The crimes depended on each dog's unique personalities and characteristic traits. Some creative liberties were taken.
Out-of-the-box portraits for pets have always been of interest to me. Going against the grain is what motivates me to create unusual and engaging pet photography.
This is also in part, a community-driven project. I wanted people to know this creative venture was born in Llangollen, North Wales, where my photography studio is based. The surrounding Welsh valleys and picturesque landscape of Llangollen was the inspiration for the front design of the deck.
Most of the dogs are local to the area and I wanted to offer an opportunity for them to be part of something dynamic and quirky.
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I’m Sammy, a photographer based in North Wales. My decade long career as an international wedding and studio photographer gave me a world of experience with different cultures, human nature and figuring out if Adobe or a darkroom was better.
There was, however, no room for a canine companion in this line of work. 2020 had me re-evaluate some of those things. I now have a photography studio in Llangollen, a darkroom in my bathroom and a cocker spaniel called Kiddo.
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My own dog inspired me to create the Cheeky Barkers project. She was caught red-pawed pickpocketing some snacks from my jacket. Sharing stories, it was apparent many of my clients’ dogs had similar cheeky crimes.
An open call for 52 dogs was made on social media. Any size, any temperament and any aged dog were welcome to apply to be a Cheeky Barker.
Their crimes were determined during their own photoshoot and each crime is unique to each dog. It depended on their levels of energy, their background and even how they interacted with me.
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My background is in analogue photography. The darkroom process played a huge part in creating this particular style of portrait. Film scratches and light leaks are a beautiful problem when dealing with analogue photography.
Early Victorian era portraits suffered from imperfect exposure and scratches; this is what I used as inspiration. In this instance, Adobe Photoshop was better than the darkroom.
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The main challenge encountered with this project was ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all the dogs first and foremost. Most of the dogs had never visited the studio before and were anxious or nervous in the new environment.
At least 10 minutes was spent at their level, understanding their behavior before a single image was taken. I work with a local dog trainer and canine expert to further my awareness and knowledge of dog health, breed characteristics and canine safety. It was important for me to reassure both the owner and their dog they were in a safe and calm environment.
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There are many other creative ideas I’m currently exploring. Every month I organize a dog walk to Welsh landmarks and points of interest. I offer photoshoots at these locations for people and their dogs to experience North Wales with a different perspective.
As for the studio, I’ll be creating a colorful cat calendar with a twist. Coming up to the colder months, the studio will be hosting snakes, lizards and dragons.
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Dogs are much smarter than people realize. It is our responsibility to understand how they communicate with us. Please give dogs the respect and patience they deserve as they navigate around our lives. They are only in it for a short time, let’s make it excellent for them.
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