Durham Dog Walks in the Sunshine!

Today's sunny Springtime walk with lots of photographs...

Here at Hairy Dog Photography, Kasper the dog and I are always overjoyed when the first signs of Spring start to show on our local walks around Durham.  The wild garlic coming through, blue skies and proper sunshine (!), the first splashes of green.  Grand!

We had Finlay the baby with us today too - he seemed to enjoy it as much as Kasper and I.  The notion struck me to take my least used lens today - a 14mm Samyang fisheye (stupidly wide angled lens).  It's a lot of fun but sees very little use as it's a bit, well, silly really.  It's good for the odd shot at a wedding and has even made the occasional appearance at a Hairy Dog photoshoot but for the most part, it's sadly neglected.

Really enjoyed using it today - it's obviously very limiting and pretty soft until it's stopped down to f8 or thereabouts but it is always interesting!  The manual focus is a challenge too, especially with a fast moving dog...

If you'd like a photo session with your dog, or know someone who might, please don't hesitate to get in touch through the Hairy Dog site.  Pet photography gift vouchers are available too and are always a lovely present.  If you just want to know what it's all about, take a look through the galleries and the "About" page.

I think you'll find this is a public footpath...

First port of call - Mallygill Woods ( Jamie Emerson, Hairy Dog Photography ).

This is what the 14mm Samyang lens looks like at f2.8.  Not so good for bridal portraits :-D

Moorhouse Woods dog walk, Durham, by Jamie Emerson

I love what the Samyang lens does to the edges of the frame at f2.8.

Just checking he's still there...

If you do want to book a dog portrait session, please feel free to call me (Jamie Emerson) on 07866127732, or just drop me an email on jamie@hairydogphotography.co.uk

You can also visit my main Dog Photography Website and have a look round the galleries.

See you on the dog walk!

Autumnal dog walking in North East England

The nights are drawing in...

And I love it!  This is absolutely my favourite season, especially on a day like today, with bright, crispy sunshine making the trees glow orangey-green against a bright blue sky.  It makes me want to get out and about with the dog.  More so than the green shoots of Spring, more than snowy Winter days.  The result is that Kasper, the original Hairy Dog, has been getting more time outside than usual.

Labrador against an autumnal backdrop

As a specialist dog photographer, weather like this is nothing but good news.  The light is nowhere near as harsh as it is in the height of the Summer - it's perfectly suited to creating beautiful outdoors dog portraiture.  The heat for the last few months has also made dog photography somewhat harder - dogs are too clever to go full pelt when it's that hot!

Snowy dog photoshoots are a lot of fun, but nothing beats a crispy Autumn shoot

Around this time of year I usually start advertising dog photography gift vouchers, and this year is no exception.  In fact, I'm pushing them hard this year, helped by a £75 coupon for advertising through Google Adwords (thanks Google!).  These vouchers really do seem to be hugely appreciated by the recipients - they are usually people who dote on their pets and who, like me, have a great love of the outdoors.  The whole concept of having a photoshoot whilst on a favourite dog walk appeals to most of my clients and the resulting photos are simply a reflection of the owner and dog's lifestyle.

Recently, I've been seeing a lot of vouchers coming in and a resurgence of visitor numbers through the website - I put this down to the change in the weather - perhaps owners who have been swithering about having a doggy photoshoot feel that the time is ripe as the leaves turn, the temperature drops and the light fades into a golden glow.

In other news, it now looks like Hairy Dog is becoming the 'go-to' photographer for local dog shows.  I'd actively avoided these shows for a long time due to worries that such shoots would dilute the high quality brand that is Hairy Dog.  Well, I needn't have worried - the last show proved that I can still pull out top quality photographs in a high-pressure situation, with queues of dogs waiting their turn.  Here are the most recent photos - dog show photography north east.  I'm back there ( The Dog House, Cold Hesseldon ) for a German Shepherd show later this month.  Can't wait!

Dog show photography in the north east by Hairy Dog Photography

As always, if you're interested in seeing high quality, creative photographs of dogs, please do 'like' the Hairy Dog Facebook page or call Jamie on 07866127732 to set up your own photoshoot, thanks!

Dog Walk Photography at Hawthorn Dene

Hairy Dog Photography, specialist pet portraiture in the north east, covering Durham, Newcastle, Darlington, Northumberland and Sunderland.  Please do just get in touch to organise a shoot or buy a gift voucher.

Just around this time of year, with the first few sunny days drying up the winter clag, the wild garlic coming through to carpet our woodlands, and the buds bursting into leaf on the trees, I start to see all the Hairy Dog Photography gift vouchers given as Christmas presents come back to me.

So before they all roll in, I like to get a few practice sessions in with my own hairy dog, Kasper.  Not that all the photography kit has been sitting idle since last Autumn - far from it!  Pet portraits happen all year round - especially sessions with my portable studio kit (which pops up in your living room) and sessions on the beach for hardy dogs and owners!  Weddings also keep me busy all Winter.  But keeping up with a lively dog on his favourite walk and getting pin sharp, beautiful photos is a very different skill to capturing a client's wedding.

