Bright lights, hip music, a camera - we're ready!

This is a photo shoot at Wonder Wooolies.

The studio session

We began with choosing our location and gathering our equipment.  The kitchen table would do for a runway.   It was already set against the wall and the lighting in the room seemed bright enough.  We chose a length of unused fabric, some tacks, a towel, some favorite toys for props, spinach for bait, and our digital camera.  

We layed out the towel onto the table and set the fabric on top of that with a good portion hanging off the end of the table nearest the wall.  Then, we pulled up the hanging end of the cloth and tacked it to the wall leaving some still hanging between the wall and the table.  This gave us a nice smooth base, a clean horizon, and a smooth background.  The towel underneath the fabric provided traction so the bunnies would feel secure when they hopped around.  The towel will also  absorb any "accidents" that may occur.  (Note from mom:  Lay down a plastic tablecloth underneath it all before you begin the shoot!)  Okay, with the runway ready, props and bait to the side, we were ready for our models.

We lightly groomed each rabbit.  A quick surface fluffing was all that they needed.  Make sure to clean up eye goobers, too.  Just make sure everyone looks refreshed.

Now was the time for some mood music.  The favorite selections here are "The Hamster Dance" and "Super Diaper Baby".  Don't turn it up too loud.  

We brought in our models one at a time and began shooting.  Patience, a quick trigger finger, and lots  of pictures (if you have a digital) is key.  Also, remember, many hands make light work.  Take turns with a brother or sister being photographer and assistant.  While the photographer readies the camera, the assistant poses the bunny.  Keep your hands on the bunny so she's in her pose until the photographer says "Go".  Take your hands off your bunny and back away.  You may be able to get one or two shots in before your bunny realizes that she can move again if you are quick.  

Don't be too disapointed if the bunnies are not as cooperative as you'd like them to be.  Let your bunnies be themselves and get some fun pictures, too.  Perfect show pose is not the only way to go.  Consider using pictures of your bunnies just being a little silly and letting their show records speak for their quality.

Shooting on location

The next morning we trekked to our outdoor site (the front yard).  Using natural morning sunlight made for some nice pictures.  We think that bunnies in natural surroundings brings a little more life to the pictures.

Only take your rabbit out into the open if she is a fairly calm rabbit and you are confident she won't make a break for it in an attempt to become "nature bunny" and get herself lost.  Again, photograph one bunny at a time and have an assistant help you manage the rabbits.  

Our yard may not be the most beautiful on the block but we still found two spots that would make nice backgrounds for our photos.  We used one lone blooming plant sitting in a bare dirt bed with some juniper in the background.  A brick border hid the dirt when we got down at bunny level to take the pictures.  We also used another flower bed where the plants were doing a little bit better.  Here, the short brick border with some moss growing on it made the photos a little more interesting.  (Note:  Be careful about what you sit your bunny on.  Ours had green feet for a day or two after sitting on that moss.)

We tried the same holding/posing technique we used the day before.  It worked okay but after we got a few good shots we let the bunnies move around a bit more as they explored their surroundings turning them back toward the camera every once in a while.  It was also fun to stuff them all in a basket to see if they would stay there.  

We all had a great time with our bunny photo shoot.  Mom and Dad downloaded the pictures and you can see them all over this website.  We hope you have as much fun photographing your rabbits as we did ours.  Go get your camera!

*Here is a wonderful article from Teresa Wooden's Brightside Woolies Rabbitry website full of helpful tips that we used to photograph our rabbits: http://www.brightsidewoolies.com/articles/photographing_your_bunnies.htm

Hmm...Illuminating!

All these photos were taken of the same animal, on the same day, but they look like they could be three different rabbits!

The first photo was taken in bright, florescent light and best shows his true color.  The second was taken with a camera flash bulb in combination with an energy-saving florescent bulb overhead.  The third was taken with no flash - just the energy saving bulb.  Lighting really makes a difference!