I think the first thing to mention, the rule which I stand by, is to go into this kind of event expecting nothing in return. Even before I decided to focus all my attention on commercial pet photography, I was already building relationships within the pet industry. I genuinely loved hearing about the people behind the brands and how they started.

As an example, I got to know The Innocent Pet Company many years ago because their treats were a revelation to me – high end, luxury, high meat content – a quality product which I wanted to gift to my pet portrait clients. I championed the company when I could, and when I decided to go down the pet brand photography path, they were the first people I approached. We’ve now had several shoots together, and more in the pipeline!

Networking has got a bit of a bad rep over the last few years. When I googled ‘what do people think about networking’ the top result was a page by St Olafs collage entitled ‘Why are people often uncomfortable with the word Networking’ The first paragraph reads: “Many people are uncomfortable with the word “networking.”  When they think of networking, they imagine a pushy, aggressive person who connects with people to achieve selfish goals and gives nothing back.  In other words, when many people think of networking, they think of “using” people.”

I was probably one of those people who shuddered at the thought of networking but I’ve realised recently that I have a super power, and that power is called Relationship Building.

I hadn’t really thought about it as a super power, but after speaking to a few people who were impressed that I had clients I’ve been working with for 8+ years, I started looking at what I was doing and why it was working, and after booking a call with FOMO creator May King Tsang on how I can use this to my advantage, we came up with a strategy (another word which usually makes me shudder) on how, as someone who feels a bit awkward about approaching people, I was going to create a buzz around Crufts.

Unleash the Power of Networking: A Mindful Approach to Making Meaningful Connections with Busy Stallholders at Crufts

Pre Networking

About 2 weeks before Crufts, I started searching the hashtag on socials, including LinkedIn and enthusiastically engaging with brands and people whose values seemed to align with my own. I could have just engaged with as many as possible which would have been less time consuming, but there was a point to doing a bit of high end research at the start, which will be revealed later!

I didn’t just ‘like’, and I tried not to leave one word comments because I wanted to start conversations. Again, a bit more time consuming, but if you want to build longer term relationships, people need to remember you, and just putting ‘great!’ as a comment isn’t something they will remember you by.

Make it about them, not you

On the call with May King, I started thinking about how I could actually give some value to the people I wanted to speak to, and so came about a free Crufts content offer.

I know how busy it can get on stalls at this kind of event, and I know that content can go out of the window so I published an offer that I would come and take photos and videos, for free, of the stall, the dogs coming to the stall and interactions with customers – I quickly got my target filled and had to close the offer! This meant that people not only knew who I was, but were expecting me! As an introvert, this was a dream come true.

So think about how you can help those people you want to meet. Remember they are people and not a pay cheque. Can you take a box of sweets or biscuits to keep up their energy? Is there something you, as an expert can, do to help during, pre or post Crufts?

Be recognisable in advance

I got lucky with this one. I attended the Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday event a week earlier, and before the event someone posted a brilliant glowing lanyard with their logo and QR code from Surefyre Designs. I missed seeing them at the event, but as soon as I got back I ordered one. I’m a bit of a nerd and got far too excited about when it arrived and started posting it on Social – because it was something a bit different it became a real talking point.

The lovely Helena from Poochie Park posted that she had freshly dyed purple hair, and guess what, I spotted her in the vast expanse of Crufts!

Obviously you don’t need to be that extreme, branded clothing can work too, but remember there will be a lot of people with branded items, so can you make it stand out a little? What ever you do, show it on social media before and, talk about it, so you are almost priming people to recognise you.

On the Day

Go early

I got to Crufts as early as I could, it would have been earlier if it wasn’t for traffic! It’s less likely to be busy at the start, I also went on the Thursday to network as that’s a slower day.

Make it about them, not you

I know I have said this before, but it needs saying again. People pay a lot of money for stalls, and the last thing they want is someone selling to them when the reason they came is to engage with new and existing customers and spread the word about their amazing product or service.

Know their business.

