Low Light Action Dog Photography in Aberdeenshire

Click the link to buy hairy dog photography gift vouchers on special offer until December!!.

Low light photography of any kind is always a bit of a challenge but when you add a fast moving dog into the mix, it becomes even more challenging...

Last weekend, Hairy Dog Photography was out in deepest, darkest Aberdeenshire (well, only Laurencekirk but it was pretty dark) to meet Jimmy the Westiepoo and his owners.  It's a familiar set of circumstances to most Scottish photographers - dark, deep cloud cover, constant threat of rain etc.  Also, Jimmy's session was in the woods near his home so the little light available to us was also filtered through the branches of the trees.
Modern cameras have come a long way compared to even 10 years ago - we can now crank up the ISO to levels which would have been laughable not so very long ago but the pay off is loss of detail when we remove the noise (grain) from our images.  At dark Scottish weddings, this is less of a problem - the shutter speed doesn't need to be too high because people don't move all that quickly.  The same is true of landscape photography - it's why we have tripods!  But with dog photography these options are suddenly unavailable, the shutter speed is all important - it's just *got* to be high enough to freeze the action.  No point having beautiful composition, light, backdrop etc if your subject is out of focus!

Low light can be a help too - very little in the way of contrast or harsh shadows!

Sometimes, the available light just isn't enough, or even close to enough and that's why I always have at least one flash (or strobe, or speedlight or whatever you want to call it), a lightstand or two and a few portable softboxes.  Sometimes I'll hump all this gear around for a whole photo session and never use it but I'd rather have it and not need it than be cursing about not having it...

Low light action dog photography in Aberdeenshire.

Usually, my intention is to make the flash look as natural as possible.  It's a case of balancing it with the existing light so you don't end up with a very "flashy" looking image - one which is obviously just pumped full of flash light and nothing else.  I particularly like to use my flashes away from my camera to get interesting action shots of dogs - often you end up with a bit of motion blur in the paws or tail, with the dog's face perfectly captured in focus as the flash finds the target.  Sometimes it's the other way round of course so you keep trying :-D

Hopefully, it's not immediately obvious that flash has been used here to bring out the colours and put some light into Jimmy's eyes.

Anyway, I suppose the point of all this is really just to say that there's very little to hold a creative photographer back these days - the dark, dismal days of Winter can be made to look rather lovely with the right kit, the right knowledge and a positive attitude :-)  Looking forward to lots more atmospheric shoots over the coming weeks and months.  If you'd like to buy a session for your own dog, or a dog photography gift voucher as a present, now's the time to do it - they're reduced to just £50 instead of £70 until the end of December - please see my Aberdeen Dog Photography website for details.

This 'ray of sunshine' was created with an off camera flash in an otherwise very dark conifer plantation on a rainy Aberdeenshire day!

Christmas Dog Photography Gift Voucher Offer, Aberdeen Only.

It's that time of the year again so I suppose we can expect to see Easter eggs on the shelves soon enough...  In the meantime, Hairy Dog is running a special offer - a serious £20 discount on Christmas gift vouchers.  Usually £70, gift vouchers are now just £50 until the 31st of December 2019.  Stone cold bargain!

What's included?

• The actual voucher (which is rather lovely), so you have something to hand over!
• A full one hour session in any location within 10 miles of Aberdeen city
• A web gallery of around 30 beautifully finished images
• Two 9x6" unmounted, archival quality prints
• Leash removal and other Photoshop work where required

Sorry, sorry...  Couldn't resist at least one cheesy puppy photo.
No I absolutely cannot do this with your dog :-D

Click here to book - Hairy Dog Christmas Voucher Offer

The vouchers are valid for a full year and sent in plain packaging so as not to spoil any surprise presents!  You can add print credit if you'd like the recipient to have a stunning, lasting piece of art on their wall, or just stick with the two included prints.  The owner can also buy any of our other products (everything from framed prints to metal prints) but there's absolutely no hard sell.

Needless to say, you can also buy this offer just as a gift to yourself, your family and your dog - if you've been thinking about a dog or family photo session, now's the time to get it and you have a full year to see if it stops raining long enough for an outdoor photo session :-)

So if you'd like to give a thoughtful, memorable gift which will genuinely be appreciated, do please click through to the website here - Aberdeen dog portrait voucher offer

In other news, recent shoots have seen me stravaiging around Aberdeenshire, from Crathes to Drum, from Banchory to Aberlour and plenty of other places in between.  Having a very lively and lovely 13 year old dog and also a seven year old son does result in lots of days out, all of which include a good old romp up mountains, over beaches or through woods.  Kasper (the dog) isn't as speedy as he used to be but he's never happier than when he's out and about - the stiffness in the joints evaporates, he still manages the odd sprint, he sniffs everything, chases leaves and squirrels like a puppy and is always overjoyed to meet other dogs.

As with all dog owners, his happiness makes us happy, and I truly believe it's the same for him :-)

Aberdeenshire Dog Photography, Holidays at Home, Chickens, Ticks and Other Observations...

Another few weeks have passed in a hot, hazy daze.  Our little family were on holiday for a few of those weeks and as always, steps were taken to ensure the hairiest member of the household could join us.  Who needs the South of France anyway?  It's been so gorgeous here I wouldn't have had it any other way.  By "here" I mean Aberdeen - the holidays were enjoyed on Skye and Portsoy.

Not perhaps the best of times for dog photography sessions - the heat has caused a few postponements and quite rightly so.  Evenings are often best at this time of the year anyway, especially with active or elderly animals.

