Rediscovered: Teddy the Samoyed | Swithland Woods Dog Photography

Every now and then, sorting through an old hard drive turns up a little surprise.

That is exactly what happened when I came across these photographs of Teddy, a gorgeous Samoyed, tucked away amongst a collection of images from years ago.

I had completely forgotten about them.

And I couldn't believe I'd never edited or shared them.

These photographs were taken back in March 2019 at Swithland Woods in Leicestershire, when spring hadn't quite arrived but we were lucky enough to have beautiful sunshine for our walk through the woods.

It was also my first time photographing a Samoyed, so finding these images again was a particularly lovely surprise.

Meet Teddy

Teddy was part of an engagement photoshoot that an acquaintance of mine was photographing. I was asked to come along specifically to photograph Teddy while they captured the rest of the story.

And what a dog to photograph.

Just look at all that fur!

His owners had clearly made sure he was looking his absolute best for the occasion and Teddy looked every bit as handsome as you'd expect from a beautifully groomed Samoyed.

He was also completely adorable.

A woodland walk with a water-loving Samoyed

We wandered along the paths through Swithland Woods, with the bare early-spring trees allowing plenty of sunshine through.

The woodland floor was still very much in its winter state, with the familiar bark-covered paths winding through the trees. It didn't quite feel like spring yet, but the sunshine made it feel like the perfect day for a walk.

Teddy certainly seemed to agree.

There was a stream running through the woods and, as soon as he discovered the water, it became rather obvious that this was where he wanted to be.

He loved it.

For a dog photographer, a water-loving dog is always a bonus because you get those lovely moments of movement, curiosity and sheer enjoyment. Teddy was more than happy to investigate the stream and make the most of his woodland adventure.

And yes, I suspect that beautiful white coat may not have stayed quite so pristine for long!

Seven years later...

The strange thing about photography is that sometimes the images you think you'll come back to can disappear into the depths of a hard drive.

That is what happened with Teddy.

These photographs were taken in 2019 and have never been edited, published or seen online until now.

Finding them again in 2026 felt a bit like opening a time capsule.

I love that they still capture exactly what I remember about that day: sunshine, a beautiful woodland, a gorgeous Samoyed and a dog who was thoroughly enjoying himself.

There is also something rather nice about photographing a breed for the first time and then stumbling across those photographs years later. Teddy was my first Samoyed, and looking back at these images reminded me just how much I enjoyed photographing him.

Dog photography that captures personality

Although this wasn't a dedicated TMS Photography session in the way I photograph dogs today, it is a lovely reminder of why I enjoy photographing animals outdoors.

The best photographs aren't necessarily about asking a dog to sit perfectly and look at the camera.

They're about letting them explore, watching what catches their attention and giving them the freedom to simply be themselves.

Sometimes that means standing beautifully amongst the trees.

Sometimes it means investigating a stream.

And sometimes it means getting a little bit wet despite having just been groomed to perfection!

That's the sort of personality I want to capture in my dog photography always natural, relaxed photographs that actually feel like your dog.

And I'm rather glad I found Teddy again.

After all, it would have been a shame for these photographs to spend forever hiding on an old hard drive.

Looking for relaxed dog photography?

If you'd love photographs of your own dog that capture their personality rather than simply a collection of posed portraits, I'd love to hear from you.

Whether your dog is happiest exploring woodland, splashing through streams, running across open fields or simply staying close to you, we can create a session around what they actually enjoy doing.

Find out more about TMS Photography and my dog photography sessions, or get in touch to chat about creating something personal for you and your dog.