DOG SHOTS pet photography workshop for beginners

Dog Shots model 2013

One of our models from the May DOG SHOTS Workshop

Our DOG SHOTS workshop on June 22nd is filling up fast! As of right now, we have 8 seats left. If you’d like more information (or a link to pay online) just go here: http://teresaberg.com/blog/?page/116524/dog-shots

Over 50% of the people who attended our last workshop were involved in animal rescue, so we had lots of great conversations about managing the pets, body language and tips about how to set up (and where!) for the best results.

Hope you can join us!

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A simple indoor portrait | Teresa Berg pet photography

chair5  iso 400135mm_27

The author's dog - Flash. Rescued in 2006

The author’s dog – Flash. Rescued in 2006

We all get caught in situations where we want to photograph a pet (either ours or a foster dog) on-the-fly. I recently did this portrait in my living room with only the dog, a window, a chair, a reflector and my camera. It struck me that this simple technique for a portrait might be just the ticket for a quick photo for an online adoption listing. The pullback showing the lighting set up is above, the finished dog portrait just below it. This was shot with a 135mm lens at f2.8, iso 400.

I hope this gives you some ideas for the next time you’re photographing a dog for his online adoption listing or for an animal shelter or animal rescue group’s website. We’ve just opened registration for a DOG SHOTS Class for June 22nd. The May class filled up so fast we are trying to get one more on the calendar before it gets too hot to shoot outdoors. If you’re interested in attending, call the studio (972-250-2415) to reserve your spot? The all day class (including lunch) with live dog models is $295. It’s held in Teresa’s studio and the nearby park. Hope you can join us!

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Using videos to learn pet photography

There are as many different ways to photograph a dog as there are photographers out there trying to do it. A resource that many people over look when they’re trying to learn photography is YouTube. There are literally thousands of instructional videos to help you –and they’re all free. As a side note, did you know that YouTube is the third largest search engine in the world? Yup. So next time you have a photography question that’s just driving you crazy — trying searching it on YouTube! The maker of this video has a very patient older dog, which you rarely find at the animal shelter, but his lighting is simple and inexpensive using clamp on floodlights from the hardware or home improvement store. Try it!

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Another great video | Animal rescue photography

I recently ran across this short video showing photographer Portia Shao shooting at her local animal shelter. It includes a great testimonial from the assistant manager of the shelter describing the effect that good photography has made on their adoptions.  Please share the video!  And be sure and look at the lighting setup. For those of you using studio lights, she gives a good look at light placement and backgrounds.  Enjoy!

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Dog Shots Workshop with Teresa- May 19th

We’re trying something new!  If you’re interested in improving your photography skills, but you’re NOT planning to be a professional pet photographer, we have a new workshop.  Just “all about shooting”  for those of you who want to learn hands on!  We’ll have live dogs modeling for us and we’ll set up a variety of different shots for you. Indoors, outdoors, with flash, using reflectors, etc.

smith_551 final

This workshop is for people with DSLRs — so no point & shoot cameras this time.  We’ll talk about lenses, creating some special effects, getting the dog’s attention and keeping him in one spot, exposure, metering, what equipment to use, etc.  But it’s all shooting, no business, marketing and very little talk about working with animal rescue. Just learning to use your camera.  One day only, shooting with Teresa in a small group setting. The fee is $295 which includes a catered lunch.  I have been getting tons of requests for a workshop like this, so now’s your chance. Come shoot with me! If you want more details, check out my other blog:  www.teresaberg.com/blog.

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Texas Unites for Animals

If you’re anywhere near Austin, Texas in March 16-18th you may want to check out this great conference! The cost of enrollment is really reasonable and they’re doing lots of great training and workshops –including one that I will be doing on (you guessed it) Photographing dogs.  Visit their website for a full list of workshops and details.

You can read more about it here  Come join us!

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