For our first post on our new blog, we felt it was only fair to start with our latest addition to the team.
For the past 10 years, as many of you will recall, we always had Harvey, our Dogue De Bordeaux X Boxer who would sleep in the office and keep us entertained with his snoring.
Sadly, in September last year, we had to say good bye to Harvey. After 10 wonderful, fun packed years, it was time for him to cross over Rainbow’s Bridge.
Whilst we were heartbroken, we knew that our house was not a home without a dog. So shortly after, we welcomed Wilson to our family.
Wilson is a pure Dogue De Bordeaux puppy, who is now 8 months old. He is already a very big boy, weighing over 50 kilos and eating around 3 kilos of meat a day!
Wilson – 8 weeks old.
AT The Beginning
Even at 8 weeks old, Wilson was already larger than some of the adult smaller breeds. He was born in Birmingham and lived in a lively home with both of his parents and his 10 litter mates. Thats right, there were 11 of these gorgeous, tubby, babies running around.
It is a big move for a puppy to leave its mother and siblings, yet Wilson took it all in his stride. Not once did he cry during that long journey home (3 hours). Instead he slept on our daughters lap, or stretched out on the back seat.
The first few months were very interesting indeed. It was like having a new baby. We had to teach him to settle in his crate at night, to go outside for his wee wees and poo poos, and teach him what he was allowed to chew and what he was not.
Wilson’s First Trip To The Seaside
Exposing puppies to new experiences is an important part of their development. So we made sure that Wilson had a trip to the seaside. He was not too sure about the water but soon discovered how much fun it can be.
We walked through the fun fair and even stopped for a bite to eat, teaching Wilson all about how to behave in open spaces.
He has also visited the local town a few times now, popping into shops, saying hello to lots of lovely friendly people. He also often visits the stables to say hello to his equine friends. But Wilson’s favourite thing, is being out exploring the countryside on our daily walks.
Raising a Dogue De Bordeaux
Dogue De Bordeaux are huge dogs who love their family and thrive on Love and Kindness. But raising one is definitely not for the faint hearted.
The breed is known for being exceptionally stubborn and so, even more than ever, it is important to maintain clear, consistent boundaries. Training from day one is highly recommended. It is not only an important part of raising a well socialised dog, but its is also a fun way to bond with your puppy.
Because of their size and the rapid rates at which they grow, care needs to be taken to protect their joints. This is crucial during the first 18 months.
Feeding and Insuring a Dogue De Bordeaux is far from cheap so new owners need to be prepared for these costs.
Wilson, like our previous dog Harvey, is fed a RAW diet, because we believe it provides him all the nutrients that he needs and illuminates ingredients that are not healthy.
Wilson – 7 Months Old
It seems like only yesterday that we arrived home with that little bundle of cuteness. And yet, in the blink of an eye, he is now 8 months old! He has changed so much in such a short space of time, but thankfully we have been able to capture those changes in the photograph we have taken.
We look forward to photographing him even more as he continues to grow and share our journey with you.
Planning to welcome a new puppy to your home?
If you are planning to welcome a new puppy to your home, then our Watch Me Grow package is perfect. It gives you three sessions over a 12 month period, enabling you to document how much your dog changes over that time. Or you can opt for our regular Specialist Pet Photography Session .
Are you interested in starting out as a Pet Photographer? Or maybe want to add it to your established business? Then you definitely need to attend this fantastic seminar.
Maria Michael is a Specialist Pet Photographer with 10 years experience and for the first time, she is coming to Plymouth. Straight talking, honest and down to earth, Maria will teach you to view this genre in a whole new light!
The venue
The seminar is hosted by the very talented photographer, Louise Sumner, and will be based at her wonderful studio. The address of which is –
14 Homer Park, Hooe, Plymouth, PL99NN
The seminar
Your day will begin at the studio, where Maria will take you through her unconventional journey into Professional Photography. She will then explain how this became the foundation on which her Specialist Pet Photography would flourish.
She will share with you the way her business runs today and the ways in which she is able to connect with new clients.
From here, Maria will guide you through the basic set up she uses for capturing her “studio portraits”, then moving on to how she works on location. From equipment choice to camera settings, lens choices, lighting etc, she will share her experiences and reasons for choosing to work the way she does.
After lunch, the group will move on to a carefully pre-chosen location, ready for the practical part of the day. There, we will be met by dog models and each delegate will get plenty of opportunities to put Maria’s tips into action and to photograph the dogs.
The day will be rounded off back at the studio, for a quick recap and to review how everyone found the day.
*Spaces are limited to a maximum of 10 delegates and are allocated on a first come basis. No booking is deemed complete without full payment.
About Maria
Maria has always been passionate about the bond created between humans and their animals. However, it took a twist of fate, to lead her to start her photography business. From day one, she was clear that she wanted her photography to capture the individual personality of those she photographed. A way to ensure their memory would live on, long after they had gone. To achieve this, Maria dedicated time to gaining a greater understanding of the behaviour and psychology of the animals she works with. Since then her reputation and business have grown steadily.
On a mission
However, two years ago, frustrated with the industry, Maria decided to take on a new challenge. She decided to make a commitment to raising the profile of Pet Photography. Maria believes the genre is often not taken seriously, undervalued and under respected. Her mission is to change this perception and raise the bar. And she set about to achieve this through seminars and workshops.
Travelling throughout the UK and overseas, Maria shares her experience with fellow photographers, through a combination of theoretical and practical sessions. With her open and honest approach, sessions always remain relaxed and informal and provide a space where delegates feel comfortable to ask questions and optimise their learning opportunities.
Her Experience
Maria had already run small workshops for a number of years, but in January 2018 Maria was invited to hold her first Masterclass at the International Photographic Convention in London. The response was so positive that Maria was then invited to speak at The Photography Show, NEC Birmingham by Italian album manufacturer, GraphiStudio. And later that year, she was asked to run a seminar on behalf of one of the country’s leading Fine Art Printers, The Print Foundry. Unbeknown to Maria, by this time, she had already started to attract attention from further afield. In November 2018, she was flown overseas to host a Pet Photography Seminar and a Pet Photography Practical Workshop, in Cyprus.
Working with a group of photographers in CyprusA full Masterclass at this year’s international photographic convention in LondonMaria receiving her certificate for 3rd place Pet Photographer Of The Year
In January 2019, Maria returned to the International Photographic Convention, London, to host another Masterclass. This time, her hard work and dedication to a genre she is so passionate about was also rewarded. During the prestigious awards presentation evening, she was nominated 3rd place Pet Photographer Of The Year by The Societies Of Photographers, one of the largest international photographic organisations.
2019 will see Maria return to The Photography Show, NEC Birmingham, in March and continue her mission to raise the profile of Pet Photography within the industry.
Come and see us at this fantastic show. Bring your dog for one of our Pet Portraits on the day. Or take advantage of our amazing show offers on our Specialist Pet Photography Sessions.
Join us at the National Trust WoodFest 2018! Another fantastic annual event which has become one of the highlights of the year for many people.
Set in the stunning setting of Hatfield Forest on the outskirts of Bishops Stortford, it really is an event not to be missed.
It is a free festival with local music, craft and trade stalls.
Over 80 musical acts on two stages and locally-sourced food, real ale and cider.
We will be there too so make sure to pop over to take advantage of our great
Exclusive Show Offers!
Bring your dog for a Pet Portrait or purchase one of our wonderful Specialist Pet Photography Session Vouchers.
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