Guest Blog from Sandie Powner Photography: How to choose your dog photographer
If you've decided you'd like some portraits of your dog, the first step is to choose your dog photographer! Whenever we're looking for something new, our first stop is normally Google, and it can be really overwhelming and intimidating to see so many different website
s - particularly if you don't really know what you're looking for. Here are my tips to help you choose your dog photographer:
TIP ONE: Listen to recommendations
One of the best ways to find your dog photographer is to listen to recommendations. This could be word of mouth from friends or other dog owners, or online reviews if you're looking at websites or Facebook. If someone has had a good experience during their dog photo shoot and are happy with their dog portraits, this is normally a really good place to start!
TIP TWO: Check out the dog photographer's work
Once you've got some recommendations, make sure you check out the dog photographer's recent work on their website or social media profiles. Make sure the images the dog photographer creates are the style of image you'll want to display in your home. Do they capture the character of the dog(s) they've photographed? If you're investing in dog portraits, make sure you love your chosen dog photographer's work - they'll create memories you can treasure forever!
TIP THREE: Do they love dogs?
For me, one of the most important things is that your dog photographer loves dogs! To capture really good dog portraits, you need to understand dogs and be able to capture their characteristics. All the best dog photographers I know are dog people. I love dogs and if I see dogs in the street I'm more likely to scratch their ears than speak to their owners!! A good dog photographer will prioritise the happiness of your pet and make sure they are relaxed and comfortable throughout your photo shoot.
TIP FOUR: Ask questions
Make sure you ask questions about your dog photographer, their style and any concerns you may have. A good photographer will be happy to answer any questions and address any issues, and should make all information about how they work and their pricing available prior to your shoot.
TIP FIVE: Make sure you're happy
When you're booking your dog photo shoot, make sure you're happy with everything before going ahead. From the investment you're going to make, to the format of your photo shoot, everything should be made clear beforehand and your dog photographer should give you ample opportunity to ask questions and make sure you're happy. If something doesn't feel right, the minimum spend is too much for your budget or you just don't feel like the photographer understands what you want, it's best not to go ahead.
While I pride myself on offering a complete and tailored service focussing on beautiful portraits of your dog, I may not be the right photographer for you - and that's absolutely fine! The last thing I want is to have clients who don't share the same vision as I have - you deserve to have a dog photographer who can capture the memories you want and most importantly, understands your dog. If that's not me, I understand that you're looking for something I can't offer, and I wish you all the best in your search.
If you like what you see and think I'm the dog photographer you've been looking for, I'd love to hear from you about booking your photo shoot! Feel free to visit my website www.sandiepownerphotography.co.uk for more information