Dogs
Puppies, seniors, rescues and the dog who will never sit. We work on a long line in open spaces, use squeakers sparingly, and let shy dogs meet the camera slowly before it ever comes up to the eye.
Portraits of the animal you actually live with
Good Boy Portraits photographs dogs, cats and horses at home, in a small studio in a converted stable yard, or out on their favourite walk. Sessions run at the animal's pace, with rests, water and treats you have approved, and the finished frames become prints and albums made to last.
3 settingshome, studio or outdoors
Every 15 mina rest, or sooner
2 weeksuntil your viewing
Dogs, cats and horses, each photographed their own way
Every animal gets a different kind of session, because what relaxes a spaniel would alarm a cat.
Cats
Cats are photographed at home only, never carried to a studio. We use window light, sit low and quiet, and wait for the cat to choose a sunny sill or the back of the sofa.
Horses and ponies
At your yard, with the horse's own handler holding the lead throughout. Stable door portraits, field shots and grooming moments, and no flash anywhere near a horse.
Last chapter sessions
For an old friend who is slowing down, a short and unhurried session at home or in the garden, fitted in at short notice, with blankets, rests and nothing that asks too much.
Session fees, before any print is chosen
The session fee covers the photographer's time, travel within 20 miles and a viewing to choose your images. Prints and albums are ordered afterwards, at the prices further down.
Studio session
60 to 90 minutes$185
- A quiet room with a non slip floor
- Best for confident dogs and small pets
- Painted or plain backdrops
At home session
up to 2 hours$225
- Window light in your own rooms
- Garden and doorstep shots included
- Time for the cat to come out on its own
Outdoor walk session
up to 2 hours$245
- Your usual walk, beach or woodland
- Recall checked before the lead comes off
- Early morning or evening in summer
Yard session for horses
up to 2 hours$295
- Your handler leads the horse throughout
- Stable door, field and grooming shots
- Rider portraits on request
A $60 retainer holds the date and comes off your order. If your pet is unwell, or the weather would make an outdoor session unkind, the date simply moves.
The animal sets the pace, not the shot list
No picture is worth a frightened animal. Before a session we ask about noise, strangers, other dogs and anything your pet dislikes, and we plan around it. Every 15 minutes, or sooner if your pet shows it has had enough, the camera goes down for water, a sniff around and a rest.
Treats come only from a list you approve, in small pieces, and never for a pet on a special diet without your say so. We never balance an animal on a wall or a ledge, never dress it in anything it fights, and never use flash with cats, horses or nervous dogs. In hot weather we shoot early or late, and in a heat warning we rearrange.
- A rest at least every 15 minutes
- Treats only from your approved list
- No flash with cats, horses or nervous dogs
Prints, frames and albums
Everything is printed on archival paper by a specialist lab and checked by hand before it reaches you.
| Keepsake | Size or detail | From |
|---|---|---|
| Fine art print | 8 by 10 inches, mounted | $55 |
| Large wall print | 20 by 30 inches, matte | $195 |
| Framed print | 16 by 20 inches, oak or black frame | $290 |
| Canvas | 24 by 36 inches, ready to hang | $360 |
| Lay flat album | 20 pages and 25 images, linen cover | $480 |
| Digital collection | Every image you chose, in web and print sizes | $350 |
Prints are ready about three weeks after your viewing. Digital files come with a personal print licence, so you can print them for your own home but not sell them.
From the first sniff to the frame on your wall
A call about your pet
We ask about temperament, health, favourite places and anything that frightens them, then suggest the setting that suits.
Session day
We arrive early, let your pet investigate the camera bag, and start only once they are settled.
Viewing, two weeks later
You choose your favourite images on a large screen, at home or in the studio, with prices in front of you.
Prints and albums
Orders are printed, checked and delivered about three weeks after the viewing.
Recent sittings
Shown with each owner's agreement.
What to bring on the day
A few familiar things help an animal relax in front of a stranger with a camera.
- A favourite toy or squeaker
- Treats your pet already eats
- A lead and a long line
- A brush or comb
- A towel for muddy paws
- The horse's best headcollar
- Water from home for fussy drinkers
Please walk dogs before a studio session so they arrive ready to settle, and leave cats exactly where they like to be. Grooming is welcome but never needed: we photograph your pet as they are.
Hung on walls, sent to grandparents (example reviews)
Our rescue greyhound flinches at sudden noises, so the session was all quiet clicks and long breaks on his bed. The framed print of him asleep in the sun now hangs above that same spot.
Two cats who hide from every visitor, and somehow both ended up on the window seat within the hour. Nobody chased them or picked them up, and the album shows them exactly as they are.
Our old cob is wary of strangers, so his usual groom held him the whole time and there was no flash at all. The stable door portrait is the best picture anyone has taken of him.
Before the session, owners ask
What if my dog will not sit still?
Most dogs do not, and that is fine. We photograph movement, sniffing and play as well as calm moments, and we never hold a dog in a pose. Many favourite images come from the rests.
Can you photograph a reactive or nervous dog?
Yes, with planning. Tell us what sets your dog off, and we will pick a quiet place and time, keep the lead on in open spaces, and let your dog decide how close the camera comes.
Do you photograph cats in the studio?
No. Moving a cat to a strange room rarely ends in relaxed pictures, so cat sessions are always at home, by the window, on the cat's own terms.
Is there a session for a pet near the end of its life?
Yes. A last chapter session is short and gentle, held at home or in the garden, and we try to fit it in within a few days. Your vet's view on what your pet can manage comes first.
How are images chosen and ordered?
About two weeks after the session you see the edited images at a viewing, with the price list beside you. Nothing is ordered before then, and the retainer comes off your order.
Will our photos appear on your website?
Only if you agree. The request form asks, and saying no changes nothing about your session or your prints.
Ask for a session date
Tell us about your animal and the kind of session you have in mind. The photographer answers each one personally, usually by the second working day, offering a date, another option, or a question about your pet before anything is fixed.
- A date is held only once we confirm it
- The $60 retainer is arranged directly with us
- Pet unwell on the day? The date moves
Visit the yard, or have us come to you
The studio sits in a converted stable yard with a fenced paddock, so dogs can stretch their legs before and after.
Contact
A converted stable yard on the north edge of the city, with parking beside the studio door and a fenced paddock
Studio hours
| Tuesday to Friday | 09:00 to 17:30 |
| Saturday | 07:00 to 19:00, light permitting |
| Sunday | Outdoor sessions only |
| Monday | Closed for editing |
Travel and weather
Home and outdoor sessions within 20 miles are included in the fee; beyond that, travel is added at cost. Outdoor sessions in heavy rain, strong wind or summer heat are moved, never rushed.