For me I photograph all types of dog from chihuahuas to great danes, but I have a real soft spot for my gundogs. I own 2 working cocker spaniels myself and they really do get under your skin.

I have recently been photographing some working tests. These photographs are from the London Working Spaniel Society test. The photography was challenging as I could not get too close and interrupt the competition but at distance there were alot of trees blocking my view.

Gundogs make a splash

With the summer weather well and truly in full swing and the temperatures soaring. So, what better time to share my latest shoot to cool you down.

I popped down to Kent to photograph a water training day with my friends at Family Dog Services.

Photographing dogs in action doing what they enjoy is definitely a favourite for me. I’m sure you will agree that these dogs were having a ball.

One thing that can always be a struggle with water photos is getting in the right place to snap them. I started perched on a fallen tree which helpfully fell into the pond. However, I just wasn’t at the right level I wanted to be at.

Try again…..

Unfortunately this still wasn’t cutting it for me and I felt I wasn’t doing my beloved gundogs proud.

I feel this is a new level of dedication to the cause.

So I ended up going in to the water above my knee in an extremely froggy reservoir. There was one aim – DON’T DROP THE CAMERA!

The dogs were all doing great and I loved the different methods of entry to the water.

• 

• 

Some dogs took a more thoughtful approach to whether or not to go retrieve the dummy, but it offered opportunity for a snap or two.

This wonderful lady and her gorgeous dog travel all the way from Belgium for training in the UK so definitely deserve a special mention. Check out her amazing leggings from Foxy Pheasant.

To finish off a post about gundogs, it seems only right that I include my dogs too.

First their is Nuka my little blonde pocket rocket.

There is then her older brother Red, who is more of a model than a gundog but I don’t care.

Around the circle

I am part of an amazing group of pet photographers from around the globe that participate in this weekly blog circle. Simply click on the link and go on a journey from blog post to blog post until you end up back here.

Next up is Carol Mudra

Carol Mudra of Apawture Studios Pet Photography based in Milan, Italy shares how she takes puppies from full speed energy to fine art in a mere 1/200th of a second, in the studio!

Christmas with your dog

How to survive Christmas with your dog. The festive season is a time for decorating our houses, giving gifts, eating delicious food and sweet treats and (usually) our homes are busy with the hubbub of visitors. Our pets are creatures of habit and when new arrivals come into their homes and alter their daily routine it can put their noses out of joint.

⦁ Gastronomic gifts – one of the wonderful things about this time of year is the giving and receiving of presents. To make them exciting and keep us guessing until the big day, we disguise them in wrapping paper, however, be aware that popping an edible gift under the tree could be more than a temptation to our peckish pooches so you may want to check if the gift should be kept out of reach.

⦁ Christmas trees – whether you like to fake it, or display the real deal there are a plethora of decorations that could tantalise our curious canines. Consider having a ‘wag zone’ clear of baubles and decs to deter them from getting ‘wagged’ off the tree, practise your ‘leave’ command to prevent things being broken, stepped on or eaten.

⦁ Chocolate and sweet treats – there’s not many households at this time of year which don’t have advent calendars, tree decorations, boxes, bars, mince pies and cakes all containing percentages of cocoa content, sultanas and raisins. All generally considered toxic to dogs and best kept well away from our hungry hounds.

⦁ Christmas dinner with all the trimmings – most of us want to include our precious pups in every aspect of our festivities from their own stockings/presents, wearing a Christmas jumper and a joining us for a lovely dinner. Be aware that if your dog isn’t used to eating rich ‘human’ food (and they shouldn’t be!) they may not thank you for this a few hours later! Dogs can’t eat onions and garlic so trimmings like stuffing need to be avoided. To be safe, feed your dog their usual food and the day is more likely to have a happy ending.

⦁ Visitors – pre-covid we usually do the rounds and visit friends and family dropping off presents and catching up on the latest news from the year. This increase of visitors to our homes can send our canine companions into security duty with barking, whining, jumping up and general attention seeking behaviour. Put your pups at ease by teaching your guests to abide by your rules and boundaries, as well as training your dog to accept visitors into your house in a calm and relaxed manner. Ensure you dog has a safe place to retreat to away from the visitors such as a bed in another room. A houseful in an otherwise quiet house can be stressful for your pooch.

But above all have a wonderful festive period with your pets.

Around the circle

I am part of an amazing group of pet photographers from around the globe that participate in this weekly blog circle. Simply click on the link and go on a journey from blog post to blog post until you end up back here.

