Pictures of a Photographer: Dogs

There's nothing like enjoying photos of your dogs. They start out being cute as puppies and get better every day as their personalities shine through. Our canine companions have a way of warming our heart in the midst of everything. One of my favorite photographers, William Wegman, has the most exquisite photos of Weimaraners. Capturing the essence of the stately breed, he puts them in photos where they take on human qualities. Even the novice photographer has some great pics of their pups. My mother considers it her vocation to dress up and take pictures of her Doberman. The only thing better than looking at the photos is seeing her in action.

Dog modeling started in our family long before Kramer was born. As little latch key kids, my brother and I filled our parentless time dressing up our our doberman named Killer. We would set up photo shoots on the back patio as Killer donned army gear or basketball attire, high tops and all. Those were the days!

Twenty years later and now retired, my mom has taken our family pastime to new heights. Maybe it's because Kramer has an amazing ability to sit still or perhaps it's due to my mother's creative ability but I believe Kramer has hit super model status. He continues to amaze with his ability to strike a pose and communicate with his eyes. America's Top Model contestants have nothing on this dog. He really is fine with cross dressing, looking as good in a skirt as he does in a suit. Heels - no problem! Earrings, bring 'em on! Lipstick and blush give him that je ne sais qois!

When not modeling, Kramer Fox lives in sunny Southern California. He enjoys long walks and delicious meals. At night he lays his head on a feather down pillow with 600 thread count sheets. Only the best for this dog and all dogs who make incredible companions.

If you're inspired to set up a session with your pooch, try following these tips.

1. Cookies. Cookies. Cookies. These models will do amazing things for a treat and deserve to be rewarded for their hard work. Make sure you hold the treat close to the lens of the camera. Since the dog will always watch the treat, you can keep him looking at the camera.

2. Props can really set the stage but beware that food props won't last long so be ready to shoot quickly. Very important - don't give the dog a taste of the edible treat until you are done or you'll lose the dog's attention.

3. You can never make enough funny noises behind the camera to get some great shots. The higher the pitch, the better.

4. Make sure you turn the dog towards a source of light, so you get a reflection of light in the dog's eye. If you don't have that, your photograph won't have any life to it.

5. Take the outfit to the nines. Soft textures like feathers, tulle or a boa look great on a dog and can easily be found at your local fabric store. You can also borrow items like clip-on earrings, scarfs or hats from your Grandmother. To get your dog into the holiday spirit, you can use bunny ears, halos, Santa hats or Halloween costumes. If your dog has long hair, try a little gel. Get creative and have fun.

6. When dressing your dog, try to use colors that don't have too much contrast. For example, if you have a black dog dressed in white, your camera will adjust to one tone or the other. You will lose some detail in the dog or the outfit. The photo can still work, it's just something to consider.

7. Enlist an assistant. This job is much easier with a little help.

8. For more information, read a book or two on pet photography so you know the basics of lighting and composure.

If you are an avid pet photographer and are interested in making money, selling your work as stock photos may be a good option for you. There are a lot of agencies that you can approach with your dog photos or any great photos that you have. Obviously you would want to submit the highest quality photos that would be of interest to advertisers. Be prepared for rejection and taking any constructive criticism into account. There are some great hubs written about stock photography for your reference.

Kara Fox has been taking photos for most of her life. In addition to photographing her superstar, Kramer Fox, she is the photography editor for Newworldreview.com. Ms. Fox has also been featured on KABC and multiple online publications for her work photographing women at California shelters with partner Evvy Shapero, cofounders of Glamourproject.org. Their effort is a labor of love as they bring a day of beauty to disenfranchised women.

Want to know what's as fun as getting dogs dressed up? Wiener Dog Racing! You may not have even know this was a sport but you can learn about the latest craze in my Wiener Dog Racing article.