Diane Schuller, Your All Occasion Custom Photographer

First I have to tell you all about a giveaway over at Decor Happy. Head on over to enter for their draw for the decorating book, Restore. Recycle. Repurpose. I love decorating ideas that utilize some form of recycling or repurposing and I hope one of us wins the draw for that book! Now on to another tip I have for you that ties in with the title of that giveaway book.

My last post provided you with a great tip for using & displaying all those snapshots you have buried in boxes or albums (see What Can I Do with all my Snapshots). Displaying photos is definitely a part of our decor, of course. Here’s a recycling tip for you. The other day I was in town and stopped by our local thrift store. They had several picture frames and many of them were pictures in frames.  I sorted through them and brought these ones home. I’ll be fixing them up a bit but all it will take is a can of spray paint using a cardboard box (outside) to prevent the wind from blowing the paint everywhere. I’ll paint the frames but that darling photo easel I plan to use as-is. I’ve done this before and highly recommend heading to your local thrift store to see what great finds you can bring home and use for getting some of your photos up on the wall.

The added bonus is when you do something like this, often the frames don’t need any touch up, but even with the fresh touch of paint, I have two new frames and a photo easel at a steal. I paid $ 3.85 for both frames plus the easel. When you’re at the thrift store check for those nice wood recipe boxes. They make ideal photo boxes and if you leave the lid open with a photo or two slipped up, guests will be enticed into looking through them. In the past I’ve often picked up hand made doilies for less than a dollar that I use throughout my home. Don’t get me going on tips for repurposing things either — I could go on and on with that subject!

NEWSLETTER:  I should also mention that I plan to resume producing the monthly newsletter. My newsletter will be filled with tips such as some of the ones I’ve been sharing with you lately. I also plan to include resources and other useful information. I’m going back to the newsletter because I’m needing to refine my online time. This means I will be making far fewer Facebook posts but I will continue to leave the automated setting so all these blog posts go to my Facebook page. But to get all the ‘juicy’ stuff, I’ll be including that in my newsletter. Sure a few things will continue to be included here but the monthly newsletter will have directed content of use to anyone. If you or someone you know may be interested in my monthly newsletter, you can let me know either by adding your name over at my website, enter from the opening page, and click on the little envelope icon that appears at the bottom right of the screen. Alternatively, if you leave me a note above using the Contact tab, so that I have your email address. I will be setting up with an automated email company so I can assure everyone they won’t be spammed and so that it is easy to opt out. It may be a couple weeks before I have all the details ironed out and then I’ll contact everyone. Thank you so much for your loyalty and for your understanding while I work at streamlining this part of my business.

Photographs never forget!

If you are one of the few people who actually gets your snapshots printed (what a concept!), have you questioned what you can do with all of them? I’m sure you have. I have too. Here’s a great idea I actually got from a friend who does this very thing. She had all kinds of snapshots of her family, her garden, and trips they had taken. The problem is, she’s not keen on taking time to put them all into albums but she does keep them organized in photo boxes. (Between you and me it wouldn’t matter if she kept them in shoe boxes — at least she has physical copies of them rather than leaving them on her hard drive!). So here’s what she does.

If you drop by her place for a visit, on her coffee table she always has a pretty dish or bowl prominently placed for all to see. The trick is, that bowl or plate is never empty. Instead of filling it with mounds of apples or a variety of fruit, she has a scattering of photos inside that pretty bowl. I can tell you it’s usually hard to resist picking up some of the photos and getting a closer look. It can even be a great conversation starter when you have a gathering of people over for a visit.

I’m sure you’re thinking to yourself, “That’s well and good but that’s only a few photos. What about all the others?” Ah ha! There’s more to it. She leaves the snapshots out for a while (I’m sure that can be whatever time period you like: a week, a month). She then gathers the dishful up, puts them back in the box and brings out another handful or two and drops them in the bowl. How clever is that? You and I could do that too. The snapshots are being rotated and you, your family, and guests will always have them right there in front of you to view. I certainly wouldn’t worry about the few fingerprints or the occasional rubbed edge on a snapshot — the snapshot still exists and at least they’re being shared as they were meant to be! Snapshots are meant to be a reminder of moments past. But if we never look at them then why take them in the first place? Besides, not only is it easier on the eyes browsing through photos that you can actually hold, but those moments linger in your mind simply because they are visible and being seen.

