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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.

saffy sapphire saf-furious sneak ~ {Ontario pet photographer}

in spite of a busy weekend, i couldn’t leave you all without a dose of cute …

this is the razor-toothed puppy i had the pleasure of meeting yesterday for her Starter session … along with her boy, Marty.

they had a blast on the beach …

and i had a blast with Saffy.  of course, i’m a little partial to pointers and hunting breeds, and who doesn’t love a puppy?

… and this is what i got whenever i used my insanely obnoxious, high-pitched, but-oh-so-effective “puppy, puppy, puppy!!” cry …

yeah, she’s pretty special.  and you’ll see more of her much later.  Saffy was a  “squeeze-in” session … shot to take advantage of the lovely weather and colours while they last, but with the back-log of post-production work here at scruffy dog, the final images won’t be ready for some time yet.  so for now, this is all you get.  enjoy!

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  • ursula sooleyHi Illona, since you have been here to see my place a couple of times and I display your cards and have your link on my blog, I thought perhaps you could put The Lavish Lair link on your blog as well.
    Thanks and have a great day, UrsulaReplyCancel

  • Trevor in NSAnother of my favorite posts! The black and white photo of the boy and the dog is beautiful – you captured their bond beautifully. Can’t wait to see new photos of these two in the coming years.ReplyCancel

  • Jean (allegrolhw)What a heart warming set. I’m particularly drawn to the b&w of the young boy and his puppy. That will be treasured for many years to come as will the others but that one really conveys both their puppiness :))ReplyCancel

  • illonathanks so much, everyone. yes, i definitely look forward to shooting this girl and her boy again in the future, as they grow up together.ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonWOW!!! These are awesome. I especially love the B&W! A boy and his puppy!!!! They are going to have an amazing time growing up together and I can see you doing a couple of shoots over the next few years to document their lives together! So cool!ReplyCancel

  • JackieIllona that b&w shot of the boy with his puppy is amazing! I would be thrilled if I was his parent!ReplyCancel

  • IanJOOoo another Saffy! 🙂 She is lovely lovely, and beautiful photos 🙂ReplyCancel

  • SimonBeautiful pup, lovely shots as ever!ReplyCancel

  • Kelleythat 2nd shot needs to be a big canvas! Great work Illona!ReplyCancel

  • bublynskiOMG, I LOVE these shots! The black and white one, especially, blows me away… and of course the action shot…!ReplyCancel

  • DeeDeeThese are fabulous!! I love them all but that one with her boy is super!ReplyCancel

  • Katy BrunkardThat second shot is just stunning. LOVE LOVE LOVE.ReplyCancel

  • kim kailafantastic!~ I don’t think I have ever seen a liver colored GSP! Very nicely done and looks like the pup and her boy had a wonderful time!ReplyCancel

  • MarlaShe’s gorgeous. I love her blue collar and shimmery dark coat against the blue waters and muted beach tones. And the b&w shot is just stunning.ReplyCancel

  • Lisa Prince FishlerThe expressions in the first and last photographs are priceless! Love these!ReplyCancel

our fall hike ~ {Ontario dog photographer}

just a quickie blog entry.  we got out for a hike yesterday to enjoy the fabulous fall weather.  i thought i’d share a few photos i snagged while out … of the dogs, of course.

i’m trying to get my cameras out more with my own pack.  it’s not always easy, with merrick still in training … but the little goober has some amazing recalls.

i love my pack.  big.  but i can’t help wondering how much more amazing it would be with morley in there with them.

and this is crazy macy … matea’s best friend for the past seven years.

it was a glorious day for a hike … alas, the girls flushed no rabbits for chasing, so it was pretty quiet …

have a good weekend, everyone.  love your dogs and enjoy the fall weather we’re still having.  i’m off to meet another brown pointer.

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  • illonathanks so much, everyone. it was definitely a thrill to get my guys out on this old trail again. matea used to see this trail a couple of times a week when she was growing up, but then it became too saturated with “friendly” dogs, and we stopped using it. now the mud and more difficult access seems to have thwarted a lot of those friendly-dog owners, and it might be possible to go here once in a while again.ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonSo glad that you got out with the kids! I’m sure Morley was watching and running alongside Merrick! His spirit lives on and will always nbe with you!
    These are great, but you knew that! 😉ReplyCancel

  • Sherry in MTDon’t always comment because well, ALL of your photos are so fabulous. How nice to get some time with your own pups though and am always glad to see them! Wish we lived closer so I could get you to do mine but I’ll continue to dream. LOL

    SherryReplyCancel

  • JillLOVE the one of Matea running, tongue wagging with the brilliant blue sky in the background. Beautiful pictures….again.ReplyCancel

  • TatyanaI’m also loving that Merrick-jumping-over-log shot. Looks like a fabulous day!ReplyCancel

  • Lisa B.Ah, Matea! You snuggle bug!ReplyCancel

  • michelle bradshawillona, I especially love the shot of Merrick jumping over the log. It’s absolutley beautiful!!!!!
    MichelleReplyCancel

buster’s big session ~ {Toronto pet photographer}

this is Buster …

you might remember him from his sneak peek earlier on the blog.

Buster’s Serious session spanned several locations, and — as is typical of scruffy dog’s shoots — we’re often stopping along the way, whenever and wherever we find little patches of light or inspiration … whether it’s a little swath of clover on the side of a busy street …

… or the subway station

even the subway car itself.

when owner Giovanna signed her little man up for his Serious session, i’ll admit i was a little concerned when she admitted that he had no training and wasn’t food-motivated.  knowing we were headed for locations where we’d be needing more poses vs. “wild” natural locations where he could run willy-nilly, i wasn’t certain Buster would be up for it.

i couldn’t have been more wrong.  Buster was the consummate poser, and contrary to Giovanna’s booking form, Buster liked my treats just fine.

of course, Buster did give me his signature “look” more than a few times …

but truly, i think Buster enjoyed every minute.  i certainly did.  Giovanna and her little man were a pleasure to share my day with no matter where we went.

and the Distillery District was just an awesome place to hang out and shoot …

gorgeous colours, lots of textures, and – with Buster – lots of expressions …

but of course, no scruffy dog shoot would be complete without some crazy, dog-being-dog, action shots …

and some great skies …

and back home …

dance, Buster, dance!

and i just love Buster’s expression here …

but by late evening, i think Buster was done as he showed me to the door …

thanks for being such a fantastic model, Buster.  i hope you enjoy your gallery, Giovanna.  talk to you soon!

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  • illonathanks so much, everyone.

    yes, idil, little while fluffy froos are probably the hardest … the camera struggles to grab the focus, and even when it does, the result is a bit white fluff ball with very little definition. this is generally when i like to say: “hey, let’s go down to the river!” 🙂 … get us a little hair separation.

    and yes, variety of location is KEY to scruffy dog shoots. most of my clients end up doing coffee table photobooks, and as such, i want them to have absolute variety throughout the pages — not just variety of angles, composition, and expression, but also colour, texture, and backdrops.ReplyCancel

  • Katy BrunkardLove this set Illona…. wonderful as always.ReplyCancel

  • BertyMoOh my, love love LOVE your pictures!
    Sigh…..
    If you EVER come to Europe, do let us know, we would gladly bring our own precious, very special dog for a shoot. You ‘get’ every character, it’s wonderful!ReplyCancel

  • IanJWOW! I think this is my all time favorite shoot of yours! Everything about them, is just quality, love all the locations, bet you had some funny looks taking photos in the subway? Oh and that distillery distict…just amazing! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • giovannai LOVE the photos illona! thank you so much.ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonCity dog! Great shots of Buster in an urban environment, then cutting loose ! Love the one of him flying!!!
    Another awesome shoot!ReplyCancel

  • leesiagorgeous! i don’t know how his parents are going to choose. so many amazing settings! love the urban ones – on the subway – so different and unique!ReplyCancel

  • katebuster with the tennis ball and paw to the camera is my personal favorite of the bunch.ReplyCancel

  • KarenYou did it again!!!!!!!!!!!ReplyCancel

  • AnitaThese are amazing Illona!! I adore every single one of them!ReplyCancel

  • RuthAmazing!!! [as always!]ReplyCancel

  • LoriAnother series of wonderful photos~from the ‘poses’ the cooperative Buster gave you to the action shots to your capture of his “signature expression”!ReplyCancel

  • IdilAwww, those eyes, that curled up tail, those short legs… Adorable and so much like my Odie… And I know just how hard it is to capture a fuzzy white dude like Odie. Everyone thinks black dogs are tough to shoot, but dogs with soft, shiny white fur are definitely worse, because as my husband puts it, they are not “focus-friendly.” 😛 But then you go and capture perfect white on white photos and put me to shame! Love all the locations you choose for your photo shoots and your inspiring compositions. OK, I’d better stop now ‘coz I’m about to write a novel – LOL 🙂ReplyCancel

  • milikinwonderful captures of a sweet little pup!ReplyCancel

  • Lisa B.I loooooooove the stink eye! Ha ha ha! And the “talk to the paw” shot is great!ReplyCancel

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