Next up is Jessica

South Carolina dog and equine photographer, Jessica O’Connor, shares some of her tips for keeping hunting dogs in too shape during “hunt week” as deer season comes to an end in the south.

Tis the season to get that Christmas memory captured

Christmas is a special time of year and it is important that we capture those special moments with family.

I love to do Christmas themed shoots. A lot of the time I complete these in October time as people like to use the finished products for Christmas cards.

Pauline and Ray had a session with their fox red Labrador Rohan so they could send their Christmas greetings to their friends all around the globe.

Having a shoot with your pets can be a tonne of fun and I usually have loads of bloopers alongside the special memories.

Of course I understand not everyone enjoys being photographed and would rather just have Christmas photographs of their pets.

That is fine too, because as we know our pets make great models.

Winston who has now sadly passed away, donned his Christmas gear to make Christmas cards to raise money for the Winston’s Wheels charity that helps get wheel chairs to canines that need them.

Around the circle

I am part of an amazing group of pet photographers from around the globe that participate in this weekly blog circle. Simply click on the link and go on a journey from blog post to blog post until you end up back here.

Next up is Tracy Allard

Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography has been celebrating the holidays with Christmas mini sessions for both kids and dogs at her studio in historic old town Carrollton, Texas.

Sometimes when we are rushed off our feet getting on with work and daily life we forget to stop and think about what we are grateful for. When you stop and think there are lots of things we should show gratitude for, here are my top five.  Hopefully they inspire you to think about yours. 

My gratitude list

1 – My dogs

With the craziness that has been the last couple of years with lock downs and working from home I have become even closer to my dogs than I thought I could. Every morning I am grateful for their happy little faces and wags that make me feel that all is good with the world.

During lockdown they also served as my models so I could keep my eye in with my photography. Jelly, Red and Nuka……thank you! 

2 – My home

I have had to work from home throughout the pandemic and I couldn’t think of anywhere I would rather have been. I live out in the countryside in Suffolk and was able to walk with my three four legged friends for miles without seeing a soul. Bliss! 

I love my home and I don’t think about it enough. Writing this blog has been really cathartic and given me a moment to fully appreciate all the things I take for granted and my home is one of them.

3 – My Clients 

Without them I am just a person taking photos.  My clients inspire me to try new things and push forward. I love meeting all the new people that photography brings into my life. I live for capturing those special  moments that I know will live in peoples homes for years to come. To my clients, I thank you for being there and I will strive to always go above and beyond for you. 

4 – My studio

I have not really had a chance to get in my studio and get going yet, but I can’t wait to get in it more. The renovation of it during the start of the year also gave me something positive to focus my attention on with so much negativity in the world. To my studio,  I am grateful to have you and look forward to lots of shoots in the new year. 

5 – My Friends and Family 

Where would we all be without our friends and family?  I wouldn’t be where I am now without them. They have supported me and helped me every step of the way and continue to do so.  There is nothing more to say. To my friends and family, I am grateful for you. Thank you! 

What are you grateful for?

Now I have shared mine, have a think about what you are grateful for. Even in the darkest times there is always something. Often things we take for granted day to day.  Take a moment and show gratitude for those things. 

I try to think of one thing every morning that I am grateful for and it starts the day off on the right foot. 

Go find your gratitude. 

Around the circle

Another thing I am grateful for is the brilliant group of pet photographers that form part of this blog circle. Click on the link below to jump to the next blog and see what they are grateful for too. 

Canberra Pet Photographer Ina Jalil of Ina J Photography shares what she is grateful for

Get in touch to book your shoot today

Pet photoshoots vision gift or a curse?

I spend my life walking round looking at the world as if it were a pet photoshoot. (sad I know) To the point I’m sure my friends and family are bored of me saying “Oh my word that would be an awesome spot for a shoot”. They often look in disbelief at what I am looking at and say are you for real?! Pet photoshoots locations live in my brain rent free.

When speaking to clients I always ask where they would like us to do the shoot and often suggest their favourite place. Sometimes they respond with well I’m not sure there is anywhere that is pretty enough. Believe me there is always somewhere that will look great.

My latest doggy holiday in North Norfolk

I am recently back off my holiday with my dogs so I thought I would use some examples. We were staying on the coast which obviously involved a lot of beach action. I like to spot interesting backdrops or complimentary backdrops. Needless to say my friends were getting quite impatient when I kept making them stop every 5 seconds to pose the dogs. There were lots of interesting spots. I have tonnes of photographs of my dogs running on beaches etc, so I wanted something different.

