-
Get Better Photos – Teach STAY on Location!
For Joy’s 11th birthday last year, I splurged on a pro photo shoot. ????The photographer said, “I wish more of my clients would teach their dogs a stay – 5 seconds is all I need!”
????5 seconds? My word. We can do better than that, right!?
I love setting my dogs up on stuff to take their photos. Having two already trained to do so makes getting the puppy to hold a position even easier… but we all start somewhere. I got some really rewarding photos this weekend!
Here’s my process for teaching a quick STAY in any location.
1. Ensure your dog is SAFE and comfortable. Don’t ask them to STAY on anything where they may fall or get hurt. No dropped-leash traffic incidents either, please!
2. Ask your dog to Sit or Down. Feed them 5 to 10 tiny treats, quickly, right at their nose. You bring the treat to them.
3. Keep feeding, but take one step back between treats. Feed, step back, return, feed.
4. Add a little more distance between treats, always coming back to feed them. When they are holding that position well, get your camera ready!
5. If they get up, don’t feed them. Even if you lure them back into position, this earns no reward. Getting up = BUMMER!
6. As you step back, frame your shot and snap it. (most often, my first click is the best!)
7. Return and feed the dog. Try a couple more shots.
8. You can try adding a high-pitched noise to grab their attention, once the STAY is solid and they don’t get up between
-
20 Replies
-
I really hope ya’ll will post some photos here! – SHOW OFF YOUR STAYS and great photos!
-
Christmas 2021
Back row: Blue, Steevee Ann, J. Lo, Benny
Front row: Jordi, Calvin (at rainbow bridge)
-
@Tripod_Mom Jen! What a beautiful lineup! It’s so fun to see such a variety of beautiful faces here!
-
What a gorgeous group of dogs! Lovely to see them all posed and staying.
-
-
-
Oh! Your beautiful girls!!!
-
Your dogs are all like supermodels, @catherine !
Here’s a pic of 6 of my dogs plus a friend’s 3 dogs.
-
Thanks, @bernerlabreclectus ! And @virginiad – OMD this is a fun pic. Can you share the dogs’ names?
-
Sure — they are Tavish, Gem, WillowBee, Reina, Hahnia, Goliath, Wasabi, Vango, and Ren. ????
-
I love these names! I almost named Spirit “Reina” but she’s already opinionated – I was too worried with that name she would want to be Queen of everything.
Such a fun photo. Back in the days when I knew people in real life, we’d often have large, dog-friendly gatherings and the photo ops were required. Tho I don’t remember having this many in the lineup. Well done!
-
@catherine , LOL about your opinionated Spirit!
I, too, remember with fondness having big dog gatherings where everyone knew one another and got along. I relished those times!
-
Do people still do that anymore? There were just no worries about the dogs getting along… I used to walk with some friends every weekend in the woods of Montana. It was a large group. And everyone had multiple dogs. I think our largest pack was 30-some. They were, all of them, off-leash. We’d just walk on the old forest service roads and talk, while the dogs ran, played, sniffed or tottered behind. We had biggies and littles and absolutely NO DRAMA. Except for one time – somebody went after a deer – but everyone else called off and the lone dog gave up the chase before very long. Anyway. I miss those days and that lovely friend group.
-
-
-
-
-
OK, i am impressed! You’re all rock stars and another group of amazing pups!
-
-
Here are my three Aussies, Oreo, Sage and Tank 🙂
-
What a stunning trio, @Halberry124 !
-
Thank you!!!
-
-
Halley – welcome to DD – and OMD these guys are beautiful! Such lookers!
-
Thank you so much! I’m excited to be here!
-
-
-
My dogs know that when I start to pose them, they’re about to be paid well.
Log in to reply.