THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Hi! I’m Heather and I am obsessed with dogs. I have been completely and utterly in love with dogs my entire life… I feel like I must have been too young to remember where or when this passion began for me, so I like to think that I was born with it. Prior to pet photography, my professional experience working with dogs spans a solid 21 years. I carved my life around not just working with, but mostly working FOR them.. (the majority of which were unwanted or abandoned… dogs who found themselves in shelters or rescue organizations through no fault of their own).

My prior experience working as a canine behavior specialist and dog trainer gives me a little “leg-up” in terms of working with both two-legged and four-legged clients. I take a great deal of pride in my ability to understand both dogs and their owners. If you are here looking for a professional portrait of your dog, it means we are alike in the way we feel about our canine family members. Dogs are family. Our best friends. These special little (or big!) beings gift to us an immeasurable joy, without a word spoken between us. I want to help you achieve a lasting and very tangible memory of your best friend. Not just their photograph… but a captured moment.. shining a light on what YOU see when you look at your dog. And to capture this moment in time and the bond between you.

Below is a guide explaining what you can expect from a puppy dog photo session with me. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions after looking over the info below.

"WHEN WILL MY SESSION TAKE PLACE?"

We will book a date that works well for you and your pup (or pups). I work primarily with natural light, and all of the sessions that I do take place outdoors. I believe that the natural world is where dogs truly shine. I work in real settings… no studio, no backdrops… I believe this is where one can find the most authentic beauty while photographing animals. I do not like to place time limits while working with dogs, as they are unpredictable and I like to keep sessions as stress free for my clients as possible. If you were looking for a timeline, I would tell you that a typical photo session lasts anywhere between 1 and 2 hours. The best part of the day to catch the most stunning light is roughly 2 hours before sunset, so you can plan on your photo session taking place during the late afternoon/early evening. Because I only work outdoors (and because we live in New England), we are always at the mercy of Mother Nature. If the weather does not cooperate… or if it is too dangerous or uncomfortable for you or your dog to be outside, we will plan our session at an alternate date. I understand very well that age and breed can play a major factor in your dog’s comfort/safety level outside, and I am absolutely adamant that you and your dog are both comfortable and safe.

"WHERE WILL MY SESSION TAKE PLACE?"

I work primarily in the southern New Hampshire region (the Keene NH and Monadnock Region specifically).  I have a handful of choice spots that I think are absolutely stunning for a doggy photo session. I also understand that every dog has a different personality and therefore limits to what they are comfortable with, and I do my best to customize the location with your dog’s comfort in mind.

If you were hoping to have our session take place at a specific location, please let me know and I am happy to try to accommodate this. 

“MY DOG CANNOT BE OFF LEASH…”

That is OKAY! If we are in a non-fenced area I actually prefer pups to be leashed. Safety is always my first priority. Through the magic of post processing, I am able to remove leashes, and even human legs from photos. So worry not! Most of the dogs that I photograph are leashed

“MY DOG IS NOT TRAINED! IN FACT… SHE CAN’T EVEN ‘SIT’ ON COMMAND!”

That is also okay! 99.9% of the dogs that I take pictures of are your every-day, average, silly pup! I know, I know… the photos that I have on my website make it appear as though I have Lassie posing perfectly for these portraits. The good news is, although it always helps to have a good “sit” and “stay” locked down… a) I know EXACTLY how to get your dog’s attention… and b) I only need but a fraction of a second to capture what seems like the most picture perfect pose. So do not stress over this! 

Please remember that this experience should be as stress free as possible. If you are stressed, your pup will be stressed. I work with your every day, untrained pooch. It is okay if your dog isn’t cooperating right away, sometimes that just means we need to switch gears and try something else or simply take a break. 

“HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST?”

Because the price of what I offer in terms of artwork can vary quite a bit, the final cost to each client can vary as well.

I charge a $150, non-refundable session fee for each session in order to be placed on my calendar. Non-refundable meaning… after we hold our session and capture your pup’s fabulous pictures! Of course if you decided to cancel that’s an entirely different situation in which case of course your money would come right back to you

But!!! This $150 is still yours to spend on any piece of wall art that you choose to purchase (excluding digitals).

Your investment is completely up to you. I offer a variety of art products that will knock the SOCKS off of you and guests visiting your home. I am happy to bring sample pieces of artwork so you can see and touch samples of what I offer.

DIGITALS - I do understand that most people want digital images. I offer a digital collection, however when you purchase the digital files please understand that you are purchasing the actual images from your session as well as the copyright to those images. You are purchasing the ability to download and print these images wherever you choose, along with the right to order professional prints/artwork from me. This is why digitals are the largest single investment, in comparison to other artwork that I offer. That being said, I do offer a 50% discount on digital packages when purchased with a piece of wall art (canvases, metal prints, etc) so please keep this in mind. I also will provide a complimentary watermarked digital image (sized to share on social media), for any piece of wall art you decide to buy. I have samples of artwork that I am happy to share with you if you would like to see and touch these items in person.

“HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO MAKE MY CHOICES, AFTER VIEWING MY GALLERY?”

Your gallery will remain active for 3 days after it is sent to you, then it will auto-expire. 

DURING THE SESSION:

Please remember that the ultimate goal with each photo is to get your pup to look at me (or my lens). Often, owners will become so determined to get a “sit” or other pose out of their dog, that they repeatedly call their name, show them treats, repeat a command “SIT!”… the result? The dog is looking the wrong way (usually at the owner and not at my camera). 

I invite you to bring any special toys or treats that you know your pup loves, as a way to make the session fun for him and as a sneaky way to grab his attention. I also have a variety of noise makers, treats and toys that I will bring along to keep your pup interested.

After our session, I will carefully retouch any imperfections (mostly doggy eye boogers!!!) out of each photo. I am also able to remove leashes or any other distractions we don’t want in the portrait. After I process the images, I will send you a link to a gallery with only the very best of the BEST images for you to review and mark your favorites. We can then discuss which art products, or digital images you are most interested in after you have had a chance to look at my product and price list.

Next Steps:

Are we ready to do this?! Wahoo! I can’t wait!! Please navigate to my “Book Now!” page where we can get this PAWty started! Select your first choice for a date when we can hold our session together. Click on the time (there will only be one option for time and it will depend on the natural light during the current time of year. Because we are at the mercy of Mother Nature these session dates are tentative. If it is too uncomfortable or dreary outside we may need to reschedule when the weather is more favorable. Once you select your time, you will be bounced to my intake form so I may learn more about you and most importantly your dog! Once your session fee is paid I will personally reach out to you within 24 hours to discuss session locations and confirm the date.