WELCOME TO
Ragamuffin Pet Photography
We specialise in natural portraiture with a patient, relaxed approach.
Photographing the happy dogs of Melbourne & Victoria since 2010
Hello!
I’m Caitlin McColl: proud dog mum and owner of
Ragamuffin Pet Photography.
We specialise in natural portraits, with a relaxed and patient approach. No cheesy poses, no stressful studios - just pets being themselves.
I started Ragamuffin back in 2010, after adopting my own scruffy gal Lyra. I didn’t have a speck of business knowledge, but I had a camera round my neck, Lyra by my side and a dream.
Over a decade later, I now have a team of passionate, dog-loving photographers. We are dedicated not only to creating gorgeous portraits for our clients, but also to making a difference for pets in need. To date, we’ve published nine dog-filled books which have raised over $200,000 for animal rescue charities.
So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for choosing Ragamuffin and supporting this happy little business.
young pups .
old souls .
silly .
shy .
cuddly .
independent .
social .
anxious .
ball fantatic .
food obsessed .
water loving .
rescued .
pedigreed .
basic training .
all the tricks .
young pups . old souls . silly . shy . cuddly . independent . social . anxious . ball fantatic . food obsessed . water loving . rescued . pedigreed . basic training . all the tricks .
We have photographed thousands of dogs over the past fifteen years.
Each one is special in their own way, butthey also all share one thing in common. . .
They are family.
Personality filled portraits
with a natural style & patient approach
1st Sunday of every month
+ $50 Print Voucher
Just want a few photographs to update your walls? Then the short and sweet Pawtrait Session is perfect for you!
$175
Morning or Afternoon Session
No time limits (typically 1-3 hours)
Botanic Gardens + Beach
+ $200 Print Voucher
Signature Sessions are the most popular option. We start by exploring the park, capturing beautiful portraits and natural photos together while the sun sparkles through the leaves of the trees above.
Next we walk to the beach, for fun and zoomies and splashing through the waves. Your dog will have the BEST DAY EVER and we’ll be behind the scenes, capturing it all.
$450
Full Day Session
No time limits
All your pets + their people
Location of your choice
+ $300 Print Voucher
Take your dog on the ultimate photographic adventure!
Every Adventure Session is different. We'll plan it together so it's the perfect day to capture your dog's happiness.
Popular choices include hiking the You Yangs or Dandenong mountains, snow days at Dinner Plains, exploring the laneways of inner city Melbourne, and beachy roadtrips down the Great Ocean Road or Mornington Peninsula. Or keep it relaxed and simple with a day-in-your-life session at home. Travel anywhere within Victoria is included.
$800
Three steps to your perfect photoshoot…
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1: Planning the Session
Get in touch and we'll have a chat to learn all about your furkids so we can plan everything for your perfect session. This chat will covers everything from location and scheduling, to what to wear and how to prepare.
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2: The Photoshoot
Our photoshoot starts with getting to know your pets. Whatever their behaviour, training & personality, rest assured that we have photographed thousands of animals over the past fifteen years and never met a pet we couldn't photograph beautifully!
Once they're comfortable, we'll start photographing. Sessions take place outdoors with the natural light and have extremely patient, relaxed approach. That means lots of play, treats, fun and cuddles as we explore the park together. -
3: Your Session Reveal
After our shoot, it’s time to take the photos back to the retouching team. We carefully curate and edit your final gallery (usually around 50 images) with our signature natural, Ragamuffin style.
Two weeks later, you’ll join Caitlin on Zoom for your online Session Reveal - the best part of the experience! You’ll view all your gorgeous photographs and together we’ll design the perfect print options to showcase them in your home.
This is my life's purpose.
To create art that brings a smile to your face for many, many years to come.
“We really cannot express how much we love the results of our shoot!
The whole process was enjoyable and Caitlin went above and beyond every step of the way, from getting the perfect shot to communicating after the shoot, answering questions, making adjustments and allowing us to be flexible with our payment plan.
Such attention to detail and so professional, thorough and a pleasure to work with. You can tell she loves what she does and puts her heart and soul into her art and her business!! Cannot recommend highly enough.”
- CARLY R.
PRINTS + PRODUCTS
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All session include a print voucher to use at your Session Reveal. Prints, wall art, albums and digital files are all available to purchase at this online appointment.
I work with a wide range of budgets, styles and spaces. Most clients walk away with a framed piece on their wall and a beautiful keepsake album with 30-40 of their favourite portraits.
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Not a problem at all! While I specialise in Wall Art, I do also have some gorgeous products designed for those short on space. These include custom designed albums, unique timber print boxes, glass photo tiles and more.
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I’m glad you asked! I’m a big believer in printing your most precious photographs - after all, hard drives can and do fail, but printed images will continue to bring a smile to your face for many years to come.
That being said, I know you’re gonna want to show off your awesome photoshoot! That’s why I include a FREE digital copy of every photograph printed. That way you have the best of both worlds.
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Absolutely! I offer take home laybuy plans with Payright, so you don’t have to wait to enjoy your photographs.
