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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 in 2007 ... the first of its kind in Canada ... and, still today, continues to serve clients across Ontario, the US and the world. Based in Kitchener, Ontario and photographing exclusively animals for almost 20 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 scruffy dog photography, its creator, history, and the scruffy dog experience, feel free to browse through the menu above, and scroll 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.

memphis’ custom shoot ~ {Waterloo, Ontario pet photographer}

for those of you who follow scruffy dog photography on Facebook, you’ll have already met Memphis.  and for those of you who don’t follow SDP on Facebook … um … why not?  it’s where you’ll catch all the latest!

so this is Memphis …

these first few shots were taken during a pre-shoot session.  “a what?” yup, a pre-shoot shoot …

and why the need for a pre-shoot session?  well, here’s the thing … we use this train tunnel from time to time, and — not unlike a few other scruffy dog clients — the graffiti in the tunnel was something that Memphis’ owners definitely wanted for their boy.  and, hoping to capitalize on the awesome skull that they’d seen in our recent shoots there, they decided to book a Starter session now, before their fuller Standard session later this fall.

however, after a quick trip down to the tunnel, Memphis’s dad, Don, discovered that the graffitied skull had been covered up.  yes, it’s quite a busy tunnel!

so, being a bit of an artist in his own right — decades building and painting NHL goalie masks, and now painting NASCAR driver helmets — Don decided to paint his own graffiti for his boy … and in order to establish the best spot for his artwork, we arranged a pre-shoot.  and that section right above Memphis’ head was the decided-upon canvas.

after some arranging, a busy morning, and a surreptitious rendezvous, we were set.  Don had a busy morning, i was on call, and Memphis was in waiting.  and when we brought Memphis into the tunnel that second time, with Don’s work fresh on the concrete wall, i kid you not, one of the first things Memphis did was check out his dad’s work!

… perhaps a little intimidated by the bull terrier skull looming behind him?

” … maybe if i don’t look at it.”

but overall, i think the big boy approved, as quite soon he was relaxed and posing …

even a little action-jackson …

just look at this gorgeous boy!

“hey, lady, put that camera away and give me some more treats already!”

“snarl!”

“hey, dad? you finished? we gettin’ outta here any time soon?”

thanks for a fun afternoon, Don and Memphis.  can’t wait to pick up your canvas for you guys!  and i’m really looking forward to our fall session.

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  • AdamMay I ask where in Waterloo this location is?ReplyCancel

  • PaulaLove that Bully look. My mini bully Jet would look awesome here!ReplyCancel

  • sarah danksOh wow. I love love LOVE these shots! Great background (and not-so-clandestine artwork!), WONDERFUL dog; super shots.ReplyCancel

  • Sonja (and Montecristo Travels)LOVE the graffiti …. just love it. THAT is our style for sure!ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonWell the snarl and the beg get my votes!! So much going on here and you nailed it!!ReplyCancel

  • julieThis has got to be one of my favorite shoot of yours! 1) Great location 2) I love the interactive nature of the shoot, using dad’s very cool artwork and 3) Memphis is such an expressive dog! Great job at catching his entertaining personality. # 2 & Memphis walking down the length of the tunnel are my favorite, favorites. Hi Memphis, I love you!ReplyCancel

  • Don StrausIt’s great to see the finished products! Thanks for taking the time, and sharing in our ‘special project’. It was a lot of work, and a lot of fun – and it shows in the images! Look forward to see what happens in the fall half of the shoot.ReplyCancel

  • Christine LobsingerOutstanding dog photography~ I’ve never, and I mean NEVER, seen anything like your pet dog photography skills before, and I’ve seen so much pet photography on http://www.betterphoto.com since I’ve joined there three years ago.
    Your skills are truly impressive- Memphis should be in magazines! Truly wonderful ‘storytelling’ shots!
    Bravo!

    Smiling With You,
    ChristineReplyCancel

  • ErinI love your technique and locations. As an aspiring pet photographer myself I would love any critiques you may have for the pictures on my blog! Your work is amazing and you seem to be able to capture the dogs personality. I especially like the one with him trotting down the tracks.ReplyCancel

  • Grace VFantastic! Such great expressions you’ve captured.ReplyCancel

  • ColinaI’m in absolute awe! This has got to be one of the best series of Pet Photography I’ve ever seen! Every element comes together perfectly, the subject, the background, the collar – just spectacular! It would be great if one of the No Ban clubs picked up this dog as an ambassador!ReplyCancel

  • LainerOMG! This is a fantastic story, and I love the photos. the graffiti art is awesome too. I love reading your posts. I clicked the link on Facebook, which is so convenient. I get so distracted with all of the websites, and find Facebook is my home base for keeping in touch with other people’s websites. I just moved from CT to AZ, and haven’t had the time to scroll through your blog. Boy, am I glad I saw your Facebook blurb. Beautiful work, girl!ReplyCancel

  • LoriI love love love love this location Illona!!ReplyCancel

  • DLukerThe scruffy gods were definitely smiling on y’all for this session! The shots where Memphis (such a cool name) is “reacting” to the scull are absolutely fantastic! Excellent work!ReplyCancel

  • sarahhow cool is this?!? love it.ReplyCancel

  • Rachel LaurenEvery time I see a session in this tunnel, it makes me want to shoot in front of graffiti even more! I need to get on that!

    On another note, Memphis is a gorgeous dog, and you captured him so well (I’m jealous, I want to photograph one of these guys so bad!)

    The addition of his dad’s artwork is an awesome touch!ReplyCancel

  • JeffI’m in pixel love. EVERYTHING has come together to make this series one of your best. Incredible.ReplyCancel

  • Gladys CalderonLove these shots you are definately really good with taking doggie pics please contact me with information on how my Chico can get a session with you.ReplyCancel

  • MargaretWhat a handsome, handsome boy Memphis is!ReplyCancel

  • KimAwesome. I always love the background and contrast that this tunnel provides!! The fact that Don could paint his own background is amazing.ReplyCancel

more big canvases ~ {Ontario pet photographer}

as some of you blog-followers already know, scruffy dog is rapidly becoming known for our big, framed canvases.  it thrills me to no end when a client goes big because, from the beginning of scruffy dog, shooting for ‘artwork’ and albums full of memories has always been the goal … and nothing defines ‘artwork’ more than these gallery wrap canvases, set into a deep, contemporary float-frame.

for those of you who stopped by to see us at Woofstock, you’ll remember the above piece … now you can see in a home setting.

this canvas is 22×52″ … at that length, it’s a good fit over a standard-sized couch.

we always recommend anything from 52 – 60″ length for couch size … and quite often a lot of extra work goes into these pieces to gain that extra length.

for over the bed, you’re looking at 52 -60″ as well …

this is a queen-sized bed with a 22×52″ canvas (the frame adds another inch all around) … and again, i prefer developing the image so that we get more length and span across the wall …

… not to mention that the length gives a much more dramatic effect than standard sizes.  (and yes, the scruffies — ms fartypants and goobernuts mcscruffy — do follow me everywhere.)

the workmakship on these professional canvases is impeccable.  they simply can’t be compared with “consumer” canvases.  and the float-frames truly finish your piece, setting it off the wall with that contemporary flair and making it stand out as a piece of art vs. the “naked” look of an unframed, gallery canvas wrap that can often blend into the wall on which it is hanging.

like the canvases, the float-frames are top-quality: solid oak with a stain black finish, and with a unique and truly excellent honeycomb hanging system which allows for a lot of flexibility when hanging.

after these big pieces, the standard sizes almost look small, but not every wall can handle the big ones.  these two are 24×36″ … one with and one without the float-frame …

i’ve had a few clients recently — new and repeat — book sessions specifically with these large canvases in mind, and i’ll share the results of those in the next week or so when i pick up a couple of these pieces from the lab.

