Slice of Nice

Happy Easter Y’all!  I finally got out and took some new pictures of the kids and yes, I did torture them by putting ears on them. Hey it’s Easter.  I also learned that being a dog photographer while 25 weeks pregnant is not easy.  You see, I’m used to getting on their level, even laying on the ground and getting trampled if I must.  But you see, when you have this semi big belly that cuts off your air when you squat down to their level, you do one of two things, 1) pass out or 2) learn how to shoot quickly!

The kids must have understood me, because even the youngest sat there very patiently waiting for the big pregnant photographer to get in position.  However I have to say that Armani was so not pleased to be dressed in bunny ears.

Armani the bunny and Finn the Border Collie

Finn has learned how to pose quite nicely

Armani doesn't understand the word "wait" but he stayed long enough, finally

In November of 2009 we added another new member of the family, one of a completely different color!  We have supported Arizona Border Collie Rescue for a long time, but had never owned a Border Collie.  We were a Golden Retriever family.  So, why support BC Rescue?  Simply stated, they needed me.  They needed and wanted a photographer who would help them to raise funds and Golden rescue had more than enough help. That is how doing their calendar came about and how eventually I would talk my husband into saying yes to a BC.

Actually, I can’t really take credit for Finn coming into our family.  It was all her.  I knew I would have a sales job if I wanted a BC and I never could find the right selling point for Gary.  But one day, at a show where I was working the NCCF booth and ABCR was there, I brought over one of their puppies to play with during our time there.  As I went to help a customer, I handed the pup to Gary and walked away.  When I turned to take her back, he was gone.  I saw him in the distance on his way back to the ABCR booth.  Of course, I thought he was taking her back to them, but when he re-appeared, he was still holding her and she was staring at me.  He said, if you want her, she is yours.  I was in shock.  Did my husband just say yes to a BC and I didn’t even ask?

It turns out that when I handed her to him, with her little speckled legs and big ears, she looked directly at him and then licked his nose.  She made him cry.  That was it, it was that simple.  He fell in love with her and voila, Finn was ours.  That is how we came across our first real rescue.

She loves to curl up with Armani:

And she will play ‘fetch’ endlessly:

And Romeo make 5, months that is!  I’m working on the 2010 Arizona Border Collie Rescue calendar.  I first met Romeo when he was a puppy at Travel Hounds USA.  Romeo’s Mom is my friend, Layne, who owns Travel Hounds.  Ever since I’ve know Romeo, he’s been a very shy border collie and only warms up to you if you are worthy.  I was delighted to take pics of Mr. Romeo when he was a pup and this is one of my favorite pics and probably will show you his personality more than I can describe.

Owning a store full of agility equipment, you would think that Layne would have an agility dog - and as I see it - she finally took a step to the dark side and was going to try out her BC agility dog.  However, Romeo had different ideas.  There was something about agility that he wasn’t really keen on, so one day, Layne does what every BC owner seems to do at one time or another - she went herding with her Romeo. Most of those who run off to herd fall in love with the sport.  I think it’s something about watching your dog do what they were bred to do.

As a photographer, it’s really hard to capture the herding shots you think you should be taking.  For instance - the dog working the sheep.  I have always wanted the shot with the herd in the forefront and the BC coming around them.  But, alas, sheep and herding dogs don’t go where photographers want them to go.  So, I go for one of my other favorites - the BC watching his sheep.

I also love to focus on the sheep - because they seem to be talking in some of the shots.  Or they just look plain vacant.  I would title this one “Sheep Talk”:

As a dog lover, I really enjoy watching the border collies herd.  It is just fascinating that they know this stuff to the core of their being.  Watching Romeo herd was especially fun because I have known him since a puppy and Layne’s struggles with his shyness and finding something that he likes to do.  Romeo, the herding dog, is COMPLETELY different from the Romeo I’ve met.  He is full of confidence and walks with a completely different air about him.  I have no doubt that the calendar picture we pick for him will be of this new Romeo on his way to being a herding dog extraordinare!

The Arizona Border Collie Rescue 2010 Calendar should be available for purchase in September 2009.  Keep an eye here for ordering information!

Meet Scout.  She is 13 and Arizona Border Collie Rescue’s first dog, the one that started it all for Kelly.  We did some new shots for her and the red rocks presented a nice back ground today.  All in all the shoot went well, the day was nice and overcast, but I missed the blue sky from yesterday!  We did three of the calendar dogs today: Scout, Rhett and Pope!

Keep an eye on here and Twitter for more ABCR calendar fun!  Next week we are off to Flagstaff to look for snow for November, December or January calendar dogs!

Have you ever wished you were a model?  That everyone was clamoring to get your autograph or put your poster up in their room?  Or are you more of a stop and smell the roses kind of person?  Morgan was only 8 weeks old when we started doing photo shoots with her.  At this age, she wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to be when she grew up.  She truly loves to model, but she has a lot to explore and do, so she felt it was time to stop and smell the fake flowers!  Never mind that there was a photographer (namely me) on the other side of the camera, throwing monkeys, making kitty noises and in general making a complete fool of herself trying to get the attention of an 8 week old puppy.  

A few pictures later, I’d lost her attention again and she decided it was time for a break.  You know models have the right to break, it’s in their contract.  It says, that when the photographer isn’t being creative enough or if they’ve lost the ‘moment’ they can take time to regain their focus so that they can give their best.

As a photographer working with models, you really have to know how to motivate your models.  You have to get inside their heads and speak their language, stroke their egos.  Obviously, I’m not speaking the right language as I snap this beauty.

Finally!  A moment later and my young 8 week old pup is sitting tall, putting on some good expression and enjoying the screaming of the monkeys as they are thrown!  Working with models is always a challenge, but a rewarding and fun one.  So, remember, stop and smell the fake roses every once and awhile!

Click on the last picture if you would like to order this Slice of Nice card for your Valentine!