Dog Photography at FPP FOCUS 2026

Behind the Scenes

Sit. Stay. Slay the Shot.

Seventy-five photographers. Fifteen animal actors. Three sets. And one very busy morning.

This year, I had the honor of kicking off 2026 FPP FOCUS with Sit. Stay. Slay the Shot., teaching to a full house of 75 photographers.

We started with about an hour in the classroom, talking about photographing dogs, working with light and creating a finished portrait with intention.

Then came what someone perfectly described as “controlled chaos.”

Three Sets. Fifteen Animal Actors.

Fourteen dogs and one very talented cat rotated through three completely different sets: pure white, scenic fine art, and a floral set with a reflective floor and constant lights.

We rented Profoto triggers so everyone could work with my lighting and concentrate on positioning, exposure, composition and, most importantly, capturing the moment.

The Stars on the Other Side of the Camera

Our animal actors were arranged by Danielle Blasingame of SunnyDays Dog Training and Fetch the Spotlight, and they were phenomenal.

Their training meant photographers could concentrate on the photography instead of worrying about whether their subject would stay put. With four or five animals rotating through each set, they made our controlled chaos possible.

A Very Special Thank You

A huge thank-you to Danielle and all of our incredible animal actors, and to Sophia Grace’s mom for modeling for us again.

Thank you to American Color Imaging for the amazing giveaways, Background Town for the beautiful backgrounds we used throughout the morning, and the FPP Board of Directors for trusting me to kick off FPP FOCUS 2026 with this class.

Seventy-five photographers. Fifteen animals. Three sets. And just enough controlled chaos to make it unforgettable.

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Every dog (and cat) has a story.

Some are funny. Some are bittersweet. Some change us forever. Whatever your story looks like, we'd be honored to help you preserve it.

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FPP FOCUS 2026

Sit. Stay. Slay the Shot.

Three Sets. Fifteen Animal Actors.

The Stars on the Other Side of the Camera

A Very Special Thank You

Every dog (and cat) has a story.

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