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!

Senior Dog Photo Session in East London

I recently photographed several senior dogs who were nearing the end of their life. Their owners wanted to document a few precious moments with them in their old age. They also wanted to celebrate their long life as well as the long friendship they had together.

Senior Dog Photography

This is Daisy, a black labrador who’s health was rapidly deteriorating. Her owners wated to have a few photographs of all of them together as a memory of their time. We arranged to meet at Dagenham in East London, and photograph Daisy at the Chase Nature Reserve where she loves going for walks. It was important to capture the couple together with Daisy, but also to photograph Daisy on her own, to capture her character and personality at her old age.

Meaningful Dog Photography

Senior dog photography sessions (or end of life dog photography sessions) are incredibly meaningful. As we strat to think about our pet nearing the end of their life, we revisit the journey we had with them from the moment we met them through all the big milestones and little moments in between. Some pets have been with us and members of our family for a very long time so naturally saying goodbye is hard and painful, and can feel devastating. From my own experience dealing with grief of a death of a pet, having some photos taken before you say your last goodbye is not only a nice memory but also the start of the greaving process.

End of Life Dog Photography

If you are interested in booking a senior dog photography session with me, please get in touch. I have photographed a few senior dogs recently and they were so special that I decided to make them available to more people. I am now offering free local one hour senior dog photo sessions (travel outside of my local area will be charged) which are well suited for one pet with their owner. Should you wish to extend the photo session to 2h and have your partner/family/other dog join in, a top up fee will be charged. Prints and digital files will be available to purchase. For more information, please email me through my website.