On Monday, take a look around the office at your co-workers desks. You'll find that pictures of pets are popular, some are taped up on walls while others are placed in small frames on desks. Most are the same old poses of dogs sitting on couches or cats laying down with their heads tilted back looking at you. Sure their cute, what pet picture isn't, but their also just down right boring!
Well pet owners your in luck, say good-bye to those boring photos. Hollywood Hounds pet photography will be in Naples all this week at the Humane Society helping to raise money for the homeless animals at the shelter.
The photos they take are definitely not your run of the mill. Owners can choose from several different theme pictures ranging from a fishing scene, complete with a tackle box and "gone fishing sign" to sports, like the Gators or Seminols. Fluffy the feline posing on a Harley or Duke, your Doberman, dressed as a cowboy are other options. Christmas poses, with or without owners, are also taken and can be turned into holiday cards. For the less adventurous, the standard classical poses are available, too.
To help your pet get into the spirit of things, background music that corresponds to the theme you've chosen plays for each shoot. So as Rover reclines in a lounge chair, wearing a cool pair of sunglasses for the beach scene, he can listen to Jimmy Buffett - margaritas are optional.
Dogs and cats aren't the only ones they photograph, says Patty Lynn co-owner of Hollywood Hounds, other types of pets like, iguanas, ferrets and rabbits are also welcomed. Each session lasts about 10 minutes and owners can view the entire photo shoot from a monitor that's set up in the waiting room.
Hollywood Hounds has traveled throughout Florida for the past three and a half years working exclusively with non-profit animal shelters. Last year alone they helped raise $100,000 for homeless animals throughout the state. Many of the animals they photograph have been adopted out of these shelters, "now those animals are helping the ones still there." says Lynn.
To get your pet's picture taken call Virgina at 643-1880 x 225 to make an appointment. The cost is a $15 donation to the Humane Society which includes one 8x10 color photo.
Want to take better pictures of your pet? Here are some tips:
1. Since pets know all the hiding spots inside your house, get them off the floor and onto a table. Putting them in a chair or other type of prop can help, too. This way they can't easily run a way.
2. Recruit a friend to help with the photo shoot. This way one can concentrate on taking the photos while the other makes sure Fluffy stays in place.
3. Lighting is important, so a room with a lot of windows is a good choice, especially when it comes to photographing black animals. According to Lynn, they are the hardest to take pictures of because black absorbs more light than other colors.
4. Try to have a nice background, like curtains or a colored piece of cardboard.
5. To combat "red eyes", which are caused by the camera's flash, make sure the flash goes off above the animal's head. Also, a white handkerchief over the flash can help soften the light and reduce this glare.
6. Once your pet is in position, make sure it's tongue is in, mouth is shut, and ears are up. To get it's attention use noises like knocking, kitty sounds or words they know, like "bye-bye" or "cookie." You want them to be alert and looking at the camera for just a split second so you can get that perfect shot. Using treats for attention is a no-no, according to Lynn, because crumbs get stuck to their mouths or they end up drooling, which doesn't make for a pretty picture.
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