Woofing Good

Howdy world! How are you today? It is May 24, 2021 and you made it to see another day, and that is great thing! Yesterday morning we had visitors and pictures. Jenny, our pug, had two friends from the Coachella Valley Pug Meet-up over for a pool party. Really, she wanted to show off her new outfit. We had no idea that she would like getting dressed up so much.

I shot a few of her before the other puggies arrived.

It has been a while since I have felt any excitement about taking photos. Recently, I had even complained or grumbled that I just didn’t feel anything. Anyhow, something made me reach out to Vanessa, the leader of the pack at CV Pug Meet-up and ask if we could set up a shoot. She accepted my invitation and came over with her friend and Theo and Phoebe, her puggies.

This is Jenny’s concerned look.

This is Theo and boy was he fast!

This is Phoebe and she is quite a model!

I had the green screen set up as I wanted to get a few shots to cut out for some artwork. I have a T-shirt design in mind. Well, when dealing with animals, you have to be quick and show no fear as they can sense it. I think they must have sensed my amusement as everything they did made me laugh. Even when the green screen came tumbling down. I gave up quickly on that idea and we moved to the back yard. I had a kiddie pool and tried to get a few shots of all the pugs, Jenny included, in and around the pool.

There s always one subject in group shots that seems to steal the show and Phoebe was the scene stealer of the day.

I have had little practice with animal portrait photography but still wanted to try. Next time, we are going to try and shoot one pug at a time and maybe get a portrait with Vanessa and her pugs.

We moved over to the community pool as I wanted to get a few shots against the landscape and tennis court fence. Also, I was hoping to get a few shots of the pugs near the pool. I hopped in the pool to get more at their eye level as they ran by.

Vanessa ran back and forth to get the dogs to chase her. I loved the shots of their running faces and how excited they were.

This shot was an accident! So I edited it a little for affect.

The camera in my hands felt amazing and my brain was in over drive. I think that creative block is starting to flow again. Hopefully, I can get a few more subjects to photograph and interview (at some point in the future). I am also hoping to use some of the shots from yesterday in a new painting.

For fun, I chose a couple of photos, cut them out and placed the pugs in a beach scene. We are over 100 miles from the nearest beach but with Photoshop you can bring the ocean to you.

Still fine-tuning and blending this shot.

I tell ya, the learning process sure is fun!

I was looking for a back ground to use and I opened a file labeled Redondo Beach. I cracked up when I saw the no swimming signs that I snapped last year. Why? ‘Cause that cute little puggie above dove right into the pool and her Mom jumped in after her! I was so scared for them both. That puggie swam like a champ!

Hubby snapped that photo.

Not part of the shoot but yeah, part of the shoot!

So anyone up for a photo shoot? You never know what could happen! Really, I hope I did not scare her and her pugs away as I would like to try again. I know we are looking forward to November when the next pug meet-up is scheduled.

Thank you, dear reader, where ever in the world you are today. May the sun shine softly on you and may you get to where you are going safely. Hugs to you and you and especially you over there!

If you are from the Coachella Valley and have a pug, check out CV Pug Meet for information on future pug meet-ups.

You can also find them on Instagram: @coachellavalleypugmeetup