These are the results

I spotted these lovely remains of sea defences and knew what I wanted to do instantly. Needless to say Red was all too willing to pose in position and spy through the gap. I genuinely think my friends thought I had finally lost it when I was snapping but I love the result. I love how Red seems to see my vision too when posing! haha

Next was what I called my mermaid rock. I loved how it just sat on its own on the wide expanse of beach so obviously I had to put a dog on it. Unfortunately the wind wasn’t playing ball with Nuka’s naughty ears. However I kind of like her flappy ears as it sums her up, so I didn’t edit them with normal ears.

After the ear debacle I brought the pro model back in. There were these lovely orangey cliffs along one stretch of the beach so I sent Red off to do some rock climbing. I love how the cliffs compliment his colours and think he looks fab with his super serious stare.

I couldn’t go on holiday without a group shot. Again, I didn’t want the generic look at us all sitting on the beach photo so found another piece of broken sea defence. Perfect, it put the dogs at the right height to see the sea and sky behind them which made them all stand out beautifully. Jelly (far right) truly hates photo sessions, can you tell?

What about when I really can’t find a background I want?

In one of my recent shoots there was a ship wreck just off shore on a piece of land. The owner jokingly said wouldn’t it be great if we could pose him in the wreck. I didn’t laugh, I just turned to her and said we can. She looked concerned as I turned my gaze to the isolated ship wreck and started snapping.

I turned back and said all done. My poor client looked confused and I reassured her she’d understand.

• 

• 

The client loves the shot and it will soon be adorning her wall in pride of place.

Then we have the gorgeous Lily the farm dog. I was at the farm photographing horses and I couldn’t not snap this. I obviously couldn’t choose the background as Lily chose it and in my haste to capture the moment I cut off her feet. A little bit of editing and the unslightly background is repaired and she has feet again.

• 

• 

Magic can happen but I only use it when necessary. Talk to me about your shoot and I can check out the location for potential, but there is beauty everywhere if you care to look.

Get in touch today

Around the circle

I am part of an amazing group of pet photographers from around the globe that participate in this weekly blog circle. Simply click on the link and go on a journey from blog post to blog post until you end up back here.

Next up is the lovely Tracy Allard

Animal photographer Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography shows how she makes the most of any location in and around the Dallas – Fort Worth metroplex to create beautiful pet portraits.

This week is a difficult topic to discuss as dog owners and that is one of when our friends come to the end of their days with us. I will be talking about “In Memory” photoshoots.

The bitter sweet – in memory

I often get asked to take photos of dogs with not much time left which is always bitter sweet as we have a lovely time on the shoot with a sad note in the back of our heads that we are taking these photos as time is running out to capture memories.

This is why I always tell people not to wait to have a shoot, capture those memories now, and then maybe some more the next year, and the next and the one after that. Then those photos can be compiled into a beautiful life time of photos rather than banking on that one shoot at the end.

Hope

Today I am going to tell you about an incredibly special dog, the kind that is a rare gem and scarcely found. I know everyone thinks their dogs are incredible but Hope the labrador x cocker spaniel owned by Sophie an old friend of mine is above the rest.

Hope is now 9 years old and tragically has been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer and has been given months to live which is so hard to believe when you see her still soo happy and full of life. We are all hoping for a miracle that the vets on this occasion have have way underestimated her time left.

Work life

Hope has been trained by Sophie since she was a puppy with the view to being a therapy dog and that is exactly what she has become and an amazing one at that. She has helped numerous people with brain injuries working tirelessly along side Sophie where they work at Brainy Dogs. Hope has also been nominated for a Naturo Super Dog award I’m afraid you are too late to vote but hop over and check out her profile and video on Naturo.

Hope has improved the lives of so many people just by being her kind and loving self so I wanted to do her justice in what will most likely be my last session with her.

The shoot

We went for a walk in a local wooded area where Hope and Sophie live. As unfortunately she gets tired very quickly now. And I don’t want anything we do to take photos to make her feel worse.

Hope was a superstar and posed dutifully in all the locations we put her. Sophie was adamant she did not want to be in any of the photographs, but I told her she didn’t have a choice! (haha of course she did really) I know no body likes having their photos taken but I think some photos of dogs with owners really capture the bond and these are a beautiful memory to look back on that bring back all the feelings of that special bond.

My Message

I guess what I am trying to say is treasure every moment with your pets! You never know what’s around the corner! Have that photoshoot you keep putting off NOW and capture those memories before it becomes a necessity. I am keeping my fingers tightly crossed that Hope proves everyone wrong and keeps bouncing through retirement. <3 <3 <3

Around the circle

I am part of an amazing group of pet photographers from around the globe that participate in this weekly blog circle. Simply click on the link and go on a journey from blog post to blog post until you end up back here.