[caption id="attachment_2489" align="aligncenter" width="432" caption="snapshots on a white plate on display as home decor"][/caption]

At your OFFICE: You could do the same thing at your office. Bring a vase that flares toward the top or an empty box from chocolates (line the box with tissue first) and toss in your photos. I bet you’ll start a trend at work or compete to see who has the best display vessel! Go ahead, get those snapshots printed and on display.

I’d love to know how you take advantage of displaying your snapshots — the ones that are printed out and not wasting away on  your computer. If you have a photo of them on display, include the link and I’ll come take a peek!

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Diane is a custom photographer who values images that are in print rather than sitting on a disc or hard drive.

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Photographs never forget. I can help you keep your memories alive. Contact me at:  photos @ dianeschuller . com (remove spaces) or use the contact tab above.

What can I do for YOU? If you’ve been following me for a while, you are aware that I try my best to keep this photo journal focused on my business, with a few personal tidbits tossed in from time to time. In addition to announcing news and promotions, posting client sneak peeks, and showing some of my boutique products, I’ve been trying to share some advice or information about photographs, photography in general, plus some everyday environmental tips (my other passion). I try to give information that will help you organize or display your own photos or those you get from a pro photographer. Some topics are more helpful for those with a small business as well. We all have photographs around the home whether we took them ourselves or hired a custom photographer so I would love to know if there are other topics and tips you might like me to share? I do plan to have a post very soon on how to display your photos in your home or office and have another one planned discussing how not to get burned by hiring an amateur photographer (the ones who tend to hang around Kijiji for instance or who ‘pretend’ to be professionals). But I’m sure there are other topics that would interest you. Do you have a burning question? If you do, I want to hear from you.

For those who don’t follow my Facebook business page, I’m going to take advantage and share some of the tips and helpful information I’ve been sharing over there in the past week or so. It’s a potpourri of information but helpful none-the-less.

• My environment column from last week’s newspaper is now online for the general public. If you have children/grandchildren who are creative, read about this great opportunity! “Show Robert Bateman the Talent of our Canadian Children.”
• TIP: Your home snapshots are safest when printed out; don’t leave them on discs or your computer hard drive! Get them printed and, even if they are in photo boxes, you will still have them. For home printing try www.kodakgallery.ca (or www.kodakgallery.com for those in the USA). Fair prices, many specials, prompt service, easy to do, very reasonable shipping, and good quality for home prints.
• TIP: Selecting a Photographer (don’t be fooled by the cheap prices of amateurs — you get what you pay for).
• From another of my previous environment columns, “Heritage Seeds are A Green Choice this Spring”.
• Never use the sticky type of photo albums. Your photos will eventually adhere and will be damaged (not to mention impossible to remove). Pay the small amount more for acid-free photo albums and you will have your snapshots for generations.

I told you this one was a real potpourri of items. So please, I truly would appreciate if you would take a moment to answer the question, “How may I help you?” Let me know what information I can share that will help YOU.

Earlier this week I shared two tips for those are are planning a wedding but I posted them over at Facebook and forgot to share them here! So, for any of you who are planning a wedding or know someone who is planning a wedding in the near future, send them here for these great tips.

The first one I shared with S & T whose wedding I will be covering in July. I’m sure you’ve been to weddings where you can’t for the life of you find the wedding location or the reception location. Here is a great customized solution you can include with your wedding invitations:  Wedding map custom design by a very talented gal at Etsy is the solution to that problem. This is a great solution for those who are involved in planning other events or fund raisers as well. Check it out!

The next tip is a very useful yet brief article written by a wedding photographer — a pro. This is written specifically for the general public providing you with valuable information when selecting a wedding photographer. Read “Tips from a Wedding Photographer”. And one more written by an Edmonton wedding photographer on Choosing Your Wedding Photographer. It’s highly unlikely you’re going to find a quality photographer through Kijiji or Craigslist.

Providing tips to clients and the general public regarding photography or photo-related issues is going to be a regular feature here and in my monthly newsletter (sign up by clicking on the envelope icon at my website on the main page). Sign up so you don’t miss any future tips. I also have some tips in the archives (check the “Categories” tab above) under the heading “Photography TIPS”. Let your friends know about this as well by using the “email a friend” tab below and to the right.

