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Internationally-renowned, award-winning animal photographer Illona Haus created scruffy dog photography inc. as the province's premier pet photography business which continues to serve clients across Ontario, the US and the world. Based in Kitchener, Ontario and photographing exclusively animals for fifteen years - both commercially and for private clients - Illona is considered one of the world's leading and most influential pet photographers.

 

To learn more about the scruffy dog photography, its creator and history, and the scruffy dog experience, feel free to browse through the menu above, and scroll through over a decade's worth of blog entries below!

 

Please drop me a line! I'd love the opportunity to capture stunning, creative, one-of-a-kind photographic memories of your 4-legged loved ones to treasure in artwork for a lifetime, and show you just what makes the scruffy dog experience second to none.

milo sneak ~ {Toronto pet photographer}

meet the big bruiser from our very enjoyable shoot this past Friday.  it wasn’t a three-way love affair … Milo loved me, the cameras loved Milo, but Milo really could have cared less about the cameras.  still, we made it work.  tons of awesome shots; i can’t wait to work on these.  this is only one that i grabbed quickly out of the first cut …

how gorgeous is this boy?

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  • Jackieahhhhh-mazingReplyCancel

  • IdilBeautiful shot!!! Milo’s very handsome! And great tip, Illona 😉ReplyCancel

  • illonathanks, guys.

    Tina, don’t you know i hypnotize all my clients first? 😉 here’s a trick … put your boxer up on something — a big rock, a large stump, a park bench. ask him/her to stay. try to verbally correct before they jump down, but if they do make it off their “mark”, simply put them back up … and again, and again, and again. eventually, and with rewards, they realize what it is you’re wanting from them and they either decide to work for the reward or they resign themselves to the task at hand.

    in almost every case, owners give up long before i do.ReplyCancel

  • TinaLOVE IT!!! There is no way I would get my Boxer to sit still for that long…Great shot!ReplyCancel

  • AnitaOooh look at that sky! And the Boxer of course:) Love!ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonWOW!!! beautiful shot!
    Can’t wait to see the rest!ReplyCancel

  • Jackie Pbeautiful shot!ReplyCancel

my afternoon with the borders ~ {Acton, Ontario pet photographer}

meet Ed, Bill, and Jazz …

these three were a challenge. from the moment i pulled into their drive, their border-selves exploded into a frenzied display of their individual characters.  circling the car as if a small herd of sheep had just steered onto their property, i could almost immediately read their different energies.  Ed — in the middle — is the alpha …

Ed is head of the this pack, which includes cat, Alvin, and as Bill — on the left of the initial image — became increasingly excited about my car and my presence, circling tighter and tighter, Ed found it necessary to correct subservient Bill several times.

Jazz, upon my arrival, hung back but would explode with the occasional burst of anxiety, circling the car and her favorite tree around which she had created her own track, and then returned to hide behind her bush.

it took a while for these guys to warm up to the camera.  Ed, of course, wasn’t a problem …

… but shy Jazz and Bill were very wary and skittish, so most of their initial shots had to be taken at a comfortable distance for them.

Bill was the biggest challenge.  he is so soft, and was utterly terrified of the camera and the concept of the photo-shoot.  and when owner Nancy tried to coax him into a ‘stay’ in the woods, he literally melted.  for me, though, sometimes this kind of challenge is exactly what feeds me.

in the little clearing in the woods, as Bill clung to Nancy and there seemed no hope in capturing any images of this boy, i instructed Nancy to stay put and to ‘reject’ Bill … to push him away gently, not with her hands, but with her body … her legs, her hips … until he realized that staying with her was not an option.  as i knelt in the leaves with the telephoto lens on one of the cameras, waiting, Bill came to me for help … wanting to cling to me instead.  because i was kneeling i wasn’t able to use my body to nudge him away, so instead, i reached for the other camera which i knew he was still too nervous of, snapped a couple of rounds, and he skittered away.

suddenly finding himself with no protection, Bill slunk around the forest clearing for a few minutes uncertain what was expected of him.  of course, slinking around with his head down, i still had some time to wait before a photo-op would present itself.  so Nancy and i waited, and as Bill realized that Ed and Jazz were calmly going about their exploring, he gradually relaxed …

and in time, i was getting this from the boy …

but let’s not forget about Ed …

and i did manage to get a couple of closeups of Jazz too …

and then there was Alvin …

yup, a black and white cat in a border family, of course.

unlike his canine counterparts, Alvin was a ham.

but, of course, Ed didn’t like anyone else getting camera attention.  bad Ed!

thanks, Nancy, for introducing me to your black and white pack.  and thanks Ed, Jazz, Alvin, and especially Bill, for the challenge.

