Before we meet...
...I will ask you to fill out a questionnaire so I get to know you and your pup better and find out what kind of artwork would best suit your home.
We can choose the location based on these factors - I'm happy to photograph confident, well-trained pooches in an urban environment and nervous doggies in a private paddock. Whatever your best friend's temperament, rest assured we will find the place where their true personality will shine through, and you'll have beautiful portraits of them to treasure forever.
I believe that each pup is different and needs a unique approach
That's why the experience does not have a time limit. I can capture plenty of beautiful images in about 90 minutes most of the time, however, if your pooch is a bit timid, I'm more than happy to hang around longer until they are relaxed. I can always use a long lens, so I don't need to be very close.
I'm very passionate about positive training (I was a training assistant at Sussex County Dog Training); hence the dog's comfort always comes first for me.
Remember: the Portrait Experience is about having a good time and creating ever-lasting memories. My job is to help you and your pup shine - and trust me, I'm pretty good at that ;)
Before
After
A little known secret is that most dog portraits are taken with the pups on the lead
Thanks to my editing skills, I can make your pooch look as if they were performing an obedience level stay.
I also have some tricks to get my furry clients' attention - if only for a split second while I press the shutter.
All in all, I'm confident that we can create stunning artwork of your best friend, no matter how excited, anxious, or goofy they are.
Flair was photographed on the lead :)
During our session...
...I will take hundreds of images to ensure that I capture a nice variety, from stunning classic portraits to silly action shots. I cull and edit the best images for you to see at the Ordering Appointment. Your only task during the session is to relax and be natural - the calmer you are, the more relaxed your pup is going to behave, and that's what we want
At the Ordering Appointment...
...you'll get to see the images we created (minimum 35) so you can decide which of my collections or product(s) suits you best. We'll select the best picture(s) for your wall, the one that will make you smile every day.
I'll show you product samples to make sure you'll love the final artwork.
I only use leading-edge professional printing partners, where colour calibration is done at least twice a day on equipment designed to reproduce images to the highest standards.
That's why I'm confident to offer you a Double Guarantee:
- if you don't like your images, the session fee will be refunded, no questions asked
- if the products do not meet your expectations, they will be exchanged for free or refunded
FAQ
My pup can’t be off-leash? Is that ok?
Yes! Most of the pooches that I photograph remain on lead throughout the entire session for their safety. I can even capture some action shots with a special long line...all while keeping your pup safe and sound! The leash is removed through the magic of Photoshop from the final images.
My pup is super nervous of / reactive towards other dogs, where can we go?
No problem, if you need some privacy for your session, I am more than happy to hire an enclosed field that we will have all to ourselves. As an owner of a sensitive, sometimes reactive dog, and a former Training Assistant at Sussex County Dog Training, I am sure I can make your pooch feel at ease.
What if my dog doesn’t sit?
It’s ok! I can guarantee you that I have worked with pups that were more challenging than yours! I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve to create engaging images no matter what the obedience level of your pooch is.
What if I have multiply pooches who won't sit together?
Believe it or not, this is not a problem at all. I can take individual images of each pups and merge them together at the editing stage.
Do I have to be in the images too?
You don’t HAVE to be, but I recommend it! There are more ways that you can be in the portraits than just a traditional sitting with your dog and smiling at the camera. We can create images that tell the story of your relationship in a fun and natural way. Remember, you don’t have to purchase any images that you don’t LOVE - so why not give it a try and trust me? You just might be pleasantly surprised!
Can I bring extra dogs or humans to our session?
In order to set your session up for success, please don’t. We want a nice and calm vibe during our session and extra dogs or extra humans can ramp up the energy level making everything too exciting. The only exception is if you have a legitimate pack and you need an extra set of hands to help manage the hounds!
What if it rains? What if I need to reschedule?
We will try our best to hold our session at the agreed upon date and time, however, sometimes Mother Nature has other plans and we will definitely reschedule. If you or our furry model is feeling under the weather, kindly let me know we need to reschedule as soon as you realize.
What about harnesses and head collars, can those be removed?
I cannot guarantee that I will be able to remove harnesses or gentle leaders from your final image. If your pup usually walks in a harness or a head collar, I recommend using those to walk them to the session and in between locations, but if there is any way to have them in a regular flat collar that is ideal. If you have a sighthound or other breed that can easily slip out of a flat collar, martingale collars are ok and preferred over harnesses.
Where should we have our session?
We will discuss session locations during our pre session consultation. Don’t worry! I have a LOT of location options and I can help you determine the perfect one for the look that you are wanting to create and where your pup will be the most comfortable.
How much will I spend?
A normal session fee is £95, which includes travelling within Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex, field hire (if needed), photographing your pup(s), and editing your images for you to choose your favourites for your wall or your album. It turns into a Product Credit when you spend £950 or more.
As this is a highly customised experience, clients spend only what they are comfortable spending. Most clients spend between £600 and £1500 on their products.