Our Story
A young man who picked up a camera at fourteen, found his place in the dog world, and left such an impression in such a short life is someone worth remembering. The fact that his passion helped inspire what came after is a beautiful part of our family history.
Every photograph has a story behind it, and so does our business.
People often ask how Will Harris Photography began, but the truth is that our story started long before anyone picked up a camera.
I often say that I was “born in a whelping box,” because dogs have been part of my life from the very beginning. My parents, Harry and Margaret Boyle, founded the Zarcrest kennel, and I grew up surrounded by puppies, show preparations, long journeys to championship shows and the friendships that make the dog world so special. It wasn’t simply a hobby—it was our way of life.
That lifelong love of dogs naturally led to photography.
When my youngest brother, Edward, picked up a camera at the age of fourteen, he discovered a remarkable talent for capturing the beauty, excitement and emotion of the show ring. With much encouragement from John Hartley, then with Dog World Ltd, Edward was allowed to work closely with Our Dogs, beginning a journey that promised him so much…
Photography became part of our family’s life when Edward Harris picked up that camera. He had a natural eye for capturing the excitement, beauty and emotion of the dog show world, and it wasn’t long before his talent was recognised. Thanks will always remain with John Hartley, who was then working at all the major general championship shows, and Edward was allowed to work alongside him for Our Dogs. It was the beginning of a journey that promised him so much.
As Edward’s reputation grew, our friends Melissa and Mark Sworab, from the United States, came up with the name Snap An Image. It was a name that suited Edward perfectly and soon became well known within the pedigree dog community.
Every photograph tells a story. Ours began with a young boy who picked up a camera at fourteen and dreamed of capturing the beauty of the dog world. Today, that story continues through Will, through every show, every champion and every treasured image we are privileged to create. Edward’s legacy is not only remembered—it is carried forward, one photograph at a time.
Our family’s world changed forever when Edward died from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (A.L.L.) at the age of just eighteen. Heartbreakingly, he passed away on his younger brother Will’s twenty-first birthday. It is impossible to put into words the impact that day had on our family. For two weeks, Will couldn’t bring himself to pick up his cameras. Then, quietly and without any fanfare, he opened his camera bag and took a photograph.
That simple act marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Will didn’t set out to replace Edward—no one ever could! Instead, he carried forward the passion they had shared. Through determination, countless hours at shows, and a genuine love of photographing dogs, Will gradually found his own style and began to carve his own path. By the end of that same year, he had earned his place on the photography team at Our Dogs, continuing a connection that had first begun with his brother.
Since then, Will Harris Photography has grown into a respected name at championship dog shows throughout the United Kingdom. We have been privileged to capture countless champions, memorable wins and treasured moments for exhibitors, breeders and handlers. Every image represents years of dedication, careful breeding and the special relationship between humans and their dogs.
Like many family businesses, ours has always been supported by more than the person behind the camera. Behind the scenes, Zara has played a supporting role in whatever way she could. Over the years, that has included teaching herself how to build and maintain our own website and others websites, helping to ensure that Will’s work can be seen and enjoyed by people across the country. It has been a long learning journey, but one that has been worthwhile for the fun we have had along the way.
Although the business has evolved over the years, the values remain the same: professionalism, respect, attention to detail and an understanding of how much these photographs mean to the people who treasure them.
Edward’s story will always be part of ours. His enthusiasm for photography, his determination and his love of the dog show world helped lay the foundations for everything that followed. Every time Will steps into the ring with his camera, that legacy lives on.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years. We are proud to continue capturing the moments that become tomorrow’s memories, and we remain grateful to be part of such a wonderful community.
People often ask about the name Zarcrest. It was created as an anagram of Zara Cresswell Boyle, making it a name that has always been deeply personal to our family. Over the years, Zarcrest became known within the dog world, but to us it has always represented far more than a kennel name—it represents generations of dedication, friendship and a lifelong love of dogs in general.