Dog Photo Shoot with Family

Family Dogs

Family Dogs is a personal project which documents the relationship families have with their dogs and vice versa. The project came about from my two photography passions - photographing dogs and photographing families. It is currently in its third month and I am greatly enjoying meeting all the fabilous dogs and their owners.

Working on location

Working as a dog photographer, I photograph dogs all over London and the Soth East. This project, however is focused on Surrey dogs and photoshoots take place mainly in outside locations. This particular photoshoot, with the sweetest little cavapoo you’ll ever meet, took place in the family home.

Family Photography with Dogs

This family has a really special bond with their dog. She is adored by the whole family and loves being cuddled. I wanted to capture the bond children have with her, but also how the whole family interacts with her. Photography sessions with children and dogs can be tricky but this particular dog was like a model - as soon as she heard the camera clicking, she would look straight at me, raise her ears and pose. In my career working as a dog photographer, I haven’t seen anything like it!

Getting Involved

If you have a pet and would like to get involved in this project please fet in touch at info@minamilanovic-photography.com. I would love to hear from you!

Photography Gift Vouchers

I offer gift vouchers for pet photoshoots, family photo sessions, newborn photoshoots and couple photo sessions. If you are looking for a different kind of present for a birhday, an anniversity or christmas, do get in touch or visit my store where you can directly buy photography gift certificates.

Family Dogs / Surrey Family and Pet Photographer

Family Dogs

I love taking family photographs and I also love photographing dogs. That is why I recently started a personal project called Family Dogs, with an aim to document the relationship families have with their pet dogs. To kick start the series, I photographed a gorgeous cocker spaniel Lexi with her human family. We arranged our dog and family photo shoot near Leith Hill as the family lived close by and one of their favourite things to do in spare time was to go on long country walks.

Family portraits with pets

It was a warm summer day in late summer, with sunshine coming through the clouds but with rain looming in the distance. We started our walk at the bottom of the hill, walking up the gentle slopes, sun coming through the trees. This first part of the session provided some great opportunities for group shots, the colours of the dead leaves on the ground matching Lexi’s coat. It was lovely to work with the earhy colour palette. A part of the route up towards Leith Hill has some impressive tree roots which form an amazing pattern on the ground. I knew I wanted to include these in the photographs, so I positioned Lexi for a few dog portraits. I particurlarly like black and white versions of these photographs, the textures and patterns really come through. Once we were on top of the hill, I looked around for nice spots for some more family shots. The heather was in bloom and I wanted to include it in the photos. Often when photographing families with dogs, there is quite a bit of arranging going on. Either the dog doesn’t want to sit still, the kids want to run around or both things happen making it nearly impossible to take a group shot! On this occasion, by some miracle, the family set down and just as they did so (while also looking at the camera), Lexi came from behind and poked her head through a little hole in the middle. This is one of the rare unposed, unplanned photos which just happened and turned out amazing! It is one of my favouirtes from this family and pet photo session, probably because it was so spontaneous!

Dog Portraits

Finally, a dog photo session with an energetic dog like Lexi wouldn’t be complete without a few action shots. I got Lexi to run along the paths amongst the heather and she did so with such speed that my auto focus struggled to keep up. I love taking a variety of different shots which capture memories of our pets in different situations - while frantically running around, chasing a ball, playing with another dog or a family member, or having a quiet moment. Different moments take us back and awaken memories we thought we lost.

Family Photography with Dogs

If you live in Surrey and are interested in participating in my Family Dogs photography project, please get in touch - I would love to hear from you and photograph your family and your dog(s)!

Dog Photography Gift Vouchers

If you are looking for a different kind of gift for someone’s birthday, anniversary or Christmas present, then a photography gift voucher may be the answer. I offer 1h and 2h dog photography gift vouchers. You can add extra credit to the gift certificate, which can go towards digital files or prints, or leave it up to the receipient to choose what they’d like at the end of the photoshoot. Get in touch if you have any questions!

Yoga Photography in Surrey

Earlier this summer, I started a community project, exploring how individuals and families in my community coped with the unprecedented situation that the pandemic brought. I know that many businesses, including my own, have suffered as the result of lockdown. Many of us have had to modify our businesses to adjust to the newly developed situation, and try and earn the living while controlling the spread of the virus.

My neighbour who runs her own business WHYOGA and teaches yoga classes in Balham, Earlsfied and Dorking, had to quickly adapt her working style. She started live streaming her yoga classes, teaching from the safety and comfort of her own home, with her students from across London and Surrey joining in via Zoom.

I practice yoga, and had the pleasure of attending a few of these classes. I would highly recommend them. Teaching is to the highest standard, each class is tailored to that week or around what the students request, they are creative and fun. This was an adult yoga session, but children yoga sessions are also available through Yoga Bananas.

