Part 1: Choosing the Best Working Space
Weather you are planning on showing your canine or feline companions, the place to start is... well... with the place! Even before a petz lays down a single paw-step into the room, it must be in tip-top condition to set the mood, the tone, the whateveryoumaycallit atmosphere. So where do you start?
First, pick an area that is plain and simple, or that can be cleaned up easily. For such purposes, I prefer to use the family room (petz 5) completely cleaned of all toys and mantel decorations, as well as all wall hangings / pictures, a closed window and turned-off fireplace. Of course, there are other rooms that will work for the job (depending on petz game version) -- just make sure that it is clean and clear. Very boring... I know.
The key to this step is making sure that there are NO distractions in the working area. This will aid in the petz' attention span, and may save you a great deal of time when staining to take those perfect shots!
Note how messy and distracting this working space is!
I hardly see a place for the petz to stand without distraction, let alone show pose...
|
Much better!
Notice how clean and contemporary the environment is - purrrfect.
|
Part 2: Petzie Preparations
Now it is time to take your pupperz / kitterz out of their carrier. It is advisable to bring out the petz you wish to work with ONLY. Leave all other petz in the carrier and prevent all hosts form entering the scene, as they just call for distraction.
Now, take a good look at your companion; going deeper than just the fur -- I mean, look into his/her personality and current status. Believe it or not, he can be a distraction to himself if he is not completely healthy. Check for fleas and illness, as well as for elements such as hunger and energy. The better these numbers, the better the chance that he will pose without those icky problems popping up.
A couple questions you may consider asking to assist in finding your petz' personality may include (but is not limited to):
Is (s)he lazy or laid back?
Is (s)he active and alert?
Is (s)he hyper or overactive?
Is (s)he scared or frightened?
Is (s)he nervous or unsure?
Is (s)he schizophrenic?
Is (s)he distracted easily?
Is (s)he friendly or over-friendly?
Is (s)he short-tempered or impatient?
Is (s)he long-winded or slow?
Is (s)he quick-minded or brief in action?
Is (s)he reckless or haphazard?
Is (s)he willing to concentrate on one subject for long?
This step is important for several reasons. First of all, the more you know about your petz in question, the better you can formulate a specialized plan to get that "perfect pose" quicker and more frequently. Obviously, if a petz is laid back, or tends to go into a "relaxing" position when picked up, you are going to want to spin him less often - and try and keep him on his feet a little more. If he is prone to running away or not sitting still, then a helpful hand should be placed next to his head - or beside him on the right in order to remind him to stick to one spot (he will eventually get the idea).
Part 3: Testing the Water
If you are an experienced photo-taker you already know that the steps above, while they may look quite cumbersome in text form, really only take only a few seconds to do. Note that "Part 2" generally only needs to be completed once, unless (of course) someone out there is rather forgettful *coughBunnycough* ;)
Yes, this (and the next part) are probably what is going to take up the bulk of your time - during which you will make great friends with the space bar and your camara box.
Start by picking up your petz and bringing them to a stable standing spot in the room (on the floor, not on any elevated shelves). I generally use the center of the room, where I can see him easily. Make sure that before you even start taking pictures that you line up his feet as much as possible.
Dogz Example
| Catz Example
|
|
|
|
|
Immediately after they are lined up properly, it is time to take the first photograph by pressing the space bar. This will get them "in the mood" and they may -- or may not -- begin to pose. If they do, simply snap another picture (I would recomend hitting the space bar several times) and save the best one.
It is important to note that even the best show dogz have times when they arn't exactly on the ball. Many times they will distract themselves! For dogz, such actions may include running off somewhere, jumping out of line so that their angle is off, "hiding" behind their paws, wagging their tail, over or under-exagerating show poses, excessive staring, falling asleep / relaxing, and other gestures which resemble lack of concentration. For catz, most actions are along the lines of sitting down, running off somewhere else in the room, wagging of the tail, sticking their noses in the air, closing their eyes, among other movements, etc. This is what causes some of the common show mistakes (described in related tutorials).
When such mishaps occur, simply start the whole process over again -- pick them up and put them down correctly. If the situation escalates and the petz can't concentrate for any method, try putting him away in the carrier and taking him out again. This seems to "refresh" their mind-set. ;)
Part 4: Polishing Perfection
In the real world, when a pet does something correctly by human prompting, we take to rewarding them to let them know that they "have done good." Within the range of the Petz program, there is no difference. If a petz does something correctly, make it a habbit to reward them by petting, treats, etc. Your petzie will eventually pick up on what they are supposed to be doing ;)
And, if nothing else, the most important lesson this tutorial has to offer is the simple disipline of patience. From experience, you will gather that show posing is just one of those things that requires a steady hand, and quite a bit of free time in some cases. Just take it piece by piece, photograph by photograph, and eventually a winning pose will be the reward!
|
