This past Wednesday, Bridger and I shared a very exciting and interesting afternoon. I was contacted a few weeks ago by an advertising agency who were interested in using one of my Australian Shepherds in an upcoming campaign. Once I agreed to it, they forwarded my website onto the client and photographers, and let me know they had decided on Bridger. Was he interested? ABSOLUTELY! I only saw this as a fantastic opportunity for Casselcreek, and he'd even get paid for his time.
With the ugly rainy weather of late, the shoot was postponed twice but finally I got confirmation things were a go for Wednesday. I was provided with specifics on time and location and off we went. The site was a wheat field which turned out to be only about half an hour southwest of us. When we drove up, there were a few vehicles, several people, and lots of equipment, lights, generator humming, makeup artist, etc. We were welcomed and introduced to the various people, including Tom, "the farmer", Bridger's new best friend.
The guise of the shoot and the eventual ad are that with product X taking care of the weeds in Farmer Tom's beautiful crop, he has nothing to worry about and can just enjoy a quiet moment with his loyal canine companion, Bridger. Given the late afternoon and the shoot facing west, the sunshine across the Alberta prairie, highlighting the wheat sheafs and touching on grain bins in the distance, was absolutely glorious. Because the crop was so tall, they used an equipment box to raise Bridger up high enough that his head was at hip level and there he sat, on that box, for 2 hours. We stopped shooting 3 times for a 5-minute break, and to move the scene to capture the light. Bridger hopped off the box and ran around the field for a bit, immediately coming back to work when Tom called him. Bridger is such a social, well balanced boy who loves everyone and took to Tom like they were the old friends they are depicted to be. Tom kept teasing me that he had it written into his contract that he got to take the dog home when we were finished.
Bridger made me so proud as he sat or stood on the box, looking up at Tom, accepting affectionate pats, lifting his head and bringing his ears forward to focus on something and giving us that beautiful Aussie expression. Of course, it goes without saying that his gorgeous red coat will complement the rest of the scenery beautifully. Toward the end of the 2 hours, he whined a couple of times, yawned once, and when I commented he was probably reaching his limit, Dale the photographer immediately said "that's it, we're done", and Bridger hopped off his perch. I was pleased and impressed Dale was so understanding of Bridger's limitations and didn't push him beyond what was already a top notch performance. I was complimented so many times on his temperament, his patience, and his excellent behaviour. Dale told me they had worked with many, many dogs and he was by far the best and the easiest. Atta'boy Bridger.
At one point, they wanted him to jump up and put his paws up on Tom's chest. He would not do it, no matter how much enthusiam Tom had for him. I had to laugh ... 9 Aussies and they choose the dog who doesn't jump up!
I hope to be able to go into their studio and view all the photographs myself, maybe snag a digital copy or two, and definitely multiple copies of the ad when it comes out.
As far as future assignments for Bridger, he says, "have your people call my people".
With the ugly rainy weather of late, the shoot was postponed twice but finally I got confirmation things were a go for Wednesday. I was provided with specifics on time and location and off we went. The site was a wheat field which turned out to be only about half an hour southwest of us. When we drove up, there were a few vehicles, several people, and lots of equipment, lights, generator humming, makeup artist, etc. We were welcomed and introduced to the various people, including Tom, "the farmer", Bridger's new best friend.
The guise of the shoot and the eventual ad are that with product X taking care of the weeds in Farmer Tom's beautiful crop, he has nothing to worry about and can just enjoy a quiet moment with his loyal canine companion, Bridger. Given the late afternoon and the shoot facing west, the sunshine across the Alberta prairie, highlighting the wheat sheafs and touching on grain bins in the distance, was absolutely glorious. Because the crop was so tall, they used an equipment box to raise Bridger up high enough that his head was at hip level and there he sat, on that box, for 2 hours. We stopped shooting 3 times for a 5-minute break, and to move the scene to capture the light. Bridger hopped off the box and ran around the field for a bit, immediately coming back to work when Tom called him. Bridger is such a social, well balanced boy who loves everyone and took to Tom like they were the old friends they are depicted to be. Tom kept teasing me that he had it written into his contract that he got to take the dog home when we were finished.
Bridger made me so proud as he sat or stood on the box, looking up at Tom, accepting affectionate pats, lifting his head and bringing his ears forward to focus on something and giving us that beautiful Aussie expression. Of course, it goes without saying that his gorgeous red coat will complement the rest of the scenery beautifully. Toward the end of the 2 hours, he whined a couple of times, yawned once, and when I commented he was probably reaching his limit, Dale the photographer immediately said "that's it, we're done", and Bridger hopped off his perch. I was pleased and impressed Dale was so understanding of Bridger's limitations and didn't push him beyond what was already a top notch performance. I was complimented so many times on his temperament, his patience, and his excellent behaviour. Dale told me they had worked with many, many dogs and he was by far the best and the easiest. Atta'boy Bridger.
At one point, they wanted him to jump up and put his paws up on Tom's chest. He would not do it, no matter how much enthusiam Tom had for him. I had to laugh ... 9 Aussies and they choose the dog who doesn't jump up!
I hope to be able to go into their studio and view all the photographs myself, maybe snag a digital copy or two, and definitely multiple copies of the ad when it comes out.
As far as future assignments for Bridger, he says, "have your people call my people".
Happy Trails ... Theresa
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