Photo Shoot for Instagram #WHPIDrewThis

Photo Shoot for Instagram  #WHPIDrewThis

 

 
We often get asked how we create a photo shoot and end up with some pretty cute pictures to share on Instagram. Davinia and Indiana are not Obedience Champions or even that patient when it comes to having their picture taken. We don’t have some fancy set up. I use what I have to create the end result. There are some days when I think a fancy white background would be a dream and others when I think to myself what a nightmare a white backdrop would be to try and keep it white.




The basics of our Instagram Photo Shoots

• I rely on what they would do naturally and make sure I have the camera handy and ready to snap away.
• I make sure that I turn off any lights that are on in the area that I am going to be working in and open the blinds.
• Turn off the flash unless you really know what you are doing.
• I figure out where the sun is coming from and make sure that it is behind me and not the girls.
• I put the dogs where I want them with whatever the prop is I am trying to get a picture of them with and start taking pictures.
• I let them explore the object I am trying to get them with and allow them to be comfortable with it so close to them especially if it is invading their “space”.
• I don’t generally attempt both dogs at once unless there is a treat or food involved and they can just go ahead and stick their heads in and chow down.
• I start the photo session with the dog that I think will do best for the image I want to create but sometimes they are not interested and so I will try with the other one. Pushing one or the other or both results in mostly unusable images.
• Indiana has the better sit stay but she gets too impatient and wants things to go her way so it is often Davinia who is happy to sit down or lay down with something next to her.

Is food a motivator or an Instigator? For us it is an instigator.

• They might look at the treat in my hand for about 30 seconds before trying to come over and get it. If I put the treat in the picture I better want a picture of them eating it.
• If I want pictures of the girls in action I can use food in the photo shoot. If I want them checking out the product and not knocking over the bag or actually looking at me I don’t use any food. For us it is a distraction.
• To get their attention I call their name or make funny noises or just talk to them. It usually holds their attention long enough to take a few pictures in that pose before trying something else.

How long is a photo shoot?

• A photo shoot lasts maybe 3 minutes total. If I haven’t gotten anything that I think will make a great picture we stop and try again later.
• I don’t sit and ponder each picture to determine if I think it is the right one. I take as many as I can. It is only at this point that I will check out what I have already taken to see if there is a really great one or if I need to try something else.
• I don’t try multiple photo shoots at once. I might try to get the perfect picture for the Blog post, Instagram, one to share on Twitter, and something that I think will do well on Pinterest but all for the same product or idea.

How do you set up for a Photo Shoot?

• That all depends on what you are trying to get a picture of. Is it a staged photo or is it something more natural.
• Set up could literally mean I look over and see the girls doing something that would make a good sharable image so I get up from my desk walk over so that the sun is behind me if I can and take the picture. This usually takes all of 30 seconds because by this time they are more interested in what I am doing and have moved.
• Other times set up is more involved. I will set up the scene while the dogs are off doing something else so that when I call one or both over they are curious and interested in exploring whatever I just did. I make sure my camera is ready and I snap away.

Our biggest tips?

• Use natural light
• Don’t push it. Let that WOW picture come naturally.
• Don’t do anything that would put your dogs in any danger or encourage others to put their dogs in danger to copy your picture. Outdoor off leash pictures should be done in a fenced yard, at the dog park or on a leash. Don’t like the look of the leash in the pictures make an investment on some collars and leashes that either blend into the background or really pop.
• The more you do to your dog the less comfortable they will be. Let them be natural.
• If your dog doesn’t want anything to do with the scene you envisioned try again later or think it through so that you can do it in a way that is more natural to their every day behavior.

Davinia with her masterpiece for #WHPidrewthis The background on the picture Davinia is sitting with is I did a photo shoot of the girls having a tea party. I then sent some of those images as inspiration to a really talented Fiverr artist (mgjohn78) turn into a coloring book which he did. I took one of the pages and colored it in for Davinia to show off. #cavalier #Cavaholic #weeklyfluff #dogsofinstagram #cute #ilovemydog #bestoftheday #collab

A photo posted by Felissa Elfenbein (@twolittlecavaliers) on Apr 19, 2015 at 4:02pm PDT