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  • KarenWow, what a great shoot you did with those bundles of energy.
    I love this breed a lot and you’ve captured their personalities so well, the sparks that are burning in those eyes is terrific. Can’t say I’ve got a favorite shot, they are all so well done.
    And I’m not a cat person, but that cat does look like a goof.

    Ciao ciaoReplyCancel

  • illonathanks so much, everyone. glad you’re enjoying them.

    like some of you, i was pretty partial to Alvin too. he was a sweetie, and an utter ham.

    and yes, these guys were a handful. i know owner Nancy was really after a good clear shot of all three together, but i think she failed to have that conversation with Ed, Bill and Jazz before the shoot because they clearly had other ideas during our session.ReplyCancel

  • Jean (allegrolhw)If I could only pick one I would be beside myself. Great work!ReplyCancel

  • marlesghilliesuperb set… what great dogs.ReplyCancel

  • LindaSo gorgeous! They are all fabulous photos!ReplyCancel

  • wendyThat picture of Jazz peering out behind the bush is so sweet!ReplyCancel

  • LindaWell done! What a challenge! Knowing the breed you had your work cut out for you. You captured the very essence of being a Border Collie! Thank You!ReplyCancel

  • jennifer metzgerProbably one of my favorite shoots! I am in love with #110 and can I take Alvin home with me, please?? Great location also, you are pretty much on par with me as far as the amazing outdoor locations you have access to!ReplyCancel

  • Tatyanafantastic, all of them. Those BCs look gorgeous in the forest 🙂ReplyCancel

  • IanJWow wow wow!!! I’m loving this set! Your photos of the collies are to die for, I love the lighting, the one of Jazz in the bush is stunning 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Debthese are so beautiful and full of personality. love these borders and their cat.ReplyCancel

  • torilove the second to last one. cracked me up. looks like a great shoot.ReplyCancel

  • andreawonderful photos!! your abilities with dogs and well as with the camera are amazing, illona!! (and you know i am partial to border collies!! :))ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonKnowing dogs, and boy do you know dogs, is what you need to accomplish such amazing shots. The patience and skill you have never ceases to amaze me.
    I love the shot of Jazz it the under brush of the tree best. Great shoot, illona!ReplyCancel

  • Anitaomg, Alvin is the best!! What a handsome, handsome boy.

    I’m loving that last photo big time!ReplyCancel

  • LoriYes, great work getting each of the three to ‘come around’! What lovely animals–all four! The shot of the three borders going on back up the trail makes an excellent coda 🙂ReplyCancel

  • JillBeautiful, Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL! What a great group of photos. The close-up of Ed smiling was the highlight for me.ReplyCancel

  • marjoThese are fantastic … what a talent you have!!!ReplyCancel

  • DeeDeeThese are all gorgeous and fantastic!! I especially love the one of Alvin with his head resting on his paw on the chair!! Beautiful work as always, especially capturing all of the unique, adorable personalities.ReplyCancel

marlie sneak and your monday smile ~ {Orangeville pet photographer}

just a quickie as i saddle up for a long shoot in Toronto today … but couldn’t leave you without a monday smile a la goofy girl Marlie who i shot over the weekend …

and in case you hadn’t guessed, she’s a shorthaired pointer.

and she has one speed — hyper-drive:

have a great Monday, everyone.

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  • Holly Garner-JacksonSpeed racer! Cool shotsReplyCancel

  • allison f.Love love LOVE them.ReplyCancel

  • JenniferI’m in love with that second shot. She looks she is all glossy and clean, the light shining through her leg, the point – perfection!!!!!ReplyCancel

  • karenYou finally got to meet Marlie Girl! Can’t wait to see the pictures illona.ReplyCancel

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