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Before we talk, Ina J Photography

Before we talk

What a portrait session with me actually looks like, why I print, and the questions people usually ask before they book.

Ina Jalil sitting in an armchair in yellow trousers with three small dogs resting across her lap, framed dog portraits hanging on the wall behind her

Hi, I'm Ina.

I photograph dogs here in Canberra, and I started because of my own dog, Mac.

Before he passed, I went looking for someone who could capture what he was actually like. I found a studio photographer, and the session was hard. Mac was anxious and panting the whole way through, and James was nervous too. I got those photos printed and put them on the wall. Every time I walked past them, I remembered the session rather than my dog.

That's why I built this the way I did.

How a session works

Four steps, and I'm with you for all of them.

1

The consultation

We sit down, studio or Zoom, whichever is easier for you. I ask about your dog. What they're like on a normal day, where they're happiest, what you'd love to have on your walls. It's a conversation, not a sales pitch, and you don't decide anything on the call.

2

The planning call

Before the session we sort out the details, so nothing is left to chance on the day. Where we're going, what time of day suits your dog best, what to bring.

3

The session

Most of my sessions are outdoors, and they run at your dog's pace. I photograph dogs on leash and edit the leash out afterwards, so even the running shots are safe. No making anyone sit still. Some of my favourite images come from the moment everyone stops trying so hard.

A black, tan and white Finnish Lapphund sitting on a forest path with tall pine trunks and warm golden light behind him
A small white fluffy dog caught mid-leap above the grass with all four paws off the ground, autumn trees glowing orange behind
A small white and grey terrier sitting on a dirt path beside a bank of purple wildflowers, tongue out and head tilted
4

The ordering appointment

We meet again and go through the images together, and design the artwork for your home. You see everything printed, at size, before you choose anything.

A brindle Dutch Shepherd walking across a lawn towards the camera with soap bubbles drifting through the air around her
A grey and white curly-coated dog sitting among fallen autumn leaves under a canopy of golden foliage
A brown and white Border Collie walking down a dirt path past a clump of purple agapanthus in soft evening light

That's the whole process, start to finish.

Book your consultation

Why I print

In July I said goodbye to my boy James. He was 11, and I only had 9 years with him. Even doing this for a living, even knowing everything I know, I still thought we had more time.

The photos I have of him aren't from special occasions. They're just him. Walking in the gardens, doing his sniffari, refusing to move until he'd sniffed every spot we visited. Those photographs are the most important things I own.

That's why I print.

Tangible artwork is something beautiful you can display. A legacy of your dog. Printed at a size and a standard I control, so the colours are right and it lasts.

And it holds exactly who your dog is right now. This face, this age, the way they sit at your feet this year.

This is why the ordering appointment exists, and why I don't just hand over a folder of files and wish you luck. Choosing artwork for your home is a decision worth making properly, with the images in front of you and someone who knows how they will print.

A lounge room wall above a beige sofa hung with three white-framed prints of a beagle: running through grass, walking on a path with her owners, and sitting beside red azaleas
A three-piece wall gallery from one session, hung together above the sofa.
A large multi-image metal collage panel standing on a wooden sideboard between vases of flowers, showing a woman kneeling in a forest with a white shepherd and a tan dog, plus three smaller portraits below
A multi-image collage, one hero image with supporting frames beneath.
A framed canvas of a chocolate brown spaniel sitting in a sunlit garden, displayed on a wooden sideboard beside two vases of flowers
A floating-frame canvas, sized for a sideboard rather than a wall.
A framed portrait of an apricot cavoodle wearing a flower crown against a dusty pink background, displayed on a glass console table beside a vase and books
A single framed portrait on a console table.
A woman holding open a white presentation folio, looking at a matted fine art print of a wire fox terrier standing among garden foliage
Fine art matted prints in a folio, for people who would rather hold them than hang them.

Let's talk about what would suit your home.

Book your consultation

You in the photos too

Most people book thinking it's a portrait of their dog. The ones with both of you in them tend to be the keepers.

A woman in an olive jacket crouching nose to nose with a golden retriever lying on a path, warm backlight and a lake blurred behind them
A woman sitting cross-legged on the grass kissing her brindle staffy on the nose in front of a bank of bright pink azaleas
A person in a green beanie and orange jacket sitting on a rock beside a river, holding a small chihuahua wearing an orange jumper
A beagle sitting in sharp focus on a woodland path while his two owners sit smiling out of focus behind him, red azaleas either side
A couple walking their beagle along a woodland path lined with red azaleas, the beagle looking up at them as they walk

In their own words

Google reviews from Canberra dog families, exactly as they wrote them.

