From Casting Call to Campaign: 77 Dogs, Two Days in Battersea, and the Joy of Ethical DOG Photography
When Napo Pet Insurance held their "UK's Next Top Pup" casting event in Battersea, London. I had the absolute joy of photographing every single hopeful tail-wagger who came through the door. Seventy-seven dogs in one day, followed by a full campaign shoot the next. Here's what it was really like behind the lens - and why it meant the world to me to be a part of the experience.
From Casting Call to Campaign: 77 Dogs, Two Days, and the Joy of Ethical Photography
I may have broken a record. Seventy-seven dogs photographed in one day, without chaos, without stress, and without compromising a single pup's experience. I'm not sure how to verify it, but if there is a title for "most dogs photographed in London in a single day", I'd like to throw my name in the ring.
Last weekend, I was the photographer for Napo Pet Insurance's "UK's Next Top Pup" casting event in Battersea, followed by the campaign shoot for the selected dogs the very next day. Over two whirlwind days, I worked with an incredible mix of rescues, purebreds, puppies, and pros - all there to show off their charm and potentially become the next furry face of Napo.
77 Dogs. 5 Minutes Each. Zero Chaos.
The casting day on Saturday was open to the public, and the turnout was amazing. With only five minutes per dog, I relied heavily on something more powerful than a fast shutter: trust. Every dog, no matter how young, energetic, or nervous, left with a handful of beautiful images to choose from and - more importantly - a positive, pressure-free experience with a dog photographer.
People often ask me, "How do you do it?" And the truth is, I don't separate training from photography. I never have. For me, dog photography is about partnering with behaviour, using soft communication, and making the shoot feel like a fun game. With a little patience and the right encouragement, I had puppies who had just previously mastered a sit waving at the camera, placing their paws delicately on scent kits, resting their chins like seasoned models, and even jumping through paper backdrops - all on the spot.
The Joy of the Unexpected
One of the standout moments from the Sunday campaign session was being greeted by a litter of six-week-old Labradoodle puppies. I had no idea what to expect from such tiny pups, but the breeder was incredible with them. Watching her use luring methods with chicken, calmly repeating "waiting, waiting, waiting", and teaching "sit" and "stay" to babies who could barely hold their own heads up… it was magic.
And yes, I did spend part of that shoot with puppies climbing across my back, my camera, and occasionally my face. Not mad about it.
Then there was Mushroom the Keeshond, who pulled out so many advanced poses he might just knock Theo off her throne as my most trained subject ever.
And the rescues - so many beautiful, resilient souls with stories I wish I'd had more time to hear. My only real regret is not being able to speak more with the humans. Five minutes per dog doesn't leave much room for heart-to-hearts.
Curious to see more of what I do when I do have more than five minutes with each dog?
Have a nose around my dog photography portfolio or book a free call if you're dreaming of beautiful, relaxed portraits of your own dog.
Preparing My Body, Not My Camera
Behind the scenes, what people don't see is how much I have to prepare physically for a job like this. I have ME/CFS and PoTS, so the real challenge wasn't photographing 77 dogs - it was making sure I could get through it without sending myself into a crash (and my bed) for the week following the shoot. Rest, electrolytes, salty snacks, and pacing were just as essential to my toolkit as lenses and lighting.
But my ADHD brain? Stimulated. Thriving. Having the time of its life!
From Chaos to Curation
While Saturday was fast and fun - like mini sessions on speed - Sunday was more curated. I had a brief to work from: headshots, full-body shots, happy dogs interacting with Napo's scent kits and bowls, lick shots on Perspex, even action shots through the backdrop. Honestly? These are things I've done dozens of times so there was time to really get to know more about the selected dogs and their humans.
And even with that scale of things to achieve, it never tipped into chaos. Every single dog stayed relaxed. Every single dog was treated with kindness. Every single dog left with not just a good photo - but a good memory.
A Personal Note
It was my birthday the day after the shoot. And honestly? It felt like the best birthday party ever.
This experience reminded me why I do what I do - not just to create cute photos, but to show what's possible when you prioritise the animal's experience. To show that you can ask dogs to model, to pose, even to jump through paper for the first time ever, if you set them up to succeed and treat them like the sentient beings they are.
And I hope more brands take note. There's a world of difference between hiring an "experienced photographer" and hiring a dog phootgrapher who understands how to work with dogs. The future of ethical pet photography is bright, and I’ll always happily do my bit.
A huge thank you to the team at Napo for selecting me for this job. Can’t wait for the next one!
Amie is SO good with dogs. We've haD the opportunity to shoot with her a few times now at different events. My dachshund Frankie can be a little nervous, but Amie is always so patient and attends to her nervousness so kindly. I would 10/10 recommend!
- Niamh’s 5* Google Review
Our puppy went to his first ever photoshoot and Amie made sure he felt comfortable. As a puppy his attention span is short but she managed to capture him pawfectly.
- Melanie’s 5* Google Review
Looking for a photographer who understands dogs as much as they understand light?
I’m not just a dog photographer. I think I am every dog’s best friend. Through my kindness, compassion and consent-based approach, I work ethically to capture your dog’s uniqueness and create beautiful dog portraits immortalised as luxury artwork pieces for your home. As an inclusive dog photographer, no dog is too reactive, too sick or too challenging for me.
