FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In this section you'll find some of the most common questions about your dog photography experience with me. I hope most of your questions will be answered either here, but if you have a question that isn't covered, please feel free to contact me!
What types of photo shoot do you do?
I currently offer three main types of dog photoshoot:
The Pawfect Moments Experience is a bespoke photo shoot experience which is suitable for dogs and puppies of all ages, and can be and Outdoor Location or At Home Studio Style photo shoot. As part of the Pawfect Moments Experience, I also offer the Pawfect Puppy Three Shoot Package, to help you capture the memories of puppy's first year, and the Twilight Days Memory Session helps you treasure those lasting memories between you and your senior dog.
The Me & My Dog Location Session focuses on the bond between you and your dog, and is a photoshoot tailored towards capturing your special moments in a natural setting. This session includes a donation towards my chosen charity, which is normally either local or dog related (or both!)
I also offer ad-hoc Limited Edition Sessions based on specific themes during the year, for example seasonal flowers such as lavender sessions, or Christmas themed events.
What does a Pawfect Moments Experience include?
The Pawfect Moments Experience is a personalised photo shoot experience and is suitable for dogs and puppies of any age. It can take place at an Outdoor Location or as an At Home Studio Style session, depending on your preference. The "A La Carte" includes a complimentary Premium Mounted Print and 5 social media sized digital files. The booking fee for A La Carte is £150.
I also offer a Pawfect Moments Experience Silver and Gold packages, which include different artwork options, and start from £349
All of the above include your pre-shoot consultation, photo shoot and Viewing and Ordering Session as standard. Find out more here
What does a Pawfect Puppy Package include?
The Pawfect Puppy Package is a Three Shoot package designed to cover the first year of puppy's life as part of your family. You will enjoy a photo shoot at 10-14 weeks, 6 months and one year old.
Each photo shoot includes a complimentary Premium Mounted Print and £100 voucher towards additional artwork, as well as a pre-shoot consultation and Viewing & Ordering Session. The booking fee for the Three Shoot Package is £375.
Find out more here
What does a Twilight Days Memory Session include?
The Twilight Days Memory Session is designed for older dogs and those who may need a more relaxed, non-intrusive session, perhaps due to critical illness. It is designed to capture those special memories of the bond between you and your dog.
The Twilight Days package includes the Classic Memory Album with all the photos from your memory session, as well as a pre-shoot consultation and Viewing Session, and 10% discount off any wall art purchases. The booking fee for the Twilight Days Memory Session is £595.
Find out more here
What does a Me & My Dog Location Session include?
The Me & My Dog Location Session is a relaxed mini shoot capturing the special moments between you and your dog, in a natural setting. It is specifically designed to capture the bond and family moments between you, and will take place in an outdoor location such as a park, woodland, or even your garden!
The Me & My Dog Sessions support my chosen charity, which will change for every 6 month period. Each booking fee includes a donation to the charity, which will normally be dog or animal related, or a local cause.
The A La Carte option is £99 and includes a complimentary Premium Mounted Print and 3 social media sized digital files, as well as £25 donation towards the chosen charity. There are also Bronze and Silver Packages available with additional artwork options, starting from £275. Find out more here
What are the Limited Edition Sessions?
Limited Edition Sessions take place at ad-hoc times during the year and are seasonal or themed, for example lavender fields sessions in July or Christmas themed sessions in November. They normally take place at set locations and on set dates & times and are limited to 30 minutes per client.
The Limited Edition Mini Session booking fee and inclusions will vary, but will include at least one Mounted Print. Availability is strictly limited and will be offered to my existing clients and email list recipients before being announced publicly. Find out more here
Where will my photo shoot take place?
If you prefer an Outdoor Location photo shoot, we can discuss the best place to hold your photo shoot. This could be a park, woodland, canal or river - or even your garden! There are some locations I use regularly in the local area, or we can choose a location special to you. Please bear in mind that some locations charge for photo shoots which is not included in your booking fee, unless I have an annual permit for that location.
I have a fully portable studio setup, so I can come to your home to for your studio shoot. In fact, this is often the better option as your dog will be relaxed in a familiar location. If you feel your home is not suitable, it is normally possible to hire a village hall close to my locatiion which we can also use for studio style portraits.
If you have a suitable location close to your home, you can also have a mix of both studio style and outdoor location shots in your photo shoot. We can talk through all the options before or during your Pre-Shoot Consultation!
What areas do you cover?
I'm based in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, and I cover the surrounding area including Northamptonshire, Rutland and Warwickshire. I also travel to Aylesbury and Maidenhead areas for photo shoots as I have family in those areas!
