Tinkerbell: Posing Puppies 101 by Tinkerbell

Since most of you reading this blog have dogs, I thought I would share some of my posing techniques with you that mom's been teaching me:

#1 FUN PROPS: Mom loves putting me on/in all kinds of different things. She gets most of these at thrift stores or garage sales. She'd rather do that than buy them new because she likes that "old weathered look. " I go with her when she shops. Here I am today at the Salvation Army. People stop and look at me and say something like, "OMG! Is that REAL?!?!?" I am sooooo spoiled with attention. Even at stop lights when I am riding in the car people role down their windows and say things like, "What kind of dog is that?, I've never seen a cuter dog, or, WOW!", and on and on....

Mom, are we done yet?

Back to the fun props. Mom says it's important to have a good variety of them. I'm not sure what variety means but I do know she is always putting me on or in something different for pictures:

#2 GOOD BACKGROUNDS: We have a studio at home. However, mom likes taking pictures outside better, but it's pretty hard to pose a puppy outdoors where he or she could get away. I know I would. One look at another dog and I would be running my little legs off. So today we worked inside. She first puts me on this tall trunk against a white background. What was she thinking?!?!? I am white! Well, she finally got it, and you can see what a difference the colored background made:

Me on the trunk with a boring background.
I'm not centered. Mom said something about
the rule of thirds. I have no clue what she is
talking about!

I gave her two suggestions about these shots. First, she should have taken off my green collar. Secondly, I am a girl and I would have preferred a pink backdrop. Oh well, "maybe next time" she said. Next time will probably come too soon.

#3 HEAD TILT: Mom thinks this is crucial in the pictures she takes of me. Here is a link to a video that shows how she gets me to do this:

http://lovepix.smugmug.com/Animals/Tinks-Posing-Video/i-kTPpfLS/0/O/Tink%20Model.jpg

Hopefully it will play for you without hanging. Also, please ignore her voice when she starts talking baby talk. It is SOOOO irritating.

So here are the different head tilts: