THE old adage is that you should never work with children or animals. But MELISSA JONES proved it wrong when she joined an award-winning pet photographer to learn the ropes.

THE only time I really look through the lens is on a foreign escapade or on a dancefloor.

So it was a refreshing change to learn from an expert about how to take the perfect photograph with all the right equipment.

The subject was not a human, but a cute bundle of fur called Gertie, a bassett hound.

Multi award winning pet photographer Tracey Clements, from Caldicot, was the woman who would teach me how to manage a shoot in the comforts of her creative workplace.

Wye Valley Studios was set up by her dad Glyn around 65 years ago and customers are as loyal as they are friendly, which I discovered with Gertie’s owners.

Happy couple Terry Theobald, 56 and his wife Carole, 48, have paid Tracey for years to take pictures of their beloved bassett hounds.

It all started 11 years ago with their first dog Melvin, who Terry took to the studio to be photographed for his wife as a Christmas present.

They loved the pictures so much that they returned Melvin with their other hound Shirley Bassett for a joint shoot to mark the next festive season.

“They sat together like husband and wife. Melvin had his paw round her neck, we call it ‘me and my girl’ pose,” smiled Mr Theobald, who told me all of the pictures take pride of place in their Rogiet home.

It was Gertie’s turn to hog the limelight this afternoon.

The 12-week-old pup hails from the West Country- but she came to Monmouthshire as her previous owners could no longer look after her.

Although they were not going to have another dog after Melvin and Shirley sadly died within a few months of each other, Mr and Mrs Theobold fell in love with Gertie.

“We couldn’t walk away without her. Dogs seem to find you,” said Carole.

Tracey, who has claimed the Master Photographer’s Association Pet Photographer of the year title twice, took time to get to know little Gertie so she was comfortable with the set-up.

Fascinated by her reflection in a mirror across the other side of the room, she was bounding about with what seemed like endless energy.

I sat there, clutching my notepad, wondering how we were going to get the tiny terror to sit still.

It was a task and a half, as Tracey brought out a big fluffy blanket.

The idea was to get the little dog to make an expression which would capture the hearts of people.

This proved tricky as Gertie wriggled around, against Carole’s persuasion to get her to pose for the camera.

I was handed a squeaky toy, which got the dog’s attention, as Tracey snapped away.

“You need something to do that, whether it’s clicking your fingers or making noises. Barking and miaowing I do in abundance. You get people coming in the shop wondering what’s going on,” laughed Tracey.

But I soon learned it is not all fun and games in this line of work, as once a nervous dog bit Tracey while she was lying on the floor trying to take its picture.

Troubled canines have disappeared behind a screen in her studio as they are frightened of the camera flash and she has even had to abandon a shoot before.

“If dogs are frightened and their ears are flat you’re not going to sell the picture,” said Tracey.

“Before a shoot, I get to know the dog, fuss it and maybe give it some biscuits, although I do check that’s OK with the owner. I activate the flash to see if I get a reaction.”

Tracey avoids using too many props so the dog is the focus of the shot, but a second mirror was soon brought into play to get a reflection of pretty Gertie.

However, for some reason, she was more fascinated with the other one.

We snapped away, as Carole again took the role of prime distracter behind the mirror.

Tracey takes around 140 shots in a sitting, which costs £50 and includes two 10"x8" photos in a folder/mounts and a digital projection preview.

The mirror proved a hindrance rather than a help so Tracey’s next idea was to get the dog to pop out from under the blanket.

Snapping her at the right moment proved difficult, as like an excited child, she was rather too eager.

I could not master it, but then, a sausage was deployed.

Lying on the wooden floor, it was mine and Terry’s job to get Gertie to lie with her head down, looking cute, with her ears flat.

As the treat was pulled away, her nose followed, so it took about 20 attempts before we managed to take the right picture.

A comfy seat was brought into the equation by Tracey, who was named the Master Photographers Association’s (MPA) pet photographer of the year for Wales in 2013, thanks to a shot of two spaniels named Jake and Jason owned by Sylvia Rose.

Gertie was positioned with her paws over the arm of the chair, as I took the camera to my eye.

I snapped and snapped, but I could not match a picture to rival Tracey’s 26 years of experience.

Encouraging me, she said: “It’s a bit of trial and error. You have either got it or you haven’t with photography. Sometimes it’s a split second where you get the right shot.”

I could tell Tracey was happy I had turned up for another job, to help distract Gertie with the squeaky toy, as she said for a successful shoot, ideally several people are needed.

I thought Gertie was lovely but quite a handful.

But apart from a few nibbles of my hands, I was relieved she wasn’t fierce.

“It can be very dangerous but I enjoy doing it. Funnily enough I have never been a dog lover,” Tracey said.

I looked at her perplexed.

Dogs are my favourite animals, apart from horses being the Argus’ racing reporter.

I could not imagine not being a fan.

“The eyes have to be clear,” she said, showing me some of the previous photographs of dogs she has taken, including an upside down shot of a Boxer for which she won an award presented by ex Bond girl Honor Blackman.

By this point Gertie was exhausted by her moment of fame and was snoozing on the comfy rug.

I wished I could have taken her home, but at least I have some photographic mementoes of the lively lady.

Even if they are a bit on the blurry side...