Category Archives: Pretty Fluffy Photography

Harry the Border Collie by Wet Nose Fotos

Pretty Fluffy Photography 04 Apr

Well if this photo session wasn’t designed to steal my heart I don’t know what would! With fresh bursts of colour, amazing lighting and a beautiful face front and centre it had me at hello. Featuring little more than a pup of a Border Collie, this gorgeous session from Wet Nose Fotos is much more than a selection of pretty pictures. As you read the story below, you’ll find out this session is a testament to the unconditional love between a dog and his owner; and the never give up spirit of our furry friends.

From Shannon, Wet Nose Fotos:
He might be only 15 months old, but this gorgeous Border Collie knows how to work it! My client bought this session as a birthday gift for his girlfriend Lindsey {what a sweet guy, he’s going to be in the good books for quite a while now!}. I headed to our afternoon session location at Silvan Reservoir in the Yarra Valley, about 40km east of Melbourne, Victoria, which was glowing in the late light.

When I met this handsome young man I was amazed, he has THE fluffiest tail I’ve ever seen EVER! It’s absolutely gorgeous and for a Border Collie a little unexpected. Next up are those dreamy eyes . . . WOW. Yellow and piercing and he knows how to use them! Ok, ok, I may be a little smitten.

Harry was from the same father as Lindsey’s older border collie of 5 years, Milo. She got him from Kyneton, north-west of Melbourne and he was chosen because he was the best looking {no argument there!}. Lindsey got him the same time as her Mum, who chose his brother and called him Ollie.

Harry had a very troubled first 10 weeks of his life where he decided to drink half a litre of paint when his new owners were getting the house painted and he basically was ready to be put down. He lost so much weight he reached under 4kg (skin and bones). Poor Harry was in hospital for 4 whole weeks. One more day of losing weight and the vet was going to pull the plug.

After force-feeding him through a tube every single morning for 6 weeks, he started regaining weight and developed normally. Unfortunately he may have permanently kidney damaged but he’s absolutely perfect in his owner’s eyes.

In Lindsey’s boyfriend Paul’s own words -
“Harry is great because he is the total opposite to his brother; he is so affectionate and would never hurt a fly. He can run for hours on end and is kind to Charlie, my Scottish Terrier. They have never had a fight and can even share the one bone! Harry only went to 3 weeks of obedience training and he can sit, stay, roll over, shake and go through an obstacle course. Harry reminds me of my female border collie who lived for 19 human years. He is a big girl!“

About Wet Nose Fotos:
Wet Nose Fotos sessions are relaxed and fun. There is plenty of praise, cuddles and 100% natural Australian treats! We only book a limited number of sessions each month and provide you with a great experience before, during and after the session in addition to a superb collection of images finished to perfection. Sessions are shot Australia wide including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane. For more information visit the Wet Nose Fotos Website, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter. And if you want to learn to take great photos of your own pets be sure to check out their Pet Photography Workshop.

As a special Easter deal for Pretty Fluffy readers, Wet Nose Fotos is offering $150 OFF their session fee. BE QUICK! The offer is only valid for bookings made during April {non-refundable session deposit must be made in April}. Use the Code PF150OFF when booking. Click through on the image above for more details.

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Albert the Labrador x Mastiff by Charlotte Reeves Photography

Pretty Fluffy Photography 24 Feb

For me, it’s never the ‘perfect’ photo that draws me in. Whether the subject is a piece of architecture, a fashion model or the family pet, what gets my attention is how the photo tells a story – how the photographer captures a moment in time. So it goes without saying that today’s photo session caught me in a heartbeat. The story of a devoted mum and her dog, defying the odds, lovingly photographed by the talented Charlotte Reeves.

From Charlotte:
Albert and his mum Drene have been together a long time. Twelve years ago, Drene watched Albert being born, at the time not knowing he would end up with her. In the years that have passed since then, they’ve been through so much. Making the move from New Zealand to Australia, spending 8 months in the UK together and a little over 12 months ago, Albert was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. With Albert given only months to live, Drene did everything she could to try and treat and cure Albert, including alternative medicine treatments, a special diet and endless amounts of love.

Their bond on the day of the shoot was immediately visible. Like an embarrassed schoolboy, Albert looked shyly away when his mum attacked him with kisses but would always go back for more when she’s done, lavishing her with licks to the face. In some ways he was still such a curious puppy, but mixed in with that was a wise old man, lying peacefully on the grass under the trees, watching the world go by.

On the day of the session Albert was struggling to get around and quite obviously very unwell, but weeks later when Drene came to pick up her three beautiful canvases, Albert himself came and visited as well! The change was amazing. His leg which was previously about twice it’s usual diameter was back almost to normal size. Albert was so much livelier, trotting around checking out my garden and generally looking very healthy and happy for a 12 year old dog who just a few months ago was struggling to walk! Amazingly, Albert was now cancer free.

Sadly Drene said goodbye to Albert on 24th January this year. While heart breaking for Drene, I can attest that it was because of her love and devotion that Albert went from having just 3 months to live to enjoying life for another year and a half.

