Category: Pet Tips

Project 52: Doorways

This week’s theme is “Doorways”.  When doing outdoor shots, it’s always good to offer some with a frame of some sort… between trees, amid flowers, between posts, or, very simple, in a doorway.

Below is a recent photo in front of the owner’s french doors.  It was a challenge because of the windows, but I think it frames the big guy very well.

One of my first clients was a cute frenchie.  When I came to the house, the husband directed me to various locations in the backyard.  He was proud of the hard work his wife had done with their yard and I attempted to accommodate him.  However, I finally said, let’s go in front of your front door, which caught my attention as soon as I came to the house.   It may not be a true “frame”, but that door certainly spotlights the dog.

Time to move on to Lynda Mowat from Heartstrings Photography, based in Hamilton, New Zealand and see how she interpreted this week’s theme.

Project 52: Head Tilts

As a pet photographer, one of my goals, especially for my shelter pictures, is to get the dog (and sometimes a cat) to give the cute, adorable, all-appealing head tilt.  No one can resist that, and that’s what we want to see an adoptable animal be – irresistible!

I can usually achieve a great head tilt with an interesting noise; however, not all dogs react.  At the shelter, I have a couple of favorite noise makers and if I can’t get attention and, hopefully, a head tilt, with them, I usually move on as the dog is probably a bit timid and fearful.  But sometimes you can get some great ones.

Below are what I call decent head tilts:

This is client Corey with a great head tilt.
This is Piper with an ever so slight tilt.

Below is what I call an extreme head tilt – love it!:

This is Ace – isn’t he gorgeous. And he blends so nicely with the bone background.

With cats, I don’t usually use noise makers as cats are more visual and will react to some type of movement.  At the shelter, I have a great assistant and she knows what to do.  But, sometimes, even though I may not use a noise maker, I do get an occasional kitty head tilt.

Below is what I would call a decent kitty head tilt:

Karlos, a cutie kitten with a slight tilt

Below is definitely an EXTREME kitty head tilt:

This was Kimberly Hart. I’m sure she was looking at a moving something or other and just didn’t want to turn her body!

This was such a fun topic.  Now, move on to my friend Kim with BARKography based in Charlotte, NC and traveling the US and Canada for her entry.  I’m sure she has some great photos.