Simon, Boris & Betty

When Simon’s wife Kim gifted him a portrait session with their two black Labradors, Boris and Betty, she warned me beforehand that it might be a bit of a challenge. Brother and sister at just 18 months old, these two are full of energy, endlessly curious, and very easily distracted.

The session took place at their daughter's livery yard, where we had access to a beautiful private woodland. Honestly, it could not have been a more perfect location for these two. The freedom of the woods meant they could run, play, explore, and simply be themselves without too many distractions around them.

And while they may have been described as “a challenge,” I absolutely loved every minute of it. Capturing dogs exactly as they are — their personalities, quirks, and the connection they share — is always my favourite part of a shoot. Boris and Betty certainly gave me plenty to work with, especially when Betty spent most of the session hanging off Boris’s lip while charging around at 100mph!

We started with some relaxed portraits of Simon with the dogs, keeping outfits casual with chinos and a polo shirt to suit the laid-back woodland setting. Later, Simon’s son Leo joined us for some lovely family photographs, too.

Of course, we also made time for plenty of individual portraits of Boris and Betty. Betty was never far from her beloved rope toy, while Boris proudly carried his ball wherever he could. Those little details always help tell the story of a dog’s personality and make the finished artwork feel even more personal.

One of my favourite moments from the session was capturing the “dream shot”... both dogs sitting and lying calmly together for a beautiful portrait. With energetic young Labradors, this is often easier said than done, so when we got it, it felt extra special. That image is now framed on the wall at home, which is always the best compliment I can receive as a photographer.

We also created some brilliant portraits with the Land Rover, which suited the countryside setting perfectly and added a really timeless feel to the session.

One of the loveliest parts of the evening was persuading Kim to step into a few photographs herself. Like many mums (and especially horse show mums!), both Simon and Kim are usually behind the scenes supporting daughter Grace during her own shoots, so it was really special to capture a few portraits of the two of them together.

Those are often the photographs people treasure most later on.

Sessions like this are exactly why I love what I do. It’s never about perfectly behaved dogs or stiff poses. It’s about capturing connection, personality, and those fleeting moments that make your dogs your dogs.

Boris and Betty may have kept us on our toes, but they also brought so much joy, laughter, and energy to the session — and I think that shines through beautifully in their final artwork.

Ready to Create Your Own Portrait Experience?

Whether your dog is calm and obedient or completely bonkers like Boris & Betty, every session is designed around capturing their unique personality and your connection together.

If you’d love timeless artwork of your own dogs, horses, or family, I’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch to start planning your portrait experience today.