one to one
Dog day afternoon
Alistair Campbell joins Anna-Marie Coster for a pet portraits session amongst the buttercups
Global warming may one day take away the novelty factor, but for now, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of being out and about in the countryside on a pleasantly warm evening during the British summertime.
I’m on Yate Common to the northeast of Bristol, where I’m meeting photographer and animal lover Anna-Marie Coster, who has a soft spot for dog photography. Coster set up her own business 10 years ago, combining her passions for creativity and canines when she began photographing dogs in shelters that needed rehoming. Her business covers Bristol and surrounding areas, offering photoshoots to pet owners.
It’s a little after 6pm and, as we look out across the large expanse of yellow wild buttercups and tall grass, the clouds are broken by scattered spots of blue sky. From the entrance to the common, Coster spots her client Isabelle with Lola, a young spaniel pup who seems eager to make the most of the wide-open spaces.
Coster takes up her first shooting position of the evening, lying flat on the ground, and I ask if this is a normal part of a shoot.
“To be honest, yes,” she says. “Most of the time, I’m either laying on the ground or crouched down on my knees. It depends on the size of the dog but it’s best to come down to their level. Not only is this the most flattering angle, but it creates a beautiful soft foreground, too.”
Anna-Marie Coster
Pet photographer
Her passion for photography and animals combined while working at a dogs’ home. Now Anna-Marie runs a pet photography business, offering beautiful portraits of canine companions across the South West. www.photographybyannamarie.co.uk
Isabelle helps out by engaging with an excited Lola while Anna-Marie gets into prime position to capture an environmental portrait.
Working with telephoto lenses for extra reach
“There are plenty of reasons to use a telephoto lens for this genre of photography. They allow you to keep some distance from your subject and still fill your frame. The further away from the subject you are, the more candid and natural the feel of the photo. The dogs can be themselves and that’s what many clients are looking for.
“Even when shooting at the wider end of this focal length (70mm) you still get a shallow depth of field – again, it’s a really strong and professional look and one that lots of pet owners are looking for.
“Telephoto lenses almost always come with built-in image stabilisation, often called IBIS or Optical Steady Shot on Sony cameras. When shooting with telephoto lenses, everything is exaggerated so IBIS can be extremely helpful to counter any camera shake we experience when working around the 200mm mark.” Instagram: @photographybyannamarie