From The CC Vault: Dog Show Photography

By William Given

Originally published: September 2019

Show win photos are important for many reasons and the reasons will vary from one exhibitor to another. Chief among the reasons is the fact that they preserve history while it is being made. How many owners want the photos of the first point, the majors and when their dog becomes a new champion? It is an educated guess, but I guess many, and you can count me among them.
Also, win photos are used separately and together with candid shots when advertising in dog show magazines. This advertising might be used to publicize a single dog or all of the dogs a breeder might currently be showing.
Breeding programs often pivot on photographs. Studs are sometimes selected on the basis of their pictures, even as bitches are accepted or rejected. Negotiations toward important sales usually start with an inspection of photographs. Pictures in dog show publications not only spark interest, they also inform readers of what others are accomplishing with their breeding programs. And, more importantly, appealing pictures in the general press heighten the over-all interest in the sport of purebred dogs.
Further, photographs become important mementos of favorite ring victories. They also sometimes find their way into breed books and serve to guide future breeders. Sometimes photographs are used to illustrate pedigrees; hopefully you have seen them used in breed books. An extended pedigree, so illustrated, can be vastly more meaningful than a mere list of names and titles.

The “Official” Show Photographer

We need our “official” show photographers. They are an important part of the show. In fact, many veteran exhibitors take a careful look at the premium list just to see who the official show photographer is for that show. However, the official show photographer appears to have “official” status only with the show giving club, and not with the American Kennel club.
Chapter 9, Section 2 of the AKC’s show rules requires that the premium list shall list the officers of the club, the address of the club’s secretary, the names of all members of the show committee, names and addresses of the judges, the veterinarian, and the name and address of the show superintendent. No mention is made of the show photographer.
Chapter 12 stresses that the judges, show secretary or superintendent, and veterinarian must be approved by the American Kennel Club. Chapter 17, Section 1 requires that all of the above be made part of the show catalog. Neither of these chapters make any mention of the “official” show photographer.
Yet, in almost every premium list and catalog we can find the official show photographer listed. One would easily assume that the AKC would not permit an individual to be listed as an “official” show photographer unless the individual was in good standing with the American Kennel Club. That seems to be the extent of the AKC’s involvement in dog show photography.
The official photographer in some ways enters a “no-man’s land” every time he or she steps into the ring to take a picture. Here is why: Chapter 10, Section 17 says: “For the purpose of facilitating judging, judges are required to exclude from their rings, in which they are judging, all persons except stewards and the show attendants assigned to the ring and those actually engaged in exhibiting.”
The rule brings up a very valid question: When is a judge judging? In practice, it is generally interpreted to mean that the photographer may come into the ring between classes or breed assignments if he or she is not impeding the orderly progress of judging. However, what if the judge is running behind schedule? This is not at all an uncommon occurrence. It cannot be considered reasonable to hold up a late ring to take photographs, but it does happen and sometimes at the judge’s insistence.
There are not a great many official dog show photographers out there. I think that is probably because of the amount of knowledge and skill that is required. We should consider also that the expenses are high, while the rewards (personally and professionally) seem to be moderate at best. It seems to me to be a life fraught with frustration.
They are almost always on the road or in the air. I expect in any given year they must travel some 50,000 miles or more. They sleep in motels or hotels, and eat in restaurants about 200 days a year. They have to carry heavy equipment everywhere they go, and when they get the chance to set it down, since it is very expensive, it has to be guarded so it doesn’t walk off.
The frustration must be great. First, each and every photo needs to be technically correct. The framing, focus and exposure all have to be just right. Consider also that he or she often has to work with cranky judges and impatient handlers who want it done quickly so they can get to their next ring, while at the same time, must somehow catch their canine subject at the very moment when he looks his best. Oh, and the photographer also has to watch the judge and exhibitor closely. He or she also needs to make sure that the human subjects are focused on the dog and look appropriately happy.
I have sometimes wondered why our dog show photographers do not have a professional association. There is an association for dog show superintendents and professional handlers, two for dog show judges and several for stewards, but not one for photographers. It seems reasonable that show photographers should form an association of their own. An association of this type would speak with one voice to the American Kennel Club and the dog show community. This organization could work to raise professional standards of quality and ethics.

The Show Win Photo

Most win photos are the side-silhouette. I do not believe this, at all, serves to stimulate a photographer’s artistic creativity. I often wonder if it is because that is what exhibitors really prefer or rather because that is just the way it has been done for so very long. There are, of course, variations on the theme. Occasionally, a Toy or small Terrier will take a big win and the handler will put him in the large silver bowl for the photo. It does make for a lovely picture.
Over the past few years, I have seen more candid photos been used in advertising. The candid photograph is one where the picture was taken without creating a posed appearance. Candid photographs (even when they are not truly candid) seems to say, “natural = honesty = trustworthy.” Candid photos can help breeders and exhibitors connect with others in the breed and in the dog show community.
Breeders and exhibitors want and need “show win” photographs, but like many of you, I long ago found myself believing, more and more, that these pictures need not be taken in the same ring in which the wins were achieved. For a few decades, official show photographers have been using their own setups where they can take the majority of their photographs. They have multiple lights, filters and nice backdrops. About ten years ago photographers began ditching the neutral back drops and replacing them with custom backdrops with club logos or scenic vistas, and here at their photobooth, they are free from the pressure of the ring and judging schedule. This, I believe, contributed to the higher quality photographs we are seeing. When a judge finishes with a section, he or she simply meets the exhibitors at the booth. There, the handlers can pose their dogs and the photographer can get the shots they need to take in short order.

Take-home Message

Over the course of my thirty-five years in the sport, I have seen some wonderful photographs– some candids and some of show wins. The vast majority were average to above average. And, the bad ones were seldom bad because of poor lighting or being out of focus. Maybe the dog moved a foot or turned its head a bit as the picture was being taken. Maybe the exhibitor could have set their dog up better, the handler could have checked to ensure his zipper was up, or the judge could have been looking at the dog and not look at what was going on in another ring.
Show photographers and show photography have been widely (and sometimes wickedly) debated ringside and at kennel club meetings for many, many years, but very seldom in dog show publications. The “official” dog show photographer plays an important role in our sport. One which, I believe, deserves greater consideration than it has received in years past.

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Posted by Liz on Dec 6 2022. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.