If you really want to build a connection, know their business and be genuinely interested – you can’t fake this stuff. Every brand I went to at Crufts, there was something I admired about their product. As an example, I’ve known about The Golden Paste Company for a while and I am blown away by the quality of their ingredients and how they talk about how they source the Tumeric on their website, or the that SnifSnax were being sustainable years before it became more mainstream.

Don’t give out your business card

I know this might seem counter intuitive, but unless someone asked, or showed a genuine interest, I didn’t give out a card. I want to work with people and brands who want to work with me and are at the right place at the right time, and so when I did give out my flyer, I knew it was because they wanted it.

Don’t take up too much time

However you decide to approach and network with brands at Crufts, don’t assume just because the stall is quiet that they don’t have other things to do. Be mindful of the time you are taking up.

Be aware of customers

I was very conscious of customers coming to the stand, and if I was chatting to the people on the stall – I’d excuse myself and say I’d come back later, the customers are much more important than me! Or if they are talking to customers already, I’d chat to other customers who were waiting, talking about the brand (because you have done the pre-networking research!), what we love about them – it helps create an experience for the customers while they are waiting, and also helps keep them on the stand for the stall holders!

Buy from them

If you are able, buy from the brand while you are there. It shows that you really do love what they do, and are willing to spend money on it. It also shows that it’s not about you, it’s about them.

Can you make introductions?

I made several introductions between brands while I was at Crufts, people who I thought might be able to help each other out, have a collaboration or somehow work together.

Create a buzz by meeting with other pet industry proffesionals.

I was lucky enough to be part of a SBS winners WhatsApp group set up by Rachel Spencer who has the brilliant Pets Get Visible membership – so those of us who were going to Crufts decided to meet up, and we invited a few other pet businesses brands too. It was nice and informal, but if you are in the pet industry, you know how rare it is to get to meet other pet professionals face to face and it’s a real treat!

Get people talking about it before hand, the more the merrier, and remember to tag and share a group photo so that you spread the love.

What would I do differently next time?

I’d start the pre networking earlier, gentle touch points before starting the conversations about 3 weeks before.

When it comes to the my actual offering, I’m going to approach more brands who I really want to work to see if they would like to use the offer before opening up it up to others. I will be more specific with the photography shots I take as I know what is more useful to the brands. I’d also print of a map of the halls because I think I spent just as much time wandering round lost as I did talking to people!

Final thoughts

My main reason for networking in this way is that I have never really felt comfortable about just going up to someone and introducing myself to people I’d like to work with to talk about how I can help them. Believe me, I’ve attempted many different ‘tried and tested’ techniques, which I’m sure work for some people, but just made me feel cringy and awkward.

I really believe that although this face to face contact can be so impactful if done in the right way.

Further reading

Never Eat Alone – this book made me so happy as it reinforces a lot of the type of Networking aka Relationship Building I already do.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People – not an easy or light read, but one you will bookmark with 100’s of tabs and go back to constantly.

How to win friends and influence people – it sounds a bit like a book which might use underhand ways, but it’s another brilliant book about how to build genuine connections and how to bring about win win situations.

I’d love to know if you found this helpful and if you have any networking tips of your own!

Kerry x

Meet Bernie, the St Bernard! Bernie’s human mum bought a gift voucher for her partner and wanted to do a bluebell shoot, however it wasn’t meant to be. Bernie had some complications and we had to bring the shoot forward, and I was so nervous about how he would be on the shoot.

I needn’t have worried! Bernie had a pace maker fitted and was like a new dog! He gets tired quite easily, but that’s to be expected for a dog his age, look at this happy face.

The shoot took place in the garden of the family home as Bernie couldn’t walk too far, and the temperamental British weather was kind to us with some beautiful early morning golden light and frosty ground. He was joined by Luna the Cavapoo who is nervous of dogs, but adores Bernie, the gentle giant that he is.

My job can be difficult at times, I get to work with dogs who are in the prime of their lives who are cruelly taken away from us too soon, to older dogs who may not have much longer, so when I get to do a shoot for a dog who has turned such an huge corner it’s a really amazing feeling.

