What’s In My Bag?
It’s important to know that your photographer is fully prepared for your portrait session. My goal is to carry just enough to ensure I’m ready for any foreseeable occurrence whilst also making sure everything fits into a rucksack that is light enough to carry on location and that I’m comfortable enough rolling around on the floor in (this happens pretty frequently). So what exactly do I carry with me?
Camera bag - Hardwearing is the key to any camera bag for me. As I say, I’m constantly throwing myself on the ground and rolling around in the mud to make sure I get the perfect shot of your pet, so it’s essential that my bag can stand up to it. It also has all the pockets and space I could need to carry all the gear I bring along. You will also see my walking stick poking out of the top. I have a bad hip and it occasionally gives out on me, so I carry my walking stick so that I can keep going with our session even if it starts to play up.
First aid kit - Fully stocked with anything I could need to provide in the field first aid to your pet should it bee required. I am a qualified pet first aider and it’s important for me to reassure my clients that their pets are in safe hands. We will never do anything that puts your pet in danger but accidents happen and it’s always better to be prepared.
Microfibre towel - Animals get messy. It is a simple fact of life. They throw themselves in muddy puddles or rivers or roll in things we really wish they wouldn’t. You want to see your pet looking their best on the day, so to make sure we can keep them that way whilst we’re out on location I carry this lightweight, quick-drying towel.
Pet wipes - For those more stubborn messes that can’t simply be wiped away. They’re gentle enough to use around pet's face so they can help with removing eye gunk or cleaning up a muck-covered nose. They are 100% alcohol, paraffin and sulfate free, so are safe for even sensitive skin.
Floating training dummy - Not all dogs are food motivated, some much prefer toys as a reward. For those who enjoy a game of tug I like to use this training dummy. It can also be used in water to give your dog something to fetch that will stay safely above the surface, allowing me to get amazing action shots with water splashing everywhere.
Squeaky Ball - Another great reward for toy-motivated dogs. These Kong Squeak Air tennis balls are stress-tested by my own dog who is notorious for destroying tennis balls. They also squeak, which is a helpful tool for grabbing attention and getting your dog to look in the direction we want them to.
Noisemakers - A necklace made up of a series of hunting calls. Crow, pigeon and fox calls alongside a dog whistle give me a variety of noises that I can make to get the attention of your pet and even sometimes attain that oh-so desired head tilt.
Camera - I carry a professional camera and lens that provides high-resolution, high-quality images. The 70-200mm lens allows me to take a variety of shots quickly without having to make your pet stay in one place for too long.
Lens cleaning kit - My portable kit contains a rocket blower for removing dust as well as lens wipes and a microfibre cloth for removing smudges. Having a well kept lens is key to ensuring your portraits are free of distracting imperfections.
Spare camera battery - Nothing should stop our session once we’ve started other than your pet telling us that they’ve had enough (they’re the boss after all). As such, I make sure to have a second fully charged battery with me just in case the first one runs low.
Spare SD cards - The same principle as carrying a spare battery. It is highly unlikely that I will get through the nearly 1500 photos that my primary SD cards can hold in a single session, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Water and bowl - Your pet works incredibly hard during a portrait session and it’s important that they stay hydrated, especially during the warmer months. A portable little water bowl means that it can be easily popped out at any location when they need it most.
Treat pouch, poo bags and cob light - My trusty treat pouch carries everything I generally need whilst out with a pet. It holds my tennis ball, hand sanitiser, water bowl, poo bags and my cob light. Poo bags are a must, we’re all responsible pet owners and want to leave the wonderful locations we visit just as pleasant for other visitors. A cob light is a small but powerful torch that is useful for finding things in the darker hours of the early morning / late evening sessions and is another handy tool when it comes to first aid.
Hand-baked cheesy treats by Peggy Lou’s Dog Bakery - My treats of choice on a session. These homemade natural treats are preservative and grain free, so they act as a high-value reward that’s easier on the tummy than other options. Enjoyed by even the pickiest of eaters, these treats are always a winner.
Show line - A show line, or slip lead, is a thin lead that comfortably slides under your dog’s chin and up behind their ears. Because it is so thin it makes removing it in retouching far easier so that your dog looks free in their portraits whilst remaining safely under control during the actual session. Show lines are completely safe when used correctly and I provide directions in how to use them properly so that they will never choke your dog, no matter how much they pull.
There will always be a need for clients to bring specific items for their pets. Whether it be particular treats to accommodate dietary requirements, or that one special toy they just can’t be without, every animal is different. But, I hope you can see that I am ready for almost anything that could happen during our session so you can feel reassured that things will go smoothly.