Powder photography is an epic way to show of an animal's raw athleticism and power. The images are sure to turn heads and make jaws drop. It's no wonder that powder sessions are in such high demand.
But...
The strength of the images is directly proportional to the level of competence and confidence of the furry subject. The better prepared your pet is to cope with the strange sights, sounds and sensations of a powder session, the more successful everyone will be.
Want to polish things up a bit before our upcoming session? Here is a breakdown of the required behaviours, as well as some resources to help step up your training.
What about photos featuring things other than jumps?
We can capture fetch, flyball, running, bitework and more in powder photography. However, photo subjects should be fluent in the behaviours we are trying to capture. Young and/or “green” dogs frequently forget their jobs in the face of distractions.
Breakdown of the basic JBP jump sequence
Behind-the-scenes video of a jump at the inaugural Jess Bell Photography powder session.
Helper holds dog ~15 feet away from a jump.
Handler and/or helper applies powder to dog.
Handler moves to the opposite side of the jump.
Handler calls dog from ~15 feet from opposite side of jump. Helper releases dog.
Dog takes jump on the way to handler for reward.
Party! Reward heavily.
Reset again at step 1.
Breaking it Down
The basic components of the session are relatively simple, but are deceptively complicated once we factor in the necessity of performing in a new area with new smells, lights and back drops and the weird, cold sensation of powder applied to their fur.
Here are some things you can work on with your dog to get them used to some of these strange things:
Work on being held by a stranger.
Train your dog in new areas. Let them sniff and explore beforehand so they can focus more easily.
Crinkle plastic bags behind their heads.
Start with low jumps.
Start close to the jump.
Some dogs are not candidates for powder sessions, unfortunately. Dogs that are not physically sound cannot participate out of health concerns. Dogs that are nervous in new areas or who are easy to stress may not be suitable either. If you’re not sure whether your pet is a suitable candidate for powder photography, don’t hesitate to contact me. I will likely ask to see a video of a basic jump sequence, ask for some background information, and then provide my professional opinion.
Educational resources
“Many people think that dogs can jump naturally and there is no need to train them in the basics of jumping. ... dogs need to learn how to jump correctly. Jumping correctly involves teaching a dog weight transfer, how to use their hind legs correctly to take off for the jump, how to choose the correct path to the jump and most importantly to become confident, have an understanding of the jump task being asked and to jump with a relaxed body.”