There’s one thing for sure though, Bernie absolutely adores his human – the bond was so visible to see. The above shot makes me giggle – Bernie has had this bib (pretty necessary for a big dog who produces a lot of drool!) since he was a puppy when it was far too big for him – he obviously grew into it!

Here’s what Bernie’s humans had to say about the experience:

“Kerry was amazing to work with, very professional but also fun and caring!

From various emails and phone calls before the shoot to helping throughout the process she was great!

We have one dog who is very nervous and one was is very old and was very unwell, she helped to put them both at ease on the day and moved mountains to make sure our shoot was done earlier than originally planned. Her website is very easy to use and very professional given she runs it alone! Everyone commented on our photos and how beautiful they were! We will defiantly be rebooking her in the future!”

If you’d like to book a shoot, drop me an email to kerry@furandfables.com – I can’t wait to hear from you! Kerry x

Professional Dog Photographer right on the Surrey, Sussex & Hampshire borders.

Last season on my podcast ‘For the Love of Dog’ I chatted with some super smart people about how to easily become a more eco friendly dog owner.

So if your new years resolution was to make little changes to be more eco friendly next year, I hope these super simple tips will help!

1.  Via Ben from Adios Plastic: Compostable & plastic free poop bags

I had no idea that biodegradable poop bags didn’t have to state how long it takes for them to break down – it could be decades! I was also fooled into thinking that biodegradable means good for the environment but a high percentage of them are actually still made of plastic.
Discount code FUR10 on your first order!

Website: https://adiosplastic.co.uk/

2. Via Keri at The Dog and I: Use dog soap instead of shampoo in bottles.

Did you know that if just 1% of dog owners used soap instead of shampoo in a bottle, it would mean there would be 85000 less plastic bottles?

And if that doesn’t convince you, Keri hand makes the most amazing smelling, foamy soap which is easy to rinse off AND kind to your dogs skin and fur. I’m a convert for sure!

Website: https://www.thedogandi.co.uk/ 

3. Via Charlotte at Lamina Animals: Think about how & where your dog accessories are made.

Charlotte is to making the most beautiful linen collars & leads where she can trace back all the materials to make sure that they are ethical & sustainable.

Website: https://laminaanimal.com/ 

4. Via Chichester Council: Don’t flick it!

Until this year, I was under the impression that flicking dog poop under a bush if we were off the beaten path was probably easier on the environment than popping it in a bag. After talking to Chichester Council, who are one of the local councils who run The Green Dog Walkers Scheme, I have since found out that the amount of poop not being picked up can change the balance of the nutrients in our soils. I live in the South Downs where apparently the soil is nutrient poor, where as poop is nutrient rich so it could be quite damaging to the landscape.

Website: https://www.chichester.gov.uk/greendogwalkers 

5. Via Hattie at The Cornish Dog: Litter pickup on your dog walk

I read an upsetting blog post from Hattie about how much she has found on her local beach, even picking up 3 pieces can make a huge difference if you do it every day. There are even organised beach walks with a litter pickup, maybe you could organise your own! Hattie also had the great idea about buying toys and treats and supporting local suppliers rather than shipped in from abroad.

Website: https://thecornishdog.uk

6. Via Monty Dogge: Educate the next generation

Monty has an amazing book called Monty and the Ocean Rescue which turns education on plastics into and adventure! A great idea for a gift too.

Website: https://www.montydogge.com/

7. Via Aneisha at Scrumbles : Buy treats from the UK in compostable bags

I was really impressed that Scrumbles have tried really hard to find an alternative to plastic for their dog treats & dog food packaging. I have seen quite a few of the smaller brands doing this, so they should be easy to find!

Website: https://scrumbles.co.uk/ 

8. Via yours truly! : Reusuable coffee cups

There’s nothing I love more than an early morning dog walk, than an early morning dog walk with a really good coffee. When I added up how many of those reusuable cups I’d get through in a year, it terrified me, so I created my own travel mug because I could’t find any that I liked. The #prettylittlemug movement started, and there are now nearly 150 out in the world! 

