Couple & Dog Photography at Isabella Plantation | London Dog Photographer in Richmond Park
RICHMOND park’s secret garden
Isabella Plantation in Richmond park is one of my all time favourite places to visit. It is a secluded Victorian woodland garden in the middle of the park, which from early March onward becomes transformed with smells and sights of camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, bluebells and many more magnificent plant species. It is a feast for the senses and provides a beautiful backdrop for photography.
Couple and Dog Photo Shoot at Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park
I was lucky enough to have not only one but two photo sessions there this year. The first one was a newborn photo session in the peak of the flowering season - everywhere you looked were beautiful shades of pink, red, violet, yellow, orange, green and blue. The second photo shoot was with a very sweet couple and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Crumpet. We met early in the morning to avoid the crowds. It was a beautiful spring morning, the sun was shining and the air was filled with the sweet smell of rhododendrons. We started the session at still pond, normally the busiest part of the garden. Azaleas around the pond were slightly past their peak, providing a less intense colour as the backdrop. I used a nearby japanese acer tree to frame the shot and placed the couple in front of the pond. We stayed around this area to take a few more portraits of everyone together, and of Crumpet on his own.
London Dog Photographer
We continued our walk through the plantation to Thompson’s pond and Peg’s pond, stopping along the way to smell the flowers, look at ducklings and most importantly capture preciousmemories. Working as London dog photographer, I love the challenge of photographing in new places. Although I visited Isabella plantation countless times, I previously did only one dog photo shoot there, which was later in the season and after the flowering season. Therefore, this couple & dog photo session felt completely fresh and inspired me to think of new locations, backdrops and photography techniques which I previously haven’t used in this location.
Outdoor Portrait Photography
Looping around and going back towards the car park, we passed through a quiet area of the garden, filled with bluebells, old chestnut trees, rhododendrons and bracken. It was in this area where a fallen chestnut tree caught my eye, its exposed roots creating a sculptural shape which I wanted to incorporate into the portraits of my subjects.
Relaxed Pet Photography
At this point, Crumpet was getting a little tired from all the hard work of posing, so I suggested we take a short break. With everyone relaxed, I could work unobtrusively to capture a few detailed shots of the dog and a few shots of the couple with Crumpet which felt more intimate.
Photographing Dogs in Action
Outside of the plantation, and with Crumpet off the lead, it was time for action shots! I love doing these shots, especially with breeds with long ears. The resulting images are filled with joy and happiness - ears flapping, tongue dangling, leaping through the air - definition of a happy puppy!
Dog & Couple Photo Session Information
If you enjoyed viewing these photos even a fraction of how much I enjoyed taking them, and you would like to find out more, please visit my couple photography page, or head over to my dog photography page.
You can find more information on Isabella Plantation, when to visit and how to get there by visiting The Royal Parks website.
Dog Photography Gift Vouchers
This couple & dog photoshoot was gifted as a birthday present to the lovely lady of this family. If you are considering gifting a unique, personal and meaningful gift to someone, please consider my photography gift vouchers. I offer vouchers for different life stages and I am more than happy to create a personalised gift that suits your needs. Please visit my gift voucher page for more information and to see what is on offer; otherwise contact me to inquire if you have more specific needs.
About Me
Hi! My name is Mina and I work as a professional family, dog and wedding photographer. If you like my work, and would like to discuss potentially booking a photo session with me, please drop me a line at mina@minamilanovic-photography.com or give me a call on 07793 677 867. I look forward to hearing from you!
Couple & Dog Photo Session in Queens Park, Paddington | London Dog Photograph
Senior Pet Photography in London
Meet Dublin! A sixteen year old terrier cross with a spark in his eye and a spring in his step! Full of character, joy and that irresistible zest for life - he was livelier than a lot of dogs half his age. His owners reached out to me as they had received some worrying news about his health, and they wanted to capture some photographs of him while he was still feeling well. It was a bittersweet request, one I always approach with the deepest care and respect. These sessions are never easy, but they’re incredibly meaningful.
