Last Chance to Buy Aberdeen Dog Portrait Gift Vouchers at the Old, Low Price!

Don't Miss Out on the Last Chance to Buy Your Gift Voucher at the Old Price!

Based as we are in Aberdeen, no-one is more aware than us Aberdonians of the sky-rocketing household bills we're all about to face.  I mean, we're not quite in the Arctic Circle but sometimes it can feel like it!

Only once before, in the whole 11 year history of Hairy Dog Photography have I raised the price for my basic one hour dog photo session, and that was eight years ago 😃  But with a heavy heart, I'm finally doing what I should have done at least five years ago and am raising prices to meet the fact that in the last eight years, all of my costs have been steadily rising: everything from camera equipment, lenses, printing costs, web-hosting, domain name registrations, insurance, computing equipment etc, etc - I'm sure you get the picture - lots of these costs have literally doubled in the last decade!

In these straitened times, I'm certainly not looking for sympathy - we are, after all, all in the same boat when it comes to electric bills but the good news is I have decided to hold off on the price rise for just over a month, to give people the chance to buy a Hairy Dog Gift Voucher or session for their own dog and family at the old, low price of £70!  From the 1st Nov, the price will rise to £120.  It's way too early to think of Christmas...  But it may be worth thinking about Christmas 🎅   Sorry.

Up until Oct 31st '22 you can still pay the old price, so if you were thinking of treating a friend or relative to a dog photography gift voucher right now is a good time to do it!  Of course, it's also an ideal time to freshen up your own family photography whilst including the hairiest, woofiest member of the family.

Honest-to-goodness, no-holds-barred feedback is the most valuable thing to any business and given that people tend to be lovely and polite (well, Hairy Dog clients are!), it's actually quite hard to come by.  There's no trip advisor for dog photographers, where people can vent spleen from the anonymity of their keyboards!  I always try to make a point of asking clients what, if anything could have been done better, what could I have done to make the experience more fun and so on, and then make sure that info is actually acted upon...  All this knowledge has built up over the years into a streamlined, easy-peasy method of working which ensures that all involved (dogs and humans) have a fantastic time during their session and more importantly, that afterwards, people end up with exactly what they wanted on their walls.

I've never, ever had to resort to sales pitches.  I've never explored the route of turning up at clients' houses with a projector and a case full of samples.  Yuck!  It's just not my thing.  Fortunately for me, the one thing I am very good at is pairing the right products with the right people - you give me a vague idea of what you'd like on the walls of your house and I'll show you beautifully printed pictures in various forms until we hit the perfect thing!  If you're delighted with the two prints included with the session that's absolutely fine too!

Anyway, enough rambling...  Do take a few minutes to have a look round the specialist Aberdeen Dog Photographer website and place your gift voucher order before Hallowe'en.  On the 1st of November, the price will rise to £120, so please don't miss out!

How To Prepare For a Dog Photography Session with Hairy Dog.

Dog photography in and around Aberdeen is always going to be a bit hit or miss, given that despite it being Summer, we are still seeing a fair bit of haar and the odd rain shower.  I recently added an FAQ section to my website ( Hairy Dog Photography FAQs ) and am struggling a wee bit to remember all the questions I've been asked over the years.  Most potential issues can be preempted by a few sensible measures; take the dog(s) for a swift walk before the session, especially if they're a bit rambunctious, bring treats and toys but only if that's what the dog's used to, choose a dry walk if they've just been groomed, etc, etc.

With that in mind, please contact me though the Hairy Dog Photography Abedeen website if you can think of anything I should be adding to the list.  As always, I'm striving to make the whole experience enjoyable and stress free for both dogs and humans :-)

Upstaged again...  I can't guarantee every photo will be a keeper!

One of the many joys of photographing dogs is that if it's dingin' doon with rain or hailstones, we can just reschedule.  After years of wedding photography, it took me several more years of photographing dogs to get used to the idea that it's OK to do this!  With weddings, obviously, there's less wiggle room (i.e., none) - you just have to get on and make the most of whatever's being thrown at you...

For outdoor sessions though, the one thing I do need is light.  Ideally, soft morning or evening light - golden hour if possible, or even glorious midday sunshine.  Sunset shoots can work very well, especially with older or less zoomy dogs.  I do use flash here and there, either for dramatic impact, to overcome very bright sunshine or if it's just plain dull.  It's also very useful in woods to stop the dappled light from creating patterns on the subject as it filters through the leaves - it just evens the light out nicely.

The question asked more often than any other is, "My dog won't really sit still - how will you take his photo?"  A quick look through the Hairy Dog gallery or Hairy Dog Facebook page should put your mind at rest.  So far, I've never met a dog which can't be photographed (touch wood!).  And that includes greyhounds, whippets, mad spaniels and puppies with absolutely zero training.  It's amazing what a bit of patience, combined with a few squeaky toys and my ability to make all manner of weird noises can do!  Also, as the photos show, I do tend to specialise in a bit of action photography, as well as heartfelt portraiture.

Patience you must have, my young Padawan...

Bring the whole family on your Hairy Dog Photography session!

He was just at the blooming groomers yesterday!!!   #@@#@!!****

Bulldog not chewing a wasp at a Hairy Dog Photography Session...

So if you're consideing a family photo session this Summer, or if it's just that you'd love some photos of the hairiest family member, do get in touch! There are a few special offers running right now - please like the Hairy Dog Facebook Page to get first look at current dog photography offers.

Gift Vouchers for Aberdeen Dog Lovers!

Just the perfect Christmas present for dogs and owners.

A Hairy Dog Photography gift voucher is much more than just a pretty card in a flashy envelope...  It's a long lasting reminder of happy times with the hairiest member of the family and as presents go, it's always genuinely appreciated - a gift with some thought behind it!
Book your Dog Photography Gift Voucher here!

When you buy a gift voucher, you'll receive a physical card to write your own message in - there's a brief explanation of the process inside and contact details on the back.  The lucky recipient is entitled to a one hour photo session in the location of their choice, within about 25 miles of Aberdeen City.  Further afield is fine too with a bit of prior discussion.

A few weeks after the session, they'll be sent a link to an online gallery to showcase between 30 - 40 beautifully finished images.  Each photograph is worked on individually to ensure it looks its absolute best.  They can then choose which two they'd like printed at 9x6" and I'll have them made at a professional lab on archival photo paper.

The session itself is mostly about having fun in a lovely location - this could be the dog's favourite walk or perhaps somewhere new and interesting!  I'll liaise with the owner to make sure we get decent weather and a time and place that suits everyone.  Over the years, I've learnt exactly what to take with me (and what not to take) so everywhere from fields to mountains are within reach.

Humans are encouraged to have a few photos with their dogs but I won't bully anyone into having their photo taken - it can be all about the dog :-)

Find out more on the Hairy Dog Photography website, see some recent work on the Hairy Dog Facebook Page or go ahead and buy a voucher or book a session HERE.  If you have any questions, please do just drop me an email at jamie@hairydogphotography.co.uk or use the Hairy Dog Contact Form on the website.  Alternatively, just call me on 07866127732 :-)