Celebrating Peanut’s Birthday - Dog Photography in Hampstead Heath, London
A Little Explorer Turns Ten: Celebrating Peanut in Hampstead Heath
To find out more about celebrating your own dog with a photography session, take a look at my session information.
Peanut recently turned ten years old, and to mark the occasion, her mom decided on something really special - a photography session in Hampstead Heath. Now, I photograph a lot of dogs, but every once in a while, I meet one who walks into a frame like she owns it. Peanut is one of those dogs.
She's a Pomeranian cross-Spitz with a glorious coat, a fierce tail, and a whole lot of personality packed into a small frame. Independent. Confident. An adventurer at heart. She might be tiny in stature, but her spirit is absolutely fearless. She's the sort of dog who doesn't just walk through the woods - she surveys it like she's on a quest.
The Family Behind the Pup
Peanut lives with her mum, Rhian, who planned this session as a gift to celebrate their bond and honour Peanut's tenth birthday. Her dad lives in Germany but often travels back to the UK just to spend time with Peanut - and not just for quick visits. He's even taken her on her own holidays, just the two of them, exploring the Cotswolds together.
In fact, Peanut's dad had already had his own private photography session with her. So this time, Rhian made one thing clear: no photo-bombing. This was her moment with Peanut. A celebration of their life together, the walks they've taken, and the quiet love that's built up over ten years of shared routines, and loving companionship.
And to be clear - she wasn't mean about it. In fact, it was hilarious. Their back-and-forth during the session had me laughing out loud more than once. I won't dive into their history, because it's not mine to tell, but their dynamic was pure comedy. The kind of friendly co-parenting energy where both of them know Peanut is the one really in charge.
Capturing a Ten-Year Bond in the Heath
Rhian's vision for the shoot was simple, but powerful. She wanted the photos to reflect how she sees Peanut - as a little explorer in a big world. Adventurous, self-assured, curious. Just Peanut, being Peanut.
She also wanted a handful of portraits of the two of them together. Candid, relaxed images that captured their connection - the quiet understanding that comes from a decade of knowing each other.
So we headed into Hampstead Heath, one of London's most iconic green spaces, and let Peanut lead the way. Except, of course, when she very willingly let me direct her too. And that's where the real magic happened.
No Sits in Sight — And That's the Best Bit
Peanut is a dog who does not do "basic". I'm pretty sure she heard the phrase "standard sitting portrait" and immediately ran the other way. And you know what? I loved her for it.
She came into the session with her own ideas about what she wanted to do. She climbed onto logs and frolicked along hidden trails off of the main paths without hesitation. She perched herself on high ground like she'd done it a hundred times before. No coaxing. No bribing. Just pure confidence. Every pose she offered had character - a little lean here, a chin lift there, a moment of stillness before she moved again. And everyone who has seen her photos has said the same thing: “Did you take your own wind machine with you?!”
What stood out most wasn't her confidence, though. It was her willingness to engage with me, a stranger, on her terms. Peanut's mum had warned me she liked to go off exploring, enjoying the world around her in her own time. But something shifted during the shoot. She chose to pay attention. She tuned in to the session. She worked with me - not out of obligation, but out of trust. And snacks of course!
And that's what I aim for in every session. Not obedience. Not "well-behaved" dogs. Just dogs who feel safe enough to show up as they are, and then choose to be part of what we're doing.
What Makes a Session Like This So Special?
People often ask what makes my sessions different from a typical pet photography shoot. The answer is simple: I don't just photograph dogs. I photograph relationships. Whether the one between the dog and their humans, or the dog and the world they live in in general. I photograph expressions. I photograph trust.
Every session is designed around the individual dog and their human. For Peanut, that meant giving her the space to explore, and then gently inviting her into moments of connection. For Rhian, it meant having the opportunity to see herself in photos with the dog she adores - not forced smiles or awkward posing, just the two of them, together.
It's not just about lighting and angles. It's about body language. It's about knowing when to pause, when to follow, and when to lean into the moment. And it's about recognising that no two dogs will give you the same thing - and that's exactly what makes each gallery so powerful.
Why Ten Is Worth Celebrating
There's something deeply poignant about photographing older dogs. Ten isn't old by any means, but it's a milestone. It's the moment when we start to look back a little more, appreciate things a little deeper, and savour the everyday joy that dogs bring into our lives.
For Rhian, this shoot was about capturing Peanut not just as she looks now, but as she is. Strong-willed. Playful. Inquisitive. Still very much in love with the great outdoors. It was a chance to freeze this chapter in time - before it changes again, as all things do.
Photographs like these become more valuable with every passing year. They hold memories. They hold meaning. They show us not just what our dogs looked like but who they were.
The Bit That Stayed With Me
Every session teaches me something, and this one reminds me of why I do what I do. Rhian and Peanut's bond was so easy to see - in the way Rhian looked at her, spoke to her, and laughed at her antics.
And in the way Peanut looked back, tail high, ears alert, entirely at home.
It reminded me that dogs don't need grand gestures or big performances to show love. Sometimes love is just being seen. Being understood. Being invited into a shared moment, and choosing to stay.
And it reminded me of the value of what I offer. Not just "a few good shots," but the experience itself. The chance for humans and dogs to connect in a new way, to celebrate each other, and to walk away with something tangible that holds all of it - the joy, the humour, the quiet devotion.
Thinking About Your Own Dog's Story?
If you're thinking about booking a session, but wondering if your dog would sit still, listen long enough, or pose like the dogs in my portfolio - you don't have to worry.
Peanut didn't do any of those things, and her gallery is absolutely full of magic. Because it wasn't about sitting still. It was about letting her personality shine.
Every dog is different. Every story is different. And that's exactly what I love.