Do you think you will try any of these next year? Or do you already do most of them? I’d love to know – drop a comment below.

Kerry x

There are so many reasons to book a professional photoshoot of your dog; memories – as a nation of dog lovers, we all want to make sure we have something to remember our dogs, our furry family members,  when they are no longer with us. Other reasons could be capturing that puppy stage, or the later years. Whatever the reason, there’s something inside you that longs to have a piece of photographic art, something more than a camera phone snap.

What happens on a dog photoshoot

Firstly, we have a call about the personality of your dog way before the shoot. That way, if you have eg a nervous dog, I wont go in for cuddles straight away, you can relax knowing that I’m aware of all your dogs likes and dislikes so that they can have the most comfortable experience possible. Rest assured though, your dog will be adored – friends have lost me on countless occasions when I have made a mad dash to see if I can say hello to a dog so to call me a dog lover is an understatement! #crazydoglady

What to bring on your shoot

You don’t need much! If your dog has a ‘Sunday Best’ collar, that is always great. Any of their favourite toys, poop bags, and high quality treats (although I bring them too) and of course a lead. I encourage you to be in at least one image, whether it just be your boots or your hand, or an image of you walking and interacting with your dog. Most people don’t like themselves in photographs, I would prefer you to have this  this kind of shot than to not have it. So maybe wear your best walking boots, just in case!

On the day of the shoot

In the pre shoot call we talk about the best location for your dog. If they are nervous, I know about out a plethora of beautiful places that are either secure, not very well known or both. Otherwise, the sky is the limit, the below above was taken at Chiswick House in London where gorgeous Ezra spends many of his days. 

If your dog isn’t able to go off lead, no problem! The image below of beautiful Monty was on lead!

How we get the shots

Once we arrive at the location, after getting your dog accustomed to both me and the camera (some dogs find a big black box being pointed at them a little intimidating), we start with a few very basic & easy shots, moving up to more difficult ones once your dog is comfortable and happy, this is where you will probably getting into some odd positions on the floor!

I use different methods depending on your dog and it’s personality but it usually involves manoeuvring into position with treats or toys and then either I make one of many unusual sounds to get your dogs attention, or if we have more than one family member, they can stand behind me as a focus point. In 6 years of dog photography, I have found ways to always get the shot! 

But what if it rains?

I know that some dogs love water, however my aim for the shoot is to make it fun for everyone involved, humans too. The weather forcast is usually very changeable so I usually make a judgement 24 hours before the shoot as to if the weather is too bad for your time slot, and we will either rearrange for a different time that day, or a different date. 

What happens after the shoot?

After the shoot I give you your goody bag! I’ll always try and have products samples with me so that you can check them out and have a think about what will be best for your home. I’ll then choose the very best images of each setup we have done, and then edit them to a high standard – either 25 or 35 images for your gallery depending on your package.  About a week later I’ll call you to talk you through your online gallery and how to use it and give advice on any products you have been thinking about. 

So what are you waiting for! Click here 👉🏻 shoot details to choose your session & lets get you booked in!

Kerry x

Working with Dog Brands

This year I have been doing more dog brand photoshoots and I have been LOVING it. There was one thing I promised myself when I decided to help brands with their product photography, whether it’s collars or beds, I knew I wanted to make sure that I only work with people who had a similar ethos to me, who’s products I personally really like.

Choosing who to work with

Because I share so many of my images on social media, I felt that if I were to put something up of a product that I personally wouldn’t buy, it would feel a wrong, especially if any of the people who follow my pages or blog bought something which was substandard.

Say Hello to Ollie & Co

With that in mind, welcome Ollie & Co, the newest brand to be photographed by Fur & Fables!  After speaking with Kirsty, I really liked her enthusiasm and clear vision of what she wanted for her brand. Not only does she make luxurious velvet collars & bow ties, she’s also branching out to provide you dog owners out there with products for the home too, from dog grooming to gorgeous smelling candles.

