Back Behind the Lens: My First Dog Shoot.
(And how it all came bounding back)
Fresh off a hotel shoot—and feeling a bit depleted—I found myself on the beach one evening, watching the sun dip behind Weston Bay.
The holiday season was creeping in, and I realised this wasn’t the best time to be chasing hotels or Airbnbs. They’d be full, hard to access, and honestly, I wasn’t feeling it. But then I noticed something else: dogs. Dozens of them. Playing, sniffing, bounding across the sand.
“A quick Google later, I realised—no one around here was offering outdoor dog photography. Not properly. Not with any real flair.”
That’s when the idea bit.
Fast Decisions, Floppy Ears
The very next day, I rang a colleague. We planned a shoot for three hours later. I rushed, I researched, I charged the batteries. We started in a quiet woodland, then headed to the beach.
It was fun, chaotic, sandy—and better than I expected. Sure, I’d set my ISO a bit too high (a tad grainy), but it was a start. Something was there.
Following the Dog’s Lead
The next shoot came the day after. My neighbour heard what I was up to and jumped at the chance. We started in her garden, where her dog is calm and we wanted the Blue Bells. I followed his lead—literally. When he lay in the grass, I did too.
We caught the tail end of the bluebells, his glossy fur framed by a burst of green grass. Quiet. Still. Beautiful.
That evening, we took him to his happy place: the beach. Less still, more sticks. All the sticks. Zooming, leaping, sand flying everywhere.
“I used my longer lens to keep up. He was fast. I was faster. Just.”
Grabs, Gasps, and the Good Stuff
When I showed her the slideshow, she kept grabbing my arm between gasps of “Ahhh!”, “That’s SO him!”, and “You HAVE to do this!”
Then came the referrals. Friends. Colleagues. Within days I had four dogs booked—and some fantastic shots to show for it.
This Is the Work
It’s fun. It’s fast. And I’m absolutely here for it.
I don’t need a studio. I don’t need gimmicks. I just follow the dog—whether they’re bounding through waves or flopped under a tree—and I tell their story.
And just like that, I was back behind the lens.
One dog at a time. One wag at a time.
📸 Ready for your dog's close-up?
I’m currently booking outdoor dog shoots in Weston and the surrounding area—with discounted prices while I build my portfolio. Playful, relaxed, and real—just as they are.
📩 Get in touch to book your session while this offer lasts!