meet my absolute shyest client yet …

this is Karmen … and she hates the camera.

in fact, she’s so shy and hated the camera so much that she never left her mom’s ankles …

ever!  so you’re probably wondering how i got shots like this one?

with each super-sensitive or shy dog, i have to approach them as individuals … reading their body language, feeling their energy, gauging how far i can go with them … just far enough to build their confidence, but not too far to push them past that point of tolerance and they become shut-off to the experience of the shoot.  often i’m having to come up with new game plans with each dog, depending on their levels of shyness, exuberance or energy.   And in Karmen’s case, clinging to mom Donna’s ankles and vigilant in her determination to keep her mom between herself and the camera, i had to be extra creative.

i almost wish i’d had a second shooter so they could have captured the crazy lengths to which i had to resort to even get Karmen in frame … but basically, these shots were taken with me crouched behind Karmen’s mom Donna, snugged up against her legs, and balancing the camera between her ankles as i instructed her to gradually bring her feet apart.

yes, Donna’s boots are just on either side of most of these frames.

and trust me, initially i tried the telephoto to give Karmen the distance i figured she’d need, but this little girl was mighty skilled at keeping mom between her and the lens no matter how far away it was.

gradually, Karmen warmed up to the idea, but not by much.  i still had to spend most of the shoot either at a great distance, or snugged up to Donna.

again, shot between Donna’s ankles …

thanks, Donna, for trusting me with your girl’s photoshoot.  and thank you, Karmen, for the fantastic challenge.  i love dogs who force me to think outside the box and remind me that i’m doing exactly what i should be doing.  i hope this is a fabulous and magical holiday season for you all.