Jo Lyons Photography

Jo Lyons Photography Fine art dog photographer, Wootton NSW
Crafted portraits & heirloom artwork for dog-centric families
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Chief 🩵🩵🩵Chief's foster carer Nix adores her boy. She's put an incredible amount of love and care into his rehabilitatio...
15/06/2026

Chief 🩵🩵🩵

Chief's foster carer Nix adores her boy. She's put an incredible amount of love and care into his rehabilitation after being minutes away from being euthanised at a NSW pound.

This boy stole my heart, and while many dogs do, some leave a deeper mark. Chief is one of those. He has a puppy-like nature to him and is so gentle and loving.

The one thing in our two hours together that really hit me in the feels was when he jumped up onto my studio lounge with his blanket to self-regulate. He lay there sucking on his blanket and making the cutest noises, just like a baby.

Whoever chooses this boy will never regret that decision. He is divine.

Chief is available to adopt from Rescue Newcastle and I'll post his adoption link in the comments.

It's been a busy week so I still have quite a few images to select and edit for DRN to use, but here's a few to get the party started 💞

Today was the very first Who Saved Who? session.Pedro is thirteen. Smooth coated, enormous ears, and ridiculously handso...
12/06/2026

Today was the very first Who Saved Who? session.

Pedro is thirteen. Smooth coated, enormous ears, and ridiculously handsome.

He belongs to Jo, a volunteer with The Stay Foundation, who has loved him since the day he came into her life.

Does he remind you of anyone?

We'd never met in person before today, but it felt like we'd known each other for years. That's often how it goes with dog people.

Something Jo said about Pedro stayed with me. The way rescued dogs can seem forever grateful that you saved them. I've always felt that with my own dogs too, and watching Pedro today, it was written all over him.

Maybe it's a Jo thing?

For now, just this. Thirteen years old, full of life, and held by someone who clearly adores him.

I'm not sharing too much here, their full story will be shared in the book.

Applications for the first round of Who Saved Who? are open until 30 June.

Link in the comments 💞

What a weekend 💞Some beautiful applications came through for Who Saved Who? over the long weekend. Stories, dogs, people...
09/06/2026

What a weekend 💞

Some beautiful applications came through for Who Saved Who? over the long weekend. Stories, dogs, people who felt something and decided to share it. I'm so grateful.

And yesterday, this absolute gentleman came to the studio.

This is Chief. He visited with his foster carer as part of my ongoing work with Dog Rescue Newcastle — studio portraits to help rescue dogs find their forever homes.
Chief had things to say. Clearly.

More from his session coming soon. In the meantime, if you know someone who needs a dog like this in their life, stay tuned.

Applications for round one of Who Saved Who? are open until 30 June.

jolyonsphotography.com/who-saved-who

In loving memory of Yuuki 💞🐾🌈Val and Yuuki came to the studio late last year.Yuuki was so happy that day. She lived with...
07/06/2026

In loving memory of Yuuki 💞🐾🌈

Val and Yuuki came to the studio late last year.

Yuuki was so happy that day. She lived with Val on a farm, and coming to the studio was quite the adventure. She arrived full of energy and excitement.

We took our time. There was no rush. Slowly, she settled. And once she did, it became very clear.

Yuuki only had eyes for Val.

The love between them was uncomplicated. It was just there, in every frame.

Val shared something with me, after Yuuki passed a few weeks ago, that I keep thinking about.

The vet commented on how silky Yuuki’s coat was, right at the end. Val said that’s what love does. That it has a physical transference. That it actually manifests in the one you love.

And that sure resonates with me.

Run free, sweet Yuuki.

And sending so much love to you, Val. 💞

As promised… Chilli chilling in the studio this week versus Chilli when she was was first busted out of the pound by Dog...
06/06/2026

As promised… Chilli chilling in the studio this week versus Chilli when she was was first busted out of the pound by Dog Rescue Newcastle.

What a transformation! ❤️🌶️

Meet Chilli from Dog Rescue Newcastle 🤍🤎🌶️She was chauffeured up to Wootton yesterday by her lovely foster mum Julie, an...
03/06/2026

Meet Chilli from Dog Rescue Newcastle 🤍🤎🌶️

She was chauffeured up to Wootton yesterday by her lovely foster mum Julie, and we had the best girls' afternoon together, outside in Luna's Circle and the sensory garden before the weather turned, then into the cosy studio for more fun and portraits.