Next in the circle is Tracy Allard

Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography talks about the importance of photographing your senior or terminally ill pet, creating memories to last a lifetime.

This week I will be talking about anxious and reactive dogs and how I make shoots work for them.

Reactive and Anxious dogs

Firstly I dislike the term reactive as it does not describe anything, all dogs are reactive if they weren’t that would most likely mean they were sleeping or deceased. hehe.

Reactive is usually a term people use when they are referring to aggressive dogs be that to people or dogs. So straight off the bat it is important for me to know what you mean by reactive as this helps me to tailor the session to suit you and your four legged friend, and not put myself or others at risk.

This is not me being judgemental, but purely a case of safety. After all its my job to ensure your photoshoot with me is enjoyed by all and goes smoothly.

I have first hand experience with an anxious dog and that is my Mr Red. He likes to make out he is big and brave but deep down he is anxious of anyone or any dog that comes in to our space uninvited unless he’s working with them (go figure)

This is why it is so important when planning a shoot that you let me know all about your dog, its likes, dislikes and then I can tailor a shoot that works. For example if you have a dog like my Red who dislikes others, maybe the local park that is full of dogs isn’t the place to go as it will make it a stressful outing for all involved which will not make for great photos.

Equally, if your dog dislikes strangers and it is a dislike that can be over come by a cheeky yummy snack from the weird photographer lady then I am unlikely to suggest my small studio where they may feel trapped with me. I need to leave a shoot with all my fingers intact otherwise that limits my photograph taking capabilities hehe. An outdoor shoot with one of my long lenses would probably make your dog most comfortable.

If you feel your dog wouldn’t be safe/comfortable in a public setting then just ask there are several different secure fields we can rent out for photoshoots. Also please do not worry if you are unable to let your dog off for whatever reason, its not all about action shots. If you would like to we can also try a long line for controlled action as I can easily edit lines and leads out of photos.

I guess what I am trying to say is please don’t write off having a photoshoot with your dog because you don’t think it is achievable. All dogs deserve a pretty portrait to hang on the wall. Red has got much better with his anxiety but even still I could not deprive the world of his gorgeous face so have learnt way that make him feel safe and happy.

As a shameless plug if you are struggling with a behavioural issue I also am a dog trainer as part of Whistle and wag dog training so please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Around the circle

As I am sure you know by now if you have read any of my previous blogs, I am part of a fabulous blog circle made up of pet photographers from all over the world. Please take the time to look through their blogs on the topic and see how they deal with similar issues.

Next on the list this week is Nancy E Kieffer

Syracuse photographer Nancy Kieffer shares tips for working with a reactive dog during a photo session.

BOOK YOUR PHOTOSHOOTS TODAY

Dog days?

Some of you may just think I’m talking about days with dogs, but dogs days has a second meaning. Dog days refer to the hottest days of the year i.e – Summer.

In the words from the well known song by Florence and the machine, well the “dog days are over”

So this week I look at some of my shots from the summer. As you are all aware we are struggling out of the grips of lockdowns and covid regulations, but I have managed to get out and about and shoot quite a few training sessions this summer, as well as horse and dog shows.

A bonus of not being as busy as normal years means I have got to spend quality time with my own pooches exploring and of course taking snaps along the way.

I love the colours of late summer when you get the light tones to the grasses, they make an awesome back drop for gorgeous dogs like the one below.

Of course, dog days mean hot days, so what do dogs love more than a good splash to cool down in the lake. I love the focus in this guy’s eyes as he steams towards his retrieve. Look at that drive!

Dog days may well be the hottest but they are also the fun-erist! (yes it totally is a word, ha)

I love nothing more than photographing dogs doing what they love to do most. The below shot shows the handsome Leo the lab putting his all into his gundog training, I’m sure he thinks his ears help him fly.

As we move towards the Autumn and Winter months I look forward to getting out more again and capturing the beautiful colour changes in the world around us that helps to frame the equally beautiful the dogs I meet.

Around the circle

I am part of an amazing group of pet photographers that participate in a weekly blog circle. Next in the circle this week is Nicole Hrustyk of pawtraits by Nicole.

Las Vegas, Nevada Photographer, Nicole Hrustyk shares her favorite images from her summer travel sessions.

I still have limited availability for Autumn/Winter shoots so get in touch to book today

Candid shots – what are they?

Candid shots quite simply are a capture that the subject doesn’t know is being taken, which with dogs is quite simple as half the time they haven’t got a clue what the crazy lady on the floor is doing. ha!