The experience

"From the personalised welcome sign to the home-made dog treats, and then, the photos themselves, and the flexibility to view different formats, including virtual mockups of the finished product on your wall, all just fabulous. Expertise, care and charm. And stunning photos, beautifully presented. Worth every cent."

★★★★★
Claire Wright, May 2025

"The whole experience was fun and creative and full of care and respect for all five of us from the first meet and greet (planning session) to our photo ordering session. Ina truly captured it all."

★★★★★
Danita Burg, November 2025

"Ina walked me through every step of the process, which was hugely reassuring, as well as working with me to perfect the final images. I couldn't be happier with the outcome and I will treasure the experience and the photos for a lifetime."

★★★★★
Krystal Hemsworth, January 2025

Your dog, as they actually are

"Ina is so passionate about her craft, and it shows through how she interacts with her clients and their fur-kids; the end result speaks for itself. Ina was so patient with my girl, working with Claire's ability as an elderly gal, and yet went above and beyond to capture her personality and the bond between us."

★★★★★
Krystal Hemsworth, January 2025

"Absolutely fantastic!!! Ina did a fantastic job with the shoot, it was so hard to pick which pics we wanted, because all of them were fantastic and so beautiful. She not only captured our boy's cheeky personality, but also the majestic side of him."

★★★★★
Valerie Chiang, September 2024

"Ina surpassed our expectations with her remarkable skills and personalised approach. She not only created stunning photos but also actively listened and accommodated our specific preferences, ensuring the final images truly reflected the uniqueness of our dog."

★★★★★
Teresa Freeling, January 2024

What ends up on the wall

"The final images are simply amazing. I was genuinely blown away by how beautifully she captured Oscar and Rikki. Every piece feels like artwork, not just a photograph."

★★★★★
Kim Vella, February 2026

"I feel so lucky to have an Ina J photograph to hang on our wall. It's something I'll treasure forever."

★★★★★
Mauravi Jukar, October 2024

"The quality family photos (including our fur-baby) which she delivered for us will leave lasting memories as we look and reflect daily on the framed result."

★★★★★
Chris Polyichanin, April 2024

"Amazing photography experience, super quick with communications and delivered the most incredible metallic print I've ever seen! Thank you!!"

★★★★★
Jamie Kieliszek, October 2025

Come and have a chat with me about your dog.

Book your consultation

Questions people ask

The ones that come up most, answered straight.

My dog will never sit still.

That's so common. I photograph dogs on leash, which I edit out afterwards. Even the running shots are on a long lead. In six years, there hasn't been a dog I couldn't photograph. The secret is going at their pace and having really good treats.

My dog is anxious around strangers.

Then we go slower. That's the whole reason the planning call exists, so I know what your dog is like before we meet, and we can pick a time and a place that suits them.

Do I get the digital files?

Yes. The matching digital files come with your artwork, so you have both. The print is the guaranteed version, made to a colour standard I control.

I don't know where I'd put it.

Send me a photo of your wall with a piece of paper taped up, and I'll design a mockup so you can see it on your own wall before you commit to anything.

Do I have to decide on the day?

No. You choose your artwork at the ordering appointment, after you've seen your own dog printed at size. Nothing is decided at the consultation.

Is there a payment plan?

Yes. We can talk through the options when we meet.

Ready to talk?

If you've been thinking about a session for your dog, do it while they're still doing the head tilt and stealing your spot on the couch. The next step is a consultation with me, studio or Zoom.

Book your consultation
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Phone: 0410 974 091 Email: ina@inajphotography.com Tooroonga Cres, Jerrabomberra BOOK A CONSULTATION  

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  • HOME
  • FOR PET PARENTS
    • THE EXPERIENCE
    • FINE ART PRODUCTS
    • GALLERY
    • GIFT A SESSION
    • ABOUT INA
    • TAILS OF CANBERRA VOLUME 2 BOOK PROJECT
    • GIVING BACK
  • FOR BRANDS
  • FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
  • BLOG
  • BOOK NOW
  • How a Canberra Dog photography Session Works