About That Tog Spot®
The why.
That Tog Spot exists to share tips and techniques that allow pet and portrait photographers to shoot with confidence. Covering over 10 years worth of Jess’ skills, the content available on YouTube and the sister blog help photographers start on the right track and enhance professional workflows and business strategy to create more profitable portrait photography businesses.
When you take everyones headshots, you have to take your own.
Jessica McGovern FBIPP FSWPP
Photographer Person
Jessica McGovern FSWPP FBIPP is one of the world’s most well-known and influential pet photographers, exhibiting an unusual affinity with her subjects and a natural flair for creating highly impactful yet technically excellent imagery.
Having achieved three Fellowships to date, over 250 image recognitions in international competition, launched and developed the renowned online photography tuition platform “That Tog Spot”, and had work published in a number of different online and offline publications, Jess calls an old farm steading in South West Scotland home and is a petrent to the dogs Alfie, Bryt and Ren, Lemon and Zest, along with the horses, Tuna, Connie and Velia.
As a CIM Level 6 qualified multi-channel strategic marketer, established graphic designer, 2018 nominee for CodeGirls, one of Hull’s Inspirational Women in Tech and multi-award-winning photographer across a number of different genres, Jess is skilled over a wide variety of mediums and has ample business experience, launching and growing multiple 6-figure start-ups in the last 10 years.
A non-stop whirlwind of quick wit and a fierce desire for students to develop and grow, she’s helped hundreds of thousands of photographers improve, and counting. You can contact the team to book Jess to speak, teach or judge here.
“Hey there, it’s me. I really dislike writing about myself but just in case you needed to know more then here are some fun facts:
- I drink more cups of Yorkshire Tea every day than I dare to count – honestly, it’s probably a problem
- I am technically neurodivergent so I do see the world differently to other people, and as a result, I am an immediate ally to others in the same boat, or those who feel they don’t naturally “fit in”
- My aim is to help people grow, develop and excel (and hopefully smile at the same time!)
- I know what I’m great at and what I’m not, and I’ve also learnt when to say I can’t do it all, so for that reason please learn about the people who actually keep this corner of the internet running on a daily basis (see below!)
Hopefully, you’ll be helped by something we do, if you are, please let us know!”
Dan McGovern
Content Manager
“I’m Jess’s husband (poor bloke, right?) and I back up the main HQ team full-time on the community management, content management and administration front.
I’ve been part of That Photography Spot since the start of 2020 and continue to offer a grounding, moderating influence to Jess who works exclusively at 4000mph.
When I’m not holding the fort, I also runs Jess’ other business, a marketing agency, and enjoy cycling, running, going to the gym and running the dogs in Canicross and agility.
My specific role in the team here is to do all of the video editing, take part in features and ensure the bills actually get paid!“
More about Jess’ journey…
3
Humans
5
Dogs & 3 horses!
4
Cameras
1
Full room of kit!
Hi, I’m Jess.
It’s probably worth me just jotting down some things about both me and this vocation that I’ve gotten myself into.
I started my first business when I was 16 years old and, yep you guessed it, it was a dog photography business. I can’t sit here and say my 16 year old self was a photographic prodigy, because she wasn’t. She was just as green as any other newbie photographer and like others, thought it would be a walk in the park.
How wrong was I.
I started in the deep end with microstock where technical perfection was the aim of the game. Commercial “style” came pretty easily and we got on well. I learnt everything I know now from 3 things:
- Blogs/Forums
- Other trusted photographers who were willing to help a newbie
- Trial and error over many years of practice
I have never had a formal photographic education and I have never read a photography book. That’s just not how I work!
Anyway,
I ended up not half bad…
I was regularly, and surprisingly, gaining international recognition for some of my work in the early 2010’s. At that point I also started teaching other photographers and a revelation happened – I absolutely loved it!
Life went a bit pair shaped, as it often does, and I moved into a different career path, a “secure” one, in marketing and design. I worked with and for lots of businesses big and small and got pretty good at that too.
Life now consists of dogs, horses and my current businesses, including pet portraiture alongside my own marketing “agency”, and I work with lots of exciting businesses, big and small, UK & International, as either marketing and design support, or as the marketing & strategic lead.
My photography work is still widely used around the globe, on billboards, dog food packaging, magazine covers, book covers and on websites too, like Huffpost and The Guardian.
Something was missing in my “new” life and it was my connection to photography. More specifically, teaching it. That’s where That Photography Spot came in.
The Story
Over the Years
2009
First Camera
That little Olympus E-420 was my first wander into photography and this was the point that I found myself.
2012
First Paid Shoot
This year saw my first paid shoot. Black and white backgrounds with two Jack Russell terriers.
2013+
Proper Shooting Began
Arguabely the most successful years of my professional career. Over 2800 dogs photographed and most at events or in rescue centres. Iconic images were captured in this period. I really came into my own.
2017
Life went tits up.
Personal life fell apart and I left photography entirely, selling most of my equipment in the process to cover bills. I moved home, got a job in a different field and started life over.
2020
Life is great!
I’m in the best place I’ve probably ever been, but without photography, it’s not quite “right”. If you’ve been there, you’ll know what I mean! That Dog Spot began…
2021
Small tweak!
