The fiendishly difficult art of dog photography

Colin Crowdey, the man behind the lens at The Gloucester Dog Photographer, tells us not to be too hard on ourselves if we can’t capture the perfect pet portrait... there’s a definite art to it

Do you find it difficult to capture amazing images of your dogs; images that truly capture your best friend’s unique personality and playful traits?

Does your dog immediately run and hide when you get out your mobile phone to take a picture of her looking sooooo cute, or does she become selectively deaf when you try and grab her attention to look straight at camera?

Or maybe you have a dog with the most amazing fur coat, but the fur is black and all the pictures you take fail to capture the gloss and texture of the fur, and she looks like a black blob in a coal cellar with two eyes?

If any of this sounds familiar; don’t worry, it’s really not your fault. It takes years of experience to be able to capture truly heart-bursting pictures of your fur babies.

Based in Gloucester, near Robinswood Country Park, Colin Crowdey’s – ‘The Gloucester Dog Photographer’ – studio opened its doors more than six years ago, and now photographs around 500 dogs a year, plus the occasional cat or parrot!

‘Each and every session has its own challenges,’ says Colin, ‘whether it be a tiny Chihuahua that is very nervous, or a large family group that includes cats/dogs and a parrot, Colin always endeavours to make a connection with your pet.

‘There is a phrase you will hear a lot when you gcome to us: “it’s all about the dog”. Everything we do – from the second you go into the studio to the moment you leave – is all centred around making your dog feel safe calm at ease and loved.

‘We won’t even pick up a camera for the first 15 minutes, as we take time and effort to not only get to know your dog, but to get them feeling so comfortable in the studio that they are able to be themselves and be relaxed and happy. And a relaxed and happy dog make for fantastic pictures.’

The studio has won numerous national awards with their dog photography and Colin is also an internationally published author with his book Under Dogs. Visit thegloucesterdogphotographer.co.uk

Barney the Basset Hound (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Maggie the Dalmatian (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Hamish the Border Terrier puppy (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Bobbie and Bernie the Dachshunds (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Bertie the Miniature Schnauzer (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Coco, Dingo and Louis the Chihuahuas (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Flynn the Irish Setter (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Buddy the Rottweiler (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Daisy the Jackapoo (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Hank the Old Tyme Bulldog (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2020)

Bess and Fizz the Black Labradors (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2020)

Lady the Cocker Spaniel (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Oreo the Cocker Spaniel (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2020)

Nellie the Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2020)

Six-week-old Pyrenean Sheepdog puppies with mum (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Hope the Afghan Hound (Image: Copyright The Gloucester Dog Photographer 2021)

Bella the Whippet (Image: thegloucesterdogphotographer.co.uk)

Narla and Santos the Border Collie pups (Image: thegloucesterdogphotographer.co.uk)