Rocky & Gretchen– Chihuahua puppy sitting perched on top of a French Bulldogs head

Rachael had arranged to photograph Rocky, a 2 and a half-year-old French Bull Dog; when she arrived to complete the portraits, a friend of Rocky’s owner was visiting with her 3-month-old Chihuahua puppy Gretchen, the two dogs were having a great time playing together and Rachael was very taken by their similarity in colour tone. Rachael asked Gretchen’s owner if she would mind if Gretchen was included in the photoshoot, they were thrilled. While Rachael and her assistant set up, the two dogs ran around and played so by the time Rachael was ready to start photographing, they were quite tired and happy to settle. With a few treats on hand and a very patient and tolerant Frenchie, Rachael was able to settle Gretchen on top of Rocky’s head; with a treat in hand and a few soft squeaky undertones made by Rachael behind the camera, Rachael was able to capture this adorable portrait of two new friends.

This image of Rocky & Gretchen was published in Rachael’s book It’s a Zoo Out There

Photographed using Portra 160 Film with a 4x5 Toyoview Camera in the living room of the Dog’s owner's home using a large Elinchrom Octa softbox

* This image is from Rachael’s earlier work, which were all photographed using a Large Format 4x5 inch Film Camera, and occasionally an 8x10 inch Polaroid Camera. Rachael used a very shallow depth of field when photographing with film cameras, this gives these images a softer more painterly quality when printed, the prints still look stunning in all sizes and make magnificent Art pieces, they just don’t appear quite as crisp as an image created on a digital camera.

Rachael recommends this image to be framed Full bleed using a Whitewashed or Pure White Frame, or with the White Frame if you choose to have a border on your Fine Art Print.