Alright, let’s talk about how I tackled that “photograph 2 types of dogs” thing. It was a bit of a hustle, but pretty fun in the end.
So, first things first, I needed to figure out what kinda dogs I wanted to shoot. I landed on a Golden Retriever and a French Bulldog. Seemed like a good contrast – fluffy and majestic versus… well, kinda squishy and adorable. Plus, my neighbor has a Frenchie, so that solved half the problem right there.
Next up: location. I scouted out a local park. Good light, some nice greenery, not too crowded. Perfect. I packed my camera gear – nothing fancy, just my trusty DSLR and a couple of lenses. And, of course, some treats! Gotta bribe the models, ya know?
The Golden Retriever shoot was first. I asked a friend who owns one if they’d be willing to help out. Getting a Golden to pose? Easier said than done. They’re all about running and playing, not sitting still and looking pretty. I ended up just letting him do his thing and snapping away. Got some really great action shots, actually. Focused on capturing his energy, his goofy grin, all that good stuff.
Then came the Frenchie. My neighbor was super helpful, and this little dude was way more chill. A few treats and he was practically a professional model. We got some great close-ups, highlighting those big, expressive eyes and that smooshed face. I also played around with some props – a little hat, a tiny bandana. He didn’t seem to mind at all.
Here’s the kicker: Getting them together! This was a challenge. One’s a hyper ball of energy, the other is… well, a bit lazy. We found a sweet spot where they were both relatively calm (read: distracted by treats) and managed to snag a few shots. They weren’t perfect, but they captured the personalities of both dogs, and that’s what I was going for.
- What I used: DSLR camera, 50mm lens, 85mm lens, dog treats, and a whole lot of patience.
- The biggest challenge: Getting two different dogs with wildly different personalities to cooperate.
- The best part: Seeing the dogs’ personalities shine through in the photos.
Afterward, I imported the photos into Lightroom and did some basic editing – tweaked the exposure, contrast, colors, and cropped them a bit. Nothing too crazy. I wanted them to look natural.
Ultimately, it was a fun learning experience. It taught me the importance of patience, adaptability, and the power of a good dog treat. Plus, I got some awesome photos of two super cute dogs. Win-win!
Would I do it again? Absolutely. Maybe next time I’ll try photographing cats… if I’m feeling brave.