Having suddenly lost my own beloved big girl Kaya at the tender age of two, I understand first hand how important it is to have beautiful photos of your pet to help jog those happy memories that were created during their lives. Unfortunately for most, the family pet is often forgotten when it comes to family snaps and when the day comes to say goodbye, many people realise they have a serious lack of good photos of their best friend to remember them by.

I designed Devotion Sessions specifically for terminally ill pets. These sessions can be somewhat bittersweet and do require a mix of strength and empathy. My overwhelming emotion during shooting them though is gratitude. I feel privileged to catch a glimpse of the special relationships that people form with their pets, and I love having the opportunity to capture some really special images that tell their story.

About Charlotte:
As an award-winning pet photographer, Charlotte loves discovering and telling you and your pet’s story with beautiful, natural fine art images just begging to be displayed in your home and shared with friends and family. Her photography sessions are low-pressure and are approached with a sense of fun and adventure, specially designed to bring out your pet’s personality and unique character. Charlotte is located in Brisbane, Queensland and also service the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and other south-east Queensland locations. She loves to travel so sessions are available Australia-wide by special request.To see more of Charlotte’s lovely work, visit Charlotte Reeves Photography, or you can follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

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Manny the Puppy by Pupparazzi

Pretty Fluffy Photography 08 Nov

When this little gem arrived in my inbox from the brilliant Simon at Pupparazzi, I fell in love immediately. Little Manny was just 6 weeks when this gorgeous shoot was taken. From his sweet eyes, to his floppy ears and soft paws, he had me smitten. It makes you realise just how quickly puppies grow up and how important it is to capture those sweet first years…
From Simon:
Manny was just under 6 weeks old at the time of the shoot so when he wasn’t sleeping he had boundless energy. He was really friendly and good natured and being so young, he naturally just wanted to play and explore, although he did rest a lot which gave me time to get some nice still shots of him.

When trying to photograph your own dog, a good walk first can be a good idea as it means they’re usually a little more subdued and won’t try to take off. A few treats held close to the camera lens are also useful for keeping their attention. If you have a flash on the camera, turn it on, even outside as it will eliminate shadows.

My philosophy is to try to let the dog do ‘their thing’ and I’m just there to capture it.

To see more of Simon’s fabulous work visit the Pupparazzi Website, or follow Pupparazzi on Twitter or Facebook.

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Buddy the Golden Retriever by Laura Olsen Imagery

Pretty Fluffy Photography 25 Oct

I have to admit, I don’t normally tear up this much when introducing a beautiful set of photos. But when I saw these shots by the wonderful Laura Olsen and read the story of this one truly beautiful dog and his dedicated owner, I realised these stunning shots were much more than just photographs – they’re the perfect example of how sweet and fleeting a dog’s life really is. How a loving dog like Buddy makes the world better, and brighter, while they are here.

From Laura:
Buddy was a sweet soul who had lived a long life in a few short years. He had some sort of disease, I’m not sure if it was just poor breeding or a rare something or other, but the woman caring for him was a ‘rescue’ situation for him.  The woman who raised him was unable to care for his physical needs.  So the woman who took him in knew that he would not live a long life.  She had had portraits of her dogs done in the past (by other photographers and/or painters) and wanted to get something nice to hang with the others. She saw how much it meant to have a representation of them after they are gone.

This shoot was special because of how sweet and gentle he was.  He was always near his owner, even though it was hard for him to get around, if she moved – he moved.  So she was already in the habit of being sure that she had everything that she needed with her before settling in anywhere in order to stay still for long periods of time, so as not to stress Buddy.

Because he was unable to move around freely and easily, there are mostly shots of him lying down.  As a pet photographer, I can say this is a rarity.  As much as I wish (on a normal shoot) that my subjects would just lay down for a minute to let me get the shot, in Buddy’s case it was a challenge to not have all of my images look the same.  So I moved around a lot while he stayed still… we kinda switched roles. 

I love working with pets and their owners, it’s so fun to play for a living! Now, don’t get me wrong… it’s hard work, but even the boring office parts are a little easier when I am ultimately doing what I love.

But each time I complete a session I feel ‘the tinge’. I think it’s because I have had dogs, dear, precious dogs to me pass away. I feel the tinge that I just captured something fleeting, forever. I know the pain of loss, so each time I click the shutter I feel that I am helping a dog owner hold on to the moment, the personality, the quirk, the memory of love, for always.

Buddy passed August 11, 2011. Anytime I hear of a rescue dog with physical limitations, I think of Buddy. It was difficult for him to move around when I met him, but his spirit… was lively and as loving as a puppy. His physical limitations did nothing to hinder his loving spirit.

About Laura:
Laura loves photography with a capital L.  When not on assignment she is hanging out with her two pups, Peanut & Calliope, talking in funny voice to some dog she has met on the street or dreaming of her next photo project. Laura primarily photographs pets, families and children.  She shoots regularly for Lowcountry Dog Magazine and has been featured in various other print and online publications. She has a valid passport and resides in Charleston, South Carolina. To see more of Laura’s beautiful work, visit Laura Oslen Imagery, or you can follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

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