
Newborn puppies are so sweet. While they appear so fragile and helpless as they lie suckling at their mother's teats, they are incredibly strong and active within a few moments of emerging into this world. Photographing them at this age, while not as difficult as capturing them when they are fully mobile, presents some unique challenges. For one, you need to have a very close bond with the mother! If she doesn't want you touching her babies, you are limited to getting shots that include her and she will need to be at ease with you pointing a camera at her and her babies. I try to use only natural or ambient lighting. You also need to have a lot of experience handling very young puppies. Everything is new to them, your touch and placement of them must be very gentle and as non-intrusive as possible. Finally, you need to work very quickly to return them to their blissful life with their mother.