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Photographs Never Forget!

All content and images are Copyright © Diane Schuller. All Rights Reserved. Do not copy, download, or take screenshots. Thank you for respecting copyright.

{These tips are provided as general interest plus as a service to my clients and the general public. Enjoy!}

Flowers are such a popular subject to photograph, even when we’re in the midst of winter and months away from spring — or maybe for that very reason. Since flowers are such a popular subject for photographing, whether you’re an amateur who simply loves flowers and uses a basic point-and-shoot or you have a DSLR or even an old film camera, I feel this is an ideal subject for experimentation or stretching your wings.

Notice how I’ve focused on the buds of this vibrant Amaryllis rather than the flamboyant blooms. Another thing I did with this image was to use strictly natural light, ensuring the light was streaming in from the side, providing a nice focus on the details of the folds of the buds. I never ever use the on-camera flash — for anything. On-camera flash can be okay, in a pinch, to use as fill if taking photos outside in the shade, but I still don’t like it even then. Most people naturally seem to want to take advantage of lots of streaming daylight. Again, I’ve gone against that by shooting in shutter-priority mode so that I could reduce the amount of light coming in. I wanted to have a more dramatic look and feel to these buds. That’s how I got this result which has an abstract feel to it as well.

Next time you’re taking photos of flowers, whether indoors or outside, I encourage you to consider focusing on something other than the ‘normal’ face-on blooms, play around with the light, and play around with your settings. That’s the beauty of digital cameras; we can experiment to our hearts content and delete the ones that don’t work yet keep the ones we like the most.

In the image below, I’ve done a few things to make this more original or artistic. Again, I used natural light but had my shutter speed adjusted to let in more light so that more of the veining was apparent on the flower. The other thing you can see I did was capture the back of the bloom instead of the face of it. There is so much pretty detail to the back. There is also emphasis on all those lovely curves. The final thing I did was accomplished in post processing: I added a light vintage hue to the entire image and then cropped it square. Again, the result is entirely different from the way most people would automatically tend to take a photo of a flower. Even if you don’t have post processing software, you can create a unique and artistic image simply by changing what you focus on and how you use the available light. Give it a try!

I have other photography tips in the archives and will do my best to include more posts in the near future on a wide range of tips and suggestions. To see the ones that are in the archives, simply use the “Categories” tab at the top menu bar, scroll to “Photography Tips” and click on that to bring up the list. For those in the Grande Prairie area, become a fan of my Facebook photography business page to learn about an upcoming photography workshop I will be conducting.

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Diane is a freelance photographer available for commercial, environmental – editorial, and portrait assignments. Visit her website to view her portfolio or to contact her.

Kelly and Victoria at Design Ties are beginning a concept called Rewind Wednesday. The idea is to spend more time enjoying summer (away from the computer) therefore replaying a post from the archives on this day. I’ve decided to participate with their inaugural Rewind Wednesday.

TAKING PICTURES OF YOUR DOG / PET (from April 7, 2009)

Taking pictures of your dog, cat, or other pets are often similar to taking photos of your children. As promised here are a few simple, yet basic, aspects to keep in mind when taking pictures of your family dog(s). If there is interest, in future I can provide information to address more advanced approaches. These six tips will form a good base to get you started taking better snapshots of your family pet.

