Why Good Photos Matter

It goes without saying that photos are important. In February 2024, over 100million images were uploaded to Instagram every day! I wonder if you use your phone more as a phone or a camera? How much did the camera dictate what phone you last bought?

I do not need to go on - We really like our photos!

So, let's skip the discussion "Are photos important?" Instead, I want to argue that good photos are really important. To start we should define what a good photo is. There is lots written about this. From this reading and my own experience, I think it comes down to three things.

Great Photos Provoke Emotions

Emotions are foundational to our lived experience. We do not remember what people say, we remember how they make us feel. The same is true of imagery. Good photos make you feel something. If you have wedding photos filled with puppies, your life as a photographer is easy! But also think of Don McCullin's images of war, Vivian Maier's Street photography, Ansel Adams' Landscapes, and so many more.

Photographs of families and their pets hold a special place in our lives, providing more than just a visual record; they should evoke the feeling of the unique bond shared between people and their animals.

My goal is not fine art photography - which reflects the personality of the photographer more than the dog. I want you to  feel the photo. My sounds bold, but it really means letting your dog be themselves and dictating what photographs we take. If they are ball crazy, let's get them chasing balls. If nose-dominant, let's get them sniffing. If they are calm walk, lets chill out. If they are fuss-lover, let's get the fuss on!

Great Photos Tell A Story

A camera is a functional tool to effectively capture what something objectively looks like. That is wonderful - and wonderfully boring! We are storytelling creatures, so good photos go further than documenting - they tell a story. In reality, this means they make you ask a question.

I wonder what she is thinking? What is he running towards? What can she smell? What have he rolled in!? What has made him so happy?

Uninterrupted placeless portraits of your dog's face, or them sitting, are valuable photos. I have loads of them of my own dog. But they are not the great photos you remember 2 years after taking them. The photos we love are the ones you want to explain and contextualise because they carry a story!

On our shoots, we want to engage your dog and have fun to create these images. This means getting down to their level, letting them interact with their surroundings, and allowing their curiosity, playfulness, or calm nature to come through. We will capture some posed shots, but quickly aim for moments when your dog is really being themselves.

Great Photos Can Be Printed And Displayed

A great photo is not dependent on megapixels or technical qualities. That said, for a photo to become a keepsake, it needs to be present and visible. This means it must have artistic qualities to be up in your home.

We will get sharp images with appropriate exposure, careful composition, and considered processing at a resolution that allows large prints. But all of these will be to create images that tell a story and make you smile everyday as it hangs on your wall.

After writing this, I can not wait to take photos! I am off right now with my dog Otis. I hope to see you on your photoshoot soon.