A few weeks ago, sick of the local muddy footpaths and woods, Kasper and I escaped up to Hadrian's Wall and were rewarded with a crispy, hazy day with beautiful views in every direction.  The photo below shows the dog on a stile, with the stunning but low key view in the background.  I have it on my wall in a frame now - the dog needn't always be the centre of attention in a Hairy Dog photograph!

Environmental portraiture with beautiful landscape and dog.

Today's walk also involved the car but we kept it local and headed off to one of our favourite walks at Hawthorn Dene.  It was (mercifully) quite dry underfoot, and as always, it was a joy to see the greenery beginning to break through, although some long dead Autumn leaves were still hanging around...

It's always worth the effort on the rare days we see a spot of Spring sunshine and it beats trudging round Herrington Country Park, or the local mud-pits which once were fields!

Spring dog walk photography in the north east

A few dead leaves, backlit, during a pet portrait session near Sunderland

The last of the snowdrops at Hawthorn Dene, against a colourful backdrop

Action photography of a dog running through some woods in the north east

Dramatic pet portraits by Hairy Dog Photography.

Why wait until your dog is old and tired before booking your shoot, or buying a very good friend a Hairy Dog gift voucher?  Better to catch your pet in the prime of his life, at his most sparkling and engaging!  Do feel free to call or email with any questions - 07866127732 or 01915845442.  Email - jamie@hairydogphotography.co.uk

Hairy Dog in the Woods!

Kasper the Hairy Dog Goes Wild in the North East

And there are photographs to prove it...

Jamie Emerson

Hairy Dog Photography - specialist dog and pet photographer in the north east

Langley Street, 

New Herrington

DH4 4LN

07866127732

01915845442

Kasper and I had a fantastic, muddy, slippy woodland walk today.  It's been at least a week since I took any photographs of the poor dog, or even sat him down for a portrait session.  This neglect had to end, so we sallied forth into the north east countryside for a pet portrait session (formerly known as a 'walk').

This is what Hairy Dog Photography does best - I love nothing better than to be out with a dog or two capturing your pets' characters in an environment where they are free to just be themselves.  Some dogs thrive on bounding back and forth, others are happy to lope along and sniff everything.  It doesn't matter - a pet session with Hairy Dog will always give you a beautiful set of photographs to look back on, hang on the wall or just to stick on Facebook!

The countryside round Durham really is rather lovely, and despite the weeks of rain, the paths alongside the River Wear were mostly not too sodden.  I had packed my 50mm lens for use with the Nikon D300s camera, partly for ease of carrying and partly as I am just in love with my 50mm, f1.4 lens.  It's one of the cheapest 'pro' lenses available, weighs very little and gives absolutely stunning results.  Most of the photoshoots I carry out for dog portrait clients involve my 70-200mm VR, f2.8 lens.  It's just the ticket for fast, erratically moving doggies but even at its widest aperture, it doesn't give bokeh like the 50mm f1.4!

Close up portrait of white dog near Durham

That blurry background is what I'm talking about when I say 'bokeh'

The next five photos all use a spot of flash.  The flashgun is set away from the camera and set off using a wireless trigger, controlled by the camera.  It makes it very easy to create a little dramatic light, and is obviously very helpful to a pet photographer in a dark, rainy wood!

Kasper the dog enjoys a pet portrait shoot in the north east countryside

Action shots of dogs are Hairy Dog Photography's speciality

Lurcher sitting by a stile near Durham, north east England.

Action photograph of a dog leaping a style by Hairy Dog Photography

And to finish, just a lovely natural light shot of Kasper walking through the daisies in a patch of sunlight.

Do feel free to get in touch to book a doggy lifestyle portraiture session.  They start at just £40 and I can also provide gift vouchers - what dog owner wouldn't like a gift like that?!

Want to see a whole lot more photos of dogs being doggy?  Have a look here; specialist dog portraits, durham

Dog Photography at the beach, Tynemouth!

Hairy Dog Photography at the beach, Tynemouth.  Jamie Emerson specialises in action dog photography and pet portraiture throughout the North East.  

Outdoor doggy photoshoots are always a bit hit or miss - the freezing, horizontal sleet we've endured over the last few days did not bode well for Thursday's photoshoot with five dogs on Tynemouth Beach!  Amazingly though, the day dawned crisp, fresh and sunny and I dug out my sunglasses and warmest fleece.

With really bright, low winter sunshine, there's very little to be gained from using speedlights - they just cannot compete with the sun (especially when the subjects are fast-moving and unpredictable!).  So out came the 70-200mm f2.8 VR lens.  It's a monster and weighs a ton - so much so that I've almost stopped using it at weddings and had been considering getting rid of it and buying a lightweight 85mm f1.8 prime, but after yesterday, I think I'll hang onto it a little longer.

Anyway, this isn't a lens review - bring on the dogs!!

Black Lab Cocker X running full speed on beach

That's Arthur above, going full tilt to fetch his ball - like so many dogs, he has a full blown obsession with balls!  If I recall correctly, Arthur and the other black dog Millie are both Black Labrador-Cocker Spaniel crosses.

