Dammit, I know this dog is capable of smiling.
I try to do some portraits of her and me together in the backyard — because as I mentioned last week when I gave you a peek into my history as a Spokane dog photographer the topic for this week’s blog circle is self-portraits — I get this:
Could she look any crankier?
When we’re hiking and I try to line her up for a pose while balancing an off-camera flash, she twists her face up all crooked and I get what you see in the big image at the top.
But see her smile here when it’s my husband holding her on vacation in Oregon?
Can’t shut that smile down at all.
The struggle of a Spokane dog photographer
It’s more like the struggle of a Maremma mama.
I wanted to try getting these images in a gorgeous setting, like our hike to Evans Landing in North Idaho on Tuesday — I forgot the remote trigger for my Nikon D750 — or even head down to Mirabeau Park in Spokane Valley, one of our favorite places for a walk.
However, I remembered it’s tough to get Bella to focus on anything. As a livestock guardian dog, she is far more attuned to the noises and sights around her than to anything I want her to do.
She’s a little more treat-focused in the backyard and I do kinda like our rustic-looking fence. (Rustic because it’s due for a paint job.)
See? Here I am trying to get her in place:
It’s a ruff life as the model of a Spokane dog photographer, always getting your picture taken and your belly filled with delicious snacks.
So I guess can’t really blame her for being a bit grumpy. She does deserve a day off sometimes (although I hate the thought of missing anything in her life).
These turned out a bit better:
Alack and alas, I didn’t do a very good job of hiding the remote trigger.
The one on the right, I switched to my D500 and used the timer release. I lost patience with trying to get the Snapbridge app connected. Of course, then I would have had my big stupid phone in my hand.
I want this one to be my favorite but for that remote trigger:
It isn’t quite up to my Magic Moment standards but it’s close. And that damn trigger is in my hand.
It’s so much easier to get sweet moments between you and your dog being authentic and in love with each other than it is to set up a moment between me and my girl.
We do have sweet moments. Lysbeth took this on our adventure at Dishman Hills two weeks ago:
That’s why we’re planning a trip to the West Side to visit a Seattle dog photographer to get our own portraits done this summer.
Don’t miss your spot!
Folks are snapping up spots in the Paws of the Panhandle sessions. There are only two of five Adventure Days left and 34 other sessions with me, your Spokane dog photographer.
It’s a chance to get into a first-of-its-kind photobook, celebrating pets and the humans who love them against gorgeous scenery in North Idaho.
Our first session is going next weekend at Evans Landing. Sunrise, a lake, mountains and a gorgeous blue heeler mix named Newt.
All around the circle
Well, there’s the face of your favorite Spokane dog photographer.
Come on now, if I don’t call me your favorite, who’s going to? Tee hee.
I’m excited to now launch you into a journey of the world, seeing the faces of other dog photographers in our blog circle.
When you get to the bottom of her post, click the next link in the circle and so on until you find yourself back here.
Right where you belong.
The struggle is very real when we try for our own photos with our own dogs. But I loved every one of these.
Just once I would like her to smile for me like she does for my husband. She’s so ornery with me!
Trying to get your own dogs to pose for a DECENT picture with you is always good for a chuckle (and you and Bella didn’t disappoint 🙂
Hahahaah. If you could only have seen the shitshow that was my backyard for this. I realized I was wearing my glasses in one of them, ripped them off at the last second and then two minutes later walked on them.
The love you have for Bella is so apparent. {hugs}
Thanks, Danyel. She is my world.
Well – great to see you with your girl – and I totally get what you are saying! I had issues with the remote as well and I can see so much how it is easier to have someone else do this. I think Abby was saying about the same thing as Bella – maybe they are secretly sharing secrets. I need to figure out how to get the wireless remote to actually work properly for me as it seems we are both shooting with the Nikon D750.