End of Life Dog Photography Session in Kidbrook, London
Senior Dog Photography
Doing senior dog photography sessions is always such an honour. It is a chance for dog owners to celebrate the life of their beloved pet, the friendship with their best friend(s) and to capture fun, meaningful memories through a set of beautiful photographs.
Celebration Session
End of life celebration sessions take place outside, at your pet’s favourite location, or at home depending on how mobile your pet is. I will spend some time capturing a variety of images, from portrait shots to action shots and most importantly, capturing your unique bond with your dog.
Gentle Special Assistance Dog
A lovely thing about meeting senior dogs is that you get to hear their stories and what they did as younger versions of themselves. This sweet black labrador lady was the gentlest and most loving dog. She developed cancer so her owner knew she didn’t have much time and wanted to capture a few moments in their favourite park. When they were going to pick her up from the breeder, there was a big snow storm (this was in America), and the owner’s children suggested they name the puppy Elsa (a character from the Disney film Frozen). Elsa grew up to be a service dog and spent most of her life helping her owner.
Dog Photography Gift Vouchers
Her owner’s friend gifted a photo session to celebrate a life well lived and a friendship which will last forever. We spent the morning around Cator park, creating memories and focusing on the relationship Elsa had with her owner. I thoroughly enjoed this senior dog photo session, and will treasure it for a really long time.
If you wish to enquire about an end of life fog photography session, please get in touch.
Cat Portraits in Greenwich, London
Couples Photography with Pets
Recently, I have been photographing more and more couples with their dogs. But this time I had the pleasure of photographing a lovely couple with their pet cat. As a cat owner myself, I know that cats are not just pets but a part of our family. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to include them in the couples, and family photographs.
Cat Photography at Home
Most often, cat photo sessions take place in the comfort of your home, like this photoshoot in Greenwich. I arrived in the couples apartment and spent the first 10 min of the session getting to know everyone and getting acquainted with the cat. This is really important when photographing cats as some of them can be very shy and weary of people. Once he was comfortable in my presence, I started photographing him while he was exploring the flat and playing.
Pet Photography Gift Vouchers
This couple received a pet photography gift voucher as a wedding present. I offer 1h and 2h pet photography gift vouchers, available to purchase from my store, or by directly contacting me either through my website or my email. If you are thinking of purchasing a gift voucher for someone who owns a cat, give me a call, I would love to hear from you!
Dog Photo Shoot in Marble Hill Park
I had a privilage of photographing this elderly cocker spaniel in his favourite location - Marble Hill Park in East Twickenham. It was touch and go whether the photo session will go ahead as he had a health scare in the days leading up to the photoshoot. Luckly, he made it and he made it in style and good spirits! He was so sweet, and so keen to run around and chase his favourite ball. His owner had purchased a gift voucher for her partner, and wanted to surprise him with a set of photographs of his beloved friend.
Senior Dog Photography
Senior dog photo sessions are some of my favourite dog photography sessions. Senior dogs are gentle, calm and wise, but they often surprise with a spring in their step and a bounce in their run. Senior dog photography sessions celebrate dogs which have reached an older age and tell their stories in a set of beautiful photographs.
London and Surrey Senior Dog Photographer
As London and Surrey Senior Dog Photographer, I will work with you and your dog to create a customised session according to your dog’s needs and abilities. I will typically meet you at your home, favourite park or on your favourite walk and spend an hour or two photographing you and your dog. After the photoshoot, you will receive a private gallery with a selection of best photographs from the session. After you have selected your images, I will post digital files, prints or framed prints to your home address.
Get in Touch
If you would like to book a senior dog photography session, or chat about organising one, please get in touch by filling out the contact sheet on my website or drop me a line at mina@minamilanovic-photography.com
Family Photo Session in Bushy Park
This family photo session started in Bushy Park, and continued in the family home close by in Teddington. It was a really nice summer day (I am so behind on my blog posts!) , it was overcast which provided even lighting for my subjects.
We spent the first 15-20 min of the session chatting and getting to know each other. Working as a family photographer, I learnt that this part of the session is the most important. It breaks the initial ice so clients can relax and enjoy the rest of the session. We were looking for some nice areas for a group shot; Busy park can be a bit tricky in terms of locations as it is so open and flat. I saw an old oak tree which I was keen to include into the family portrait - a symbol of strenght, stability and longevity. After that initial family portrait, it was time for cuddles and play. After a short walk, we came to a stream which was the perfect setting to explore the surroundings and look for interesting wildlife living in the stream and on the banks. Getting children to engage with their parents is the best way of obtaining natural looking images.
