Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

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.

we have a Woofstock winner!

thank you again to all who stopped by the scruffy dog photography booth at Woofstock this past weekend … it was awesome to meet you all.  and thank you for filling out a ballot for our first annual free Regular Rover photo shoot.

with almost 300 ballots in the box, digging for the winning ballot wasn’t an easy task, so i left it to the professional …

draw-13

actually, it wasn’t that easy for matea either … she ended up picking two and i had to ask her to close her eyes and drop one.

draw1

and the winner is … Brody, owned by Amie Loga!!   i think i actually remember this little brown mini-labradoodle … then again, i never forget a dog-face.  and the runner-up, the other ballot matea drew — in case Brody can’t make it — is Molly, owned by Abeed Remtulla of Toronto.

congrats, Brody.  unfortunately your mom didn’t give us her email address so we’ll be in touch the old-fashioned way … no, not string-and-tin-cans, but close.  🙂

Facebook Comments
0 comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

    scruffy dog loves Woofstock

    while still wading through the flotsam of our Woofstock booth that slowly drifts in from the garage into the studio, making it difficult for the scruffies to find a place to stretch out these days, i thought i should probably get a few images from the fabulous weekend up on the blog to share.

    woofstock-43

    due to scheduling commitments in previous years,  this was our first Woofstock experience, and through it i’ve learned a thing or two … the most important is that if i have any hope of getting out to see all the amazing dogs, i have to do so on saturday … leaving the booth in the hands of my trusty staff and take some time to wander.  sunday just gets too crazy with the last minute visitors.  of course, the other thing i learned is that i needn’t have dragged along the folding chairs! with the constant flood of kind admirers there was never a chance to sit down except for a few brief seconds on the top of the cooler.

    still, happily bound to the scruffy dog booth and unable to witness the festivities beyond the south-facing vista from our Front Street tent, i loved Woofstock even more than expected … and when we couldn’t get out to the crazy, the crazy came to us.

    woofstock-105

    my shooting was severely limited by time — often  having only one click per dog — and by the crowds … people barging through your field, or — more often — other pooches vying for their own camera time.

    woofstock-86

    pom-pocket-diptych

    woofstock-31

    woofstock-35

    amid the sea of snorty, adorable pugs (easily the most popular dog in the Sunday crowd) was a veritable wave of scruffies earlier in the day.  another fact i learned at Woofstock, however,  is that apparently a lot of scruffy dogs can’t read, because — sadly — a surprising number of them passed right on by the scruffy dog booth with barely a turn of the head.   and i have to wonder if this girl — Dixie — might have as well if not for me rushing around my table and out of the booth, practically assaulting her owner/rescuer from Calgary and his other rescue dogs Saturday afternoon and again Sunday when i was finally able to take this photo:

    woofstock-101

    i’m in love with this girl.  i want this girl.  she is my dream dog.  apparently Dixie’s owners (part of a rescue organization) and their pack are thinking of moving to Ontario, and if they do, i’ve promised Dixie her own shoot.  ulterior motives of course … then i’ll have their address!  😉  all kidding and purple paws aside, Dixie, you have a scruffy dog shoot coming to you … i just can’t make it all the way to Calgary, even though i do have a place to stay there.

    some other great faces i met …

    woofstock-81

    woofstock-45

    and this little chi … obviously so impressed with the events …. not.

    woofstock-113

    another scruffie i assaulted … or maybe it’s a wookie?

    woofstock-23

    and a barky-pants who had a lot to say to me while his/her owner was busy looking through some of the scruffy dog photo books … we had a good conversation.

    woofstock-94

    and this little monkey doing a quick model of the fabulous dog clothes made by Black Baron Kingdom Apparel — my most awesomest tent neighbors from Winnipeg, who make funky animal clothing from used and vintage people clothes. check ’em out!

    woofstock-136

    if i’d had merrick with me, i almost certainly would have subjected him to a Black Barron fitting.

    just a few more friendly Woofstock faces …

    woofstock-109

    woofstock-89

    and more often than not, the dogs would literally try to come and visit me …

    woofstock-137

    here’s a quick glimpse of the booth:

    woofstock-18

    thank you, Woofstock, for a fantastic weekend!  thank you, weather-fairies, for only a little rain.  and thank you to everyone who stopped by with such kind words.  i loved talking to all of you, and loved meeting all of your dogs … even the ones who peed all over our table  cloth.

    thank you to Cheryl at The Barkery in Stratford for the tasty, grainless biscuits for our table.

    big thanks to my staff: Angie, especially for her sewing abilities and ingenuity, and Andrea, who deserves the biggest thank-you of all for rocking the booth with her enthusiasm, putting pedal to the medal along the 401 Saturday morning, and schlepping more booth-display crap than one woman should ever have to in a lifetime!

    woofstock-140-edit-2

    Facebook Comments
    13 comments
    Add a comment...

    Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

    • LizYour booth looked great! and can I say awesome to the guy with the two Chi’s in his pockets?!? hahaReplyCancel

    • IdilWow! These photos are fantastic, Illona, and your booth looks perfect! I wish Odie and I could be there.ReplyCancel

    • LynneAwesome, awesome, awesome! Love all the shots — they are magnificent!ReplyCancel

    • emilyGreat shots and even better booth! I love it! And thanks for including the muzzled dogs, they are beautiful! 😉ReplyCancel

    • JanetI know you had the best booth there! Great stuff!!! Go Scruffy Dog Photography!ReplyCancel

    • Kelly HayesOh my… Such gorgeous shots!

      Dixie is gorgeous!! She does look real, she’s like a wire-haired wolf! I would have fallen in love too. I’m a sucker for the scruffy dogs for sure. I’m excited I have an 11 week old Griffy coming on Friday!

      Again wonderful work as usual!ReplyCancel

    • Holly Garner-JacksonWhat can I say!!!! Looks like Woofstock and you are definitely a match! What a great event ! I think these photos of dogs just passing by really proves how good you are! And of course dogs tried to come visit you…. you are the dog whisperer of photographers!
      AWESOME!!!!
      Someday I’ll get there ….. someday you can shoot my dog!ReplyCancel

    • Susan HumphreysIllona, these pictures are outstanding as usual. I adore your Merrick and Matea pictures. I only wish I lived in Canada, so I could have some
      pictures taken for myself. Love your display for Scruffy dogs.ReplyCancel

    • Vick BOMG Illona, i LOVE the photo of the the little scruffies in the pockets. that shot should be made in to posters and sold, my niece would LOVE it!!

      Dixie is super cute too!

      Awesome work as usual. 🙂ReplyCancel

    • Charlotte LeonardWow, I still can’t believe how breath-taking your work is!! I’m so excited to be doing a shoot with you =D Can’t wait, you’ve got some amazing talent! Even being a photographer myself, I do not know how you do it!!!ReplyCancel

    • MichelleI love, love, love the photos! Woofstock sounds wonderful….and if you ever make it to Florida, you can sign me up for a shoot, for sure! I adore your work.ReplyCancel

    • andreathe booth looked so great, illona!! glad to hear you had two good days….it was nice to see you…sophie sends her regards!! 🙂ReplyCancel

    • KamalaDixie IS gorgeous! That face is just stunning. She looks a bit like this dog I know, Odin, who is one of the coolest and most handsome dogs ever. They would make the most amazing couple.
      Odin:

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/23638860@N05/4566702017/
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/23638860@N05/4567332014/ReplyCancel

    there’s something you should know about Olive …

    so this is Olive …

    olive-160

    and what you should know about Olive is that she’s not a Newfoundlander.

    olive-39

    even though she does like water.

    olive-20

    so here’s the story.  Olive here is my first client for whom a session was purchased before she was even born.  but back then, Kristin and Dan were convinced they were destined for a little black newfoundlander fur ball … however, with springer spaniels already in the family, the hunting-dog fever had already begun to fester and, “Olive” became a sprocker.

    olive-15

    olive-126

    oh, and what’s a “sprocker”?  why, a springer/cocker, of course! … a pointing, running, swimming, fetching fool.

    olive-252

    as per the usual scruffy dog shoots, i strive for a huge variety of settings, light, colour, and texture … so we set off to the conservation area where i never saw such green in my life.  as an exclusively pet-photographer and shooting mostly dogs, i must admit, i get a little sick of green.  any opportunity to shoot anything besides grass is always a thrill for me, but this grass was a green i seriously can’t describe other to say it was the freshest green i’d ever seen and it matched Olive’s collar stunningly.

    olive-57

    but again, variety for me is the key, so on we marched, throughout the conservation area looking for more interesting textures and colours …

    olive-110

    olive-315

    and – most of all – fun for olive to get into …

    olive-77

    olive-286

    and i should mention that this 8-month-old girl NEVER stopped.  where some of these photos might look like she’s standing still, look more closely … see the tags?  she is a constant, whirling dirvish.

