Читать книгу Dogtography - Kaylee Greer - Страница 32

Dogs are wonderful, but let’s face it: most have the attention spans of tiny gnats. Dogs want to explore. Sniff things. Pee on things. Eat cool stuff. Maybe throw it up and eat it again. Play and catch frisbees. Dogs typically don’t want to sit in the same spot for 45 minutes while you choose the right white balance setting and internally debate yourself regarding composition.

You’re only going to have so much time with your dog model before they are “over it,” and once your dog is “over it,” it is extremely difficult (and sometimes impossible) to get them back “into it.”

This piece of advice is for every photographer, whether you’re photographing a dog or a person, whether you’re using the fanciest DSLR on the market or simply your phone’s camera:

Get ‘em in, and get ‘em out.

Choose your location and your gear, and dial in all the right camera settings before attempting to get your subject to sit in front of your lens. Some dogs will sit for as long as they’re told, while others will touch their butts to the ground for milliseconds before bounding off in search of the next adventure.

Whatever your dog model gives you, be prepared to shoot quickly. If you’re shooting for more than a minute or two, and need to stop for a moment to think something over (be it your composition, lens choice, settings, whatever), take that minute to give your dog model a break. Constant breaks will help keep their stress level down and their attention level up.

If you’re photographing two or more dogs at the same shoot, swap them out constantly (unless you’re going for a group shot). This may make for a longer shoot, but it will almost certainly make for a more successful shoot. (Plus, if you’re as obsessed with your job as I am, a longer shoot is not necessarily a bad thing.)

Dogs almost always tell you when they could use a break. Since they speak in body language instead of words, it’s up to us to successfully interpret for them so that the photo shoot experience remains as positive as possible.

My own dog, Joshua, has a very specific sign for when he’s in need of a break. If pushed too hard for too long, he will simply stop looking at the camera. Joshua’s behavior is common amongst dogs who can become easily stressed. He simply avoids whatever it is that’s causing him stress, and no amount of treats or toys will pull him back from his “avoidance mode.” The only solution we’ve found is to take him out of the situation for a few minutes and simply let him “be a dog.” After a few minutes of sniffing delicious scents and then peeing on them to claim rightful possession, he’s typically ready for another round of photos.

Keep a close eye out for signs like avoidance, heavy stress panting, and cowering. Listen to your dog model’s body language and take a break the second they tell you they need it. They’ll thank you for it.