I really enjoyed this family photoshoot and love some of the photos; they bring joy and put a smile on my face. I hope you like them too.
Following the outdoor session, we went back home for some snacks and quiet time. I wanted to photograph the little girl with the family dog, which proved trickier than planned, but we managed to get them sitting next to each other in the end.
At the end of each photoshoot, I like to do something slightly different and experiment. It is a time when I have fun and try out different things - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. On this occasion, I spotted a lovely painting which the family bought in Australia, while living there. I learned that it was a piece of Aboriginal art, so I was keen to include it in the photograph. It was a rather unglamorous scene - both parents holding the painging while also making sure the baby doesn’t fall flat on its face. In the end, it was a triumph - no injuries and a lovely meaningful background for children’s portraits. I hope you like it as much as I do.
If you are considering having family portraits done, either with or without your dog, please do contact me for more information and to arrange a session. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing your ideas!
Maternity Photoshoot with Puppy in Surrey Hills
Dogs are such a big part of family life; we share our experiences with them including big family milestones. That is why this couple decided to mark the arrival of their baby with a puppy and maternity photo session in the Surrey Hills. They wanted to have family portraits for their home, but also photographs which they can send out as cards to family and friends for Christmas.
Working with dogs is great fun! They are all individuals and their character comes through early on in the pet photoshoot. I love working with dogs because there is an element of unpredictability and freedom. I need to adjust my working style quickly to suit a particular dog. If it is an energetic dog, I would choose to take action shots first, then focus on portraits later. If it is an old dog, then the pace needs to be slower and the focus different. Puppies require special consideration, as they behave differently at different ages and have different energy levels. This particular puppy was few months old. He wasn’t particularly energetic but he was sweet and full of character. There was a comedic quality about him, which I wanted to capture.
In addition to puppy portraits, I wanted to capture the puppy and my clients together, for their family portraits. This is something I am putting a lot more focus on these days, even if it is a dog or puppy photoshoot. I am interested in recording the connection between people and their pets, capturing special moments for them which they can cherish as their family grows. Since this was a combined puppy and maternity photo shoot, it was even more important for me to capture everyone together. I wanted my clients not only to have the memories of the changing times in their lives but also the special bond they had with their new puppy, just as their lives were about to change, yet again.
If you are expecting a baby, and would like to arrange a maternity photo session with me, or you have a new puppy and would like to arrange a puppy photo shoot, please get in touch - either through the contact page on my website or email me at info@minamilanovic-photography.com
Couples Photoshoot with Dog in Coal Yard Drops, London
I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and happy New Year from me! I hope 2022 brings you joy and happiness, and you manage to cruise through the year with a calm mind, knowing that every challenge is an opportunity to learn and that everything no matter how challenging will pass.
The period just before Christmas is always a busy one for photographers. Lots of photo shoots to fit in, photos to print and packages to post. I have been busy with family photo sessions and pet photoshoots in the run up to Christmas. I really enjoyed the work I did and it was probably my favouirte period so far, working as a professional photographer. I had amazing clients, visited some beautiful places and really enjoyed exploring my new mirrorless Canon EOS R5 which I will write about in a separate post.
This pre-Christmas couples photo session with their dog was actually from last year. The couple wanted a mix of couples portraits, dog portraits and family portraits. Coal Yard Drops in central London was the perfect setting for this set of photographs, providing a mix of backdrops with Christmas decorations, beautiful architecture, clean lines and urban natural spots.
If you are considering London couples photography, or an engagement photo session please drop me a line to discuss your requirements. In addition to photographing couples in London, I work across Surrey and the South East capturing memories for couples, to mark their engagement, anniversiry, wedding or honeymoon.
Dog Photo Session in Wandsworth
I so am behind with my blog posts! This one is from earlier in the summer which seems long long ago. The days are getting short and the evenings are drawing in, perfect time for sitting by the fire and reminiscing about summer photo sessions.
This couple and dog photo shoot took place in Wandsworth, South West London. The photoshoot was a Christmas gift and was meant to be a puppy photo session, but because of puppy health issues we had to postpone. By summer time, the bulldog puppy didn’t quite look like a puppy but it definitely had the puppy spirit about him.
We started the dog photo session in the communal gardens where I took a few action shots and portraits of the puppy alone. We then headed out by the river for a walk, which has some beautiful backdrops which I was keen to incorporate in the portraits of the couple together with their dog. I love including the landscape into the photograph, it gives a sense of a place and reminds the clients of the places they visited or where they lived.