1. Have an assistant, whenever possible. If you have a friend or family member you can put them to work in playing with the dog or pup or by acting as a distraction with a toy, for instance. Squeaky toys are good for getting dogs to perk their ears at attention and for directing which direction the dog faces.
2. Turn off the flash and turn the beep feature off on your camera. Take your photos in a brightly lit room or outdoors so the flash is not necessary. Many animals become leary of cameras when the beep goes off every time the shutter is released. You don’t want your pet worried about the camera — you want him/her relaxed.
3. Forget about posing! Attempting to pose a dog, especially with the dog looking straight at the camera, most times is so lifeless and lacks personality. The best photos are those where you capture your dog (or your kids) at play, concentrating or showing curiosity over something, or even relaxing after a long run or playtime. As mentioned, if you have some toys or treats with you, you can toss it out to get the dog moving or playing. When you forget about posing and simply allow your pet to be itself, not only will you capture personality but you’ll also find you enjoy these the most because the real essence of your dog/pet is captured.
4. Turn your camera’s setting to continuous mode. Whether you have a point-and-shoot, a DSLR or a 35mm film camera, you will have that capability. This allows the camera to take a continuous stream of photos while keeping the shutter pressed, hopefully so you don’t miss some unexpected shots especially if your pet is moving.
5. Take lots and lots of pictures! Don’t worry so much about perfection. Be more concerned about capturing special moments. If you have a digital camera, you have the luxury of taking all kinds of shots without having to pay for developing/processing. Simply delete the rejects after downloading them to your computer and hang on to the good ones (be sure to get them printed).
6. Get down! This one is key. When you get down to the pet’s level (again, this is important for photos of children too) and preferably the closer the better, your images will immediately improve. If you have a DSLR, you can get even better results by attaching your zoom lens. This will allow you to be further away (out of their face), less intimidating, and to still capture those close up shots. Ideally, you want to nearly (or fully) fill the frame with your subject. You don’t want your subject to be a blob or dot in the frame.

The dog’s face fills the frame, concentrating on his eyes. He’s not looking directly at the camera (distracted) and the camera is not in his face because a zoom lens was used. The only thing done to this was to sharpen it slightly after downloading to the computer.

It doesn’t matter that this dog is not facing the camera — the image tells a story: she is hanging back while the other two are off hunting (typical of this dog). Taken down at the dog’s level and she nearly fills the frame.

Here the dog is captured playing in the snow (with snow flying). It doesn’t matter that the other dog’s head snuck in — it shows curiosity. Again, the dog mostly fills the frame.

Here’s a shot taken after the dog had sufficient time to play and wear off energy. He’s keeping still yet his attention is elsewhere (a distraction) and has that ‘posed’ look.

PhoDOGraphy: How to Get Great Pictures of Your Dog

How to Take Great Pet Pictures: Recipes for Outstanding Results with Any Camera

Copyright © 2009 Diane Schuller. All Rights Reserved. It is illegal to copy any part of this post or the photos without the written permission of the author. You may link to this page from your blog or website.

Diane is an on-location lifestyle photographer (dogs, pets, families, children) serving Grande Prairie & Northern Alberta/BC. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.

The first time I pointed my camera at a stranger and clicked the shutter, I simultaneously began to perspire and a feeling of near-panic came over me. I wondered if the person would stomp over and smash my camera, or scream at me, or who-knows-what. Well none of those things happened and I’m now more comfortable when photographing strangers. I do suggest being prepared with what to say to them and armed with some model releases, if you intend on using those photos. I’ll share a few tips here for those of you who are feeling the same way I was that first time.

Before I get started, I think there is a distinct difference between taking shots of children and those of adults. If you’re going to be taking photos of children you really don’t want parents or their guardians looking askance thinking you’re some weirdo. If you’re going to take photos of children you don’t know, I highly recommend walking over and asking their parents (or guardian) before you do so. Above all, be honest. Let them know what you’re doing and why. Put them at ease right away — and smile. Smiles go a long way with strangers. Flatter the parent by saying their child really stood out “with her playful spirit”, “he’s so neatly dressed”, “those eyes are so beautiful” or whatever — but remember, be genuine. Also, if the parent knows you are trying to practice your photography skills capturing children at play, to photograph children in natural light, or maybe you’re working on a project photographing sibling interaction (or whatever it is), they are more likely to believe that your intentions are harmless.

The Approach: Although I like to keep my posts brief, this post has a variety of steps and considerations so let’s get to the meat of the matter. Here are the steps that work for me in approaching strangers.

