We are located in a couple of kilometres from the tiny village of Wootton in the hinterland of the Great Lakes region on the Barrington Coast of NSW. Photo sessions are held right here on our beautiful acreage and purpose-built studio or off the farm at any of the Great Lakes' dog-friendly beaches or private farms within 50km. I can travel further and a kilometre fee is charged for locations outside the 50km radius.

We are located 2.25km up a dirt road so your car will get dusty! We offer a free shuttle service from our cafe Hardwood Espresso which is located on the Wootton Way if required.

Dogs, horses and the people who love them make up the majority of my photography sessions, but I love photographing all types of animals and birds, both domestic, farm and in the wild. I also photograph people.

I specialise in photographing dogs and their family so don't be shy to jump in some of the photos too.

Some basic obedience training in relation to sit, stand and stay commands definitely help the session go more smoothly, with outcomes similar to those featured throughout this website, however, if your dog is not fully trained we will still get some great photos. It might just take a little more time and patience and a longer lens.

I’ll spend some time with your dog before I start shooting, to build rapport and get them used to my camera, and so I get some cuddles too! I have lots of tricks up my sleeve to get their undivided attention.

If your dog has never had any basic training, please take some time in the lead up to your session to work on teaching them the basic commands. This will make a huge difference to your enjoyment of the session.

Your dog’s safety is my number one priority during the session and most dogs I photograph are on lead.

Generally, the lead can be removed in the post-processing stage. I have a lead on hand which is thinner than your average lead, and I’ll show you how to hold it so it can be photoshopped easily out of your final images.

Please be aware that harnesses cannot be edited out, so unless your dog can only wear a harness, please bring along a nice collar for the session.

I’m used to dealing with extremely shy and nervous dogs in the pound environment and this is where patience comes into play. We can discuss strategies in your planning session.

I will take my time getting to know your dog when you first arrive, so they get familiar with me and with my camera, the noises it makes, and the noises I make. For some dogs it can be a little daunting to have a big glass eye looking at you... so getting to sniff and sit with my camera for a little while always helps nervous dogs relax.

Yes, I’d love for you to be in some of the photos if you choose to be. In fact, that's the reason many people book the experience as they don't have any photos of them with their dog.

Catching the bond between a dog and their person is so important for having these photos to look back on when your dog has left our world. I would hate for any of my clients to regret not being in a photo or two due to self-consciousness.

I don't like being in front of the camera, but I also know it’s so important to have visual memories of your life. I’m not a fan of posed family portraits and prefer to photograph the bond you share when you interact with each other so hopefully, that will take away any fear of being photographed.

If I am photographing you with your dog in a posed situation rather than candid, all you need to do is smile at me and I will take care of getting your dog’s attention for the photo.

Most importantly, wear something you feel great in. Try to keep it simple and choose neutral tones and avoid patterns. The results are always great what you wear harmonises with your dog and the environment.

You can get some tips in my Session Preparation Guide which will be sent to you well in advance of your dog's photo session.

You know your dog better than anyone, and I want to make sure the photos reflect how you see and love your dog.

Give them a wash or brush prior to the session, especially checking if they need a light trim around the eyes if they have longer fur as we want to make sure the windows to their souls are definitely highlighted to their photos.

Avoid feeding them just prior to the session as I want them to be responsive to my treats. I have a selection of treats on my at all times. If you would prefer, you can bring along your dog’s favourite treats if they are a fussy eater or have special dietary requirements.

To make sure they are engaged and calm for the shoot, please make sure you take them for a walk an hour or two prior to arriving at the location.

Bring your dog on a leash and wearing a nice collar or other accessories such as a bandana if that’s what your dog is into.

Please avoid using a harness for the photo session, if possible. Remove any council tags or shiny tags for the duration of the session as they detract from the photos... we want all eyes on the beauty and uniqueness of your dog.

If they have any toys they love and you want them included in the photos, bring them along.

