“Why can’t I capture the true essence of my dog in a great photo!? My dog is soooooooooo cute (i.e. handsome, beautiful, so-ugly-its-cute, etc.)!” Let’s face it, getting the perfect photo of your pet can be challenging. You try to get your furry friend to sit still, look at the phone camera and bam! They run off to investigate a sound or smell leaving you with a blurry image of the back of their head. Maybe you have a dog that absolutely refuses to look directly into your camera despite the promise of a delicious treat. Those of you with black or dark-coloured dogs have a unique challenge – most of your pictures are of black blobs. You sigh, “Maybe next time,” and feel discouraged.
There is a next time, and this time, no training is needed! Here at Heidi Grace Pet Photography, I specialize in capturing the unique personalities of pets, even the most high-energy and distracted ones.
Let me tell you about Juniper, an Ibizan Hound with the attention span of a goldfish. 😀
Juniper’s mom, Kim, contacted me about an outdoor portrait session for the two of them saying that the reason for her inquiry was “because Momma’s crazy”. “She’s my girl and I love her,” she said, “but she’s aloof, all over the place and unable to stay still. She’s got a severe case of dog ADHD.” She booked the session and wished me luck in getting even ONE good portrait of Juniper. I agreed to take on the challenge.
The “No Training Needed” Pet Session
I was eager to meet up with Kim and Juniper and to embrace the crazy chaos that she might bring. Sighthounds are always watching and listening for every little movement and sound because if there is a small animal around (birds, squirrels, hares, etc) – then it must be chased. When they arrived at the park Juni was already intently watching the birds flitting around in the trees.
Juniper is bursting with life and personality, and I fully embraced her curiosity, boundless energy, and yes, even her perpetual distractibility. My goal is to create beautiful and natural photos of your pet being who they truly and authentically are in real life. I didn’t try to make Juniper sit still, stay and stare into my camera (but I was lightening fast when she briefly did!). Instead, I focused on creating an environment that would naturally pique her curiosity while we walked around the park.
Watching Juni freely explore her surroundings and simply be herself resulted in an organic and beautiful collection of storytelling portraits for her mom to treasure. She sniffed every sniff and pounced on tree trunks after squirrels and birds with gleeful abandon. It was pure, unadulterated dog joy, and it was beautiful.
Capturing Canine Candid Moments
This is where the magic happens. Drawing on my extensive experience, quick reflexes, and knack for anticipating animal behaviour, I captured Juniper’s personality through a series of portraits in fun outdoor settings. Each photograph tells the story of Juniper at age two; the curious, aloof, energetic and loving sides of her personality. (She simply adores her mom… awwww)
The Great Outdoors
While my indoor pet studio offers a calm controlled environment perfect for low to medium-energy or reactive pets, being in the outdoors is fabulous for high-energy dogs who love to run, play and sniff!
authentic story-telling pet portraits
The story of Juniper is a reminder that sometimes, the best pet portraits come from letting go of expectations. Not every dog needs to sit perfectly or pose for the camera. Let’s embrace their unique personality and capture the spirit of who they are.
Here at Heidi Grace Pet Portraiture, I appreciate and enjoy that every pet is a unique and special little individual. I create a fun and stress-free environment where your furry friends can be themselves. Whether your animal family member is a playful pup, a regal cat, or an elegant equine, I’ll capture their unique spirit in stunning photographs you’ll treasure forever.
Ready to capture the spirit of your pet in a portrait – no training required? Contact me today for your complimentary consultation.