• Try an opening line that flatters the person (or their child if it’s the child you wish to photograph). Follow that up with a reason for the photo. Be genuine and don’t make things up — and avoid gushing (it’s that old balance issue again). Something like this, “Excuse me (smiling), I’m sorry for staring but I’m drawn to the great lines in your face. I’m an amateur photographer working on a project photographing interesting people in Old Strathcona. I’d love to take your picture.” Keep your opening line(s) as short and to the point as possible. Here’s another example, “Excuse me (smiling), I’ve been watching how wonderfully you interact with your dog. I’m an amateur photographer practicing my skills on portraits of people and their pets. I’d be very grateful if you’d allow me to take a photo of you and your dog.”
• Promise to provide the stranger with a print from the photos you take. I don’t always blurt this out until they have either agreed or if they show they are hesitant, it’s usually a clincher. In this age of digital cameras and so many people being on email, I like to offer a print by email — that way it costs me nothing yet there is something in it for them. More on that below.
• Use the brief opportunity to practice your  networking and photo session skills. Talk to the person! Make them feel comfortable and perhaps ask a question or two, “I see from your T-shirt you’ve attended Edmonton’s Folk Music Festival. What was the best part of the festival for you? (or I might ask who their favourite performer was)” This shows your genuine interest in the person and gets them talking about themselves, which is something most people like to do. You get the idea. It’ll put you at ease too. And don’t stop at one photo; take advantage and get multiple shots from different angles.

Photos are Taken, Now What?

• Thank the person for their patience and agreeing to do this. If they ask to see the images, let them peek at your screen.
• Remind them that you’ll email the best one to them, as agreed upon.
• Now you need to pull out your standard model release. The one I use for strangers is really stripped down and basic. I also found this difficult to do the first time I pulled out my model release — talk about a case of nerves. But it’s all in how you introduce it I have found. Let them know this is a standard release so you can use the best images of them for your portfolio or to use in a gallery project (you never know!) and that you need their full name and address to make this a legal document. As you’re handing them the pen, remind them to print their email address carefully so their photo won’t get lost in cyberspace. I have found few people even bother to read the model release, a few do, and no one has ever refused me. Besides, what is the worst thing that can happen if they do refuse to sign it? The worst thing is that you can’t use their image in publications — no big deal, right?
• A note about model releases: if you are taking photos of children, you need the child’s name plus the name of the parent or legal guardian plus their signature. In the case of a model release for dogs/pets you need a brief description of the dog (Collie cross, German Shepherd, or whatever), the dog’s name, and then the name and signature of the owner.
• I always have business cards with me and this is one of those times when I hand one to the person (well usually two) saying, “This is who I am so you know I’m legitimate or if you wish to contact me for any reason.”
• Let them know you’re really pleased and end the ’session’ with a smile and move along.

Avoid This:

• Don’t use this opportunity to soft sell. Don’t let the person know you sell your photos and don’t hint that they could buy some extra prints for their mother, father, spouse, or best friend.
• The same principle applies about not trying to book them for a photo session. (you’ll see below a better way of doing this).
• Don’t procrastinate and hold off on sending the image to the stranger for a long time afterwards. Get it done as soon as possible — within a day or two.

Sending the Print:

• As soon as possible after the day of taking the image, send the best one to the person as agreed. There’s no reason to delay since it wasn’t a paid or lengthy photo session where you need to sort, post process and spend hours on preparation.
• I watermark these ones though I don’t make it huge or intrusive (like those I do here in my photo journal); I want the watermark quietly sitting in the corner so anyone seeing it knows who created the image.
• When you email the image, be sure to say something in your email. You could start with something like “Hi Alex, as promised here is a print from those photos you kindly allowed me to take the other day. It turned out well and I hope you like it. Thanks again so much — it was great chatting with you.” … or something like that — let your personality come out in the email but make it brief.
• This part is important: be sure you have an automated signature in your email and that your name, contact information, and website (or photoblog if you don’t have a website yet) are included. After all, this is the part where if they want to get in touch with you, or hire you, or tell their friends about your photography, they are reminded how easy it is to get in touch. You want the door open and the sign lit (so to speak).

So what if you don’t ever plan on using your photos of strangers in any publication, on your website/blog, in your portfolio, or in a project? Well, you could still take photos of strangers and not ask for their permission. I do this too. But those photos are pretty much just practice. In fact, if that’s all you really want to do and you maybe don’t want people knowing you are pointing your camera at them, have I got something to tell you about! Over at PhotoJojo (and no I don’t get any kickbacks) they have an amazing lens & adapter known as a Super-Secret Spy Lens intended specifically for taking photos of strangers. Head over and watch their brief video demonstrating a photographer using it to take photos of unsuspecting people.

Hopefully, I’ve remembered all the important tips that I use. If you have more tips to share or great opening lines, please include them in the comments. As you all know, I always respond directly to each person who leaves a comment so if you have a question instead, please let me know!

