P#14: A Feisty Image of a Puppy and a Dog
Vik Orenstein captures an amusing image of a puppy and a dog
Sometimes the subjects of your photographs just do not want to cooperate, which is exactly what happened to Vik Orenstein when she was trying to take pictures of a puppy and a dog.
How did she get them to cooperate with the shoot? The tale is quite interesting...
The Fastest Way to a Dog's Heart...
Vik Orenstein: The picture of the puppy and a dog is a perfect example of how most of us will do anything for food. Food works really well for kids -- the raisins in the pocket, and treats. It works great for dogs too.
During this shoot we would stop and take treat breaks if we have to.
This older dog was not at all happy about having a puppy in the house. He was eight and he was really crotchety. The puppy really wanted to play with him but he would just bat her away so she was afraid of him and he was not at all pleased with her.
(click the image for a larger version) The owner really wanted to get an interaction shot of the two of them, so we took some peanut butter and some salad dressing or salad oil. I don't really know which one was the kicker that worked but we spread both on the puppy's face and rubbed it in so it wouldn't show or look greasy or anything.
Then, very carefully and gently, we brought them closer and closer to each other.
Finally the owner set the puppy down in front of the big dog. He sniffed her nose and it was just long enough so that we could get the interaction shot.
In Summary
Great shots don't just fall in your lap -- sometimes you have to make them happen. That's exactly what Vik Orenstein did in this photo of a puppy and a dog.
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