I'm happy to travel further afield, but depending on distance I may need to make an additional charge to cover travel costs. Normally I won't charge travel within an hour's drive of my location, but if you want me to come to Inverness, I'll need to cover my costs! Please don't hesitate to let me know where you're based and I can advise you about this.
Do you do other types of photo shoot?
Yes! I don't just photograph dogs, although that is my specialism. If you are interested in a photo shoot for your cat, horse, rabbit, snake - or even some humans, do get in touch and I'll be happy to talk through what you're looking for and how I can help
What happens if my dog doesn't like the studio lights?
The most important thing is that your dog is happy and relaxed at all times throughout the shoot, so if he doesn't like the lights, we'll work around it! That might mean using natural light in a studio setting if possible, or moving to an outdoor location
What locations do you recommend for my location photo shoot?
We can discuss the best location for your photo shoot, this could be a country park, canal, meadows, woodland, or even a heritage site that you are familiar with. I also have locations that I can suggest if you prefer. Most of the locations I am familiar with and recommend for dog photography are in Market Harborough or the surrounding area.
If you'd prefer a photo shoot in a location that's special to you, or even in your garden if your dog is more comfortable there, that's absolutely fine and we can discuss this at your Pre-shoot consultation.
Please note that some locations may require a commercial photography licence which is not included in your booking fee.
My dog won't sit still / can't go off his lead.
I know sometimes there are far more interesting things than that person with a camera, so if your dog can't go off his lead that's fine. I do recommend that you remove harness if your dog wears one, as these tend to be very visible in photographs. We can put it back on when moving between locations if you prefer. We can keep your dog on his own lead if you want the collar in your photos, or I have a show lead we can use if you would like your photos without the lead & collar.
Don't worry if he won't sit still - I only need him to pause for 1/200th of a second!
My dog is nervous of new people
I allow plenty of time at the beginning of the photo shoot to make friends with your pet and let him sniff my camera and bag. My sessions are relaxed to make everyone feel at ease, but if your dog is really unhappy we may need to reschedule.
If your dog is particularly nervous of new people, it may be better to arrange to meet in person for your pre-shoot consultation, so that your dog can get to know me without the pressure of the camera being there.
How do I know if a photo shoot is suitable for my dog?
In general, your dog should be absolutely fine to take part in a photo shoot. The most important thing is that your dog is happy, comfortable and relaxed at all times, so we'll monitor his body language and make sure we don't ask him to do anything that's stressful or beyond his abilities. This is also why I say there's no time limit for the photo shoot, as I don't want to risk rushing and upsetting your dog.
If your dog has any reactivity issues, please let me know beforehand so that we can discuss any precautions that need to be taken.
Limited Edition Mini Sessions are the only session I offer that are limited in time and therefore may not be suitable for every dog, particularly those who take longer to settle or are reactive. They are also not suitable for bitches in season, as they take place in an environment where different dogs will be having photo shoots back to back.
If you have any questions about the suitability of any type of photo shoot for your dog, please get in touch and I'll be happy to discuss it with you.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If your photo shoot is taking place at an outdoor location, the weather is definitely a consideration! Obviously we hope that everything will take place as planned, but sometimes if it's really bad - or really hot in summer - we may need to reschedule.
At your Pre-Shoot Consultation, we can discuss any weather concerns you may have and put a reserve date in the diary "just in case" the weather lets us down on your preferred date. It's always good to have a plan B!
If the weather changes during your photo shoot, we may cut short the session. If there hasn't been enough time to capture all your photos, we can reschedule for a new date.
How much does a photo shoot cost?
When you book your photo shoot, you'll pay a booking fee to confirm your date. The amount depends on the type of photo shoot and package you've chosen, and every option includes at least one Premium Mounted Print for you to take home as a souvenir.
The Pawfect Moments Experience photo shoot starts from £150, and the Me & My Dog Location Session starts from £99.
Additional prints, products and artwork can be chosen at your Viewing & Ordering Session following your photo shoot. As the options can be a little overwhelming, a list of starting prices is available on my website, with full details available by request - let me know if you would like to see these in advance, or they will automatically be sent when you book.
Do I need to sign a contract / fill in forms?
There are a few documents to complete when you book your photo shoot, but the good news is it's all online so just a few clicks and you're done! After you book your shoot I'll send you an email with a link to view your contract, introductory questionnaire about you/your dog, and an invoice for the booking fee, unless you've already paid by booking through my website. They're all quick and easy to complete via the client portal, but do ask if you have any questions at all!
What payment methods do you accept?