I’m always happy to tailor a plan to suit your budget, so please don’t hesitate to ask.
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Unlike many professional photographic studios, I do not have a “minimum order requirement” - some of my clients order one special print for their wall, others walk away with a keepsake album, USB and gallery of framed prints! It’s my job (and ultimate mission) to design the perfect order that suits your unique home, space and budget.
READY TO LEARN MORE?
“Ragamuffin is simply the BEST! It was our first time having a natural outdoor photoshoot, so we did not know what to expect at all. It was natural, relaxed and we had so much fun. We knew whenever when our photographer had captured the perfect moment because she would smile ear to ear with excitement. Her passionate energy is pretty contagious!
We loved our photoshoot, but the Session Reveal was our favourite heartwarming experience. It pulled at our heartstrings and we all cried tears of happiness and joy. Clark’s playful, adorable puppy eyes, cute head tilts, happy smiles and wagging tail - she captured it all. Thank you Ragamuffin - you went gone above and beyond our expectations! This is the BEST thing we have ever done as a family with Clark.”
- Clark’s Family (Leanne Kate, Leah, Fil and Aleczander)
“What’s the key to a successful pet photoshoot? Patience and love.”
Being a good pet photographer is a little bit about the photography, creativity and knowing your craft. But it’s a lot about the pet. Our ultimate goal is to create images that captures the essence of your pet. Their soul, their personality, what makes them unique. Images that make you smile wide and say to yourself “Oh my god, that’s so them!”
In order to do this, I pour myself into connecting with the animal I am photographing. Forgive me a moment if I sound soppy (or even a bit nutty), for this is the simple truth. I can chit chat and change exposure, measure my light and location scout, but really what I’m doing at all times is carefully, intensely, getting to know your dog. Reading their expressions. Matching their energy. Coaxing out the confidence of a nervous boy, or happily meeting an excited girl in her enthusiasm.
Every movement I make, every word I say, is me trying to communicate “Hi, I am a friend. I see you. I appreciate you. Please, let me know you.”
It is my greatest honour to enjoy and share in even the tiniest part of the lives of so many dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We specialise in natural light photography, working with the environment on the day to create bright, warm portraits.
We will photograph everything from zoomie action shots to beautiful close-ups, silly candids to heartfelt family portraits. Sometimes we’ll direct and guide you, other times we’ll just see where the moment takes us!
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Pawtrait Sessions typically take around 30 minutes and Signature Sessions take around 90 minutes. That being said, it really does come down to your pet. They will quickly pick up on human stress, so please feel free to ignore the clock - we work at your furkid’s pace.
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Not at all - we’ve photographed plenty of dogs with behavioural issues over the years and always adapt to suit the animal. For example, switching to a longer zoom lens for fearful or reactive doggos, as that allows us to create beautiful portraits from far away.
Please just get in touch and we can come up with a suitable plan for your pets.
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I’ll let you in on a secret - 95% of the dogs we photograph are on leash and most of them are total (lovable) nutcases.
I have all sorts of tricks up my sleeve to get the best out of your dog, so please don’t think they need to be obedience superstars.
They just need to rock up and be themselves - we’ll take care of the rest!
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Your Session Fee covers the photoshoot and includes a print credit to spend at your session reveal. Prints start at $195, ready-to-hang Wall Art starts at $495 and albums start at $1250.
Please note that the session fee does not include digital files.
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As photographers, we are so passionate about printing your most precious photographs. After all, hard drives can and do fail, but printed images will continue to bring a smile to your face for many years to come.
That being said, we know you’re gonna want to show off your awesome photoshoot. That’s why every photograph printed includes a FREE digital copy. Best of both worlds!
The high-res master files are also available to purchase separately.
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Yes, please! Kids + pets sessions are so much fun!
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Melbourne’s weather can be unpredictable, so we prefer to wait until the morning of your session to make a final decision about rescheduling. If it’s forecasted to rain during your session time, we will work with you to reschedule to the next available date that suits you (no rescheduling fee will apply).
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I highly recommend that you do. I know that you might be feeling nervous about getting in front of the camera (and trust me - I totally get it!).
Most clients feel a little self-conscious about being photographed before their session. The thing to remember is that you are the most important part of your pet’s life. You are their everything. Trust us when we say the portraits of you and your pet together will be pure magic.
Your photographer will guide you through the process, and we promise that a few moments of discomfort will be well worth it for memories you’ll cherish forever.
HAPPINESS GUARANTEED
If you don’t love your photographs,
we’ll reshoot or refund - no questions asked
happy clients (and happy pets) are our number one priority!
RECENT SESSIONS
Blog posts about dog photoshoots from around Melbourne, Geelong and Victoria
In the heart of the Otways you'll find Countrywide Cottages - the perfect getaway for dog lovers. Turn off your phone and prepare to fully relax - with bushwalks at your doorstep, bonfires in the front yard, and yabbies in the dam. They are more than just “pet-friendly” here - the lovely team at Countrywide Cottages are true pet lovers. They have fully fenced yards, dog beds, blankets, bowls and even home-made dog treats in every cottage.