Just before the heat kicked in, I was out in the countryside meeting a couple of very lovely dogs for an evening session but before I even reached the front door, I was captivated by the friendly chickens running round the yard.  Would have been rude not to take a few photos but I can't imagine you'll be seeing a full time chicken photographer website any time soon...

Both these dogs were just lovely to work with - very distinct personalities.  Their owners had brought back some beautiful bandanas from their honeymoon ( see?  Even when we're not with them, we're always thinking about them! ) and I was keen to get them in shot.

At any session, the idea is to get a really good variety of photographs for the owners.  Everything from heartfelt portraiture to full on, nuclear powered, paws off the ground action!

As you can see, the light levels were pretty low and as the session progressed, it grew ever dimmer - no wonderful golden light on this evening.  So out came the strobes / flashguns.  In the photo below, it's hopefully not immediately apparent that extra light has been added - I try to keep it looking natural unless I'm going for off-the-scale drama.  If you have a close look though, you can see where Benson's legs and tail are slightly blurred through movement whilst a blink of diffused flash on a stand to the right has stopped the motion in his head and ears.  And believe me, Benson is a fast fellow so the flash was entirely warranted!

Ticks - what are they for?!!

Finally, at this time of year, dogs spend their whole lives doing their best to become infested with ticks.  Seriously though, it's almost unavoidable if you walk in the Scottish countryside.  And with this infestation come the many, many posts on Facebook, along the lines of, "OMIGOD my dog has a tick, what shall I do??!"

And out come all the auld wives' tales.  Cover them in vaseline, put out a ciggy on them, spray frontline on it, rub widdershins round the tick until it falls off, only twist them clockwise, etc, etc.

I'm not about to start handing out advice on which tick-repellent works best but I can say for sure that all the above methods are a load of old toot and covering a tick with anything to "suffocate" it, rubbing at it to annoy it or burning it are all good ways to ensure the insect vomits directly into the host's bloodstream with the attendant risk of disease.
Kasper gets loads - below are a few phone snaps...  Sorry...  My method is to carefully part the fur without disturbing the tick - if it gets a fright, it'll bury in deeper - you can see it happening.  Then just grab it as close to the dog's skin as possible with tick teezers, normal tweezers or any other removal tool and wheech it oot smartly before it knows what's going on.  Simple and effective.  I've also used my thumbnail and index finger when tweezers haven't been available.

Yuck.  Anyway, happy Summer dog walking and do just get in touch if you'd like some beautiful, happy, sunny photos of your dogs :-)

Aberdeen dog photographer
07866127732
jamie@hdp.co.uk

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.

Dog Walks and Photography around Aberdeen

Since moving back home to Aberdeen late in 2017, I've been hugely enjoying finding all the most interesting dog walks straight from the new house at the West of the city.  And of course, the camera comes too if there's even a hint of decent light, so the dog now has an impressive photographic portfolio incorporating the beautiful Aberdeen landscape!

It's also been fantastic to find so many dog-friendly cafes and pubs throughout the region.  A good cup of coffee and perhaps a bit of cake on a Winter dog walk is always welcome and Kasper the dog is usually delighted to get into the warm for 20 minutes - some establishments even offer biscuits and water too!  Some of our newly discovered walks require a drive to get to and although I could start listing all the great places we've visited (or revisited) it's probably best if you enjoy discovering them yourself - all part of the fun and there are plenty of apps and Facebook groups for that sort of thing :-)

The website is now back up and running, Hairy Dog Photography has started to appear on Google and I've finally got round to updating my portfolio which you can see on the Facebook page or on the dog photography aberdeen gallery site.  Whilst updating the portfolio, I was happy to come across some lovely but neglected photos on various old hard drives - I'll pop a few up here.

Given that dog photo gift vouchers fairly flew out the door at Christmas time, you can expect lots of interesting new locations to be featured on the blog and Hairy Dog Facebook page very soon.  I was in two minds about covering the whole of Aberdeenshire rather than just the city limits but am very glad I did so - wouldn't want to miss out on all the surrounding countryside and amazing photo opportunities!

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 :-)

Aberdeen Dog Photography Housewarming Offer

A New Chapter for Hairy Dog Photography...
... and a Very Special Dog Photography Offer in Aberdeen...

After many (many!) months of waiting, we have finally sold our house near Durham and are now living back in Aberdeen, after a 15 year absence!.  We haven't moved in to the new house quite yet - everything seems to happen with all the haste of a glacier moving through syrup...  However, I'm now up and running in Grampian, offering the same services as before - tip-top dog and family photography ready to be turned into stunning art for your walls.  Bad jokes are all part of the service too.  The Hairy Dog website has had a bit of an Autumnal spruce up and I think I've removed all references to NE England...

As a sort of housewarming gift, it seemed a good idea to run a short special offer, so I've slashed the session fee to just £40 instead of the usual £70.  This still includes an hour long session on location, two 9x6" prints and an online gallery to view your images.  As always, each and every photo is worked on individually and you can expect about 30 photographs to choose from.  If you'd like to know more about dog photography in Aberdeenshire, please click through to the Hairy Dog booking page.  You can read some of the most common questions about a dog photo session too.  The offer lasts until the 1st of December, so don't wait too long!  You can buy your session now but you don't have to use it straight away - any time before the end of April 2018 is fine.

Also, don't forget that dog photography gift vouchers are available - starting at £70 they're a great gift for those friends who are constantly covered in dog hair and mud :-)

Hope to meet some of you soon!

Jamie.