Chester stole the show this morning to be sure.  I love photographing pets of any kind.   This lively pup was hard to follow so what to do?  Three things:

• Let him do his thing of course!  It was us following Chester’s lead to be sure.  But this keeps him happy and gives great opportunity
• Treats!  Crucial for the obvious reasons!
• Work fast!  The attention span of most pets is pretty limited.  You can tire them out for a more portrait shot after getting the action shots when they are excited and playing.

I’m a total animal person.  Love them all.  So when I get a new toy yes, my ahem kids become my subject.  You have a great opportunity at home to photograph your pets.  They know you and trust you and that makes for the best access.  So some tips to get great portraits:

1. Instead of shooting from afar and on your feet get on your knees or sit down with them.   Get up close and personal.
2. Look at how they see the world when you look at them.  A lot of times I’m actually lying on the ground to get portraits.  It makes for much more interesting shots!
3. Take close-ups.   A nose, ear, whiskers are all bits and pieces that make for cute little details in an album or a series of portraits.
4. Make it easy and fun for them and for you.

I photographed the wedding of Karen and Eric about 7 years ago.  This still amazes me!  Now they live in NYC and are expecting their first baby.  Karen is close to due but was a very willing and able subject as we used different places in their apartment on the West Side.  Karen is a shy type and was nervous but even dared to get just a little racy and looks beautiful!  Of course the feline kids got in on the action but what are you going to do…they are part of the family! Congrats guys!!

Some hints for pregnancy portraits:

• Do it around the eighth month.  You are large enough to show but not so large that it’s uncomfortable.
• Include the whole family!  The dad, other children and the pets.
• Dress in the dad’s shirt or shorts.  It’s a way of incorporating him in the portrait that may just be belly.
• Hands on the belly are so simple but say so much.

This little guy really steals the show!!  Pet photography is fun and something interesting that always happens–people stop to pet the talent!  It’s quite odd but it shows no one can walk by a cute face and not get schmoozy!

Got a new lens…had to test it right?  My model couldn’t have been more rude.

So I love when I come across a random roll of film that didn’t make it into the lab.  Of course I hope it wasn’t from 34 years or weddings ago WHICH has never happened but I stumbled on this one recently and just thought I had to throw it up. I took it with a Holga and somehow, someway this little girl does not mind dressing up.

OK, now we are talking about my heart.  I get razzed a lot about my choice to use film but I have to say I just won’t stop!  Some photographers will ask me why and I just say why not!  It’s beautiful, timeless and textural.   I love using toy cameras too and I had so much fun with a Holga that I took to Eastern Europe (I’ve been shooting with a Holga for years now on different things) that I just wanted to do more.  I guess I’m regressing against technology but I do remember the simpler times in life and have the fondest memories of those times.  I love these recent portraits I did and just had to share.  I call them Essence Images.  The idea is really just hitting the essence of the person.  No frills, no poses, letting a child just be no forced smile or capturing someone while they are introspective for a moment or just off guard.  I find them so beautiful and simple and just people at their core of who they are.  These images are not touched up in away…they just are what they are.  Call if you are interested but be prepared to answer the question “What is the inner core and essence of me?”

This was a fun shoot! It was early morning Sunday and I had great models. David does amazing things with wood and is starting his own business and these photos were for his new web site. His associate Chunk was just the best model ever! Quite energetic about eating wood but lazy when it came to working which was perfect for me! If you get a chance the site should be up in a couple of weeks at www.heirloomwoodworks.com.