Welcome!
Hello, welcome to Helen Spiegl Photography.
Our team consists of me, Helen - your photographer (with the fluffy hair), my husband Marcus (not much hair) , Myrtle our Spanish rescue dog (the one with the Dobbie ears) and Mouse our cat (who keeps Myrtle in her place).
Working from our cosy country studio on the north west edge of the Peak District between New Mills and Marple (not far from Manchester and Stockport), we pride ourselves on providing a relaxed and stress-free portrait experience for you and your pets.
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As a former Veterinary Nurse, and having grown up around animals and owned and ridden horses for all my life, I am perfectly suited to photographing you, your children and all your animals.
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​I hold professional qualifications with The British Institute of Professional Photographers, Master Photographer Association and Royal Photographic Society-Professional. ​
I am very proud to have won many photography awards over the years including Overall Photographer of The Year, Equestrian Photographer of The Year, Portrait Photographer of The Year, Pet Photographer of The Year, Sport Photographer of The Year, Maternity Photographer of The Year with various professional bodies and organisations. ​
Most sessions take place in the studio, however we are also surrounded by fantastic locations so we can do either or both depending on time and weather. I am also happy to travel to you if there is a location that is special to you, or if it isn't practical to travel your horse to near the studio. (There may be a supplementary charge depending on distance).
​Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you would like to discuss a booking or would like to order a luxury boxed gift certificate as a present for someone special.
All you need to know...
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE PHOTOSHOOT?
When you arrive you will be greeted at the gate and welcomed into the studio. There we will have a chat over a tea or coffee whilst your pet or pets get used to the surroundings.
If you have some ideas already as to the photographs you would like then we will discuss those too.
MY DOG IS QUITE EXCITABLE AND WON’T SIT STILL
Although it is always easier if dogs know how to sit, wait and lie down, even the best trained dogs sometimes don’t perform as their owners would like. This is a completely different environment to those they are used to and sometimes it might take a bit longer, but that doesn't matter! I have lots of patience and what is important is that we don't rush or get stressed. I want you and your dog to have a lovely experience.
I have plenty of little tricks to ensure we get the images we want, and if need be, we will use a lead which can be edited out afterwards. I guarantee that we will get some beautiful portraits of your dog!
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“From booking to collection was impressed with the service. Directions were impeccable, we took the family and Helen was extremely amenable considering how many there are! She worked wonders with Jasper who is notoriously daft. We struggled to pick our photos as they were amazing and wasn't given a hard sell. Collection was speedy and Helen was flexible.
Highly recommend this experience, a true animal whisperer.” I Stapleton
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MY DOG IS VERY NERVOUS AND I’M WORRIED HE MAY BE SCARED
Don’t worry at all. I am known for having loads of patience and
as a former veterinary nurse I am used to reading a dog’s body language.
I have also invested in some special studio lights that don’t flash or beep so ideal for very sensitive or nervous dogs.
If your dog really isn’t happy in the studio environment then we will go outside. We will take our time and make it a lovely experience for you and your dog.
DO WE HAVE THE OPTION OF AN OUTDOOR PHOTO SHOOT?
Yes of course.
We can do either a studio or location session - or sometimes a mix of the two. Just let me know what you’d like, although sometimes the weather may not be on our side for outdoors!
We can also discuss locations too. We have beautiful locations on our doorstep and depending on the time of year may incorporate bluebells, buttercups or autumn colours.
If you have a location that is dear to you, then we can discuss that too, although there may be an extra cost for travel.
CAN I BRING A CAT TO THE STUDIO?
Absolutely! If your cat is happy to travel then I’d love to photograph them! Most cats settle really well, and if they are very confident and playful, it makes for some amazing action shots! Again, patience is the key and we take our time.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS ?
After the session we will arrange an appointment for you to return for your ordering and design session. This is normally 7-14 days after the shoot.. You will be shown examples of available products after your session and then sent a link to the Product Guide for you to peruse at your leisure. If there is a particular product that you are considering, we can plan the shoot around that.
I have the facility in my viewing software to include images of any wall space that you might be considering so that you can see your images to scale on your own walls. This is so useful as often clients can't decide where it would look best, so you will be able to see any image at different sizes to ensure you get exactly what is right for you, for the space, and your budget.
I LIVE A LONG DISTANCE FROM THE STUDIO - CAN I SEE THE IMAGES ONLINE?
Your ordering and design appointment is always held in person and your images viewed on a big screen. However, we can arrange for you to view the images on the same day as your photo shoot.
If you would prefer this, then your session can be arranged for late morning to give you travelling time, then afterwards you would go off for lunch for an hour or two (I can recommend some local dog-friendly pubs, or you can bring a picnic and have a lovely walk in the beautiful countryside around the studio) whilst I sort your images and make a few magical tweaks. Then you would return to view a cinematic slideshow of your images and make your choices. It makes for a very special day’s experience.
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Sometimes clients who travel very long distances decide to make a break of it and incorporate an overnight stay. Being right on the edge of The Peak District it's a wonderful way to really make the most of your photoshoot experience. I can suggest great dog-friendly places to stay nearby, lovely places to eat and fabulous places to walk in the beautiful countryside here.
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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The session fee for pet portraits is £145 for up to 2 hours.
From time to time there may be special offers or promotions so follow us on social media so you don't miss out.
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(For information on Equestrian Sessions please click here)
ARTWORK
There are lots of different artwork products to suit most budgets - we use only the very best professional suppliers and all artwork is guaranteed to be of the highest quality.
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For example:
Bespoke Premium Hand-made Frames.
Contemporary High Gloss Metal Wall Art.
Classic Pro Canvases; Mounted Fine-art prints to frame yourself; Presentation products for the shelf or sideboard;
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Individual products range from approximately £200 up to around £1900 for a really big piece of framed wall art. (Discounts and/or special offers may be available when two or more items are purchased)
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Monthly payment plans are available should you wish to spread the cost over 3, 6, 9, 12months. Cards and BACS payments are also accepted.
CAN I BUY DIGITALS?
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I always think portraits should be seen every day on your walls. I use only the best quality professional suppliers for your artwork for that complete 'wow' factor, but I also appreciate that you may wish to share your beautiful images with your family members. High resolution printable digital packages come with a licence to reproduce unlimited times (for personal use) and start from £795. Should you require a licence for business use, please ask about my brand packages.
Low resolution digital albums to keep on your phone are available with printed artwork only, and start from £195
" We absolutely loved our session with Helen! She was so patient, especially with our young puppy, and really knew how to get the most out of the time we had together. The shoot session was fun and relaxed. Helen took on board what shots we wanted to get, as discussed during our pre-shoot conversation, and also showed us what she does best by capturing our two dogs from new angles which really brought out their cheeky and playful sides! A few weeks after our shoot we organised a photo viewing session with Helen and not only were all the photos fantastic she was also very patient whilst we deliberated on sizes and frames. Once we placed our order the turn around was quick and the quality is outstanding, and the photos arrived well before Christmas! Overall, we had a great experience with Helen and will definitely be using her again in the future - thank you Helen! " Ben S
