Ask Lennah Anything

Announcements at the end of the blog. We are getting ready for our busy season and will be seeing you at shows soon! Please feel free to give us questions for the blog at shows, but due to time constraints please write them down, we are literally answering everything asked in this format BECAUSE it gives us time to do so without being rude! Email and Facebook are always a great way to get in touch! Favorite dog show moment? Hmm 🤔 So many, watching my family do well, going Winners Dog at the national last year. PHOTOS?  Being asked to shoot shows and hired to come back, always nice!  Being hired for portrait sessions outside of a dog show weekend "back in the day" before candid photographers were a thing.  The cover shots I have had,  I have had over 30 cover shots in breed and all breed magazines, always nice. Biggest misconception people outside of the business have about what you do? That dog show photographers only work on the weeke...

Not all dog shows do the same thing when it comes to photographers...and a lot of that is regional...find out more below! Announcements at the end of the blog. We are getting ready for our busy season and will be seeing you at shows soon! Please feel free to give us questions for the blog at shows, but due to time constraints please write them down, we are literally answering everything asked in this format BECAUSE it gives us time to do so without being rude! Email and Facebook are always a great way to get in touch! Why do some shows have multiple photographers listed and what does this mean for an exhibitor? It depends on the area. The west coast is it's own entity. I have no idea why they work the way they do. Nor do I know how the photographers actually make a living. Many probably have more than one job or photograph more than one type of event. If you notice a couple different photographers listed in areas other than the west coast. Then, more than likely, t...

This week we are covering a variety of questions. We are in need of more questions to answer! Please contact us at our email or on Facebook with yours! I’m curious what lens do you recommend and best all around settings for camera? Also any tips for photos of smaller dogs on the ground...so dang hard!   This depends heavily on the brand of camera you use, and what type of shot you are trying to get. A win shot or a candid? Inside or out? The number one thing I can tell you is that digital cameras chose light over focus. This is not the choice a dog person wants. To avoid this, especially indoors, a lens with an f-stop of 2.8 is your best bet. For small dogs always try to be on their level. If they are on a table stand up, if they are on the ground, get down. It isn't always easy for those of us with dog show knees but that is what it takes! What is the largest barrier in getting started as a photographer? The dog knowledge needed. Not the cost, but th...

This is the last of a group of posts of questions that didn't require longer answers. I am sure there will be more in the future! I am limiting these to three questions so there isn't as much information to take in! I would like to thank Kim and Odebt for these questions.  Please, without questions there is no blog so ask, ask, ask!   Can digital images be rushed for ad deadlines? Yes. However, in this day of digital images, most of us are set up so that you are able to get images almost instantly. It is no longer like the days of film. I have images online within 48 hours of a show (normally much faster, but sometimes driving/weather happens) and digital orders go out within 48 hours, if there are no special requests, of being placed. Very little rushing is actually needed now a days. If you need it faster that that or if your photographer edits images prior to placing them online (which I don't which is how they get online so quickly), then most have a fee and c...

We are in the middle of posts that are multiple questions that don't require longer answers. I am limiting these to three questions so there isn't as much information to take in! I would like to thank Kim and Odebt for these questions.  Please, without questions there is no blog so ask, ask, ask! Is it okay for the exhibitor to ask for help from the photographer? I would love to pretend this one confuses me. It is my job to help you, you shouldn't have to ask. However, I know that what is expected from photos and photographers has changed so much, that people are not longer looking for a nice photo to record their dogs win. they are now looking for the "perfect portrait" of their dog and themselves. I also know, that many photographers do not, never have, or no longer tell exhibitors what to fix, or what looks "off." This baffles me, as I grew up with photographers in our sport that ALWAYS told you what to fix, or what needed doing. I was TRAINE...

The next couple of posts will be multiple questions that don't require longer answers. I am limiting these to three questions so there isn't as much information to take in! I would like to thank Kim and Odebt for these questions.  Please, without questions there is no blog so ask, ask, ask! What is preferred? To have the judge and handler look at the dog, or the camera, or vary it? Some handlers are so proud of their accomplishment and can't help but look at the camera, but is it considered more appropriate to look at the dog every time to bring attention to the dog?   One should always look at the dog, it’s a dog show, technically, the dog won! Most judges already do this; some even move out, and turn slightly in, to "see" the dog better in photos. If all people in the photo are looking at the dog then anyone looking at the photo, will be drawn to the dog as well and dog shows, after all, are about the dog. (All of this said even experienced handlers and...

It is an exciting time, the few minutes right after the win! A photo can seem rushed for sure, as there are usually 4 rings per photographer and with most superintendents, they all break around the same time. First and easiest for you, is to make sure you are ready to go. Take a deep breath and relax!  The photos are truly the easiest part. Remember, the judge has signed the book and cannot "take it back."  Thank the judge on the way to the ramp, podium, table or mats for the photo. this gets everyone back into the excitement, but is still relaxing.. (helps you get your thoughts out of your own head).. remember, you did this already to win!  If you have a coated dog, bring someone to help brush/comb the dog out, and to make sure things are lying the way they should. Then look at the dogs "feet" make sure they are set fairly well there.. I will tell you what to fix for the picture.   If for some reason you have not liked what you have received on a part...

I didn’t understand this question so I answered it many different ways, then I re-read it and whoops...at least I answered the question in here too! My etiquette, as a Photographer? I must always ask for permission to enter the judges ring. I must be quick, and concise. I must NEVER put a judge behind, or in a "bad spot in anyway." It is helpful if I know which judges run behind or ahead. If they want to walk to a podium, or prefer to stay in the ring. I should be conscious of judges that are not feeling well, that need to get to lunch (first because it’s part of their pay, second because they deserve to eat, and finally, because some of them need to for health reasons!) I must also be conscious of the group order, who is judging what, and how far along the groups are. Photographers etiquette to the club?  Clubs hire us, but they do not pay us; the exhibitor does. Having said that, however, it's the judge that controls whether or not we are allowed in the rin...

This is a “there is a general rule and then there are the exceptions” kind of question. Most breeds are at a slight angle (we joke and call it a ⅞ on occasion) so you have an overall look at the dog, all four legs, both eyes, both ears and the tail are all visible. Having the ears alert and mouth shut are also common. Small dogs on a table or ramp allows the photo to center on the dog, when you put a small dog on the ground and then stand you are going to have a hard time with this and many of our older judges cannot kneel beside you. Large dogs can be shot on the podium at the back drop but the largest should not be as it often is too short for a Great Dane or Mastiff to stretch out properly. Now for the exceptions, and the why for each: Three breeds are “three legged stools.” The Pug, French Bulldog and Bulldog They should show two front legs, and the camera side rear. The camera side front should "hide" the exhibitor side rear. These are small “head breeds” and t...