Dog day afternoon

Alistair Campbell joins Anna-Marie Coster for a pet portraits session amongst the buttercups

- Anna-Marie Coster

Global warming may one day take away the novelty factor, but for now, there's G nothing quite like the feeling of being out and about in the countryside on a pleasantly warm evening during the British summertime.

I'm on Yate Common to the northeast of Bristol, where I'm meeting photographer and animal lover Anna-Marie Coster, who has a soft spot for dog photography. Coster set up her own business 10 years ago, combining her passions for creativity and canines when she began photographing dogs in shelters that needed rehoming. Her business covers Bristol and surrounding areas, offering photoshoots to pet owners. It's a little after 6pm and, as we look out across the large expanse of yellow wild buttercups and tall grass, the clouds are broken by scattered spots of blue sky. From the entrance to the common, Coster spots her client Isabelle with Lola, a young spaniel pup who seems eager to make the most of the wide-open spaces.

Coster takes up her first shooting position of the evening, lying flat on the ground, and I ask if this is a normal part of a shoot.

"To be honest, yes," she says. "Most of the time, I'm either laying on the ground or crouched down on my knees. It depends on the size of the dog but it's best to come down to their level. Not only is this the most flattering angle, but it creates a beautiful soft foreground, too."

Isabelle says that Lola has already been for a long walk today, so she should be tired and willing to come back to us on command. With Coster at the ready and Isabelle standing behind her, Lola is sitting a few metres away in the field. "OK... come!" Isabelle commands and Lola runs off in the opposite direction. As we all laugh, the phrase 'never work with children or animals' springs to mind.