Location Dog Photography Chichester West Sussex | Shih Tsu cross Poodle Sisters
A couple of months ago I met two absolutely adorable Shih Tzu cross sisters. Crossbreeds so often combine the very best traits of each breed and these little dogs were no exception. Loving, hardy, energetic and playful - what more can a dog owner wish for!
In my work as a pet dog photographer I meet a spectrum of breeds and I work in a huge variety of locations and homes. For this photo shoot I went to my clients’ stunning country home in a rural village not far from Chichester in West Sussex. Surrounded by period features, extensive gardens and even an ancient wood.
Many photographers prefer the security and routine of a studio, rather than the uncertainty of location work. Quickly coming up with a range of concepts in a place you’ve never seen before (and potentially facing a range of environmental challenges and constraints) can be daunting. We have no idea what we’re going to find or how we’re going to work with the spaces we encounter until we get there. And we have to find a way to come up with shots our clients will love. But that’s precisely what I enjoy so much about working on location - the excitement of each new place and the stimulation it brings. When I drive away from a photo sessions I can’t wait to get home to see what we’ve got.
On location we never know what sort of images we’re going to end up with. We’ll always have aims, but how that pans out on the day is something both client and photographer will look forward to. Flexibility is everything - the ability to try new concepts and have plenty of spontaneous ideas. I have a routine that I work through from the moment I arrive on location and this helps me to construct a game plan. It’s the most important half-hour of the session. Relaxed clients are key to the success of a shoot given the unpredictable nature of location work - and I couldn’t have wished for nicer pet parents.
With little dogs like these, laughs are a given. Let’s face it - not many pet dogs are fully obedience trained. Owners know that the kind of photographs they want will require a team effort and a professional problem solver. Pets can be excitable and energetic - there can be little to no chance of getting them to stay where we want them. All quite normal. Pets can also grow bored easily so I try to keep the shoot varied, never dwelling too long on any particular concept. At the same time working at a relaxed pace will help furry subjects to view you as a welcome visitor rather than an oddity!
Pet photography photo shoots on location can vary in timings - one well-behaved dog can be photographed in a number of ways within a couple of hours. A very energetic pet, or more than one pet, often results in a longer session. This includes a tea break or two, and recharge time where needed. Because we can’t always place pets in the ideal position, background and light, the retouching stage of postproduction is often more involved than that of our human subjects.
The full collection includes fun storyboards and relaxed images of the girls playing and being themselves. Below are the images we selected for wall display:
Choosing the frames to complement the images is always fun. When making suggestions I think about which images will work well hung together, and which work best as stand-alone pieces. The rest of the images (in fact the entire collection) is often destined for an accompanying bespoke album.
The end result is something I always look forward to - seeing a client’s face when their goods have arrived and are revealed to them. Tears are common, and that includes me. I use the finest framers and printers in the industry so my clients can be confident their heirlooms will last a lifetime and beyond.
