Smile?

Dear Fisher,

I gotta tell you, I am really getting a little grumpy about all the photo ops I am expected to come up with. Every holiday season we go through a lot of posing and primping to get the picture just right. This year they wanted to have a picture of me with a Santa hat on and it was way too small and made me look like a pinhead. Really, I am not a hat dog anyway, so yeah, the picture was kind of off and I was kinda goofy looking.

So, what do you know about taking pictures of critters that I might pass on to these caring people?

Duke

Dear Duke,

There are a few simple tricks that even an amateur photographer can do. We all know that the professionals are really good and worth every penny they make, but realize, you do not have to leave your home or your comfy chair to be “the Star”. Your humans are likely aware that going to a pro would be out of your comfort level, and they are looking after your best interests. So cut them a little slack and think more positively. I have in mind that a photo op could be a treat op. Sound like something that would interest you?

Some animals get very nervous when the camera and an enthusiastic amateur photographer show up in their face. It is very important that everyone remain calm and casual about the whole affair. Sometimes candid shots are best and sometimes a posed setting is better. It depends a lot on your personality.

The eyes should be the most important thing to focus on. If you open yours, it would be very helpful. You can look up, straight at the camera, or to the side, but your eyes should show the endearing expression they are looking for, not the dread of the camera. Many times the person with the camera will offer a treat. If you accept it, do so with the knowledge that you are getting asked to look alert. As the photographer, your human should get down to your eye level or bring you up to theirs (via a high chair you could sit up on). From that vantage point, they are making sure the top of your head is not the focal point.

If a posed photo is planned, it is a good idea to do a little staging. What a shame it would be if your picture turned out great, but the pair of socks left on the floor by your chair were equally as sharp. Try to keep a simple background, void of clutter. It makes you look more like the star. Another thing is to try different angles, and not to feel your entire body should be in the photo. After all, if you are a very big dog, your eyes are not going to stand out in all that mass of fur.

I suggest you tell your people to look up How to Take Pictures of Pets at
How to Take Pictures of your Pets. It is well written and the steps are easy to follow. May you all remember that photos become memories, and cooperation in the project will make them real keepers.

Your friend,

Fisher

published in tbt* Tampa Bay