However, their owners are a different matter, and I feel their pain and hate being the other side of a camera. If people are over conscious of the camera you can’t get relaxed shots.

This is where my sneaky shots come in….

So how do I capture the in between moments

After a posed shot I will usually give the ok that I got the shot and to have a break, I will often pretend to look at shots on my camera and get a few cheeky little snaps in. These are the moments when people most relax with their pets as they think the camera isn’t on them.

I will often subtly watch owners and their pets when they go off for a little break walk on a shoot, and again you manage to capture some heart warming moments between owner and pet. This is where a nice long telephoto lens helps.

I also have the pleasure of photographing training days and competitions which are fabulous for capturing those special moments as the owners are preoccupied on so many other things than me and my camera.

Sometimes I manage to capture some funny shots like the lovely Morris and his side eye when his mum threw the retrieve the wrong way. I don’t know what you think, but I genuinely think he was embarrassed and his owner loved it.

I also love to capture the owners hands and their dog, you can almost feel the love between these two just looking at the photo.

Candid photos really are my favourite to shoot as I feel they really capture character and bond.

Next time you are out shooting, look for those moments around the posed shots…….get snapping.

Around the circle

I am part of a fabulous blog circle of amazing pet photographers across the globe. Next in the circle is Nicole Hrustyk of Pawtraits.

Las Vegas, Nevada Dog Photographer, Nicole Hrustyk, of Pawtraits by Nicole shares portrait session bloopers.

BOOK YOUR PHOTOSHOOT TODAY SO I CAN CAPTURE YOUR CANDID MOMENTS

Your photoshoot – Before your shoot

How exciting its finally come to the day of your photoshoot for you and your four legged friend. By now we will have had a chat about you and your pet and I hopefully have a good idea of what they like and don’t like. So its time to look forward to the shoot and get ready to have some fun.

Before we meet it might be an idea to take your dog around the area we are doing the shoot to familiarise them with their surrounding and give them a chance to have a toilet break before we start. Otherwise I will not miss an opportunity for an embarrassing blooper shot haha.

If you have booked a studio shoot, then I would suggest stopping on route somewhere you can go for a toilet break as the studio has no grassy areas nearby if that’s your dogs preference.

Your photoshoot – What to bring/wear

I usually ask people to bring a magic bag of tricks for their dog/dogs which will have toys and treats in that we can use to play with the dog and get their attention throughout the shoot.

What to wear as far as your dog is concerned – just a collar is perfect, I try to discourage people putting their dogs in harnesses for a photoshoot as they don’t look great, however if there is a medical reason your dog needs to wear a harness and not a collar then maybe we can look at a safe location like a secure field where they don’t need to wear anything.

As far as you the owner are concerned, you can wear whatever you like within reason I will usually get you on the floor with your dog, so maybe no ball gowns haha.

I also ask people to bare in mind colours and wear colours that are easily distinguished from your dog, for example if you have a black dog, don’t wear all black. Again its not a huge problem as it just means we will position the dog differently so they are no directly in front of you.

Your photoshoot – What to expect

I will usually get to the location we’ve arranged slightly early so I am nice and prepared, I will also have my phone on should you get lost or have any other problems.

Then comes the fun part I get to meet you and your dog, and we can have a little chat about how you both are and whether we are sticking with our original plan or whether anything has changed.

I will have already scoped the site and have some places in mind for the shots I want to take so usually I will take you on a little walk around the places I had in mind and start snapping.

I will usually ask the owner to sit the dog in the position for the shot and walk back to me leaving the dog in the sit. I will then usually let rip with all my crazy noises to get the dogs attention. This is the perfect scenario and I am aware that lots of dogs will not sit there steady with a crazy woman on the floor making random noises in front of them. DON’T PANIC, we can work around it and I can edit you out if you are stood next to your dog, or we could change things so you are in the photos with your dog if this is something you are happy to do.

I will usually aim to get between 10 and 20 shots that I will then present to the owner after editing to choose from. Sometimes there are way more but I like to give a realistic number as an expectation in case the dog doesn’t take to being a model as we’d have hoped.

Hopefully we will have now had lots of fun being silly and have got some brilliant shots, which I will take away and edit.

I will let you know when they will be ready to view on my website and in next weeks blog I will talk through the next stages.

Around the circle

I am part of an amazing blog circle filled with super talented pet photographers all around the world.

Next head over to Tracy Allard’s page of Penny Whistle Photography next.

Award winning Dallas photographer Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography describes what to expect during your pet portrait session

Find out more about my services here

-Get in touch today to book your photoshoot-