We all appreciate how our dogs aren’t with us for long enough. Depending on the breed, they average around ten years. Which I know flies by very quickly.
As the owner of an almost 12-year-old Springer, who is only just starting to show signs of slowing down a bit, I understand the need to celebrate how they are in the later years as much as when they were puppies.
Plenty of older dogs very much enjoy life, even when the old legs are a little stiffer than they might have been.
I love to capture their character and how they live their lives. So whether it is a favourite toy, like the image above, or how they like to walk a little bit behind the family pack, it’s all part of the session.
The location I use for outdoor sessions is in the most part flat and doesn’t involve a long walk for those that prefer to cover shorter distances. I will always tailor the photo-shoot to their needs, even accounting for those who might be losing their hearing/eye-sight in their old age. Their safety is of the highest importance.
Similarly, the studio is purpose-built and is within a few metres of my car-parking, involving only a couple of steps up into the studio itself. Once in the studio, we don’t need to have dogs sit on high items if that is a problem.
Booking a session for an older dog is a little different to a puppy shoot, and that’s exactly why I tailor everything around them rather than the other way round. We take things at their pace – plenty of breaks, no rushing between poses, and time built in if they need a rest or a drink of water partway through.
If there’s a well-worn blanket, or a particular toy that still gets the tail wagging, bring it along, those small, familiar details often become the most treasured part of the finished artwork.
Every breed ages differently, and every dog carries their years differently too. Some seniors are still up for a good outdoor ramble; others are happiest pottering slowly around the garden or curled up on their favourite spot in the studio. Wherever your dog is most comfortable and most themselves, that’s where we’ll create the images. There’s no “right” way for an older dog to be photographed, just the way that suits them.
I’d love for you to book a session, either in the studio or out on location. Please do get in touch.