Darling Chilli was in a terrible state when she was rescued. She has come so far and I'll be sharing a before and after in the coming days, but for now, just enjoy that beautiful face. Please show her some love by sharing this post, her adoption profile is in the comments.

Something I don't talk about enough: this is a free service I offer to help rescue dogs be seen and find their people. Every time someone books a session with me, they're making this possible. So if you've ever worked with me, or if you're thinking about it, thank you. You're part of this too.

And whoever gets to call Chilli theirs, I'd love to gift you a complimentary Gotcha Portrait to celebrate her new chapter. Reach out when you find each other 🤍

PS... check out that adorable "lips stuck on teefs" smile.

01/06/2026

The project will raise funds for an animal welfare foundation.

I'm taking part in the Unleashed Education Empower Challenge this year and by midnight tonight we need to submit our ima...
30/05/2026

I'm taking part in the Unleashed Education Empower Challenge this year and by midnight tonight we need to submit our image for challenge 2 - On the Side.

This challenge is all about side lighting and how to position the subject to make the most of the side lighting scenario.

Yesterday it was raining torrentially here in Wootton and I packed the dogs into the car and drove up to the studio. Henry and Sprite jumped out and headed straight down but Jesse refused to get out of the car. So I left him there while I escorted the other two safely into the studio through the rain.

So I headed back up to the car to coax Jesse out. He is totally obsessed with balls, Kong balls in particular. I have over a dozen of them, so every time we go out for a walk, there is always at least one ball to be found on the trail.

Anyhoo, I threw Jesse's ball down toward the studio and he leapt out of the car to go fetch it, but did a bit of an aquaplane down the hill.

All good, I thought ahead and brought a towel with me, so I dried him off when we got to the verandah and off he headed to join the others in the studio.

I set up my light and positioned Jesse for the challenge and got what I thought were a few images that nailed the challenge.

This afternoon I imported them to choose one to edit. Ba Bam! He had mud all over his face! These three images were my shortlisted images until I zoomed in and realised 🤦🏼‍♀️

I could have spent time editing all the mud off, but instead I reshot... and in less than 5 minutes I had the shot. Jesse was amazing (as usual).

I can't share the image I'm submitting just yet, but will do after it has been critiqued. For now, have a giggle at these three 'shortlisted' but very muddy unedited images. 🤣💗

Has your dog ever had a moment like Jesse's?

It's late, but I wanted to share beautiful Ollie before I head off to bed.Three lovely volunteers from Dog Rescue Newca...
25/05/2026

It's late, but I wanted to share beautiful Ollie before I head off to bed.

Three lovely volunteers from Dog Rescue Newcastle travelled up to my studio this afternoon with Ollie despite the wet conditions as they wanted to get Ollie's adoption profile updated and my role was to photograph him and show you exactly who he is.

Ollie didn't want a bar of my timber boxes, so we played instead — and somewhere between the games and the breathers, the portraits found us.

We even got to take a few outdoor portraits in between the rain showers.

For now, enjoy this handsome, gentle face. 💞

PS... check out the comments for the original unedited photo!

Meet Josie 🧡🤎🧡She recently came to my studio with her mum Hayley, for a Gotcha Portrait experience.Hayley has volunteere...
22/05/2026

Meet Josie 🧡🤎🧡

She recently came to my studio with her mum Hayley, for a Gotcha Portrait experience.

Hayley has volunteered at Dog Rescue Newcastle every Saturday for the past two years. One shift, she was told about a new dog who'd been surrendered the day before. The dog was very scared, very unsure. She headed up to the kennels and found a beautiful girl sitting timidly with the shelter manager.

"Who is this?" Hayley asked.
"This is your new dog," came the reply.
They both laughed it off.

Five days after Josie came home to foster, she became a foster fail. She's been Hayley's ever since.

When I asked Hayley what mattered most to her about having these portraits created, she said: "A lasting photo that captures her personality. I would also like a photo of the two of us together. I have so many photos of Josie on her own, but it is a lot harder for me to get a photo of Josie and I together."

That's exactly why this exists.

The Gotcha Portrait is a complimentary studio session and fine art matted print, gifted to families who adopt through Dog Rescue Newcastle. If you've recently brought your dog home through DRN, the link in my bio will tell you everything you need to know.

Register within 30 days of your adoption date. Your session may be booked within 12 months of the official Adoption Day.

🐾 Josie and her mum Hayley

Address

Wootton, NSW
2423

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 2pm - 5pm

Telephone

+61412617928

Website

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