy or a clicker would be my recommendation.

So in training your human, you would say: "Upon my command, step back across this tape I have placed on the floor, and hold the squeaky toy just "here" (where "here" is where you want the dog's attention) and give it a little squeak, but don't get your arm in my shot."

Oh, Man! Being an internet expert is FUN! And cheap! I should do this more often!

 

[Stradawhovious]

In keeping with your original premise (that of making formal photographs) having the mouth closed should be your ultimate aim.

I doubt if your garage was too warm, but it is an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people (you) and and unfamiliar action (posing on a stage).

Offering some suggestions to your humans, you can suggest that they go to touch the dog and reassure it that everything is o.k., then just as you are ready for the shot, you give a verbal command to the human, whereupon said human steps back out of the frame, then after the shot advances once again to the dog to keep it calm.

This would be a good time also to train your human to hold something of great interest to the dog in such a way as to "pose" the dog's head and eyes in the direction that would be ideal for a cherished heirloom of a photograph. I'd personally advise against an edible treat as you don't want lots of slobber showing in the photograph, or crumbs of treat on the dog's muzzle that you have to try to clone out later. A squeaky toy or a clicker would be my recommendation.

So in training your human, you would say: "Upon my command, step back across this tape I have placed on the floor, and hold the squeaky toy just "here" (where "here" is where you want the dog's attention) and give it a little squeak, but don't get your arm in my shot."

Oh, Man! Being an internet expert is FUN! And cheap! I should do this more often!

Good advice. Thanks! I will need to get a window AC unit before too long. With the garage being insulated and drywalled it will become an EZ bake oven in the summer, for sure. Great idea on the toy/clicker vs treat. I didn't take into account the slobbering Pavlov factor of an edible reward system.

 

[manaheim]

If you like it, leave it be.

 

[Stradawhovious]

If you like it, leave it be.

I can appreciate that, and for my purposes they are nice. Not perfect, but very acceptable and pleasing to look at. Perfect will come with time.

What matters isn't what I like, but what the "customer" likes. That said, I would like to maintain a repeatable broad level of "likability". With the understanding that this definition is broad and fluid from person to person it is important to me to understand what people DON'T like about my photos so I can address issues that show up as a recurring theme among multiple folks who are in the know.

That said, do you have any constructive criticisms for me? (In addition to the diffusion advice, which I will certainly keep in mind) I really do appreciate you all taking the time to give me feedback.

 

[jcdeboever]

Well done my brother. Light, color, and pose are awesome. Cute little wiener.

Love that lens I got from you. Man, it is sharp and great clarity. I love the nikon close-up lens on it for flowers and abstracts. Good trade.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Love that lens I got from you. Man, it is sharp and great clarity. I love the nikon close-up lens on it for flowers and abstracts. Good trade.

Glad it found a good home!

 

[manaheim]

If you like it, leave it be.

I can appreciate that, and for my purposes they are nice. Not perfect, but very acceptable and pleasing to look at. Perfect will come with time.

What matters isn't what I like, but what the "customer" likes. That said, I would like to maintain a repeatable broad level of "likability". With the understanding that this definition is broad and fluid from person to person it is important to me to understand what people DON'T like about my photos so I can address issues that show up as a recurring theme among multiple folks who are in the know.

That said, do you have any constructive criticisms for me? (In addition to the diffusion advice, which I will certainly keep in mind) I really do appreciate you all taking the time to give me feedback.

Not really anything beyond that.

I'm barely a functional portrait photographer, I have NO idea the intricacies involved in shooting pets, and as egotistical as I am, I'm not egotistical enough to start telling you how to do a thing I've never once attempted.