Taking a photo of ONE puppy and having it look kind of professional is pretty easy for just about anybody.  Especially with today’s amazing cameras and a little bit of experience with animals.Taking a photo of two puppies is pretty easy too.  Especially when one of them is a little sleepy. I mean VERY sleepy. Taking a photo of three puppies can be a bit more challenging.  Especially if you want to make it look professional.   Not goofy like this one.When in doubt scoop them up and hug them….I mean hold them.                      Taking a professional photo of nine puppies can be challenging.  You have to have the right lighting and a place where you can contain them.                                                                                                                       Like this well-worn leather couch that is starting to remind me of my OLD saddle.  Natural light will have to do.You have to practice with positioning on the couch and make sure there is nothing on the floor that looks interesting. You are also supposed to have the puppies kind of sleepy, not like in this photo. LOTS of help is a must.  The more puppies the more help needed.  Especially when you don’t have a professional studio.Planning, preparation and patience are three ingredients for success.   I must be honest.  For this photo shoot preparation and planning AND a professional studio were sorely lacking.  Motion blur was in abundance.  And what is the “professional” photographer doing IN the photo?  Clearly this was not the plan. Right about here patience was being tested. Right about here patience was thrown to the dogs.  And the camera set on continuous mode is about all that was done professionally.

Another thing you should do in a group pose with nine puppies is have your helpers stand BEHIND the camera man or woman once they jump out-of-the-way.  Otherwise…well you get the picture.Tell your helpers to position the puppies just the right way.

And then remind your helpers to get out-of-the-way.Some puppies no matter how sleepy don’t want to go with the plan.

The floor is where they want to be.  Once you get the one puppy who wants to be on the floor BACK to the plan……. Another puppy decides the floor is a much cooler place to be.    I think I will stick to taking the kind of puppy shots I am good at. By that I mean candid group shots.

Adios Amigos!!