A Dog Photography Adventure in York Pt. 2
Welcome to Day 2 of my York dog photography adventure! This time, I had the pleasure of photographing two stunning large breeds: Bea the Standard Poodle and Doogle the Old English Sheepdog in the heart of this historic city. With their envious coats and striking presence, they brought a whole new dynamic to my urban dog photography sessions. As with my previous post (Read Pt. 1 here), I’ll be sharing insights into location scouting in York, the challenges of winter light and a spot of rain, and sharing the final images themselves. I’ll also be returning to York in a few weeks for my dog photography calendar project, and after all of these sessions, I know this city will continue to draw me back for more incredible canine portraits.
Location Scouting in York
Following my usual practice, I took time the day before to explore each location on foot. While I'd used some of these spots during Day 1, I wanted to reassess them with Bea and Doogle in mind, thinking of their size and how their distinctive coats would interact differently with each backdrop. This hands-on scouting proves invaluable; what looks promising on a screen often presents unexpected challenges or opportunities in reality. Below are a few key locations I vetted for our sessions, and you'll see below how they transformed once my four-legged subjects stepped in front of the camera:
Elegant Poise Against Historic Stone – Bea the Standard Poodle
My morning began with Bea, whose pristine white coat stood in striking contrast to York's weathered stonework. Though not currently in a traditional show cut, her beautifully manicured fur was impeccably maintained; her owner mentioned she draws admiring glances whenever they're out exploring the city and that certainly happened on more than one occasion during our session. It’s easy to see why, isn’t it?
As a larger breed, Bea commanded space differently than the previous day's subjects. She moved with natural grace, almost instinctively finding perfect positions against the breathtaking backdrop of York Minster. Like a seasoned model who understands her angles, Bea offered a remarkable range of poses from regal sitting positions that showcased her elegant proportions to animated expressions that captured her playful spirit, especially when we did some super fun action shots in a nearby park.
What impressed me most was how Bea's presence seemed to complement rather than compete with York's grand architecture. Her confident posture echoed the Minster's soaring lines, while her expressive eyes drew viewers into each frame. Despite the occasional distraction of admiring passersby (her owner wasn't exaggerating about the attention she receives!), Bea remained composed and engaged throughout our session.
The winter light presented its own challenges with Bea's white coat, requiring careful exposure adjustments to preserve the subtle details in her fur while balancing against the darker historic backgrounds. I was grateful that this day’s weather was overcast, and we started earlier in the morning while the light was at its most soft. All of these factors helped capture the true texture and dimension of her coat without her losing definition against York's dramatic buildings.
Shaggy Charm in the City - Doogle the Old English Sheepdog
The morning introduced me to Doogle, a magnificent Old English Sheepdog just shy of his second birthday. Despite his young age, Doogle is already making waves in the show ring with several impressive wins to his name. His coat was everything you'd expect from a top show dog: a glorious cascade of traditional show-length hair that swayed with his youthful energy.
We kicked off Doogle’s session at York Museum, where his unmistakable silhouette stood out against the museum’s grand architecture. As we moved into Museum Gardens, his larger-than-life personality really took over. He was full of energy, bounding through the space with that signature shaggy coat bouncing along with him. Photographing Doogle was all about embracing movement and spontaneity, and I encouraged his human to throw treats ahead of him to help me capture him in motion.
Later, we wandered into the quieter back streets behind York Minster. These tucked-away cobbled lanes gave us a more intimate setting, with absolutely beautiful soft light and colours. The historic stonework framed him beautifully, and his big, textured coat added a fantastic contrast to the old brick and stone. Of course, the weather had its own ideas. A light drizzle rolled in midway through the session, which made keeping that magnificent coat photoready a bit of a challenge: it took a village to keep him looking his best. By the time we wrapped up, there were muddy paws and damp fur to work around, but honestly, it just added to the charm.
What really stuck with me from this session was how much Doogle owned every location we shot in. His size and presence turned plenty of heads, with passersby stopping to admire him. He brought so much personality to the shoot, proving that big, fluffy dogs and historic city backdrops are an unbeatable combination.
York: Why I Can’t Stay Away
Doogle and Bea brought so much personality and energy to their mini sessions, proving once again that York is the perfect city for capturing dogs of all shapes, sizes, coats and ages. While I’m not primarily based in York, this city has a way of pulling me back in, and in just two weeks, I’ll be returning for my Angels of the North project. A new group of dogs will be stepping in front of my lens, and I can’t wait to capture their best sides in some of these iconic locations and more.
If you love seeing these behind-the-scenes stories and final images, keep an eye out for the next chapter of my York adventure. And if you’d love to have your own dog photographed in this incredible city, let me know. I’ll always be happy to travel back for exclusive sessions or a set of mini-shoots. Who knows, maybe one day, your dog could be the star of a session like this!