“It’s been quite a busy few months!” exclaimed Rhian Ap Gruffydd, the creative maestro behind card publishing business Gruff Pawtraits, juggling preparing for PG Live with an exciting opportunity to promote her brand with top fashion accessories designer Anya Hindmarch.
Having gained a reputation for her unique style of dog photography, that forms the basis of Gruff Pawtraits’ greeting card collection, Rhian was invited to be part of Any Hindmarch ‘Be a Bag’ campaign where her photographs could feature on Any Hindmarch bags, the sales of which would help raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Rhian set up a ‘studio’ in Anya Hindmarch’s store in London’s Pont Street and customers were invited to book a slot to have their dogs photographed.
Originally it was planned to run for three days, but due to demand, this was extended to five days.
Anya Hindmarch promoted the activity though her huge social media following as well as though her PR team, relaying the background of how Gruff Pawtraits was born when Rhian used a dog as a stand in to check the lighting level on a lifestyle photoshoot and realised her face on shot had a unique feel.
Of the Anya activity, Rhian said “It was such a great thing to be part of though from my perspective quite a challenge. I photographed roughly eight dogs a day, which is more than I have ever done before especially with the added pressure of getting eight great pictures of each client’s dog. However, the feedback has been immense and people are loving the images”.
Adding to the excitement, on the very first day at Anya’s Rhian popped into Harrods as the department store has just started stocking her cards.
“I was bursting with pride when I looked up and saw all my Gruff Pawtraits cards looking down at me. When one of the Harrods ladies asked if she could help me, I could contain my excitement no more and said “those are my cards!!” To be fair I think she was equally as excited and called the other staff members over.
Those few minutes made every minute I have put into starting my small company worth it.
I just couldn’t believe how photographing one dog on a photoshoot as a stand in had come to this – PG Live, Anya Hindmarch, Harrods, being stocked in other great retailers. Wow!” said Rhian.
Top: Anya Hindmarch’s Be a Bag campaign has included offering Rhian’s dog portrait photos to appear on any of the brand’s bags.
