The UCLA calendar shoot is the perfect excuse for me to dress the Doods up in costume. They are basically divas, so it works all the way around.
ELBEE We learned from a woman who, may I remind 
you, blew kisses to the audience at a bodybuilding competition.
I rest my case.
To get them camera ready for last week’s shoot, I took them for blow drys at the doggy spa. Jen, the groomer, and her four year old assistant Anne, made sure they looked fabulous for their close ups.
Henry, now an official member of the People Animal Connection, is going to be in the calendar for the first time. I really wanted to have the three posing together but knew it would be total chaos.
ELBEE That’s why they have photoshop.
I decided it would be best to bring Gus and Stanley on one day and Henry on another. The older two have been doctors, tennis players, even a bride and groom, so they’re pros.
ELBEE Surprisingly, Gus was a lovely bride.
The only problem was that when we tried to have them pose separately, they wanted to be together. Stanley let out his unique frustrated bark when he saw Gus in front of the camera without him. Once we dressed him up and sat him next to Gus, they were ready to go. The theme, “high school yearbook,” opened up endless possibilities.
When Henry was a puppy and I tried to put him in simple accessories, he took off in a sprint. Now, having dressed up countless times, he appears to enjoy it.
At the photo shoot, He took his mark like a pro and seemed to have a smile on his face. After a bit, when he was a little distracted, I suggested calling him “Enrique” to get his attention.
It started when we were out walking and met a lot of Spanish speaking people who loved it when I told them his name was Enrique. With his unusual appearance and the name they tend to remember him and will often call out greetings when we pass by.
Everyone at the photo shoot got such a kick out of it and began calling him Enrique too. It seemed to make the smile on his face even bigger.
Juliane, the photographer, has taken pictures of my five Doods so there is always a moment of nostalgia watching them pose for her on the white backdrop under the lights. And no session is complete without turning the camera on Juliane and taking her picture with them.
