I met Martin and Alyssa when they brought their dog Rex to my dog training classes at Camp Bow Wow in Coppell, Texas. It was there that I learned of Rex's extreme fear of literally anything that looks like it might be taking a picture of him. We struggled to get his graduation picture, with Martin sitting next to him, feeding him treats - no go. Rex was not having it. They told me that they can't even hold up a cell phone to take a picture, he runs away (emphasis on RUN). They completed three levels of training and Rex knocked it out of the park, doing great in the classes, that is until graduation. By Level 3, we all gave up and took a picture of Martin with Rex's graduation certificate and ribbon.
It was after that last class that they shared the news they were expecting their first baby and desperately wanted family photos of their little foursome before it became a fivesome; would I be interested? They figured, if anyone could work with Rex, it would be me. I said I was game if they were, the date was set and Alyssa set off to work on how she wanted to share the big announcement while Martin and I worked on how to make and keep Rex comfortable during the session.
Everyone was most comfortable with Rex wearing his harness during the session, Martyn and Alyssa think it makes him feel more comfortable too as that's what he wears on walks. They knew what we were up against so made smart choices about what was important to them; it wasn't important if Rex was wearing a harness in the pictures, it WAS important that he was in the pictures!
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Family Portraits With Dogs AND A Baby Announcement Too!
Here's where my dog training and photography intersected to pull off this session. Weeks before the date, I worked with Martin to develop a desensitization and conditioning (DS/CC) program with his own camera to practice with Rex. We started off with some basic habituation, just having the camera out in the living room, on coffee tabes, in the kitchen etc. and Martin and Alyssa would pick it up and move it around a few times a day, occasionally point it at something and click the shutter and then put it back down. Anytime they engaged with it, they would give Rex super high value treats.
Under the circumstances, it was a given that we would photograph this using natural light only to help keep Rex comfortable and that I would only use a VERY LONG lens so that I didn't have to be close to Rex (almost every image in the session was shot at 200mm). Rex knew me and was comfortable with my presence, but he was definitely suspicious of the situation. What we learned on the session day was that I also needed to make sure that Rex never even SAW my camera. If I walked up to the family, I put it on the ground before I did. When I photographed them, I hid in shrubs and bushes. I was never "out in the open" where Rex could see that I had a camera in my hand. If I did step into the open, I hid the camera behind my back.
Little sister Lacey was so relaxed during all the shenanigans, happy to look at the camera or cuddle on her mom's lap - but if you bring food out, she turns into a little furry velociraptor!
Plan B: Look At Mom and Dad
When photographing animals, it's always a good idea to have a back up plan because things often don't go exactly as planned, despite everyone's best effort to the contrary. After a few images where Rex was checking out that person hiding in the bushes (me), I decided to switch things around a bit and have him and Lacey engage with Mom and Dad - winner! I secretly - or not so secretly because I often try to incorporate this "pose" into my family and pet portraits - love it when no one is looking at the camera. My 2nd favorite image? When the dog is looking straight into the camera and the people are all looking at the dog. There's just something about that kind of photo that makes me smile. Martyn and Alyssa laughed out loud when they saw the images and they loved them. "They make me smile" said Alyssa, "This is our family".