You wouldn’t guess Dublin’s age just by watching him. Despite everything, he was bouncy, curious and eager to explore. We arranged to meet at Queens Park, west London as this was one of Dublin’s favourite walking spots. The park had a great mix of paths, open spaces and quiet corners so felt big enough and varied enough in terms of photography backgrounds, but was also meaningful to the couple.
Outdoor Pet & Couple Photography
We began the session with a gentle walk along a tree-lined path tucked into one corner of the park. I always guide my clients a little during these early moments, just enough to help them feel at ease and forget about the camera. This enables me to capture my clients relaxed, enjoying each other’s company and being present.
Dog Portrait Photography
Not far from the path, we found a large fallen log—just the right place to pause for some individual portraits. Once up on the log, Dublin was happy to pause briefly from his park adventures and enjoy a few cuddles. It was also a good place to brush up on his stay command, while I took several portraits of him.
Winter Dog Photo Session at a London park
As we made our way into the centre of the park, the bandstand came into view. Bright and striking against the soft grey of an overcast day, it added a little splash of colour to the photos.I always enjoy working around bandstands—there’s something nostalgic about them. Once a bustling part of Victorian park life, many have faded into history, though some, like this one, have been carefully restored and still serve as focal points for families and communities. On this day, there was no music playing, just the rustle of leaves and the gentle laughter of a couple who clearly adore their little dog. I worked from different angles, positioning myself to capture the whole structure as well as the couple and the dog from closer up.
For more information about bandstands, you can read a really interesting article here.
By this point, Dublin was getting a little tired so I suggested we find a bench and have a bit of a rest. This worked a treat! Dublin snuggled in between the couple and enjoyed lots of kisses and cuddles. Some of my favourite photos are from this bench. They are filled with love, connection and intimacy and show just how meaningful and deep our relationship with our pet can be.
This was a great opportunity to have some close up photos of Dublin’s face. He had such curious expressive eyes that I wanted to capture them up close. I’d hoped to get a photo of his paw resting in a hand, but he wasn’t quite comfortable with that. So we decided to improvise. His owner gently resting her hand next to his, which created a lovely timeless composition..
As the session came to a close, we ended on a light-hearted note, tossing some leaves in the air to see if Dublin might enjoy the spectacle. He was entirely unimpressed, closing his eyes as the leaves fluttered down, which made us all laugh.
End-of-Life Dog Photography
Sessions like these are incredibly special. They’re about celebrating the life of a beloved pet, acknowledging the joy they’ve brought, the love they’ve shared, and the space they hold in our hearts. If you’re considering photographs of your senior dog, or if you’re approaching a more difficult goodbye, please know you’re not alone.
I offer senior dog and end-of-life dog and pet photography, and have recently joined the Tilly Project - a non-profit organisation that helps connect pet owners with photographers across the world, and provides photography, educational, and grief resources for owners experiencing pet loss or bereavement.
Booking a Senior Dog Photography Session or End-of-Life Pet Photography Session
Booking a dog photo session is easy!
1 SAY HELLO!
Drop me a line at mina@minamilanovic-photography.com to enquire about a session or fill out a form on my contact page and tell me a little bit about what your requirements are. I will send you my availablity and answer any questions you may have before you book your session. We can arrange either a weekday or a weekend session, whatever works best for you and your pet.
2 SESSION DEPOSIT
A 30% booking deposit is required to reserve your date on my calender. The remainder of the fee is payable before the agreed pet photography session date.
3 SESSION LOCATION
We will discuss location choices. I am happy to meet you at your favourite location, or provide a list of locations in the Surrey and London area. I can also meet you at home for a home pet session, or we can split our time between your home and an outside location.
About Me
Hello! I’m Mina, a pet and family photographer based in Surrey, working across London and the South East. I’ve always loved animals and have had dogs growing up who were my companions and my best buddies. In my adulthood I’ve had two cats who were there for some of my most important milestones in life.
Losing them was incredibly hard, but the photographs I have of them are now some of my most treasured possessions. They bring me back to our shared adventures and remind me of the deep love we had for one another.
I know how meaningful our relationships with our pets are, and how important it is to preserve the moments that make them special. I would love to help you capture memories of you with your beloved pet. If you would like to work with me, please get in touch.