Payments can be made by credit/debit card, bank transfer, PayPal or instalments via direct debit. Please note all payments must be cleared before the date of your photo shoot and before any product orders are delivered.
What happens if I have to cancel?
After booking with me you have a 14 day cooling off period as per the Consumer Contracts Legislation. Your cooling off period commences from the date you pay your booking fee. If you choose to cancel your booking during this period you will be entitled to a full refund, unless your photo shoot has already taken place. Once the 14 day cooling off period has passed, any cancellation will be subject to a £50 non-refundable administration fee, with the remainder being refunded to you.
Should you wish to cancel and reschedule your shoot, the entire booking fee may be transferred to your new date. You may cancel and reschedule on one occasion with no charge, any subsequent rescheduling will be subject to a £20 rescheduling fee.
Can I pay by instalments?
Yes! All photo shoot packages and product orders can be paid by instalments using GoCardless as the direct debit provider. Your artwork will be delivered once payment has been received in full.
How long does it take my order to arrive?
Your artwork order will take 4-6 weeks to arrive (except albums which may be 6-8 weeks). If you are paying by instalments, products will be delivered when payment has been received in full.
If you need your product more quickly, e.g. for a special event, please speak to me before ordering.
Can I order more products later?
Yes absolutely! I never delete the images I've shown you, so they are always available if you wish to order more prints or wall art.
Can I cancel my product order?
Product orders are considered to be bespoke artwork and are excluded from the 14 day cooling off period under Consumer Contracts legislation. This means that all product orders are considered as final once they have been paid for.
I only want digital files
Single high resolution digital files are available to purchase at £199 per image or £795 for 5 files. Alternatively, I offer an option to buy all final images from your photo shoot in high resolution digital format, supplied on a USB with a set of unmounted prints & box, at £1495. You will select your chosen file(s) from all final images shown to you at your viewing session. Digital files purchases include a print release for personal use only.
Any products you purchase are supplied with a low-resolution copy of the image(s) used to create your artwork, sized for sharing on social media.
What does all final images mean?
All final images means all edited images from your shoot (e.g. those shown to you during your viewing/ordering session). It does not include unedited images or images which do not reach my high standards. All images which do not reach this criteria are automatically deleted. I do not provide unedited images under any circumstances. You can normally expect to view 10-15 images from a full photo shoot (not a mini shoot or special event shoot e.g. dog show or competition) - but don't worry, if there are more you'll see everything that makes the cut!
I printed my photos at a High Street or online printing service and they don't look right.
I use a professional printing lab for all my products, which means they are checked and corrected to ensure the image is printed correctly and to a high quality. Unfortunately it is not possible for me to guarantee the quality of your prints when they are printed elsewhere.
Do you keep my photos forever?
My client images are stored on two external hard-drives and via encrypted cloud storage. All final images are kept indefinitely, so you can order more at a later date if you wish to.
Do I get the copyright to my images?
Copyright remains with the photographer (me) and I do not offer a copyright release. All images provided are offered for personal use only and with a print release for any digital files which will allow you to print the images for personal use at a lab of your choice. This means that you can display them in your home, create your own personal artwork, create copies or gifts for family members and share on your own personal social media.
You can not use the images for commercial or business use or any profit-making activity, magazine publication or for entering competitions including social media competitions run by third parties where usage rights are granted as a condition of entry. If you wish to use the images for any of these purposes, a commercial licensing fee may apply. Please contact me to discuss with details of how you wish to use the images, so that I may further advise you.
Will you use my photos on your website / in your portfolio / on social media?
I normally select images from my sessions to be used in my portfolio, on my website and on social media - in fact, seeing my work in this way is probably how you came to book your photo shoot!
I love to share my favourite images, however I realise there may be reasons why you prefer your images not to be made public, for example you may have a sensitive job which prohibits this, or you may just not want pictures of your pets/children on the internet. I absolutely understand this and am happy to work with you.
Once you have seen your images at your viewing session, I will send you a social media & advertising permissions form, which will detail the different ways I may wish to use your images, for you to complete with your preferences. If after signing the form agreeing to social media use, you change your mind, please let me know and I can update my records and/or remove any photos which are currently in use on my website.
Please note I will never use surnames or locations to identify you online, although I may use first names or the names of your pet. I will also clone out any details such as on dog tags which may identify locations/surnames within the photos.
Are you qualified / insured?
In July 2018 I passed my Qualification Panel with the Guild of Photographers, which is a recognised trade association within the photography industry, and I have won two Silver and multiple Bronze Awards in their monthly competition between 2017 and 2020.
I have full public liability and professional indemnity insurance which covers me and you during your photo shoot.