One of the best dog photographers in the business shares her top tips and personal experiences

Most dog owners love to take photos of their canine companions - and need no excuse to share snaps on their social media profiles. We’ve all had to endure a friend scrolling through endless blurry, badly-exposed and poorly-framed photos of their favourite pooch.

But when it comes to fundraising, marketing and publicity, those amateur shots just won’t cut the mustard. ADI accredited programs invest a lot of time, money and effort into professional photography, with good cause - we all know that a great image can be worth its weight in gold.

However, those ‘natural’ shots don’t come easily - they require skill, patience and above all, a special bond between photographer and subject. To mark World Photography Day, we caught up with one of the best dog photographers in the business.

“I love capturing the natural interactions between a veteran and their dog, and the bond that they have together,” says award-winning professional photographer Julie Morrish, who also happens to be the full-time administrator at UK-based ADI member Veterans With Dogs (VWD). “Those special moments take my breath away at times, being able to see the difference a dog makes and realizing what dogs can do to change lives.”

Julie started taking photos for VWD back in 2014 and it wasn’t long before the charity asked her to join the staff full-time. “Images are a huge part of publicity for charities. Because I’ve been with VWD from the early days I’ve been able to bring a consistency to their images, and it’s a look that people recognise, it’s a style. That’s really important because it draws people in and gives people an insight that words alone cannot,” she says.

Gaining the trust of veterans, many of whom have complex PTSD and mental health challenges, hasn’t always been easy. “It’s a big deal for them, but because I’m with the charity and I work with them right from when they first apply, they know me. When we have our residential courses I’m there in the background, chatting to them, chilling out with them, and they accept me being there to take photos.”

Different programs have different approaches, but VWD has a strict policy of avoiding clients’ faces unless they specifically give permission. “I’m always very conscious that we don’t photograph people’s faces,” Julie says. “I focus on the dogs and maybe include just the back of the client’s head or legs. But then some of them will say, do you mind taking some photos of me with my dog? And I’ll do that for them.”

Julie says her time with VMD has had huge benefits for her own personal development. “When I first started I didn’t really have an understanding of mental health. Everyone has mental health challenges at some point in their life, it’s given me a much better insight into PTSD and how the guys cope with that, what they have to go through and what the dogs can do to help them.”

With seven-year-old Springer Spaniel Otis by her side, Julie was able to face her own challenges. “Having Otis was a lifeline when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. The understanding and knowledge I gained through VWD helped me through the distress and feelings of hopelessness. Now I'm back with a new passion for life! I want to continue using my camera to give other people memories to cherish. Seeing someone's delight in receiving their images is what I enjoy the most."

After spells as a fine art, fashion and wedding photographer, Julie realised her real love was working with animals - especially dogs and horses. “I am completely self-taught, I’ve learned the hard way, getting a lot of things wrong!” she laughs. “I did weddings for a couple of years but I didn’t really enjoy it and it could be pretty stressful dealing with the guests! I realized I really enjoy being outdoors and using natural light - I never use flash or studio lighting.”

And Julie’s top tips for the perfect dog photo? “Get down on their level, get down low so you are at their eye level - it’s a much better angle for taking photographs,” she says. “Keep the sun behind you so it is shining into the dog’s eyes, so it lights up their face. Black dogs are more difficult - I’ve had a lot of practice with black dogs over the years!”