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Dog Photography – The Nation’s New Craze
Dog Photography – The Nation’s New Craze
Bio
Pictured above: Gareth,with 9 month
old BassetHound puppies – owned
by Mia and Edgar owned by James
Gareth, 33, is a professional dog photographer based in Worcester. His business Bright Dog Photography offers a range of photo shoots which can take place on a walk at a location of your choice.
As a nation of dog lovers, it seems no matter how tight the purse strings are we’ll always make sure our pets are pampered.
Despite the economic downturn many dog owners regularly splash out on toys, clothing, grooming treatments and even fancy four poster dog beds. Professional photographers are also joining the craze with many offering ‘pet photo shoots’ where owners can proudly display portraits of their dogs around the home.
Just like professional family and wedding photos, prints of our pets are no different. Gareth Williams a professional dog photographer says: “Dog photography is popular because people think of their pets as an integral part of the family. The attention, the love, time and money that people give to their dogs is huge.”
As a professional dog photographer at Worcester based Bright Dog Photography, Gareth’s interest in dog photography came when he began taking pictures of his own dogs on walks. To really capture the animal’s personality, Gareth photographs dogs in their natural environment, accompanying the owner and their dog on their regular walk.
Professional Pawtraits
But it’s not just professional dog photography that’s on the increase as owners are taking more and more photographs of their four legged family members themselves.
“With the improvements in technology, photography is a far more accessible activity than it used to be. Good cameras are more affordable, so many people are having a go at taking more than just snapshots. You only need to take a quick look on social media sites to find they’re flooded with pet pictures,” Gareth says.
Taking a Top Dog Photo
Pictured above: , a four month old Cocker Spaniel. “I captured this photo on my Canon 5D mk2, with a 24-105 f4 lens during a walk with Digby and his owners,Sarah and Tom. I took a few shots at the location in County Woods, Worcester which was his favourite walk. Digby wasn't coaxed into anything, I just took pictures of him doing what he loved to do.”
Pictured above: Gareth’s image of Santa the four year old St. Bernard, owned by Isalin and James.“I did a shoot with Santa in the summer, and as he is so big with a huge coat he really feels the heat. This meant that going on a walk with him was out of the question, so I simply took pictures of him lazing around at home. The picture was taken with a Canon 5D mk2, again with a 24-105 lens.”
Gareth offers his advice on how to get the perfect dog photo: “Make sure the eyes are sharp. Dogs usually move so quickly and if the images are taken in shaded places like the woods, a low aperture is needed to allow for a high shutter speed. It would be great if the whole face was in focus, but if that isn't possible then make sure that the eyes are rather than the nose or ears.”
Gareth’s tip: “Fill your memory card, and get some spares. Most dogs don't hold a pose so you need to fire off as many pictures as possible to ensure you get that image that captures the dog’s character.”
What was once a sideline to keep photography businesses going has now become a national craze. “The whole idea of having your dog’s photo taken is becoming more common. Those that wouldn't have considered it before are seeing adverts for pet photography more and more. This is convincing them that paying someone to take a picture of their dog is a great thing to do,” says Gareth.
Speaking about his role as a dog photographer Gareth tells us: “Although it isn't as stressful as taking pictures of something like a wedding, people love their dogs, and the ones that tend to commission a shoot are the ones that attach the most personality to their pets.” Having had dogs all his life, Gareth can read them really well, which perhaps explains why his business has become so successful.
Far from Glamorous
Pictured above: Santa the St Bernard
strolling around his garden
Being a pet photographer may sound like a dream career, but as with any job things can get stressful from time to time, as Gareth shares: “I did a shoot with 6 Basset Hound puppies in my garden a while ago. The owner brought them round to my house and left them with me as she had to be somewhere else. They were all very active and always in different parts of the garden.
During the shoot two of them escaped by squeezing though the bars in the gate and a third one got stuck. It took me ages to wiggle him free and I was very worried that I was going to have to return the puppies to the owner minus one that was going to stay in my gate until it lost some weight!”
Practice Practice Practice
Becoming a successful photographer of any kind requires dedication and practice. Offering advice to any amateurs considering becoming a pet photographer, Gareth says: “It’s important to get out there and practice first. Getting some good pictures of your own dog is very different to actually being out and about with other peoples’ dogs. All the dogs I photograph have different characters and behave differently to the camera. Methods used also need to vary between different types of dog. With a dog like Digby you need to try and anticipate his next move as he is always on the go, however with a dog like Santa it is far more about putting the dog at ease and letting them relax.”
So, is being a pet photographer one of the best jobs in the world? Gareth offers his opinion: “Dog photography is an excellent mix of two of my passions. I'm lucky to be able to spend my time with so many wonderful dogs, and take pictures of them.”