Tailoring the photoshoot

In our initial chat, as well as some indoor shots, Kirsty thought that her collars were suited for a more ‘town’ environment so I stepped away from my usual locations in the countryside and turned to a couple of the pretty cafe’s and streets in Midhurst & Haslemere. I have to say, I’m super happy with how the photographs turned out! 

Although I have a dog model database & can source other breeds, Kirsty decided my hounds would be all she needed, and they did me proud! In particular, Shadow really is nailing the modelling malarky, he is so enthusiastic about working for treats.

If you have a dog brand and you’d like to raise yourself above the competition and would like to work with me, drop me an email to kerry@furandfables.com. I can send you my pricing plan and we can set up a chat about how I can also help with your social media reach. You don’t even need to travel for the shoot if you are happy to send me the products like Kirsty did! Kerry x

Dog Photographer based on the Sussex, Surrey & Hampshire borders.

I recently visited London to do a shoot at the Egerton House Hotel where they do doggy afternoon tea (more on that soon!), and it got me thinking about how some places say that they are dog friendly, but in actual fact, it’s more like ‘dogs allowed’. So I decided to test how dog friendly some of my local places were, as recommended by Haslemere locals, I hope dog owners find this useful!

The Lions Den, Weyhill

The Lions Den, Haslemere

Style: Bistro / Cafe
Space: Cosy but plenty of floor space
Time visited: Friday at lunchtime – busy but had tables.
Waterbowl / biscuits: Yes to both – as you walked in the front door although all the bowls were empty.
Did they acknowledge my dog: No, but they were super busy.
Garden: No garden, little seating area outside which looks over Lion Green.
Pros: They didn’t bat an eyelid when I asked if Shadow could go up on the comfy seat with a rug.
Cons: Probably not the place to go with a dog that isn’t good with noise – it’s a family friendly place so at lunchtime on a school holiday Friday, it got quite noisy. 
Would I go back with my dog?: Yes, if I had just one or two with me. 
Is it obviously dog friendly?: Yes, says dogs welcome on the windows. 
Local Walks: A stones throw away from Hindhead Common which links with Devil’s Punchbowl. 

The Holly Bush, Frensham

The Holly Bush, Frensham

Style: Cosy Pub / Bar
Space: Cosy inside, good space outside, both patio area and grassed area. 
Time visited: Friday at 7.30pm. Busy but tables outside available.
Waterbowl / biscuits: Waterbowl’s available. 
Did they acknowledge my dog: A friend of the owner was obviously a whippet fan, so they got lots of fuss! 
Garden: Lovely grassed seating area on two levels, with the upper level having a street food truck where you could order cocktails. 
Pros: Shadow managed to jump up on the benches, right in front of one of the owners, and she really didn’t mind. 
Cons: As it was family friendly, there were lots of children running quite close to where the dogs were laying. Our dogs didn’t mind (we took 6 in total), however for an anxious dog, may be best to go when it’s quieter. 
Would I go back with my dog? Absolutely! 
Is it obviously dog friendly?: Yes! Their instagram account has a plethora of dog visitors. 
Local walks: Just minutes away from Frensham Little Ponds. 
Car parking: Couldn’t see any for the pub, road parking available. 

The Links Tavern, Liphook

The Links Tavern, Liphook

Style: Smart Pub
Space: Fairly big with separate dining and bar area with more informal seating. 
Time visited: Saturday at 5.30pm, was quiet at this time but looked like it was getting busy as I left. 
Waterbowl / biscuits: Yes to both – they actually had a dog pic & mix bar with donations going towards a charity, and a ‘dog keg’ outside. 
Did they acknowledge my dog: Yes
Garden: Lovely grassed seating area
Pros: Were fine with the dogs being on the sofa/chair with a rug down. 
Cons: It’s next to a main road so it could get a bit noisy if you sit outside – although the grassed seating area is round the back.  
Would I go back with my dog? Yes, I’d be happy to take all of them. 
Is it obviously dog friendly?: Did I mention the dog keg outside? 
Local Walks: A lovely walk through heathland next to the Deers Hut pub, and Iron Hill both within 5 minutes drive. 
Car parking: Plenty of parking next to the pub.

