Moments in Focus
Meet Hummus!
(Yes…best name ever!)
Hummus is a sweet black lab puppy. He is currently being trained for a very important job!
Hummus is a part of Canine Companions in Williamsburg, VA.
[Canine Companions] “provides service dogs to adults, children, and veterans with disabilities and facility dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings.”
Hummus is being trained by the amazing @raising.puppies (IG). This is the third dog in training that I have photographed with @raising.puppies. Hummus will stay in his current home for about 18 months and then will move on to the next stage of training. I am lucky enough to be able to photograph Hummus again at 18 months and see how he has grown.
Fun Fact…Hummus is the son of the last dog I photographed for @raising.puppies…Gage. We also photographed Gage as a pup and at 18 months.
Check out Gage’s puppy images at the end of this post.
The type of job Hummus will hold will be determined when he is older. Now he is just focusing on learning great puppy manners!
Visit https://canine.org/about/who-we-are/ for more info on Canine Companions!
*Top Row: Gage
*Bottom Row: Hummus
Follow us on social media @sweetelliephotos or send me a note here
Follow Hummus @raising.puppies
Follow Canine Companions @canineorg
Your Guide to a Perfect Photo Experience with Sweet Ellie Photography
You’ve booked your photo session…now what? Here are just a few ideas to get you started!
Schedule any grooming a couple of weeks prior to your session. You want your dog to be fresh and clean, but you do not want to end up with a cut you don't like. Just like you wouldn't get a cut the day before a big event, follow the same rules for your pets.
2. Make sure your dog has a suitable collar and non-retractable leash. Safety always comes first. We want a well fitting collar that keeps your pup secure. Your dog is welcome to wear a harness during the session. However, harnesses are not removed in post-processing, so a collar allows for a cleaner view of the chest.
3. What reinforces your pup? Whatever it is, you want to bring it along! It can be treats or toys…bring along whatever may help your pup to happily participate in the session.
4. Choose your outfit! You and your family are more than welcome to be a part of the session. Usually I recommend neutral colors with solid patterns.
5. Complete your questionnaire and contract. Part of the booking process is a brief contract and questionnaire. I will send those to you once you book your session date and you will complete them online.
6 Spend some time thinking about how you will use your images and about any specific photos you would like to capture. This knowledge will allow us to tailor your session toward what you are envisioning. Additionally, thinking about how you would like to use your photos helps me plan the flow of our time together. You can review our session guide and artwork offerings, which will be attached to nearly all emails. It helps to know whether you are looking for one statement piece featuring a classic portrait or an album that includes a variety of images capturing your dog’s personality.
7. If you can, avoid any intense running of playing immediately before the session. While it could possibly help wear your pup out, we might end up with all panting faces and big tongues hanging out for all the images. We want to give your dog the best chance to really show their best selves during their time in the spotlight.
8. Lastly, reach out to me with any questions and get ready to have fun!