Heather Taylor has combined her love of dogs and artistic talent by embarking on a career as a specialist dog photographer. However, money is not her main motivation, as Wendy Short found out when they met.
HEATHER Taylor has kept dogs for 40 years and each one has been a treasured companion. She strongly believes that a high quality photograph of a loved animal can bring a lot of pleasure to its owner, especially when it is no longer part of the family.
“Sadly, dogs have a comparatively short life and if you’re a dog lover, I think it’s a comfort to have a reminder when they’re gone,” she says.
“A good photograph will reflect the dog’s personality and invoke the memory of the happy times that you spent together. One of the most rewarding elements for me is to see one of my pictures on display in a client’s home; that gives me a great sense of pride in my work. ”
Having completed levels one and two in photography at Bishop Auckland College, Ms Taylor is now studying for the level three qualification and hopes to go on to take an extended diploma in the subject.
She would also like to replace her rather battered Nikon D300 camera when funds allow, although it has been ideal for learning the technicalities of digital photography. Another ambition is to learn how to develop paper prints in the dark room. In the meantime, she supplements her student income by working as a carer for the elderly.
“I took up photography in 2012 because I felt the need to be creative, but I’m hopeless at painting and drawing,” she admits.
“It’s all too easy for me to become bored with my own photographs, but my passion for dogs acts as an encouragement.
“With photography, it’s all about the light and making sure the camera settings are correct for that particular situation. When I first started out, I was a bit of a purist and I didn’t really approve of the manipulation of digital photos. That was before I discovered the results that can be achieved through using the Adobe Lightroom computer programme. I have come round to thinking that a camera is one tool, and that Lightroom is another; it can make a decent image look even better.”
One of Ms Taylor’s college projects was entitled Barnard Castle Street Dogs and it led her to wander around the town one wet and miserable day, taking pictures of any dog which caught her eye.
“It’s always a temptation to want to photograph every dog that I see, and that day was no exception. It was a useful exercise and my confidence is improving, as I add to my knowledge. No two dogs are alike and there are huge variations within each breed.”
Ms Taylor set up a small-scale dog walking business in 2016 after a couple of neighbours asked her to walk their dogs on an informal basis.
She quickly became known as someone who would also visit people’s houses, to take out their dogs when they had to be away from home.
Wuff Walks, which is fully insured, is still operating, although the number of clients has been greatly reduced to allow Ms Taylor to focus on her college work.
“I like to go for a walk with my client and the dog first, to see how the dog behaves and work out the routes that are generally taken. I only walk one dog at a time, so that it can receive individual attention and I don’t take dogs overnight, as I’m not sure that my own dog would approve.”
For Ms Taylor, who is single, a dog is much more than simply a companion.
“Companionship is part of it, but to me, my dog is my partner in life,” she states.
“But it’s not about what the dog can do for me; it’s about what I can do for the dog. It gives me pleasure to make my dog’s life meaningful. I have had dogs which were not particularly affectionate, but that’s not the point. I suppose I just enjoy having something to care for and I will admit that I’m crackers about dogs.
“I always choose rescue dogs and I have had several great characters over the years. Until quite recently I
had two; the second one needed a new home and I just couldn’t say no. But I would really rather have just one, because that makes for a special bond.”
German shepherds are Ms Taylor’s favourite breed and she currently has Hedwig, a 16-year-old bitch which she describes as a “wonderful” pet.
“I have had male dogs, but I prefer bitches, as in my experience they tend to be less wilful; I’m not very good at the discipline side. A German Shepherd will usually walk at a fairly steady pace, which I like, and it is also a very good-looking breed, as well as being highly intelligent,” she says.
“I favour a large dog, and although the shepherd is supposed to have guarding instincts, my own have never been very good in this aspect and they have rarely even barked when somebody comes to the door.”
Ms Taylor, who was born in Lancashire, studied divinity at university and went on to become a Methodist minister. This came as something of a surprise to her parents, who did not follow any religious doctrine.
“Grandmother was a Methodist and I used to go to church whenever I went to stay with her,” she explains. “My decision to adopt Methodism was made at an early age; I think I was about 12,” she explains.
“After obtaining my degree, I spent a period in a Roman Catholic Carmelite monastery, but I decided that I wanted to get involved with people and take action, rather than choosing a more prayerful lifestyle.”
One of her main roles as a minister was to conduct baptisms, weddings and funerals. “A highlight for me as a minister was that on these occasions, I would frequently come into contact with people whose lives had little involvement with the church,” she says.
“There is a Methodist worship book and a structure, but ministers are given the freedom to find their own ways of reaching their congregation; that’s one reason why I haven’t really explored any other religion; the other is that Methodism is part of my family history. I’m also a great admirer of John Wesley. The way he lived his life was inspiring, although he wasn’t a particularly contemplative person.
“I’ve always been interested in language and I used to take great care in tailoring a funeral service, for example, to the individual and the congregation. I would take meticulous notes about the deceased person and I always scripted my delivery, so that the service ran smoothly and all of the facts were correct; I think that’s part of the responsibility,” she says.
“If it’s written in the right way, a funeral service can even make people laugh and that can help to relieve some of the tension.”
A Methodist ministry is an itinerant post, usually lasting for maximum of five years, and Ms Taylor has lived in Somerset and Yorkshire in the past.
However it was when she was serving in Durham that she decided to set down roots, and she is very happy in Woodland, where she has lived since 2014.
“I never embarked on a new career in photography to make money. It’s much more about being able to do something for people in a way that combines creativity with my love of dogs.
“It’s not an easy route to take and it can be disappointing when a photography session does not produce the results that I was hoping for. But that in itself spurs me on to improve; I still have a lot to learn, but I’m really enjoying the challenge,” she says.
