Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Spreading Christmas Cheer
When we posted this picture last week, we got a lot of comments about how it should be our Christmas card. A lot of people asked how we got the girls to all cooperate for the picture. I wish I knew!
The truth is, we take a lot of pictures that don't make the cut. It just requires a lot of patience and timing. We originally were just going to take a picture of one of the girls, whoever was feeling cooperative, by the tree to show a picture of it all finished.
However, the next thing we knew three of the four wanted in on the action. Not being ones to pass up an opportunity, we started to work on getting them all lined up to see if we could get a good shot.
Morgan is good about doing sits and downs on command, but she's not so good on a solid stay yet. That means that taking the picture has to happen fast. Then we have to get Morgan back into position again.
Bunny is a bit finicky about taking pictures. She's not fond of the flash. It also has to be her idea, or you get a lot of stink eye and her head goes down and stays down. Finessing her with treats is usually the best method to get her out of a sulk.
Still, I really think getting the right shot with dogs is just a bit of lightning in a bottle. You have to have the setting, the patience to keep working and dogs who are in the mood. Good luck to everybody trying to get those great Christmas shots this year!
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I think those are all pretty good shots! I can't believe you even remotely got them close to being laying down at the same time and the same place!
ReplyDeleteOne day last week I tried getting my four to pose for Christmas pictures (complete with lots of costume/hat changes). This isn't something I recommend tackling by yourself. So, the next day a friend who is into photography came over and we tried again. If you're on GreyTalk, check out the thread titled "I'm ready for my closeup Mr. Demile." She really got some good shots that I'm thrilled to have.
ReplyDeleteMorgan is especially photogenic. I agree -- this should be your Christmas card this year.
Hugs to all your babies, especially Miss Blueberry.
I feel like I should play that game "which one doesn't belong?" (tongue in cheek of course... they all do!) but morgan's ears compared to the hounds are rather hilarious... sticking out like a soar thumb! LOL! cute.
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely Christmas picture.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful girls!
Time and patience well rewarded.
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots of everyone!!! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteYu must havs a faster shutter button finher than my Ma she gets ohhhh so many butt shots ovs me n Ronnii.............BOL
ReplyDeleteLuvs
Richie
xx xx
The second picture cracked me up (like I have any chance of getting The Herd to sit still for a picture),
ReplyDeleteTiming is everything. I delete lots if duds too. I would like a photo of mine in front of the tree too, but I'm not sure I have that much patience. I'm certain you'll cherish this. I love the rare photos of all of mine in one shot.
ReplyDeleteI find with song it's a case of grabbing the camera as and when she does somethng. She won't pose.
ReplyDeleteLoving the photos.
I love all of them! I have a setting on my camera that is supposed to be used for taking photos of an aquarium, so there is not flash, but still gives light. It works well for taking photos of the dogs, if there is enough light in the room.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are always great!
They are great shots! We never got to cooperate that well with piappies mom. We actually secretly laugh at her whenever she tries to get us all together. (that's a secret, ok?)
ReplyDeleteWe love your photos!
Love,
Piappies Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Pai & Wai-Max
Those are some pretty good pictures!
ReplyDeleteMaybe...just maybe you need to stop by our house and have a try:)
They are a series of good shots though and the first picture deserved to be a Christmas card picture!
ReplyDeleteI know how hard it's to make them all line up and make the cheesy face in front of the flashy box. Just like you, I've to be patient and quick enough whenever my two are together. Mika finds Eva annoying most of the time and he never likes to take pictures together with her at all. Beside, he is a camera shy man; he either looks down or looks away so the only trick is the treats! Sigh!!! Luckily there are digital cameras nowadays, I don't think I can afford to take so many pictures with my old-fashioned camera which uses films...
It's only me in my house and mom still has a tough time getting me to pose fur a picture. Her is in awe of your ability to gets all four of my furiends to pose so nicely. :)
ReplyDeleteWoofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae
Oh, yeah, I hear you - I'm not revealing how many outtakes there were to get the photos on our card :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely holiday picture!
ReplyDeleteI love Morgan's red bow! We would love to have you join us on our next X Paws adventure in January. I also still have your idea about investigating the Plasa (spelling?) bird on the list.
ReplyDeleteYour pal, Pip
Thanks for sharing they don't all turn out perfect. I was pretty intimidated (and not a little impressed) when I saw the first shot.
ReplyDeleteYup, you is rite, so many pikshures is bloopers wot is not fit fur public viewing. Mom always say if'n we cooperate it not take as long. Dixie and me do be solid on our stays but is our eggspreshuns wot sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. We do the pouty face like Bunny. Sydney is not trained like us so it always be harder to get her to plant her butt but she do be smiling and hamming it up fur the camera always - nefur pouty face from her. Is eggshausting being a dog model!
ReplyDeleteI keep the outtakes because one day- when they are old and gray- I hope to look back and remember their silly puppy games!
