Specialist Location - Pet Portraits

For my Specialist Location Brief I originally wanted to portrait working dogs (police dogs) with their handlers while working and training and combine it with a formal studio portrait of them to capture the different appearance and concentration as well as to pay respect for the work they are doing on a daily basis to protect the public and show the incredible accomplishments these dogs are able to achieve. 

To get in touch with the training grounds of the police dogs I used several 'doggy' contacts I made over the last year or so. I finally got in touch with the head of the dog training unit in Hough End, Martin Almond, who was so nice to support my idea. I had the chance to go out and take some impressive pictures of the dogs at work but unfortunately holiday season hit me and I couldn't take the studio portraits of the dogs with their handlers in time. For that reason this in the end didn't become my final brief since I wouldn't have felt good about handing in only half of what I have envisioned.  I will however stick to the project since it is very close to my heart. 

Instead I have decided to hand in formal portraits of dogs I have taken over the last months. 

When I started to take portraits of dogs I wanted to take them seriously. Capture their personality and treat them with respect. No hoochy poochy, pink powdered background, puppies in an fruit bowl but contemporary, sleek portraits of the personalities they are.

Pet photography is often smiled at (similar to wedding photography) but if the photographer is dedicated to his art and craft and his model some amazing pictures can emerge. There are some pet photographers working successfully internationally.

My biggest inspiration on the topic of pet photography is Rachael McKenna, an internationally reknown photographer with a passion for portraiing of pets. She does studio work with them as well as on location and some of the most iconic images we know of pets are taken by her. Her approach is so respectful and with a loving eye, this is something I want to achive with my images as well. Rachel kindly allowed me to post a few of her images in this evaluation and you can find more of her amazing and inspiring work (my favorite project of her currently is: The New York Dog) at www.rachaelmckenna.com

Not only is Rachael an outstanding photographer, she is also so lovely and wrote the friendliest and most encouraging message to me when I asked her permission to display her work in this blog.

(all images shown curtesy of Rachael McKenna)

I don't want to brag (well, actually I do) but after looking closely again on Rachael's work I am proud to say that stylewise my pictures are not far off hers. 

Other influential photographers are: Ron Schmidt, (www.looseleaches.com) who works a lot with props and a comical, humourus approach; Tim Flach (timflach.com) his style reminds of the old masters and Martin Usborne (martinusborne.com) who had a raging success in 2012 with his book 'Dogs in Cars' and is working on a new heartbraking project 'Nice to meet you' where he worked with abandoned and abused dogs, portraiing them through a material or substance to reflect feelings of a very human nature.

I find my models on dog shows, I meet them when walking my pooch and by word of mouth. I have had my first customers so far and it is so rewarding to make my clients happy with the images I take of their pooches.

My studio set up is usually very simple, a black or white backdrop, two softlights from the front, placed right next to the camera and sometimes props to give the image a little twist. 

For this brief I have decided to hand in collages of my models to show the variety of their portraits and show their personalities and character. I have shown them to a few of my friends that didn't know the dogs and they could tell exactly which ones are clowns, really clever, intellecutually challenged, overall relaxed or full of energy and always up to something. I must admit, I am proud of the pictures I take. They make me happy and for me it's the most rewarding, fun and exciting job I can imagine. After looking for my 'call' for 20 years I have found it and I feel truely blessed.

The images I am handing in are the best I can achieve at that point in time. I have decided of having them in a very formal squared monochromatic style to reflect the sincerity and respect I have for my models. Applying the rules of human portraits to dogs. Because they are to their owners and to me as worthy of a serious portrait as any human being is.

I will certainly develope my style in the future and I have many ideas for projects and dog portraits I want to work on over the next months and years. I'd be the happiest person should I ever be able to publish a book with my work and I know it's a long way to go. Until I'm there I take my camera, work with animals and on other topics that I love and that challenge me and make the first baby steps in the professional world of photography.