The Dog & Pheasant, Brook

Style: Country Pub
Space: Cosy inside, good space outside
Time visited: Wednesday at 5.15pm, quiet. 
Waterbowl / biscuits: Dog bowl. I saw what seemed to be a regular offered biscuits, Boo didn’t get offered though.  
Did they acknowledge my dog: No
Garden: Nice raised patio with countryside views & also grassy nooks & children’s enclosed play area. 
Pros: The outside seating areas are lovely.  
Cons: Limited parking outside the pub, even when it was quiet. 
Would I go back with my dog? I have been before without the dogs and it’s a great local pub with good food but I’d probably not with the hounds, unless we sat in the garden. 
Is it obviously dog friendly?: Not really.  
Local Walks: National Trust site Witley Common is very close. 
Car parking: Limited parking outside the pub, even when it was quiet. There’s road parking across the main road. 

The Dog & Pheasant Pub, Brook

   The Britannia, Guildford Riverside

Obviously a little further out, but worth the trip!

Style: Modern Pub
Space: Fairly big with, good floor space
Time visited: Sunday at 1.45pm, it was busy outside (warm day). 
Waterbowl / biscuits: Yes to both. 
Did they acknowledge my dog: Yes, they were made to feel welcome. 
Garden: No garden however there was a patio at the front & shaded area at the back. 
Pros: Amazingly, they had a stack not only dog towels, but dog beds!
Cons: Limited parking when busy.   
Would I go back with my dog? Yes, I’d be happy to take all of them. 
Is it obviously dog friendly?: Absolutely! Apart from the dog beds, there’s a big ‘dog friendly’ sign outside. They also do ‘dog of the day’ on Instagram. 
Local Walks: Canal/river walk only a couple of minutes away, really lovely stroll.
Car parking: There’s paid parking at the front of the pub, but as it’s Guildford, it was busy – there is also additional parking just to the side. 

The Britannia, Guildford

Say hello to the Pretty Little Mug

For about a year now I have been much more aware about how much waste I’m producing, and desperately trying to cut down. One of the things I have changed is only getting take-out coffee when I have my reusable mug. I have yet to find one that’s pretty & practical, so after a little thought, I decided my brand illustrations would make a great mug! (Thanks to Chloe’s Office).

The statistics

Let’s imagine you have a takeaway coffee (or hot chocolate/tea) 7 times a week. By using a cup like this, if it lasts 2 years (which is should!) you will stop 672 cups going who knows where. Let say you use a reusable cup for the next 10 years, that’s 3,360 of those nasty cups.

AND most places give a discount for bringing your own cup – over 10 years, if you get .50p discount, you could have made back £1,680.
*By the way, my maths is appalling, so feel free to jump in and correct me!*

The techy stuff

• 350ml capacity (that’s a medium Costa to you and me)
• Screw on lid (Colour of lid is soft grey)
• Double walled insulation (so no need for a grippy thing)
• Dishwasher safe
• Materials are recyclable

Want in on the #prettylittlemug movement? They are now available! UK cost is included in the price, want to ship worldwide, just add that option to your cart! Oh, a little extra incentive, 50p from each sale will go to a yet to be confirmed charity.

A few weeks ago, I asked my lovely Facebook community a question; ‘If you were to book a dog photoshoot, how would you like to view your images?’. The options were either at home and I call to talk you through your gallery, or in my She Shed where you can relax with a cup of tea or a Gin & Tonic and view products too. 

Welcome to the She Shed

The overwhelming response was to have the viewing in the She Shed! I love the fact that people wanted a place where they can physically see the products because, more than anything I want for my lovely clients to have all the information they need before ordering products.

Dog Friendly!