This article and photographs are Copyright © Diane M. Schuller. All Rights Reserved. It is illegal to copy or use any part of these contents without the express written permission of the author. You are welcome to link to this article but you may not copy or download any part thereof.

Diane is an on-location lifestyle photographer based in Grande Prairie serving northern Alberta/BC and Edmonton. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.

On Monday I booked my first wedding. I’m both excited and full of anxiety — but more excitement than anything. Up until now I have had a firm policy that I will not do weddings. I tell people, and also have that statement on my website, that I don’t do weddings and strongly recommend hiring a photographer who specializes in weddings. Well, as you can tell, I was convinced to make an exception this one time.

If you, or someone you know, is getting married I have a great DIY tip to pass along. In these times of a depressed economy and job losses, some people may not even be in a position to hire a photographer for the wedding. If this is the case, I have a fun idea to share. It also doesn’t cost the bride & groom a dollar.

On a photography forum that I visit, there was a discussion in the tips area and this one caught my eye. We all know how guests bring along their point-and-shoots to take their own photos and that’s where the story begins. If the wedding couple won’t be able to afford a photographer, be sure to let the guests know (include it in the invitations) to bring their digital cameras and take as many photos as they like. The couple will arrange to have a digital “download station” for guests to download their photos for everyone to see — and for the couple to keep afterward! It’s as easy as having a laptop with a card reader (that way guests still have the photos on their memory cards but the bride & groom have a copy). It’s also imperative to have someone knowledgeable on how to download photos and using the laptop to ‘man’ the download station for several hours.

Back to where I heard about this in the first place. The person making the suggestion pointed to this wedding photographer’s blog post. I see there is also a suggestion about using Flickr for sharing all the wedding photos.

In this way, everyone wins! The guests still have all their own photos but the bride & groom get a wide selection of images to choose from for their wedding day – with no cost for a photographer. The newlyweds also don’t have to chase down and keep reminding (over and over again) their guests to send them copies after the day of the wedding. Sure, there may not be professional quality images but you’d be surprised how many really terrific images there will be to choose from with a variety of amateur photographers taking pictures through the day. The important thing is to document the day in photos and to save a few dollars as they set out on their new life together as husband and wife.

PS: If you have any additional tips for DIY wedding photos, please leave them in the comments below for others to check out as well! Thanks — I have the greatest visitors!

Diane is an on-location lifestyle photographer based in Grande Prairie, serving northern Alberta + Edmonton and area. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.

I can credit one book for helping me move from a rank amateur with lots of interest in photography, yet lacking in technical skills, to an amateur who finally understands how to get the most out of her camera. This one book slapped the reins in my hands enabling me to turn my little DSLR into a real workhorse.

I’ve loved photography since I was a little girl, mesmerized by the little Brownie box camera with the leather handle my parents used. Life moved forward and I focused my creative side on writing. Photography, though still a creative outlet I loved, got left behind. That changed a few years ago.

When I finally made the decision to get serious about improving my photography skills, there were roadblocks. Where I live I don’t have the benefit of access to professional photography workshops or classes though I did take an intermediate course that helped me more with post processing than anything else. I felt a void because my goal had been to become adept at maximizing my use (and understanding) of my camera’s controls.

I tried a few online forums but got absolutely nowhere because of attitude (I should KNOW those things, don’t you know). That was the whole point: I asked those questions because I was trying to learn and decipher how to fully understand the specific details about correct exposure. Someone with less attitude recommended a book that was sure to answer my questions, so I ordered it, and voila! That book made everything perfectly clear to me.

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera by Bryan Peterson was the single most significant tool that helped me better understand exposure and how to get the most out of my camera. By the time I finished the first chapter, the questions I had been asking not only were answered but he taught it in such a way that I had no more confusion about f-stops and lens opening (and determining the best exposure without it being guesswork). As I progressed through the chapters, I learned how to achieve certain effects with my camera and experimented more (while understanding what I was doing). Peterson also had suggested exercises in each chapter to encourage the reader/photographer to try out the different lessons and to expand your capabilities. With the positive reinforcement that came as a result of trying his exercises, there really was no place to go but forward! I highly recommend this book (now available as an updated version) if you wish to better understand exposure, to get the most out of your camera (whether it’s film or digital), and to improve your technical skills with any camera.

