Yeah, I was a photographer. Retired from that almost 20 years ago. That industry and the world has changed. I enjoyed that career while we were in it, but like the time, I have moved on.
So, you can imagine what went through my mind when I was asked to do a photo shoot a couple weeks ago. This has been a long-time "client." Oh, and blood. The fruit of my loins. Yeah: Steph.
She asked if I would take a photo of them, with all the animals. In matching pajamas. That's two adult humans, three cats, and one big black dog. In matching pajamas.
I agreed. Because she is "the fruit of my loins."
Today is the day. They were ready on time, told me what they had in mind, and I set up my minimal gear. Minimal? Yeah. Available light. My Sony a6700 mirrorless camera on a tripod. And the little bit of gear that makes this all come together: a wireless remote for the camera. Once I have the shot set up, all I have to do is press the shutter release on the remote; the camera focuses and sets the exposure. Yeah, the industry has changed.
Steph knew what she wanted, so they assumed the pose. Joan helped with wrangling cats and getting them to look in one general direction. I had to hit the shutter when the timing was right. Two humans, 4 critters. Truth be told: it went relatively easy. It probably helped that the cats were in pajamas, which made them less prone to run off. Or even move much.
The request: "Get us one good pose, and then we can do one that is total chaos." I can do that.
The results...
And...
My payment for the shoot: I got a cookie and a hug. Yeah, we're square.
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A few images I got with my phone while waiting for cats to get pajamas on...
That's Alfie above. He looks like a big boy, but it is mostly fluffy fur; you see his real physique in those pajamas (above). Dan and Dicha looking on while Steph gets Tango into his PJs...
4 comments:
Nicely done! Animals must be even harder than family portraits. I cannot picture trying to get Lucy or Duke into PJ's. I keep imagining my trip to the ER....
LOL All 4 critters were pretty docile. I'm attributing that to the fact that "Grandma and Grandpa" were there, and they were on their best behavior. Over the years in the studio, I photographed many families and high school seniors with the family pet(s). Horses were always the toughest, generally because of the logistics. I still have flashbacks to the time I photographed the Shriners White Horse Mounted Patrol at the first studio I worked for - I didn't know what I didn't know. My boss said, "It'll take about 15 minutes." He lied. Neither of us knew that you had to get 40 horses all standing just right with their legs, and their ears facing forward. Hours. When I took that first photo, I thought they were going to get off their horses and come kill me. It was a learning experience.
This shoot with Steph, Dan, and the critters was easy... other than making sure I was getting what Steph wanted. Yeah, I still got it.
Duke has four pure white paws. Some might call them socks. Alice came up with a new saying yesterday: murder mittens. Way more clever than me.
I am partial to the four white paws look - that was part of Rufus's style. Murphy is kind of the opposite: 4 black socks when seen from the back. "Murder mittens" for sure.
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