Photoplus magazine: professional pet photography article

Uh-oh… I’m on the wrong side of the camera!

Regular readers will know that as well as wedding and portrait photography I also offer a complete range of pet photography services, with photos previously having been featured on numerous blogs and national magazines. This time however things were a little different because unusually for me, this time I found myself on the other side of the camera too!

Photoplus magazine is a leading UK photography magazine offering a vast array of hints, tips and features for all photographers, but particularly aimed at Canon users. Editor Claire needed a professional pet photographer for a 10 page feature called “The apprentice”, offering hints, tips and advice on shooting techniques in the field of dog photography – and since we’ve worked together before, she contacted me to ask if I’d help out. And so it was that I packed up my camera and headed off to sunny Bristol where I met reader Anna, who certainly had her hands full trying to photograph her Labradors and their absolutely gorgeous (but very fast moving) puppies.

Anna was great fun to work with, and clearly loves her dogs dearly. We covered a whole range of different scenarios during the course of the day, during which Anna listened carefully to any advise before putting it into practice for herself. Here are a few of my snaps from the day:

Between advising Anna and taking a few of my own snaps during the day, I also got a taste of how it feels to be on the other side of the camera, as magazine staff photographer Simon took pictures of Anna and I throughout the day – so for all you subjects who tell me you don’t feel comfortable in front of the camera… I now know exactly how you feel!

All in all, it was a great day and a lot of fun – although with two photographers, apprentice Anna, reporters, helpers, dogs and puppies it was more than a little crazy too! Anna did a great job and was enthusiastic and patient throughout. If you’d like to read more, catch up on a bit of learning, or see the results of Anna’s tuition, the May 2012 issue of the magazine features a whole bunch of great shots taken by Anna, and is in shops now.

Keep snappin’  🙂

Rob.