The set of photographs below are from the community project, documenting the on line yoga practice. Like with my pet and family photography, I used natural light to document the practice session as it unfolded, no posing or arranging things. I worked with what was in front of me, moving around the obstacles and fining angles which would capture the scene in front of me.

In addition to wedding photography and family and pet portraiture, I also offer commercial and branding photography services. If you are a yoga practitioner, own a yoga studio or own a business selling yoga clothing and you need some yoga photography, do get in touch to discuss your requirements and ideas.

Family Photographer in Surrey

This family photo session took place earlier this summer and was part of my community project. The family photoshoot took place at the family’s Surrey home, which is a village away from where I live. To get to their place, I walked a few miles through fields and woods, and in turn discovered a lovely local walk which I now frequent.

I wanted to photograph the family at their house, to capture some of the memories they’ve made during this unprecedented time. They have been spending a lot of time outdoors, the boys playing in the garden. After an energetic start and a few action shots of the boys around their playhouse, the family settled on a bench and had a nice quiet time with a story and a cup of tea. I like the high energy kinds bring to photoshoots. It keeps me on my toes - I have to think and act quickly, often changing the ideas I may have had at the start.

I am so grateful to all the families who have supported me and my community project during the pandemic. The reality has been so different for people living in urban and non-urban areas. When I started this project I imagined photographing families behind windows and on doorsteps. However, a lot of people in my community, like me, have had the good fortune during the pandemic of space and gardens. And therefore, a lot of my photographs documenting families during this time, all taken outdoors and following government guidelines, are of families enjoying their time outdoors.

My family photo sessions have evolved to become physically distanced, and to exclusively take place outdoors. If you are thinking of commissioning a family photo session, please contact me to discuss your requirements. I would love to hear from you!

Surrey Dog Photographer / Windsor Great Park Pet Photoshoot

These photos were taken about a month ago in Windsor Great Park on a beautiful summer evening. It feels like such a contrast to the drippy, grey, cold weather we are experiencing at the moment, and it also feels like much longer than a month since those nice warm summer days.

This lovely family wanted a combination of dog portraits, dog action shots and family group photographs. We started the photoshoot in a woodland area next to the Savill Garden. There was an area of think brackon which framed the dogs nicely, and made for a nice backdrop for a group shot. We then moved on to the large field which is a part of the Guards Polo Club. I noticed a few children playing with the water sprinklers and I thought these would be fun to include in the photographs. They created an amazing spray of water which I used as a backdrop for both the dog action shots and some casual group shots. I love how the water spray created a soft curtain which reflected the sun rays, these are some of my favourite photos from this dog photo session. Finally we went down towards the Obelisk pond and the Savill Garden where I took a few dog portraits against the amazing Savill Garden Kitchen building, and in front of its colourful garden.

I love working as a dog photographer. Not only do I get to meet and spend time with some amazing pooches, I also get to meet their owners and capture moments which I hope will encapsulate the spirit and character of their beloved pets. I want my photos to be timeless remider of the relationship we have with our pets, long after they are gone.

Do you have a pet and would like to get some professional photographs of them? Get in touch to discuss your idea or to arrange a pet photography session. I work as a pet and dog photographer in London, Surrey, Sussex, Kent and also travel further afield at an additional travel cost.

Surrey Hills Family Photoshoot

This multi-cultural family received a family photography gift certificate from me as a christmas present last year, but due to Covid-19 we only managed to arrange the photoshoot late in the summer. We arranged the family photoshoot in the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, more specifically a lovely little walk around Friday Street. An outdoor location needs to tick a few boxes for me - to be an appropriate distance for the age of a child, to have a nice variety of locations and to provide some shelter from the weather. On this particular day, the forcast was overcast but dry; however the weather decided to do its own thing so it rained for the first half of the session. Luckly, the old oak trees in the wooded part of the walk provided a much needed shelter. Once the rain had stopped, we continued our walk through the pine forest, around the pond, along a lovely little stream and into the beech forest. This great variety of habitats provided wonderful backdrops for a family action shots, children’s portraits and family portraits.

I offer gift vouchers for newborn photoshoots, pet photoshoots and family portraits. If you would like to purchase a gift voucher for a friend or member of your family, please visit my store, or get in touch to arrange a tailored-made photography gift voucher. I look forawrd to hearing from you!

Socially Distanced Maternity Photo Session in Surrey

I first met Harriet when I was pregnant and working for Sharp Shots Photo Club, teaching kids and teens photography workshops and DofE skills awards. Some time later, and it is Harriet who is now pregnant and expecting her first child with husband Rich. Harriet is a fellow photographer, specialising in wedding photography - check out her amazing work and colourful website. For this socially distanced maternity photo shoot, I chose a location close to home. During lockdown, I discovered a lovely local walk with varied countryside which I thought would provide some nice backdrops and a quiet location.

