Puppy yoga is quickly becoming a new passion for me. The low-key nature of the yoga makes it accessible to everyone, and the joy and enthusiasm are palpable as we're surrounded by precious, soft, crazy little fluff monsters! The cuteness is almost too much to handle! It’s especially heartwarming to see a room of initially reserved people, only chatting with those they came with, transform into a space filled with gushing, wide-eyed happiness and openness. The puppies truly bring out the best in everyone!
Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing such an event at Raintree Athletic club located in Fort Collins, Colorado. I've been working with All Aboard Animal Rescue, a rescue based in Fort Collins, this year on fundraisers, and wanted to use Puppy Yoga as a way promote them. This experience was not just about capturing adorable moments but also about supporting a cause close to my heart: Animal Rescue!
Animal rescue is profoundly meaningful to me because it embodies compassion, kindness, and the belief that every life is valuable...especially the littel floofy ones!
Fun fact about this photo: the pup featured here (Gouda) was adopted the very next day by this couple!
The Event: Puppy Yoga in Fort Collins
The studio buzzed with unbelievable anticipation as everyone eagerly prepared to embrace the puppies. Soon, the puppies bounded in, full of energy and ready for fun. Laughter and joy erupted as the puppies burst from their crates, playfully tumbling and tackling each other...it was on! We stretched, we did some yoga (the instructor was so great and encouraged the fun), and mainly we snuggled silly, floppy, crazy little fluff monsters, and got the huge dose of serotonin we signed up for :)
Meet the Puppies: Almost ALL Adopted Now!
The stars of the show:
Blueberry: Blueberry is a spunky, smart chi who loves being the center of attention! With her short legs, long body, and massive ears, she brings a smile to anyone she's around! She was often found by the instructor, clearly commanding the room and correcting form. Status: Adopted!
Gouda: This adorable little chunk of cheese is Gouda! He is affectionate, goofy, and full of life! He quickly got scooped up by this loving couple from class. Pretty hard to resist this little stud's magical charm and icy blue eyes. Status: Adopted!
Lingonberry: An energetic Chihuaha mix who loved exploring the studio, nomming on yoga mats, and waddling his cute little butt to your lap for scritches. He really loved one lady, and she loved him even more and came to the adoption event the next day to scoop this little peanut up! Status: Adopted!
Dex aka Gromit: Part WWE wrestler, part gentle land hippo. This 5-month old pibble mix absolutely adores other dogs and wanted to play with everyone there-despite the Chihuahuas loudly opposing such malarky. This ball of love was the life of the party. Status: Adopted the next day!
Marrionberry: Marrionberry is shy, sweet, and stately. A total lap dog and lover of toys! This sweet little berry was adopted shortly after this event! Status: Adopted!
Raspberry: Mama Raspberry is an incredibly sweet and affectionate dog who loves to be close, whether she's sitting on your lap or being held. Her previous foster described Raspberry as a wonderful little companion who just wants snuggles. She's the perfect blend of loving and well-mannered, making her a delightful addition to any home. Status: Ready for adoption! Check her out here
Capturing the Moments
Photographing the event was a delightful challenge. The key was to be as unobtrusive as possible, allowing the interactions between the yogis and puppies to unfold naturally. Here are some tips for capturing the moment:
Use a Zoom lens: I didn't want to invade people's personal space too much so I used my 70-200mm to get what I could from a distance.
Stay Low: Getting down to the puppies' level provided a perspective that highlighted their playful nature and the genuine joy on participants' faces.
Boost that ISO & use a wide open aperture: The combination of fast moving canines, and relatively low lighting was challenging. I didn't want to use flash so I used a wide open aperture of 1.8-2.8 and a fast shutter speed of 500-1000, which meant I had to boost my ISO to at least 5000-it's doable with the R5 but still causes a lot of grain in the image. In post processing I used Lightroom's new feature of noise removal to smooth everything out. It was more than a little bit of extra work, but I think it was worth it!
Be Patient and use treats: Puppies are unpredictable, so patience was essential. Waiting for the right moment, whether it was a gentle snuggle or a playful leap, resulted in the most heartwarming photos.
Focus on Interactions: The connection between the participants and the puppies was the heart of the event. Capturing these interactions—whether it was a laugh, a hug, or a shared moment of peace—brought the photos to life.
Use Treats: use all the yums and place them on participants mats and hands to attract the puppies and encourage interactions. I would recommend provided little treat bags to everyone.
Supporting All Aboard Animal Rescue
The organization works tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals in need. By organizing and photographing this event, I was able to contribute to their mission and raise awareness about their incredible work. My original reason to do puppy yoga was to promote our gogo photo contest. A fun calendar contest that I created to raise significant funds for the rescue. Over the course of 6 weeks, we raised $5,600! I will have a whole blog post about this and the calendar features, so stay tuned!
Final Thoughts
Photographing puppies at a yoga event was an unforgettable experience filled with laughter, joy, and playful madness. More importantly, it was an opportunity to support All Aboard Animal Rescue and their ongoing efforts to give these adorable pups a second chance at a happy life.
If you’re interested in adopting any of the puppies featured or supporting the rescue in other ways, please visit All Aboard Animal Rescue’s website. And remember, capturing these precious moments with our furry friends not only creates lasting memories but also shines a light on the importance of animal rescue and adoption.
When community, compassion, and creativity come together we make magic!
Want to do a Puppy Yoga Class with Us?
With the popularity of our first puppy yoga event, I decided to partner with All Aboard Animal Rescue to create a Puppy Yoga Fundraiser! This one is going to take pace at Intersect Brewery in Fort Collins on August 30th, 2024 from 11:30am-1pm. There will be a one hour class and a 30 minute meet and greet.
Tickets are on sale now and are $25 per person! Our goal is to sell 100 tickets and raise $2,500!
Link here.
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