ReplyDeleteMomma Heartbeat
What a brilliant load of Christmas love under your tree!
ReplyDeleteCheers Spiffo, Cami & Jakka
You have lots more patience then I have. We finally got some have way good indivdiual shots but no way would we get a group shot by the tree. I think I need some more patience and some training techniques. HoundDogMom
ReplyDeleteYou must be a genius to get all of them at once. My mom person has enough trouble with just little old me!
ReplyDeleteNubbin wiggles,
Oskar
I LOVE to make my mom take about 87 pics to get just one keeper. It is a grrrreat game. Delete is one of her most often used words.
ReplyDeletei'm impressed. it takes quite a lot of skill to get 4 dogs to cooperate for a photo op! i have enough trouble with just 2 dogs! asa is like bunny and doesn't like the flash, so i try not to use the flash whenever possible. asa also hates the "click" sound that the camera makes when it's taking a picture, but i recently figured out how to mute it, so picture taking has gone a little easier since then. muahahaha. booker, on the other hand, adores the camera and will pretty pose for anything! :)
ReplyDeletethe booker man and asa's mama
Furry nice pikhs -
ReplyDeleteMom and I khan hear the khommentary exchanged too!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
I take a lot of photos that don't make the cut, just like you. Having the camera out and taking lots of photos seems to be the key. You captured a great one!
ReplyDeleteDo you fix "glowing eyes"? I noticed that none of your dogs have them in your photo and all their eyes look pretty natural. If you have a trick, I'd love to know about it! When I try to fix glowing eyes, I end up with alien dogs.
Fantastic pictures of your woofies. Mommy will never get all five of uSSSSS to cooperate!
ReplyDeleteYou just hads to go and show dis AND give tips...just when mum finally gave up! It's hard enough fur hers to get just one of us to cooperate but all 3 is a nitemare.
ReplyDeletePuddles
Fred is a nightmare at staying.... makes his pictures a total pain!! Thankfully I have my new nikon to get fast pics :)
ReplyDeleteSweet Morgan looks happy with all those hounds!
What a great looking pack....hope your having a great start of the week
ReplyDeleteLove it! Love it, love it!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are a beautiful bunch!!! Good Mom good!!!
xxoo, Bambi & Fern
Good Job! Working with just one dog is frustrating...you got all 4 to pose!
ReplyDeleteWyatt's Mom
Is Bunny doing the stinkeye in the last photo or a Marlena Dietrich impersonation??
ReplyDeleteDog photography can be so difficult; I know half the time it's just luck for us.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty much what happened here yesterday too. Ciara just was NOT going to let that tree be behind her back - she wanted to keep her eye on it for every second. So finally after several bad outtakes, Mom got TD and Phantom in position, "stuck" Ciara to the carpet, and clicked away. She says she just got lucky.
ReplyDeleteWoos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara
Yup, that's what we have found as well. Timing is everything!
ReplyDeleteLovely tree by the way!
Mom says she has NO idea what you mean. That we all pose pawfectly every time. And then she burst into maniacal cackling. I think it's mainly Brudder Ranger's fault. He's always all, "Pardon me. What? You want me to sit near Mayzie? Have you lost your mind? She might get some of her brindle fur on me. What do you mean, who cares? I care!"
ReplyDeleteSigh.
Anyway, we liked ALL the pictures! Morgan's quite the little poser, isn't she?
Wiggles & Wags,
mayzie
Ain't that the truth! Gosh, mom is really hell bent on getting our pic, but we are not doing very well on cooperating...Sorry Mom.
ReplyDeleteI love how Morgan is looking at the camera in every pic.
Kitty and Coco
Great Photo's, Your skill at timing these photo's is very envied! :-)
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos!
ReplyDeleteProblem in this house is that the only one really happy to pose all the time for photos is Clive! The rest of the gang have to be persuaded by Clive is only ever too happy to sit and pose. We were visiting Santa this evening and he couldn't believe how Clive posed with him.
take care
Murray's Mom
Great shots of some lovely girls! Merry Christmas to all!
ReplyDeleteOh my... we didn't even get a chance to put two and one together, but... next year! You did an amazing job - and you always take such awesome photos! Furry xmassy!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs xoxoxo
Sammie and Avalon
Great Shots! I had to laugh when you said you just take a lot of pictures and many don't make the cutting room floor. I do the same thing! People always compliment me on my shots, but it often takes me a few shots to get it just right. Obviously you got the shot you wanted. Love the idea for a Christmas card!
ReplyDeleteWas there any super glue involved because I don't know how you all got so flat and stationary even for a moment. Not to mention facing in the proper direction. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteSlobbers,
Mango
Love that last shot with the Bunny Stinkeye!
ReplyDeleteI like the last one.
ReplyDelete"Bah humbug."
"Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas!"
"Bah humbug."