Bulldogs are such expressive dogs and it is great fun and a pleasure to photograph them. Their grumpy face makes for a great pet portrait but they are also playful and cheeky, and some of my favourite photos from this pet photo shoot are the action shots.
Christmas is coming once again. If you need a Christmas gift idea, head over to my gift voucher page where you can find a selection of photography gift vouchers available to purchase. Photography gift vouchers are available for one year from the date of purchase and come with a complementary 8x6’’ print. Please contact me if you would like to add credit towards digital files or prints, or if you would like to have a chat about your photography gift idea.
Family Photo Shoot in Guildford
The setting for this family photo session was Riverside Park Nature Reserve in Guildford, a wetland area supporting diverse insect, bird and amphibian life. I recently discovered this beautiful nature reserve while servicing my car in the nearby Slyfield industrial estate and was surprised to find such a gem of a place squshed between the noisy A3, the community recycling centre and the industrial estate. Amazing how nature can thrive in the most unlikely places!
We started our photoshoot with a walk along the River Wey. The powerline which runs along the path provided a dramatic backdrop for a few of the initial shots before we reached the canal. All along the canal were lovely mature oak trees which served as the perfect frame for family portraits. The parents were amazing at enterntaining and engaging this charming and smiley one and a half year old. I love the playfulness that comes through in the photographs.
Half way through the photoshoot, everyone was getting a little tired so it was time to have a play in the sand and bring out favourite toys. Out came the coala and Mr Fox, and it was back to playing games and having fun. I find games really helpful while working with children. They instantly become interested and engaged which creates genuinely candid moments for great photographs. Whether it it]s hide and seek with younger children, building a den with preschoolers and playing ball with older kids, involving them (and parents) in an activity takes the attention away from the camera and puts children and adults in the present moment which is where the joy comes through. This little girl loved spotting insects, playing with hair clips which I’ve given her, waving at boats and touching different plants.
It is nice looking back at these photos when the grasses were lush and everything was so alive. My current family photo sessions are against beautiful autumnal backdrops, a stark contrast to the warm summer days. Nature provides us photographers with the best studio and I am so grateful to do my job outdoors, and experience the beauty of each season with my clients.
I am nearly fully booked for this year, but if you would like to arrange a family portrait session for you and your family for next year, please get in touch to discuss your requirements. You can contact me through the contact page on my website, or sending me an email at info@minamilanovic-photography.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Intimate Small Wedding in Surrey
The wedding industry has been hit hard by the pandemic with so many weddings postponed multiple times last and this year. Very few weddings went ahead, and those that did had a changed format.
This couple decided to go ahead with their wedding, while keeping with the goverment guidlines at the time of the event. It was a small and intimate wedding, with only family and closest friends present. There was something so nice and special about photographing a small wedding. It was all about what really matters - the couples’ love and dedication to each other. It was lovely to observe interactions between family members and friends, and document this special day for them.
The wedding started with a pricate ceremony at St Michael’s and Angels church in Michleham. After exchanging their wedding vows, the newly married couple and the wedding party headed to the family home, where the garden was used as an intimate wedding reception venue. It was a chilly spring day, but everyone wrapped up warm and enjoyed drinks and canapes in the place meaningful to the couple.
This wedding provided me with so many nice opportunities to capture intimate moments. If you are planning a small wedding, and are considering hiring a professional small wedding photographer who will capture the laughter, joy, tears, small details, and clinking of the glassses then send me an email to discuss your requirements.
Family Photo Shoot with Dog in Surrey
This family received a Christmas dog photography gift voucher from their daughter. She thought the whole family would enjoy the experience of having their photos taken in company of their elderly dog, in their beautiful home in Surrey.
Family photo shoots with dogs are always fun! Dogs bring a different energy to the session, and I find that people tend to be more relaxed in front of the camera when dog is around. There is another being to think about, to instruct, pose and cuddle, diverting the attention away from thinking about how we look or feel in front of the camera.
When photographing dogs and families, I work to initially take a few group shots. Then, depending on the energy level of the dog I am photographing, I either take dog portrait shots, or dog action shots. Then I would move over to individual family member portraits with the dog, and finally focus on more spontanious and creative images. That way, I ensure I have a wide variety of photographs my clients can choose from.
I am based in Surrey, but will travel to your home or one of the stunning locations in Surrey and London for family photography or family and dog photo sessions.
To purchase a dog photography gift voucher as a birthday present, or a Christmas gift, please contact me to discuss your requirements. Alternatively, head over to my Gift Vouchers page where you purchase a one hour or two hour pet photography gift certificate directly from my website.
