Leo the dog has a super power. That's what his mom says anyway and I think I believe her. Actually, I know I believe her. Leo can make anyone love him. That's his super power. If you don't like dogs, and that is certainly not my issue, Leo will make you not just like him but love him. He really doesn't care if that's your attitude going in because it will most definitely not be your attitude going out. Leo is pretty irresistible, he really is. He's just this beautiful blond boy and he oozes pure love.
Janet and her family have had Leo about three years. He was a rescue dog. I didn't go over to Janet's house to photograph Leo, I went to Janet's house to photograph Janet for headshots. But Leo mesmerized me. He is so sweet and so gentle. Leo and I bonded immediately though there is a big but involved... and it is... "but" as soon as I brought out my camera and pointed it at him, Leo got shy all of a sudden. Our bond seemed to break a little. He didn't want to be photographed. If you've ever taken a picture of a toddler, you know the moment you can't and nothing can change that. That's kind of how it was with Leo. Fortunately, as I say, I wasn't there to photograph Leo. And Janet was an excellent subject for a headshot. Leo, not so much.
Now, would I have given up if Leo decided at that moment, "No pictures please" if I was there to take photos of Leo? Not on your life. We didn't have our handy-dandy Mary Poppins bag of tricks with us. No squeaky toys, no treats, no whistles or apps. But Janet didn't need any of those things for her headshots.
Maybe next time Janet will let me go back to photograph Leo. But I assure you, his super power remains intact. Just because I didn't capture him doesn't mean it's not there. It's there. He'll make you love him. Trust me.
BEST Pet Photography