What’s it like to work with me? :-)
Have you ever wondered what a dog photography session with me is like??
It’s fun, it’s silly, it’s heartfelt, it’s muddy, it’s sensitive, it’s an adventure, it’s full of love and laughter, a little drool, lots of fur, and an all-around unforgettable time together!
From the very first contact - whether that’s by email, phone, meeting at a market or show, or out in the real world (probably my favourite way!!) - to the final delivery of your artwork, I pride myself on creating an experience that you’ll love!! The end goal of my sessions is to create gorgeous artwork of your dog, but I also want the entire experience to be an adventure and I’ll welcome you and your furry friend into my Wheeldon Photography Family!!
It all starts with a chat either in person or through a video call where we start planning your session, and I’ll show you all of the options for your ARTWORK!
I have a ton of sample and personal artwork to show you during our chat. You’ll get a chance to explore the options for wall art, albums, story boxes, and a number of other fun artwork options! We’ll get to know each other, and of course get to know your dog, while we chat. We’ll start to figure out the best locations, props to use (I have the cutest chairs and even a little car!), and this is when we’ll chose your session date.
If you have some artwork ideas in mind we can weave that into our planning for the session - I have a different approach to a session with a large, bold wall art as the goal compared to one with a beautiful custom album as the end result, so all of that info is really helpful. A gallery wall would be something amazing to plan for too! Imagine all the ways we have to make your dog a star on your walls or coffee table!!
Of course, you don’t have to know what artwork you’d like to create ahead of time! It’s my job to help you to figure it out! Make use of my experience and creativity - I’m here to hold your hand (literally or figuratively!) through the whole process.
When the day of your dog’s session arrives, and we meet either here at our 21-acre wooded property or at another location we’ve worked out, and we set off exploring! We’ll spend about 2 hours wandering, posing, laughing, passing out the dog treats, taking a few breaks, snuggling (of course!), playing and hopping on various natural or specially placed props. I’ll give your dog lots of time to relax and explore! Sometimes I’ll have specific spots in mind - especially if there are natural landscapes to incorporate into our images - but I’ll also just go with the flow and find some beautiful light and backdrops to make your dog’s images pop!
A few weeks after your session we’ll get together again for your reveal and artwork ordering appointment. You’ll have lots of images from your session to look at and I’ll help you to narrow down the options. I’m here to guide you and will help to suggest what would be best for each type of artwork. Together we’ll choose what’s best for your home, your lifestyle, and your budget!
And finally, after your images are sent off for production through my professional lab, I’ll deliver your artwork to you! This is my favourite part!! It’s so exciting to show you what we’ve created together (sometimes there are tears and I’m quick to join in… I’m a bit of a softie), and I love handing over your sweet dog’s face on your custom artwork! It’s such a special experience for all of us!
Working with me means I’m here from start to finish to make this a fun experience that ends with precious keepsakes of your dog that will make you smile for years to come!!
Here’s what a past client had to say about her experience with me:
“Cathie took a great deal of time planning our session and it showed in the beautiful pictures of Winston our Golden Retriever. She was able to capture the true nature of our pup. Cathie's experience and ease around dogs was clear. Winston loved her and that made my job of handling him during the session very easy. The exquisite background in the forest added so much vibrance and colour. We highly recommend Cathie and would use Wheeldon Photography again in a heartbeat!”
Lisa & Winston
