The Dog Photography Studio Build
Creating the perfect space for dog photography in Shefford, Bedfordshire had been a long-term dream of mine - somewhere calm, practical and completely tailored to photographing dogs safely and comfortably. This project documents the journey from an empty garden to a fully finished, purpose-built dog photography studio in Bedfordshire.
It all started with a blank canvas. The garden space was levelled and prepared, creating a clean, open area ready for construction. This stage was essential, ensuring a solid foundation and enough room to design a studio that would work seamlessly for both dogs and their humans too.
Next came the framework. Watching the timber structure go up was a bit surreal. I think it was the first moment I realised that my dream of many years was finally coming true. It was super exciting but also nerve wrecking too! Door and window placements were carefully planned to maximise natural light. Even though I mainly photograph dogs with professional studio lights, there are the odd few dogs who aren’t too keen on the subtle flash of the lights. So for these dogs, making sure the windows and doors could let in lots of natural light was key. Insulation and weatherproofing quickly followed, transforming the wooden frame into a comfortable, year-round photography studio.
Once the exterior was complete, attention turned to the interior. Hard-wearing flooring was installed with durability and easy cleaning in mind - essential for a working pet photography studio. Lighting was positioned to create even, flattering illumination of artwork and sectioned with dimmer switches to allow me to switch off lights in the studio side and have the seating area still lit perfectly for humans. Each end wall was reinforced to allow me to affix a TV on one wall and the backdrop system to the other wall giving the maximum amount of floor space for the dogs to explore. The walls were then plastered, painted and finished in soft, neutral tones to make the space welcoming whilst ensuring the focus remained on the dogs.
The final stage was bringing the studio to life (my favourite part!). We moved in the furniture, artwork and carefully selected props, alongside my dog photography equipment (lights etc.) and the all important wall mounted backdrop system. The finished space is warm, welcoming and highly functional - designed to put dogs at ease while allowing full creative control during every photoshoot.
This purpose-built dog photography studio in Shefford is more than just a workspace to me. It’s a calm, dedicated environment where dogs can relax, play and show their true personalities, resulting in natural, character-filled portraits for owners all across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and beyond.
I still have to put the TV on the wall and add a few finishing touches but I absolutely love the warm and inviting space it’s become. I can’t wait to welcome clients and see all the dogs exploring the new studio.
Kath 🐾🐶