That Dog Spot became That Photography Spot® to better reflect the genres I cover and can assist with!
2022+
My love
As I’ve developed and grown as a photographer, and as a person, it’s become a real passion of mine to print, and to compete with those prints against my peers. In 2022 I found a real passion for Print Competition and it’s something I’m looking forward to pursuing further in the years to come.
In February of 2020, I re-launched an old YouTube channel that I’d had dormant for years and learnt how to YouTube as I went along.
Why am I doing this?
There are so many reasons but the main three are:
- Because learning from strangers on the internet was exactly how I learnt. Just because this way may be different doesn’t mean that it is any less valid, true or correct.
- Because I feel a personal need to “give back” for the generosity, kindness and commitment others showed me when I was a newbie.
- Because I gain a deep-seated, truly incredible feeling of pride when I see a “student” has won a national award, a massive commercial job, their biggest sale to date or has simply taken their best photo ever.
It definitely makes my life full…
If you’re engaging in our community, please remember everyone was a beginner once, so be kind!
A handful of creds…
Jessica has achieved 16 international photographic titles in competition and over 250 image recognitions. Here are some highlights:
Your Title Goes Here
2026
Jessica is focusing on other projects in 2026, however she has secured:
Best Professional Training for Photographers from the Societies Trade Awards
This award is one which That Tog Spot has been runner-up on for a number of years. 2026 was the year that the team won the big one at the biggest trade awards in our industry.
Photographic Judge for:
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The Societies of Photographers Live 20×16 International Print Competition
2025
Jessica is focusing on other projects in 2025, but she has entered a handful of competitions, including:
3rd Place International Photographer of the Year
With the client image of Never the Border Collie on a local beach here in South West Scotland.
International Pet Photographer of the Year
With the same image, as described above.
Photographic Judge for:
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The Societies of Photographers Live 20×16 International Print Competition
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Australian Photographic Prize
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Swedish Photographic Championship
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International Pet Photography Awards
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Click Masters Live 20×16 International Print Competition
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The BIPP Monthly Competition
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The BIPP Qualifications
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The Societies of Photographers Monthly Competition
2024
Jessica is focusing on other projects in 2024, but she has entered a handful of competitions, including:
Overall International Photographer of the Year in 20×16 Print:
With the 90+ scoring print “Abandoned”, which highlights the plight of dogs in rescue who have all been abandoned in some way.
International Open Photographer of the Year in 20×16 Print:
For “Abandoned” as above.
International Pet Photographer of the Year in 20×16 Print:
Scoring 94 for an image titled “Still”, shot at sunrise in the Lakes, this award from the Societies is very highly coveted.
Photographic Judge for:
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The Societies of Photographers
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The BIPP
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ClickLive Live Print Competition
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Pet Photographer of the Year
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The TOG Awards
2023
International Pet Photographer of the Year in 20×16 Print:
Taking the title and 2 of the 3 finalist spaces with outdoor portraiture, this award from the Societies is very highly coveted.
3rd in Overall International Photographer of the Year in 20×16 Print:
An insane achievement with the image competing against 550+ prints in all different categories from wedding to commercial and everything in between.
International Special Photographer of the Year
With a body of work entitled Shapes of Canis Familiaris which consisted of Fine Art studio pet portraiture.
Fellowship in Portraiture:
The highest accolade a photographer can achieve, this success with the Societies of Photographers is the second of Jessica’s successful Fellowship panels.
Fellowship in Portraiture:
The third of Jessica’s successful Fellowship panels came in October, this time with the BIPP.
2022
International Pet Photographer of the Year Finalist x2:
In both the digital and print competitions for The Societies, Jessica achieved the highest scoring outdoor pet portrait, resulting in a top 3 placing.
European Pet Photographer of the Year 4th Place:
In early 2022, Jessica achieved 4th place in the coveted European Photographer of the Year contest with the FEP. She placed highest for outdoor portraiture.
Northern Pet Photographer of the Year:
In early 2022, Jess achieved the Northern Pet Photographer of the Year from the Master Photographers Association.
YDAPOTY & YIFAPOTY:
In July Jessica achieved the Yorkshire Domesticated Animals Photographer of the Year and the Yorkshire Illustrative & Fine Art Photographer of the Year from the BIPP.
2021
Jessica received a total of 65 acknowledgements, awards, mentions and titles in 2021 including:
2021 NEPOTY & NPPOTY:
In early 2021, Jess achieved the Northern Equine Photographer of the Year & the Northern Pet Photographer of the Year from the Master Photographers Association.
2021 ND Panoramic POTY:
In the summer of 2021, Jess achieved the Panoramic Photographer of the Year from the ND Awards, a part of the ND Magazine group.
2021 Honorable Mentions:
In the 2021 Awards Season, Jess received a wide variety of HM titles including some additional Bronze & Silver awards in the International sessions, including the International Photography Awards, ND Awards and the Prix de la Photographie Paris.
2020
2020 PPOTY:
Jess was honoured to receive the 2020 Pet Photographer of the Year at the International Master Photography Awards from the MPA in October 2020. Jess won this award under her maiden name, Jessica Wealleans.
2020 PPOTY & RU:
Jess also secured the Pet Portrait of the Year along with the runner-up for the same title from The Guild of Photographers.
A few bits and other bobs:
