WANTED: 20 Melbourne Oodles for a (kinda) scientific study of loveable lunatics.
Help us immortalise the quirks of Melbourne’s most iconic characters while raising $5,000 for "Pets Of The Homeless".
Raising funds for Pets Of The Homeless
Ever look at your Oodle and think … “Is there even a brain in there? SURELY, this toddler phase won’t last much longer…”
If yes, we need to chat!
Introducing “Barkology” – a Charity Book Project and TOTALLY scientific field study into Melbourne’s most lovable K9 lunatics. For the 2026 edition, our investigation turns to the most unpredictable sub-species of them all … The Oodle.
And I’m on the hunt for 20 Melbourne Oodles to help complete the Book!
Yep … even the ones with a bigger backchat game than “Gen Z” or the weird ones that sit like an awkward human.
And YUP, even the ones with the WORST (selective) hearing, but can hear the lead rattle from across the Bayside.
If this sounds like YOUR Oodle, we need you!
Perfect or imperfect, all are welcome … Cavoodles, Groodles, Labradoodles, Schnoodles, Spoodles, Maltipoos, Jack a poos, Shihpoos, Doxiepoos, Poodles or a mystery mix that qualifies as an Oodle!
The Cause - Keeping Best Friends Together
Every Barkology family becomes part of something bigger.
We’re aiming to raise $5,000 for Pets Of The Homeless, supporting people who would do anything to stay with their pets.
5% of every sale including digital collections, wall art, packages and prints goes straight to the charity.
So as you enjoy your Oodle immortalised in the book and hanging proudly at home, another human and their best mate get a little more support to stay together.
Your Role - The Contributor
This is SO MUCH MORE than a photo book! You’re joining the project as an official contributor to the 2026 Barkology Charity Book.
What you and your Oodle receive:
- A double-page spread in the 2026 Barkology Charity Book.
- A fun portrait session with Alan at Photobat (zero "say cheese" moments).
- $200 credit to spend on your own wall art, digital collections and packages.
- A copy of the finished book to keep for your own archives.
To secure your spot in Barkology, there’s a $55 participation fee.
This confirms your place in the project and helps bring the Barkology book to life.
Plus, 5% of all sales from the project are donated to Pets Of The Homeless.
No stress if your Oodle has the attention span of a toddler.
I have my own furry shadow with devastating flatulence condition … aaaand pretty sure I was also an Oodle in a past life. Let’s just say I’m more than qualified for all the chaos.
I don’t need your Oodle to sit still or follow instructions. In fact, the zoomies, the side-eyes and the general “Oodle-ness” make for a much better photo anyway.
We’re here to capture their REAL personality – not a boring, staged version of it you’ve seen before.
APPLY Now!
Simply complete the form below to apply
The experience
What's Included
Everything you need to celebrate your awesome Oodle...
Session Planning Call
How can I take your portrait if I don't know you! This call is all about finding out who you are, what you love about your family and working out how to can capture that in a way you will smile at forever.
The Portrait Session
Your portrait session will be at the location we work out in the planning session, it could be home, the park, the beach... anywhere! Sessions normally last 45min - 1 hour and include 5 fart joke references.
Personalised Viewing and Design Session
Once I've added some additional magic to your images we will jump onto Zoom and I'll guide you through them and give you some ideas on how to best to turn them into artwork that suits your home.
Goodies
As a thank you for being a part of the book and helping us raise much needed funds, we’re giving you $200 towards any of our digital or print collections.
The Barkology book
Inclusion in the Oodle Edition, printed on high end premium papers by a local Australian company. Staring your dog!
Your Donation
Your participation fee covers the high quality printing of the book. We will donate our time for the session, AND 5% of ALL print and digital sales to Pets Of The Homeless
Total Value - $550
YOUR INVESTMENT - $55!
(Proceeds benefit Pets Of The Homeless)
Don't Miss out
Limited Availability
There are only so many pages in a book! AND we also want to ensure each Oodle receives the attention (and patience!) they deserve. So we are limiting this project to 20 puppy dawgs.
FAQs
For the $55 participation fee you will receive:
You get a full Photobat Portrait Experience, including a planning session, to get to know you and your dog (and kids!). The photography session itself and a personalised purchasing appointment (valued at $265)
$200 towards artwork and digital collections.
