What were you looking to achieve from your shoot with us?
We purchased a voucher for a photoshoot at a Dog Mania event in Liverpool. We didn’t really know what to expect but we were hoping to get a great photograph to hang in our living room and hopefully have lots of fun whilst doing it.
Tell us about your yourselves
Antony and I are completely dog obsessed, so two years ago when we saw Loki we couldn’t say no to her! We are both very sporty and active, so we keep Loki busy when she isn’t sneaking off for a mid-day snooze. I play in a netball team and Antony has a keen interest in basketball, so Loki comes along to support me in her own doggie basketball kit. Loki is a French Bulldog cross, so in-between snoozing she has lots of energy. To keep her stimulated we get her doing some agility courses, jumping onto and running through Antony’s drag racing tires.
Had you ever done anything like this before?
No, we had absolutely no idea what to expect when we signed up, but our photographer called us in advance to discuss our interests and ideas for the photoshoot. He gave us some great ideas and got us really excited for the shoot.
Why did you think that Bartley Studios would be right for you?
I wanted photographs of our family that were completely unique and different, and I saw that Bartley Studios offers just that. Their photoshoots are completely personalised and different to typical family photoshoots.
What props and personal items did you bring and why?
We brought our sports team kits, along with Loki’s basketball outfit as sport is a big part of our lives. We also brought a drag racing tire, as racing is a huge interest of Antony’s and we had previously taught Loki to run through and jump onto and off the tire, for treats of course.
How did your photographer use your items to suit a style?
Our photographer recognised that we are very lively and playful people, so he styled the shoot to reflect this. He managed the shoot to ensure that we could use each of the props that we had brought and made sure that we were happy with his ideas. We used our sports kits to get some action shots, Antony’s drag racing tire to get some action shots of Loki and Loki’s favourite toy to reflect her playful side.
Were you worried about any parts of the session beforehand and if so what?
We were worried that we didn’t have any specific ideas of the type of photos that we wanted, but after showing the photographer the props that we had brought he had plenty of creative ideas that we loved.
Tell us about the favourite parts of your experience and why you enjoyed them
Arriving at the shoot we felt really nervous, but we had so much fun recreating all the amazing ideas that the photographer had we didn’t even notice the time. The photographer made us feel completely at ease, which enabled us to have fun and relax. I didn’t think it could get any better until we arrived at the viewing session and a collection of photographs were presented to us. The photographs were out of this world, we were astonished at how well they captured all three of our personalities and interests. We had great fun, and huge difficultly, choosing between them all.
What advice do you have for other clients coming for a shoot with us?
Our photographer called us in advance of the shoot to find out about us and discuss potential ideas. I think this was so important as it helped us to decide on which outfits to wear/bring and which props to bring. The photographer asked a lot of questions, which prompted us to think of props that we had never considered bringing along. Making the most of this will definitely set you up for a fantastic shoot!
What was your favourite image overall?
My favourite image is a close up of Loki’s face. She has one ear up and one ear down, her head is tilted to the side and her tooth is peeking out. Antony’s favourite photo is a collection of images put together of Loki jumping onto and off and peering through the drag racing tire.
Are there any other comments that you would like to add?
Bartley Studios were experts at capturing my family’s personality and style in their shots. They make it so personal that you can’t help but have an amazing time. You will want to do it all over again. The only problem is choosing between all the amazing photographs at the end! – Dawn O’Dowd
Are you are interested in coming along for a Couple or/and Pet Photoshoot?
Perhaps you have a special birthday or anniversary coming up that you would like to celebrate? If so, then please take a look at the following pages…
Couples Photography at Bartley Studios