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The Right Way to Travel, Weekly Photo Tip
September 19, 2007
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PHOTO ON THE 45
By Shelly Perry in Washington D.C.
This past weekend I was in Hershey, PA at AWAI's first-ever pet photography workshop. I was there an instructor. (I spoke to the group about setting up an easy, low-budget website that would allow them to take orders online. And I also did a presentation on breaking into stock photography with pictures of pets). But I was also an attendee.
When I read about this workshop in AWAI's newsletter, I begged Lori to find a seat for me. Not because I wanted to teach. But because I wanted to learn. And learn I did.
We had a great time. And if laughter is good medicine, we should all be healthy for years to come. Ren Netherland, our key presenter, kept us in stitches. I heard one of the attendees say...
(continued below...)
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*Highly Recommended*
An AWAI Exclusive
Pet Photography DVDs with Ren Netherland and Shelly Perry
In this three-part series, I'll learn:
* How to pose a dog for the best possible picture
* A dozen or so tricks for getting a dog or cat to look at the camera
* How to use a pet "handler" to get your dog to sit still
* Incredibly easy photo editing techniques that make any photographer look like an expert
* How to fix a dog's eyes and hair in Photoshop
* How to work with light to get professional quality portraits
* How to sell your portraits for stock
Plus much, much more...
Details here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/pvd/letushelp
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his sides hurt from laughing so much.
Ren was not only our resident comedian, but he was also a fount of information. Here's a tip he gave for photographing pets that I use all the time when I'm photographing people (my specialty):
Photograph pets (and people) "on the 45."
What that means is that people and pets are more flattering in a photograph when they're positioned at a 45-degree angle to the camera rather than straight on.
With people, I tell my subject to point her toes, hips, and sometimes shoulders at something off in the distance that is at that 45-degree angle and then bring her nose back toward me (the camera).
With pets it's basically the same concept, except pets don't follow directions quite as well as people do. (Though some are, I noticed, actually easier to work with.)
If you can get your dog or cat to sit still, either put it at a 45-degree angle or move yourself just a little to the side until you're at the 45-degree angle to the animal. If you're photographing a male dog, this is particularly important as the 45-degree angle will help hide their... well, their "equipment."
Ren was full of tricks and tactics to get a dog to look at the camera -- including one that involves a potato chip bag. I was so eager to learn, I arrived a few days early to pick his brain. After all, photographing pets is in some ways the same as photographing people. But in other ways it's very different.
I learned a lot and AWAI recorded the whole bit. You can register for a pre-press copy of those recordings (on DVD) here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/pvd/letushelp
Remember -- this month's challenge is your last chance to enter for this year's $2,000 grand prize.
ENTER TO WIN!
This month's photo challenge theme is "Fins, Fangs, Feathers and Fur." If you have a picture to submit, log on to our website and click on the Enter to Win tab. (Note: First-time users need to register on the "register" link on the right side bar first. Once you have a username and password, click "Enter to Win" to upload your photo. Only one photo per applicant will be considered. No purchase necessary to register.)
Photos are due by 8:00 a.m. EST, Monday, October 1, 2007.
[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shelly Perry from Portland, Oregon, specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits. She is known especially for her imaging of children. Shelly's concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces. Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, web sites, ad campaigns and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.
To meet Shelly in person, visit: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/santafe]
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