Raven the German Shepherd – Reactive Dog Photography in Nottinghamshire

Capturing stunning images of dogs who are reactive or anxious around strangers is no easy feat—but with the right approach, it’s absolutely possible. Recently, I had the privilege of photographing Raven, a beautiful and intelligent dog with a history of stranger reactivity and a potential to bite if not handled carefully. Our location? The peaceful woodland setting of Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire.

As a professional dog photographer who specialises in reactive and anxious dogs, I understand how critical it is to create a low-pressure, respectful environment tailored to each individual dog’s needs. Raven’s Mum reached out with concerns about her past experiences after seeing me at a local event and trying Raven in this setup.

Sherwood Pines Forest Park in Nottinghamshire offered a perfect environment for Raven’s session. With its wide open paths, quiet weekday mornings, and natural beauty, it allowed us to choose a route with minimal dog and human traffic. This made it much easier for Raven to stay regulated and engaged.

We scheduled the shoot for early morning, avoiding peak hours, and gave Raven plenty of space. Atlanta walked ahead with her while I trailed at a safe distance - safe here, refers to the distance where Raven feels safe - using a telephoto lens to capture her without forcing interaction.

With Raven, there was no expectation of touch, posed shots, or direct engagement. Instead, I focused on documentary-style dog photography, to begin with capturing her in her element—sniffing, exploring, and connecting with her person. Over time, her body softened, her ears relaxed, and we even caught a few tail wags, at this point I asked Atlanta to cue Raven for some of her known behaviours for more posed images.

We got some beautiful shots of Raven. One of the most powerful images was of her pausing in a sun-dappled clearing.

This session wasn’t just about pretty photos. It was about giving Atlanta a chance to see Raven celebrated—not just managed. Reactive dogs deserve to be seen, understood, and valued, and photography can be a powerful part of that.

If you have a reactive, anxious, or fearful dog and worry about booking a photo session, know that you’re not alone—and it can be done safely. With the right photographer, your dog doesn’t have to be perfect. They just need to be themselves.