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  • AndreiaHi,
    congratulations on the amazing pictures. A shame you are so far away, I would love you to photograph Lola (my full energetic hunting mix breed). If you ever decide to come to Norway you got a client!!
    All the best,
    AndreiaReplyCancel

  • Samlove these canvases! never really thought much of them before seeing yours, now I’ll never get satisfied lolReplyCancel

  • MarlaGorgeous, Illona.ReplyCancel

  • SandraWOW……….ReplyCancel

  • torii want one of nashy.ReplyCancel

  • Mike HayesJust discovered you on flickr, and found your blog. I love your work!ReplyCancel

  • IdilWow! These look fantastic! I’ve never done a canvas this big but now that we moved to our new home, I might try it. My only problem is that my photos aren’t nearly as good. I wish you could take my babies’ pics but Waterloo is too far from Montreal 🙁ReplyCancel

  • KimMy next canvas is going to be a big one that can go over my bed or couch!!ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonThese look spectacular! I’d certainly consider something like those large ones, of course I’d expect you to decorate my house, too!ReplyCancel

  • jenniferOh thank god. you ordered the one i wanted you to, of her in the grasses with the sun shining through them, it is SO spectacular and I think my fav of Matea, or at least my top 5….hard to say. 😉 I do wish I could see it in person though!!!ReplyCancel

  • JeanBeautiful Illona!ReplyCancel

puglletude ~ {Ontario dog photographer}

thought i’d share a few pics of a little guy i had a shorter shoot with last week.  meet Milo …

he’s an intense little puggle who was seriously captivated by me and the cameras …

after hearing about Milo’s high energy level, i had fully expected to have my hands full, and — as a result — lots of action shots with this little guy,  but i guess i’m just so gosh-darn mesmerizing … well, okay, truth be told, the treats i use are pretty darn awesome … that getting Milo to leave my ankles took some effort.

but the little goober didn’t fail to entertain with his expressions.

you’ll notice the orange line in some of these photos.  Milo couldn’t be trusted off-leash (not that he was going anywhere with the treats i was carrying, but we always put safety first at scruffy dog), so we used one of our long-lines for him.  these lines are removed in post for images which end up going to print, but otherwise, there’s simply no time to remove them.  at the same time, i do get a lot of pet photographers writing me to ask for info on the lines, so sometimes it’s beneficial to show them “in situ”, so people know what i’m referring to when talking about the long lines.

some may ask: “why not use a green line? so it can blend into the grass? and a tan line for beaches? etc.” again, safety first … i always use bright lines — as i’ve always used in training — for visibility.  and frankly, whether you’re removing the dark shadow caused by a green long-line in the grass, or removing an orange line, the work is the same.

of course, when the line crosses the fur, and especially if it presses against the body and muscle, the ‘reconstructive’ work can be a little more intensive, but still doable.  if i had the time right now i’d show you some before and afters.

thanks for a fun shoot, Milo, and for being so utterly charming … and Christine, i hope you enjoy your gallery.

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  • PetDoggiesWow! The pictures are really great! They are so nicely shot! I love Milo’s expression the best! It is really awesome and funny! Really thanks a lot for this post! It really makes my day! Hahahahahahahaha! ReplyCancel

  • Meghan GraceI am a VERY newbie for fun photog that has a Nikon d90. i volunteer for SARA Sanctuary in Seguin, TX-a very large no-kill animal sanctuary and am learning how to take the best possible photos of the animals there-to help get them adopted. Your blog, besides making me smile, helps me so much to learn how to take better photos of these wonderful animals. I wish you were closer to take pics of my two babies! Thank you!ReplyCancel

  • Joni SolisTotally delightful! By the way, I just found out about this photo editing plugin for removing lines: MV’s Plugins Wire Worm – http://www.vicanek.de/plugins/wireworm.htm

    Wire Worm
    This little plugin will help you remove wires and other unwanted objects from your images.

    You might want to check it out. The before and after photos on their site look good. I haven’t tried it out yet, but I did download it and want to get it a whirl.ReplyCancel

  • Lisa BrencisLOL! Love that one snaggletooth!ReplyCancel

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