I find couples photography sessions tquite challenging in terms of creating images which look relaxed and natural. I aim to capture a real connection between the couple but this can be hard to do if people become too self conscious. A really helpful piece of advice which I find works very well is to give people specific directions on where to stand, what to look at, where to place their hands etc . During this process, your clients focus on the task at hand, relax, become less self conscious and often start laughing which creates an opportunity for a genuine, natural looking photograph. I use this approach for couples and sometimes in my family photography. I find it works very well and the resulting photographs are natural looking and relaxed.

This sweet couple was easy going and up for experimenting with different poses and locations. , which made my job easy! There were so many lovely genuine moments which made it choose which ones I put up on my blog. So, here it is - an extended selection of some of my favouirte photos from the day, I hope you enjoy viewing them.

if you are expecting a child and would like to mark the special time with a set of photographs, please get in touch to arrange your maternity photo session with me.

Dog Photography Session in Surrey

We’ve been spoiled for beautiful summer evenings this year. I tend to photograph whatever the weather, I really don’t mind a bit of drizzle or even rain but I do love warm sunny summer evenings and the golden light that comes with it.

I photographed these two ladies earlier this summer, when the grass (and days) was still long. When I first started photographing dogs, I focused on getting a nice portrait of a dog, or a great action shot. My dog photo sessions have evolved since then, and in additin to capturng those types of shots for my clients, I also try to capture the relationships dog owners have with their beloved pets. The special bond between these two ladies was apparent from the start which I hope I captured in this set of photographs.

Do you know a dog owner who would love to have the relationship with their dog captured? As a pet photographer, I work across Surrey, London and the South East capturing these relationships. Drop a line if you would like to discuss a pet photoshoot, or if you would like to purchase a dog photography gift voucher.

Dog photographer in Surrey

My lovely neighbours wanted a few photos of their dogs Nelly and Annie, so a few weeks ago we went on a local Surrey walk to photograph the two ladies. I wanted to capture them enjoying their every day walk - running around the cricket pitch and walking through the tall grasses. These two ladies are elderly which I find can sometimes be a challenge during dog photo shoots in terms of producing a variety of images for my clients. However, these two were such stars - they were up for posing for portraits (individual and group!), they loved having a run around and interacted so eagerly with their owners. I really couldn’t have asked for more.
I love photographing dogs and their families, so if you are interested in having a dog photo session with me, please contact me to discuss your idea. Or perhaps you would like to surprise someone with a dog photoshoot experience? Gift certificates are a great way to treat your loved ones to an experience with their canine friend. If you would like to enquire about pet photography gift vouchers, please get in touch to discuss your requirements. You can also head over to my shop to purchase a 1h or 2h dog photography gift voucher,

Surrey Pet Photographer / Documenting Surrey Dogs During Lockdown

I love photographing dogs so it was a such a treat to photograph Luna, a female weimaraner with her owner as part of my community project, documenting how families and individuals spent their time during lockdown. This project was inspired at the beginning of lockdown by the New York photographer Stephen Lovekin who photographed people in his community in New York. His photographs, together with an article describing his community project, have been published in the Independent. I have had an amazining time working on this project, and have met wonderful people (and dogs!) in my community which has been one of the highlights of the last few months.

As London and Surrey pet photographer, I wanted to capture how Luna and her owner spent their days during lockdown. Since these two lovely ladies lead quite an active lifestyle, we split the photoshoot into two parts - one to document their love for long walks in the woods, and the second part to caputre their active lifestyle riding a bike/running alongside it.

On a beautiful summer morning, we ebmarked on a walk into our local woodland for a few portraits and action shots. The rest of this pet photoshoot was taken in the beautiful rhododendron woods, where I wanted to capture some of the blooms but also the amazing shapes and textures of the rhododendon trees. Finally I took a few headshot type photos in front of the local cricket pavillion.

The following session was nearly all about action! I was keen to photograph Luna running and her owner on the bike, and I played around with different types of shots and angles. I really like to experiment with my photography and I thought of using panning for one of the acrtion shots. I love the warm colours and the sense of motion that the photo conveys.

After all that exercise, it was time to relax in the evening light. This is one of my favourite sets of photos - backlit, golden light, summer grasses, and two stunning subjects to photograph. Every photographer’s dream!

If you are considering doing a pet photoshoot with your beloved pet, please get in touch to discuss your idea. I offer 1h and 2h dog photography gift vouchers and pet photography gift vouchers which make a perfect birthday, anniversary or christmas gift. Visit my store to purchase a gift voucher, or contact me to arrange a gift for your loved one.