Hazel the Sproodle – Dog Photography in Lower Hutt
I was recently honoured to photograph Hazel, a gorgeous Sproodle (springer spaniel poodle cross), with her owner Ruth in Lower Hutt. Hazel's session was part of last year's Mini Sessions for Charity (an aside to the Paws Project Calendar), where 50% of every session fee was donated to Ellie's Canine Rescue.
Ruth first came across my work through friends with dogs who had been sharing my photography on social media. She'd been thinking about a portrait session for Hazel for a while, and when the charity mini session opportunity popped up it felt like the right nudge at the right time. I love when timing works out like that, especially when it also means a cause as wonderful as Ellie's Canine Rescue gets a bit of support along the way.
About Hazel & Her Dog Photography Session
Hazel has the most gentle soul, and the connection she has with Ruth is really special. From the moment they arrived, you could see how at ease Hazel was around Ruth and how she'd glance up at her for reassurance when she was a bit nervous. She was also very happy to work for treats, which made my job easier, and she gave me a lovely range of poses including sits, downs, looking up, and even a beautiful stand.
The morning of the session was sunny and bright which gave for some beautiful conditions (from the shade of course though!). There was a fair bit of wind on the day too, and you can actually see it in one of the images where Hazel's ears are flapping mid pose. There had been quite a stretch of rainy weather leading up to her session, so I was especially relieved when the day itself turned out as beautifully as it did.
After greeting Ruth and Hazel at the carpark and giving Hazel a chance to sniff around and settle into the environment, I got the session underway. We moved Hazel between a few different spots that were close together but offered lots of variety, and within about twenty minutes we had everything I needed. She was such a pro about it all, even with all the new scents around her to investigate. Here’s a handful of the images from her session:
Owners Thoughts on Their Dog Photography Session
A couple of weeks later, I met Ruth and her husband at their home for their image reveal. They ended up choosing a fine art frame in the arch mat (with the walnut frame that beautifully complemented Hazels’ image and colouring!) as well as the popular montage with a beautiful display of the other images from our session. Having the samples on hand made it easy for her to work out exactly where in the house she wanted everything to live too.
When the artwork was ready I dropped it off in person, and as luck would have it the delivery day landed on Hazel's 5th birthday, so of course she got some treats from me too.
Ruth had the following to say about her dog photography experience:
“I encountered Em Boyle Photography via other friends with dogs, sharing her work on their social media pages. I’d always wanted to have a professional photo shoot of our much loved furry family member Hazel. As if by providence, at the same time, a special mini session as a fundraiser for Ellie’s Canine Rescue became available. This became my sign to do what I’d been meaning to, and I’m so glad I did.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but right from the start Em professionally walked me through the process. Her communication was outstanding and made me feel confident and comfortable that we could do this. Hazel is a nervous dog, but she managed to sail through the process without any stress. Em worked so well with her, spending time to let Hazel feel comfortable and allowed lots of time for Hazel’s distractions with scents.
I was so happy with the final outcome of photos which showed far more than I’d anticipated. They showcased Hazel’s character and personality in such different ways which made it very tricky to make a final choice on the artwork. Soooo ….. I just had to get a montage as well as a single mounted picture. Luckily, as well as being a fabulous photographer, Em has a real flair for styling, and the frames and mats really enhanced the wall art, matching the photo colours and the wall they were to go on.
We are so happy with our decision to have the session and get the wall art, and we were super impressed with both Em’s professionalism and her amazing work. And we absolutely love having our girl “on the wall”.”
– Ruth and Hazel the Sproodle
Photographing Hazel was such a privilege, and getting to deliver her artwork on her 5th birthday felt like the perfect way to round it all off! Ruth and her husband now have her gorgeous face up on the wall in just the right spots, and there's something really lovely about knowing that this session also helped raise funds for Ellie's Canine Rescue.
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