    olive-73

    moving, moving, moving …

    olive-34-bw

    even here … not truly still …

    olive-117

    olive-197

    and moving …

    olive-170

    and to get baby Olive to finally sit still, we had to tie her up.  for those who email me privately to ask, yes, i DO remove leashes and long lines from images, but i do so only with images which go to print.

    olive-207

    olive-158

    other times, for a still shot of Olive, the promise of my “magic” treats was required.

    olive-338

    and on the way home we simply had to stop by the Gryphon’s stadium wall for a few shots.  i think she was finally just a wee bit tired.

    olive-404

    of course, at home, greeted by Olive’s housemate, i simply had to catch a few shots of kitty …

    olive-430

    olive-444

    thanks Olive and Kristin and Dan for a very fun shoot and a splendid afternoon.  and thank you so much for your gracious patience as the preparations for Woofstock pushed back the finish-date for your images.  i hope you love Olive’s final images as much as i loved working on them, and i look forward to seeing you both again at the studio consult!  give that girl a snorgle for me!

    olive-480-aged

    and for those of you who stopped by Woofstock this weekend, you will recognize Olive from our main table-signage …

    sdp-sign-20x30

    Facebook Comments
    16 comments
    Add a comment...

    Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

    • alexaI LOVE the one of her in front of the trees! Gorgeous. 🙂 What a fun little girl! Looks like she really kept you on your toes. Awesome work as always.ReplyCancel

    • Kristin and Dan (Olive's parents)Needless to say Illona, that you have not heard from us yet cause we have been so busy ADMIRING Olive’s photos!
      Everytime I go online to email you back, we get stuck looking at the gallery. Everyone is so right, you captured her personality to a tee! We are having the HARDEST time picking out photos, but we will be in touch soon to discuss prints.
      All I can say to everyone is, you MUST meet a sprocker! They are so special!ReplyCancel

    • SaraI get such a strong sense of Olive’s personality in each photo. And I love the kitty pics!ReplyCancel

    • RuthGah, you never fail to amaze me! I agree with the comment above, I’d want to buy every one of them if she was my dog!!ReplyCancel

    • toxehWhat a BEAUTIFUL dog. Those eyes stand out so well against her fur. I’m a huge spaniel fan, love to see this one living up to her breed(s.)

      I always adore the scenery you pick for your photos – like those faint pinkly flowered trees – wow! And the red wall.

      Gorgeous series.ReplyCancel

    • illonathank you so much, everyone, for your kind words.

      Meaghan, i’m dying to meet your springers … and, of course, being field-trained, they’d be a joy to work with.

      thanks again, everyone. i’m still waiting to hear from Dan and Kristin. 🙂 i’m sure they’re loving all of your wonderful comments.ReplyCancel

    • LynstarFCThese photos are just beautiful! I think my favorite is the one with Olive and the pretty pink trees behind her. Olive is WAY too cute and I’m seriously tempted to dognap her! 🙂ReplyCancel

    • Julianna KohMan, these are awesome photos – it was ‘WOW’ all the way through the post!
      Beautiful brown eyes Olive has.ReplyCancel

    • Holly Garner-JacksonOMD Illona these are great as usual. I love the one of Olive sitting in front of the red wall. Her expression and the way she is sitting is hilarious!
      The eyes of that cat are amazing!
      Well done!ReplyCancel

    • diemGreat pics! Love the one with the big stick and where Olive is scouting out the ducks. Classic!ReplyCancel

    • JeanOh WOW! Illona these are amazing! Olive is such an expressive character and you caught her brilliantly and I’m not just saying so cuz I luvs Springers 🙂ReplyCancel

    • UtskiIncredible photos! Olive is so adorable and you managed to capture in so many excellent poses and expressions.ReplyCancel

    • tee4tiaWow, Illona, you really captured this high-spirited beautiful girl in all her glory. If Olive was mine, I would cover my wall with everyone of these images. Fantastic!ReplyCancel

    • JessicaI think Olive is adorable and the way you captured her personaility, it’s amazing. 🙂ReplyCancel

    • SarahAwesome collection of Olive. I love the one with the pink flowers in the background, looks so nice with her colouring.ReplyCancel

    • MeghanHey Illona – the pictures of Olive look amazing! Great job! Perhaps I’m biased, but I think that was a fantastic wedding present 😛
      I just need to get my springers – Olive’s cousins – booked in sometime!!ReplyCancel

    X
    Return to Top ▲Return to Top ▲