or When You Accidentally Hire a Puppy as Your Studio Assistant…

Small puppy from behind turning to look at photographer

Every photographer dreams of the perfect assistant. Someone organised. Calm under pressure. Excellent with clients. Able to carry light stands without immediately trying to eat them.

So I got a puppy …

Technically, I didn’t hire her. There was little by way interview process, no résumé, and absolutely no background check into her previous experience with chewing electrical cables. We simply met, she jumped into my arms and immediatley assumed a senior leadership role in the business.

I suspect this is how most management positions are filled.

Her job description is broad.
She specialises in:

Prop Management: (relocation of anything that can be lifted or dragged)
Client greeting services: (Always enthusiastic and thrilled to meet and greet clients)
Cable management: (Preliminary testing via successive Mega bites of all cords and cables)
Studio Maintenance & Logistics: Taking care to ensure the room is ‘Casual Chic’ (IE: looks like a tornado swept through) at all times
Studio Muse: They just don’t come any cuter!
Runner: She is always running somewhere to fecth something.

From a marketing perspective, she’s the dream model.
From an operational perspective, we are moments away from a Zoomie photobomb at all times.

Editing photos at home is no longer peaceful. It now involves one hand on the keyboard and the other preventing the small hairy moray eel who is currently residing under my desk from latching on to my socks while on my feet.
I used to worry about creative burnout. Now I worry about toe preservation.
Will she grow into a calm, professional studio dog?
Absolutely not.
But she will grow into the heart of the studio… as soon as she finishes chewing it.