A copy of the Barkology book
The $55 fee is also donated straight to Pets Of The Homeless
The photos taken on the session are not included.
At your purchasing appointment, you will get to see the whole collection of photos from your session with us, and you can purchase prints, artwork, albums and digital files if you wish to.
You will have the option of purchasing a copy of the 2026 Barkology book with your photos included on their own double-page spread with your story included. The book price will be approximately $55
Yes, totally! Many people use their Barkology session to include every member of the family, two legged and four legged.
Yes, we meet a lot of “mixed” families.
WHile the book will only include Oodles we are totally open to welcoming other non-oodles to the sessions to get into the photo action!
What a good thinker you are! We love grandparents being involved in family portraits. Many kids have fantastic and fun relationships with their grandparents so it’s so great to include them in the session too.
The purpose of this project is to raise funds for the Pets Of The Homeless with 5% of all sales being donated.
We will be prioritising families who are also looking to update their family portraits. Within a week of your session, you will be invited to a zoom viewing see the images, this is a requirement for being included in the book. Choose only what you love, but be warned, you’re going to love them all 😊.
Families who invest in portraits will be guaranteed a double page in the book. Families who choose to simply be in the book will be included as a small image on a contributors page at the back of the book. There’s a guide to our favourite products & prices on our website!
Every session photographed for the project will be included in the book. To keep the design consistent, we will choose the images.
However, rest assured we will be picking our absolute favourites. As mentioned above, so we can raise as much as we can for the Pets Of The Homeless. Families who invest in portraits will be guaranteed a double page spread in the book. Families who choose to simply be in the book will be included as a small image on a contributors page at the back of the book.
Good question! We are up front with all our pricing of our beautiful artwork. Our artworks range from $185-$2590. An introduction to all the presentation options and pricing is available here.
Once we have found the top photos that you will love, we jump onto Zoom and I’ll guide you through them and work with you to choose what will suit you and your home the best
Just get them all! Seriously, you can…. even more seriously, over the last 20 years, we have been helping people choose their artworks and have many great ways to help you.
Yes, we can do an in-house payment plan, you pay a deposit of at least 30%, and you can spread the payment over 3,6 or 12 months.
We are committed to raising a decent amount of funds for the Pets of The Homless, and our aim is for 30 double-page spreads in the book. Based on previous Barkology projects we anticipate being able to publish the book in mid 2026 but it may be a little longer if it takes more time to get the 30 dogs.
- With all Photobat Gift Vouchers, your Photobat Portrait Experience must be booked prior to the registration date, but the actual photography session can be held up to 4 months after.
- Spaces are limited in the book and shoots are subject to availability.
- Only One Viewing + Design sessions in included per photography session and all orders and payment are completed at this time. To make sure you receive any bonuses goodies, vouchers/product credits, we ask that ALL decision makers are present at the Viewing + Design Session.
- Your Photobat Portrait package credit is not redeemable for cash, cannot be used with any other offer and is not transferable. Any offers cannot be used towards prior photography sessions. Wall art credit is only applicable to wall art purchases.
- If you live a bit away from Beaumaris, Victoria we may change a small travel fee.
- A guide to prices and products can be viewed on our website at HERE.
Sherlock Bones.
Meet your Photographer
Hi, I’m Alan the photographer and everything else at Photobat. I’m a life long photographer, starting in grade 5! I’m a Dad, husband and pet wrangler or two cats and a gassy dog. I often subject my family to dress in onesies for family photos.
I grew up being dragged each year to portrait studios and made to sit on a weird couch, put my arm awkwardly on my brother (who smells) and say “CHEESE” into the camera as a man squeezed a little squeaky toy. I didn’t like that and that is why I choose to take portraits that are full of fun and personality! Nothing boring!
It’s why I often have to change my clothes at the end of a session (wet, dirty and often a mix of both). I love channeling a families energy, fun and uniqueness into fun sessions and then turn them into artwork that make you smile and your friends say “That’s so you” when they see them on your wall.
Ready to celebrate your AWESOME Oodle?
Join other pawesome parents in creating a fun tribute to beloved family member. Apply Today to become part of "Barkology" Charity Book Project.
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