Pack a travel bowl and water for your dog as they will need some hydration throughout the session. We provide refreshments for the humans.

Don’t forget to bring poo bags! I always have some on me in case you forget, but you will be the one cleaning up after your dog!

I shoot in the last two hours before sunset. This provides a much softer light and results in beautiful images with dreamy backgrounds on our farm.

Sessions on our farm are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

If we aren’t blessed with good weather on the day of your photo session, I will call you to discuss rescheduling your session to another suitable day. The types of weather that would result in postponing the session would be heavy rain, thunderstorms, high winds, and extreme heat.

All these types of weather conditions are detrimental to both the safety and comfort of you and your dog, and the tolerance of my camera equipment! Besides all that, we want you and your dog to enjoy the experience and have a great time as well as awesome photos, so the weather plays a big part.

If the weather changes during your session, we can continue the session inside our purpose-built, air-conditioned dog photography studio on our farm.

You can spend as much or as little as you like on the images you love most. My artwork and products start at $695 and every session is custom-designed for you and your dog. I have a range of products to cover all budgets; you can learn more here.

As a guide, most of my clients spend between $1000 and $5000, sometimes less and sometimes more. I'll work with you to ensure your artwork dreams are realised, be they large or small.

When you book a Discovery Call I'll walk you through our artwork options and can show you samples on display in my studio via Zoom. We will dive deeper into the options you are most interested in during your planning appointment at our studio.

I’ll work closely with you before, during and after your session to find the perfect options for you and your budget.

I also offer digital-only packages so it this is what you are after, let me know in the Discovery Call.

I offer a range of payment options including:

PAY IN FULL AT THE TIME OF ORDERING

Pay by direct deposit or credit card (Visa, MasterCard and Amex accepted)

PAY 50% | 50%

Pay 50% deposit at the time of ordering and 50% within 14 days of collecting your artwork

Pay by direct deposit or credit card (Visa, MasterCard and Amex accepted)

AFTERPAY

Pay in 4 payments over 6 weeks interest-free - collect your products as soon as they are ready.

PAYRIGHT

Pay 30% upon placing your artwork order, then once approved by Payright, the balance can be paid over 3, 6, 9 or 12 months interest-free - collect your products as soon as they are ready.

Valid for all purchases of $1000 or more.

LAY-BY

A direct debit payment plan allows for a maximum duration of six months.

Upon placing your order, a minimum deposit of 20% is required, and repayments are conveniently set up through automatic direct debit using EziDebit for bank account debits or Square for recurring credit card payments on agreed-upon dates.

Your order will be fulfilled upon receipt of the final settlement. Please note that if you discontinue the payment plan, any monies paid are non-refundable.

Yes definitely. We offer outdoor experiences and studio experiences in our state-of-the-art purpose-built dog photography studio.

As we are located in an idyllic rural location, that comes with the nuances of nature and that includes ticks at certain times of the year.

For the safety of your dog, you must ensure your dog is being treated with tick prevention at least a week prior to your session. It is also important to check your dog for ticks after their session.

Our dogs have tick protection and we check them daily. Please ensure your dog is kept safe should a rogue tick take a liking to them.

It is also a requirement that your dog is up to date with their vaccinations and proof of immunisation will be required upon booking.

Alternatively, if you prefer to use Titer Testing, we will accept a current Titer test if it shows your dog's vaccination levels are adequate.

Yes! A Jo Lyons Photography Gift Certificate is the perfect present for every dog lover.

Click here to learn more!

Yes, bookings are essential the farm is open by appointment only on Fridays and Saturdays and I limit my sessions to just two per week so I can give my clients the best possible experience.

I hold emergency appointments outside of my regular photo session hours for elderly dogs and dogs with health issues. Please don’t hesitate to ask about these should you require a ‘sooner rather than later’ booking.

I also photograph additional dogs (in addition to two included in the session fee) on request.