Thank you for volunteering your doggies for the Cheeky Barkers project. Their mugshots and quirky crimes are immortalised in these decks of limited edition playing cards.
They're now famous! After appearing on the front cover of Bored Panda, your little furry criminals have officially gone international!
AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE!
Buy here:
CHEEKY BARKERS PLAYING CARDS - CLICK HERE TO BUY
Here is the actual article:
The morning I shot this portrait at the studio, Kiddo pickpocketed some snacks from my jacket. She clearly wasn't very subtle and was subsequently caught red-pawed. I realised a lot of dogs had crimes like this, and not one of them had a mugshot. Kiddo.. you were the first.
A call-out was made in January 2024 for 52 volunteers for a secret project. The project was called The Cheeky Barkers.
The 52 cards allowed room for the various portraits, dog breeds and interesting crimes I was about to uncover.
The very first participants of The Cheeky Barkers Season 1 were King Louis and King Hugo - Cavalier King Charles Spaniels of course.
Props were not necessarily required for the portraits. I was looking for a cheeky side-eye, a head tilt or a quirky characteristic from each dog. That being said, these owners went all out.
Here is Lucifer, Betty and Kika. Do you reckon they suit their crimes?
Who took the Joker cards?
Everyone wanted the Jokers, and as I met each and every doggie, I could see why. To level out the playing field... the Jokers are cats. Introducing Bean and Shark from the Good Companion Dog Training Club.
Wesker, Nancy, Merlin and Harley's crimes were all created during their sessions. I heard stories of their antics and their cards were designed around their personalities and shenanigans. Please note: Harley did not actually eat a prized dove.
Bunty was too sweet for a regular crime. She earned the proud title of suffragette.
This is the cover of the deck of cards, Season 1: The Cheeky Barkers.
I wanted people to know this creative venture was born in Llangollen; pulling inspiration from the surrounding Welsh valleys and picturesque landscape.
Season 2 of The Cheeky Barkers is well underway. And yes, the Jokers are still going to be cats.
This is the official front cover for Season 2 of the Cheeky Barkers.
Let's take a moment to appreciate Danger Mouse rocking his bow tie. He is the smallest criminal in Season 2 (and possibly even S1), but that didn't stop him from committing a crime!
The participants of S2 had incredible expressions. Any and all dogs were welcome to come and take part in the Cheeky Barkers project.
Winnie was a high energy collie, Alfred the mastiff was a big softie and Georgie the miniature dachshund kept giving me suspicious eyes. No posing required! Only their unfiltered personalities.
Schrody and Pinto are the upcoming Jokers for Season 2. Their crimes are to be determined.
What a whirlwind project this has been!
Thank you so much for your support and your interest. It wouldn't be possible without you!
The location of The Cheeky Barkers project takes place at the IsoElegant Photography studio in Llangollen.
Unit 1, The Malthouse, Ground Floor, Regent Street, Llangollen, LL20 8HS.
The Cheeky Barkers Season 1 and Season 2 Limited Edition deck of cards are now for sale.
TO PURCHASE THE CHEEKY BARKERS - CLICK HERE
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For a little more context on the Cheeky Barkers project, and Sammy, please keep reading.
I’m Sammy, a photographer based in North Wales. My decade long career as an international wedding and studio photographer gave me a world of experience with different cultures, human nature and figuring out if Adobe or a darkroom was better.
There was, however, no room for a canine companion in this line of work. 2020 had me re-evaluate some of those things. I now have a photography studio in Llangollen, a darkroom in my bathroom and a cocker spaniel called Kiddo.
My own dog inspired me to create the Cheeky Barkers project. She was caught red-pawed pickpocketing some snacks from my jacket. Sharing stories, it was apparent many of my clients’ dogs had similar cheeky crimes.
An open call for 52 dogs was made on social media. Any size, any temperament and any aged dog were welcome to apply to be a Cheeky Barker.
Their crimes were determined during their own photoshoot and each crime is unique to each dog. It depended on their levels of energy, their background and even how they interacted with me.
My background is in analogue photography. The darkroom process played a huge part in creating this particular style of portrait. Film scratches and light leaks are a beautiful problem when dealing with analogue photography.
Early Victorian era portraits suffered from imperfect exposure and scratches; this is what I used as inspiration. In this instance, Adobe Photoshop was better than the darkroom.
The main challenge encountered with this project was ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all the dogs first and foremost. Most of the dogs had never visited the studio before and were anxious or nervous in the new environment.
At least 10 minutes was spent at their level, understanding their behaviour before a single image was taken. I work with a local dog trainer and canine expert, Lyndon Ford at Kelford Dog Training, to further my awareness and knowledge of dog health, breed characteristics and canine safety. It was important for me to reassure both the owner and their dog they were in a safe and calm environment.
There are many other creative ideas I’m currently exploring. Every month I organise a dog walk to Welsh landmarks and points of interest. I offer photoshoots at these locations for people and their dogs to experience North Wales with a different perspective.
As for the studio, I’ll be creating a colourful cat calendar with a twist. Coming up to the colder months, the studio will be hosting snakes, lizards and dragons.
Dogs are much smarter than people realise. It is our responsibility to understand how they communicate with us. Please give dogs the respect and patience they deserve as they navigate around our lives. They are only in it for a short time, let’s make it excellent for them.
Love to all of the dogs that exist forever and always,
Sammy
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