The World Would Be Better If There Were More Pet Owners!

I think I've been starting all my blog postings with -- It's been busy at the studio.... so here goes, it's been busy at the studio! I'm busy but I'm loving it! This month I've been photographing dogs for the 2015 Save-A-Bull calendar, so lots of pit bulls and bullie breed mixes. Lot's of wiggling wide bodies and happy pittie smiles!

I've been spending a lot of time editing images from my sessions. It's hours of really looking at each of the dogs. At some point I realized that despite all the dogs having a common breed designation;  they have such a wide variety of coloring, body shapes, eye colors, head size. No two dogs look exactly the same but all of them are recognizable as part of the whole. So yes I'm photographing a bunch of pit bulls but to me it's not just a dog it's Angus, or Diesel, or Buster.

As many of my clients and supporters know, I have a 12 year old greyhound named Sawyer. He's generally good with adults, but not dog friendly so during my sessions he's resting comfortably downstairs. Some of you, however have met him when stopping by to pick up your order or during sales sessions. I've had greyhounds for 13 years and over the years have grown used to the thin bodies and tapered heads. I love the gentle greyhounds that I've known over the years. They have the same core physical traits but when you look intently there is such a wide variety in coloring, coat texture, size and personality. To the outsider, or the non-dog lover (Pssst...there are still a few out there!) it's just a greyhound. But to the crazy people who love them it's not just a greyhound it's Jersey, or Jake, or Casey or Buddy. They have their own identities, personalities, histories and are just as unique as their owners. I think this is what pet people understand and non-pet people just don't get.

I love the images that capture the personality of the dog so that the owner will have that essence forever. And in my fantasies maybe someday a non-pet lover might see that image and suddenly be changed ---- into crazy dog or crazy cat people like we are! Oh, it's like Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole. Soon they will be quoting breed specifications like an AKC judge, and debating the merits of how a dog's ears fold back! And let's admit it - it would be a better world if more people had pets. I'm just doing my little part to help make the world a better place.

Lisa Asp, M.Photog., CPP (Certified Professional Photographer), is the owner and photographic artist at Tangerine House of Design, Edina MN. Tangerine House of Design specializes in studio portraiture of pets, kids, and families.