She knew exactly what I was doing. One glance at my camera and she was off.
But you can never have too many photos of your dog, right?!?
Their big soft eyes staring lovingly into yours (mostly when it’s dinner time)….and their loyalty to you...never more than a metre away. Well, she is now. Out of sight!!
I have 5,000,000, 000 photos of her waist and hind legs, the odd paw and a lot of blurry floor where she was sitting…about three seconds ago. I am getting rather good at capturing her mid-way through an escape as soon as I get my camera ready. I won't show you those.
I had spent ages setting up a 'mini-studio' in our home, but she was having none of it. All I wanted was one photo that wasn't of her backside. I was going to succeed though. She had defeated me on far too many occasions, but this time, I was armed.
Seven beef flavoured dog biscuits later and I had her where I wanted. (albeit for 5 seconds). Lights set, backdrop in place, I'm in position aaaaaaand...........
SHE'S OFF. Four paws scat across the floor, darting out the door and she's gone.
Camera shy to say the least!
'you’ll have to feed me more than a measly seven if you want me to pose like a model'
To say a ratio of one biscuit needed for one second of her attention, was about right. Oh Phoeeeebes.
She is a voluptuous, curvy pup, rescued from the Labrador trust. Considering she weighed close to 40kg when she first joined our family, she has done well on her diet so far. I did try to ration the biscuits, but if it meant getting onnnnneeee shot of her looking in my direction, then it could be her ‘cheat day’ from dieting, as far as I was concerned.
I found myself saying over and over “why can’t you sit as still as you do when your dinner is being dished up?! I would love that concentrated focus right now!!
After chasing her about the house like a mad women, I decided to take on a more lifestyle approach and capture all her glory in a more natural way. I perched on the floor next to her favourite chair and waited for her arrival. It was great! She hopped straight onto her throne and went about her daily 'people watching' out the window. I got the shots and there was no biscuit- bribing involved!
I have to say she has done me a favour in helping me realise how much I prefer this natural, un-posed style to photography. She played hard to get, but non-the-less, she deserves praise after allowing me her best side for 40 seconds- such a hard life ;) Thanks Phoebe.
