Usually when I do a product review I come up with an idea, set it up, take a few photos, and write the review.  Usually it all goes as planned.

But every once in a while it doesn’t work out exactly the way that I planned it.

The review for Sojos baked treats that I did last week was one of those.  I haven’t done bloopers for a while so here goes.

The dogs were supposed to pick their favorite treat for the give-away. I figured I would set up a taste test so the dog could “judge” the treats and it would make for a cute review.  I just needed a few pictures.

My initial plan was to set up the treats outside and take pictures.  I like to take pictures for reviews outside because the lighting is usually better, but it was snowing and blowing so hard that I had to forget the outside pictures.

Time for Plan B.  I laid out the treats on the counter so I could take a few pictures in decent light.  I just needed the dogs to be visible over the top of the counter.  I set up a step stool for them to put their front feet on while I took a few quick pictures. Easy right?

Nope.

Storm Says She Is Not Very Happy With This Arrangement
Storm Says She Is Not Very Happy With This Arrangement

The only one that cooperated and put her feet on the stool and then stayed there long enough for pictures was Storm. Thunder and Freighter put their feet up, but jumped right back off before I could even pick up the camera.

On the stool—off the stool—on the stool—right back off the stool. Each time they put their feet on the stool I told them “good”, slipped them a treat and told them “stay”. They were just not comfortable with their feet on the stool and since I was taking the pictures with limited light, I needed them to hold fairly still so the pictures would not be blurry.

After several attempts I gave up on the stool and I tried a chair. I figured it would be a bigger base for their front feet. Thunder was OK with the chair.  He was not totally comfortable, but I was able to get a good picture or two of him.

Thunder Thinks The Chair Is Much Better
Thunder Thinks The Chair Is Much Better
Thunder Says A Treat Will Make It Better
A Treat Helps Too
Hey Lady You Can See The Chair Back In The Picture
Hey Lady You Can See The Chair Back In The Picture
Nice Picture Thunder
Nice Picture Thunder

Freighter on the other hand wanted no part of either set-up.  He was not at all into putting his front feet on either the stool or the chair and staying put.  He is great at sitting still on the ground so I will work with him on this for the future.  I decided not to push it too far and gave up.

Just Give Me The Treats
Just Give Me The Treats

Since my counter set-up did not go at all as planned, I did not have enough decent pictures for my review.  Panic time.  I came up with a plan C.

I decided that I would take the review to where the dogs are most comfortable.  I set up the taste test all over again on the floor.  This worked much better.  Thunder and Storm got to pick their favorite from plates on the floor and I got some decent pictures for the review. I actually think the review came out better than my initial plan.

Storm Ready To Pick A Treat
Storm Ready To Pick A Treat
Checking Them Out
Checking Them Out
Yum Yum
Yum!

Have you ever planned a post that did not come together quite as you planned it?

Our give-away for Sojos Big Dog baked treats is open through tomorrow.  Details about how to enter here.

Big Dog Biscuits & Gravy Dog Treats
Big Dog Biscuits & Gravy Dog Treats

25 thoughts on “The Post Behind The Review

  1. It seems like most of my grand ideas send me back to the drawing board a few (dozen) times! Your patience paid off. It was a great post!

  2. I have to take tons of pictures to get one or two for anything I post. I recently reviewed One Dog Organic Bakery treats. I ended up with about 6 pictures I liked out of 80 something taken. I even have to set my camera to take 6 continous shots to get 1 good photo as my pugs think sitting still is complete torture and lord help me when I have a treat or toy in hand. LOL Your photos were great. My pugs would have just grabbed all three and ran.

  3. I usually use candid photos of Daisy, so I don’t really plan anything or set her up to illustrate a post. It’s very rare that I try to get her to do something to fit with a post idea. It’s more like Daisy is Daisy, and the post comes after the pictures! 🙂 I love that picture of Thunder waiting for the treat – he’s gorgeous.

  4. Gotta tell you, this one is fabulous too! I think your bloopers are even good! “Did I ever do a review or post that didn’t go as planned?” DOES DAKOTA BARK? ‘Nuff said! Oh, watch your mail…remember the book I was going to send you LAST YEAR? lol…..it’s on it’s way……….in the packaging that I put it in a YEAR AGO. OOOPS!

  5. I always have a backup plan, that is one of my great skills. LOL Again, I’m amazed that the dogs didn’t gobble every single treat down. I know that’s what Delilah would have done.

  6. This is such a funny and cute post! The Brown Dogs are so well behaved. We’d just put our paws up on the counter and choose from each and every plate!! All of your pictures turned out so well. My favorite is Storm sneaking around the corner!

    -Otto and Bart, who can have difficulty walking but was caught red-pawed by mom cleaning off the dining room table after dinner!!

  7. all things I plan end mostly on the floor or on Easy’s bed… I wish I could arrange my photos better, but the pup is a model like Naomi Campbell with some CATtitudes :o)

  8. I think your initial idea of having them “sitting” at the human table was cute, but I also love the final version because you’re right: it’s their point of view.

  9. I wondered how you pulled that all together so well, it was a great review! Yes, our best laid plans often go awry. LOL I’m always doing things at the last minute too, so then I get stressed out when I’m scrambling to come up with something!

  10. Love the blooper shots! I wanted to do a post once where I planned to make it look like Rita was driving the car… But NOTHING could get her to stay in the driver’s seat! I guess she knows she’s a backseat girl!

  11. I love your blooper pictures! LOL! Isn’t it interesting how sometimes plan b,c or d works out better than a? I’ve had to do this so many times since my girls are sensitive and sometimes fearful. I’ve also found that taking a break and coming back later can be helpful, too.

  12. Luckily, when something unplanned happens, it usually ends up giving us even better ideas. Mom and I have the post in our heads, but often the photos aren’t what we aimed for so we change the post to fit the photos.

  13. BOL! Nice outtakes! Yeah, things don’t always go as planned, but sometimes you get some good content anyway! *wags* – Gilligan from WagsAhoy.com

  14. This is adorable and sounds familiar. We did Ruby’s first review a few weeks ago. Our cat kept walking through the shot and trying to steal the treats. I finally just gave up and let her be part of the review. LOL!

  15. This was awesome! I think almost every review post that I do doesn’t go as planned. No one ever wants to cooperate when they HAVE to!

  16. I’ve given up on planning posts because they just don’t happen, period. My best posts happen when they just “pop into” my head.

    1. LOL that is my norm too. I do try to plan reviews a bit more though.

  17. I enjoyed these pictures and your post. Most all of my posts don’t turn out quite like I planned them but I post them anyway or I would have very few posts. lol Hugs

  18. LOL My treat posts never go as planned! I absolutely love that photo of Storm peeking around the cabinets 🙂

  19. Photographing the furry ones always keeps you on your toes! I’m glad the pups were able to get a sweet sampling of treats after all. Much love, The Scottie Mom.

Comments are closed.