[caption id="attachment_1213" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="Copyright © Diane M. Schuller. All Rights Reserved."][/caption]

I still use the same entry level DSLR but I know I’m getting the most out of it. I’m still hoping to get a professional level camera like so many others have, but I’m comfortable that my little camera is like a little draught horse working his haunches off for me. The only reason I’m getting so much out of my little camera is due solely to what I’ve learned in an earlier version of Understanding Exposure.

That said, photography – like any creative art form – is a lifelong learning process. I still make mistakes but at least I know what I should be doing. We never stop learning and growing with the art.

Have you found a book that helped move you forward in any particular task or other part of your life? Or, if you are also an amateur photographer, what have you found to be the most helpful in moving your skills forward?

Diane is a lifestyle photographer serving Grande Prairie & Northern Alberta. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.

Taking pictures of your dog, cat, or other pets are often similar to taking photos of your children. As promised here are a few simple, yet basic, aspects to keep in mind when taking pictures of your family dog(s). If there is interest, in future I can provide information to address more advanced approaches. These six tips will form a good base to get you started taking better snapshots of your family pet.

1. Have an assistant, whenever possible. If you have a friend or family member you can put them to work in playing with the dog or pup or by acting as a distraction with a toy, for instance. Squeaky toys are good for getting dogs to perk their ears at attention and for directing which direction the dog faces.
2. Turn off the flash and turn the beep feature off on your camera. Take your photos in a brightly lit room or outdoors so the flash is not necessary. Many animals become leary of cameras when the beep goes off every time the shutter is released. You don’t want your pet worried about the camera — you want him/her relaxed.
3. Forget about posing! Attempting to pose a dog, especially with the dog looking straight at the camera, most times is so lifeless and lacks personality. The best photos are those where you capture your dog (or your kids) at play, concentrating or showing curiosity over something, or even relaxing after a long run or playtime. As mentioned, if you have some toys or treats with you, you can toss it out to get the dog moving or playing. When you forget about posing and simply allow your pet to be itself, not only will you capture personality but you’ll also find you enjoy these the  most because the real essence of your dog/pet is captured.
4. Turn your camera’s setting to continuous mode. Whether you have a point-and-shoot, a DSLR or a 35mm film camera, you will have that capability. This allows the camera to take a continuous stream of photos while keeping the shutter pressed, hopefully so you don’t miss some unexpected shots especially if your pet is moving.
5. Take lots and lots of pictures! Don’t worry so much about perfection. Be more concerned about capturing special moments. If you have a digital camera, you have the luxury of taking all kinds of shots without having to pay for developing/processing. Simply delete the rejects after downloading them to your computer and hang on to the good ones (be sure to get them printed).
6. Get down! This one is key. When you get down to the pet’s level (again, this is important for photos of children too) and preferably the closer the better, your images will immediately improve. If you have a DSLR, you can get even better results by attaching your zoom lens. This will allow you to be further away (out of their face), less intimidating, and to still capture those close up shots. Ideally, you want to nearly (or fully) fill the frame with your subject. You don’t want your subject to be a blob or dot in the frame.

The dog’s face fills the frame, concentrating on his eyes. He’s not looking directly at the camera (distracted) and the camera is not in his face because a zoom lens was used. The only thing done to this was to sharpen it slightly after downloading to the computer.

It doesn’t matter that this dog is not facing the camera — the image tells a story: she is hanging back while the other two are off hunting (typical of this dog). Taken down at the dog’s level and she nearly fills the frame.

Here the dog is captured playing in the snow (with snow flying). It doesn’t matter that the other dog’s head snuck in — it shows curiosity. Again, the dog mostly fills the frame.

Here’s a shot taken after the dog had sufficient time to play and wear off energy. He’s keeping still yet his attention is elsewhere (a distraction) and has that ‘posed’ look.

PhoDOGraphy: How to Get Great Pictures of Your Dog

How to Take Great Pet Pictures: Recipes for Outstanding Results with Any Camera

Copyright © 2009 Diane Schuller. All Rights Reserved. It is illegal to copy any part of this post or the photos without the written permission of the author. You may link to this page from your blog or website.

Diane is an on-location dog, pet & livestock photographer serving Grande Prairie & Northern Alberta/BC. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.