The great thing is, the garden is completely secure so you can bring your dog to the viewing too! There’s plenty for your hound to sniff or just chill out in one of the chairs while you sit, relax with your drink and see your images for the first time.

 
Making viewing easier

At the moment the viewing takes place on an iPad – I’m thinking a medium wall mounted screen may make viewing easier. A couple of clients have been brilliant and agreed to write up any improvements I can make. But overall, I’m super pleased with the setup and being  with you as you view your images for the first time is pretty special! 

Want to book a shoot? You can order vouchers direct from the website or drop me an email to Kerry@furandfables.com if you have any questions! I’m based on the Sussex, Surrey & Hampshire borders. If you are further away, don’t worry! I have people booking from all over the UK, if you have your shoot local to me, we can pop into the She Shed and you can view the products on the day. 

Kerry 

Have you ever thought about having a photoshoot with your dog, but looked around and found a dizzying array of prices? Or found a dog photographer whose style you love but then wondered how on earth you can afford it because their price is so high?

I get it! I was the same when I was looking for a wedding photographer, it’s pretty darn confusing, so I hope this blog will help you understand why there are some dramatically different charges out there.  

Dog Photographer Prices

Imagine you’ve booked a shoot, you’ve found a photographer that’s really cheap, bonus! AND you get all the digitals, even better. There’s not much communication with the photographer, apart from time, date and location. You’re a little nervous, you’ve never done this before. Will your dog behave? Will it run off? What happens if it doesn’t like the camera? 

You arrive at the location, a playing field, but that’s okay, this person is a professional, they know what they are doing. The shoot doesn’t last very long, and you wave goodbye wondering what the next step is. 

A couple of days later, the photographer emails you with your images, like this one. 

In your head (or out loud if it so pleases you), give this image a monetary value – how much would you expect to pay for a print of this? A couple of pounds maybe?

I kid you not, this was in a folder on my pc marked ‘to post’ – this was one of the images I felt was amazing enough to give to a client. But that’s fine! It was the stage I was at then, I had virtually no experience, a low budget DSLR and lens, no marketing knowledge, no idea what my style was (apart from VERY over saturated colours!) social media wasn’t a big thing back then, I didn’t even have a website – I posted on Blogspot! (If you fancy a nosy and a laugh – check out my first ever post back in 2009! http://kerryjordanphotography.blogspot.com/2009/09/landarani-trust.html)

Why are dog photographer prices so different?

10 years later, the process and the results are pretty different. 

Nowadays I educate myself almost daily; things like the physical process behind photography, the artistic process of editing, marketing, social media trends. I have invested in kit & lenses that help me do my job better.

And because this is a full time job, not part time, I have to do things I didn’t have to before. I never realised the admin behind building your own brand; insurance, accounts (bleurg!), learning about how to keep your audience engaged to name a few.

The reason I do this? Well, it’s for you! My possible future client. Because of what I have learned, I hope to give you a smooth, non stressful process. I talk to you before the shoot, I figure out the best place to take your dog based on it’s personality, and make sure all your questions are answered. Because of the experience I now have, I see things that other people may not see!

It’s not just a shoot, it’s an experience!

I want you both to have fun, so I have learned tips and tricks to get focus, and make it relaxed for all involved. Afterwards I talk you through the ordering process, figuring out what would look best in your home.

So going back to the beginning, now my prices are a lot higher, because I’m going to give you a higher quality experience based on 10 years of learning. Think of the first image, that figure you said in your head (or out loud), what about the image below? What would you pay to have this kind of image blown up large on your wall (lets face it, the first image you may have wanted a 4×6 print, but nothing bigger!) 

Dog Photographer prices

For a large piece of wall art, my prices start at 325.00, and that’s after the session fee. Am I expensive? Maybe. Am I worth it? Well, that’s for you to decide, but what I really hope is that you have a better understanding of why dog photographer prices may be so different. 

Feel free to drop a comment below – I’d really like to hear your thoughts. 

If you’d like to book a session with me, you can email me at Kerry@fur&fables.com or simply give me a call on 07810 541 685.