Ex show Whippet running on Tynemouth Beach.

 Names are definitely not my strong point and trying to remember the names of two humans and five dogs seems to be beyond me!  Anyway, this handsome fella is an ex show dog - his markings really are amazing and he's such a total softy.  I want a whippet!

The smaller dog in the photo above is a hunting Whippet apparently.  He's also most definitely the boss dog - his lovely owners tell me that he can eat any of the other dogs' food with impunity!

The Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR lens is just a thing of joy and beauty for this kind of work!  Pin sharp photos, time after time, even with five dogs hooning around on a beach!

Black Labrador in the sea at Tynemouth by Hairy Dog Photography

Me and my shadow!  Whippet and Black Labrador on Tynemouth Beach by Jamie Emerson

I really, really like the shot above - it was a total chance shot but the Whippet seems to have a lumpy shadow all the way round him!

The speed of this chap was mindblowing.  He also just can't stop without something to crash into - usually his owner!

Smiling Whippet dog on the beach

That is one happy dog right there ^^^  If that's not a smile, I don't know what is!

And back home for a few studio type shots - as always, the portable studio fits into pretty much any size of space with very little fuss.  This might have been the last outing for the white backdrop though - it's had every type of dog biscuit imaginable slobbered all over it...

All the dogs were happy to have a snooze after their beach exertions!

Sleepy puppy in black and white

What a great day, and if I dare say it, what a great set of photographs! You can see the whole gallery of this shoot on the Hairy Dog Website.  If you would like a doggy photoshoot, do pop over to my website specialist dog photographer, north east and use the contact page to get in touch.  Gift vouchers are also available for your dog-obsessed friends :-)

Upcoming work for Hairy Dog Photography in the North East

Commercial dog photography in Newcastle and the North East, plus exciting tie-in with new Grooming Parlour!  

Just a couple of exciting bits of news to share this morning.  Commercial and advertising work is something I've done a little bit of in the past, so I was delighted to get a call from Jo at Newcastle based professional movers and storage experts, Quicksilver.

Jo's beagle Rio is very much an office dog and the plan is to get a good range of photographs of Rio climbing around Quicksilver's new, branded boxes, then plaster the huge images all over their new vans and social media pages.  Can't wait!  Even after all these years, it's still a huge thrill to see ones' work in the public domain!

The other very good bit of news is that Hairy Dog Photography is in talks with a local new-start dog grooming business.  The studio will be based right round the corner from me in Philadelphia, and Linda the owner has big plans!  She has also spent a long time learning her craft.  Between us, we will be offering some incredible photography / grooming deals to celebrate the launch of the new enterprise, so do watch this space for further details.

So you may rest assured that your pooch won't end up looking like poor Kasper after his one and only trip to a chop-shop...

When dog grooming goes wrong!

Thanks for looking in!

Husky dog photoshoot in Middlesbrough by Hairy Dog Photography

Today found me in Middlesbrough taking photographs of Bruce the Husky.  Dog portrait sessions quite often end up with other family members involved and today was no exception.  They all said it; "Kids and animals son, just say no!".  But I didn't heed the advice and shooting dogs and children is just huge amounts of chaotic fun!  You can see Bruce's full gallery, along with other dog photo sessions HERE, in the Hairy Dog Photo gallery.

Photo of a husky with Christmas novelty toy.

First up is a Christmassy type of portrait - I have to admit that I pulled Santa's foot off whilst playing with Bruce.  Sorry Santa.  And sorry Joanne for ruining Bruce's new toy (not that he seemed to care very much).

Husky profile, Middlesbrough

What a very handsome chap he is!  I'm so used to seeing the larger Alaskan Malamutes when out walking my dog Kasper, that I was surprised to see how slender and svelte Bruce the Husky is.

Husky dog about to howl, North East

I was really, really hoping I'd hear a full on Husky howling session but the photo above is about as close as he came.  I even encouraged him by doing a spot of howling myself when I thought his owner was distracted by the kids, but to no avail...

Photo of a Husky dog standing, by Hairy Dog Photography

Bruce's owner had requested an all white background.  The portable studio takes about 15 minutes to set up, even in a room full of dogs and kids!  2012 might see me buying a new white backdrop though - the current one has had every type of half-chewed dog biscuit imaginable dropped onto it this year!

Lolcat Husky dog photoshoot by Jamie Emerson

The lolcat shot ^^^ :-)  "Do not want!".

Dog photo, unusual angle, NE dog portraits

Dude.  Buy some Colgate!

Husky looking like a wolf against a white backdrop

Not so far from Canis Lupus, but Bruce was a perfect gent throughout - he's incredibly good natured and endured the photoshoot with nary a complaint.  The Good Boy Chocco drops probably helped there.

If you, your dog, your family or all of three would like a Hairy Dog Photography photoshoot, why not get in touch to arrange a shoot?  There's still plenty of time to get prints made for Christmas if you're quick!  Or if you're stuck for a dog-owning friend's present, then how about a dog photography gift voucher?