MONOA PHOTOGRAPHY
THE DUALITY OBSCURA
WITH MONICA VAN DER MADEN & NATALIE GROBE
DOG & CAT PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS IN DÜSSELDORF
INTRODUCING
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY 14 & 15 NOVEMBER 2026
DOGS IN THE CITY | DOGS IN THE FOREST | CATS IN THE CITY | CATS IN THE FOREST
IMAGINE SPENDING AN ENTIRE WEEKEND DOING NOTHING BUT CREATING.
Two photographers. Two completely different styles. Dogs and cats. Urban locations and quiet forests.
Different models, different light and endless opportunities to create images that are completely your own. For two days, Düsseldorf becomes our playground. Together, we will explore locations, work with carefully selected models and show you how we approach a scene before we ever press the shutter.
Not from the sidelines. With your camera in your hands.
TWO DAYS | FOUR WORLDS
ONE WEEKEND, FOUR COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCES.
From the energy and architecture of Düsseldorf to the quiet atmosphere of the forest. From working with dogs to discovering the completely different rhythm of photographing cats.
Each setting challenges you to look differently, adapt to your surroundings and discover new ways to create.
SATURDAY | FOLLOW THE DOGS
Architecture, Lines, Perspective, Unexpected locations
We start where Düsseldorf comes alive.
In the morning, the city becomes our studio. Together with several dog models, we'll explore architecture, lines, light, reflections and perspectives showing you how we find photographic opportunities in places you might normally walk straight past.
Later in the day, everything changes.
We leave the city behind and head into nature, where new models are waiting for us.
Different surroundings. Different light. Different possibilities.
Same goal: creating images that make you excited to get home and start editing.
SUNDAY | NOW, CHANGE EVERYTHING
Patience, Behavior, Creativity
Sunday belongs to the cats.
And if you think you can photograph a cat exactly like you photograph a dog... Sunday might change your mind.
We start again in Düsseldorf, but at a completely different urban location and with completely different models.
Natalie and Monica will guide you through working with cats on location from reading behaviour and recognising opportunities to adapting when your model has very different plans from yours.
In the afternoon, we leave the city behind once again and finish our weekend surrounded by nature.
New cats. New environment.
One final opportunity to create something extraordinary.
THE WEEKEND MAY END BUT THE LEARNING DOESN'T
Two days like these are intense.
You will photograph a lot. You will hear a lot. You will learn a lot.
And we know from experience that once you get home, it's impossible to remember every little thing we showed you.
That's exactly why we're not going to squeeze hours of editing into an already packed weekend.
Instead, you will receive four complete editing tutorials to keep.
2 Dog Photography Tutorials (City & Forest)
2 Cat Photography Tutorials (City & Forest)
Created by Monica and Natalie.
Watch them at home. Pause them. Rewind them. Try the techniques on your own photographs. And come back to them whenever you need.
Because we don't want your learning to stop when you leave Düsseldorf.
AND IT ACTUALLY STARTS BEFORE WE MEET.
Before we meet in Düsseldorf, all participants will join Monica and Natalie for a private online webinar.
During this session, we’ll go through the theory behind the Masterclass and prepare you for the two photography days ahead.
We’ll talk about camera settings, lens choices, composition, light, locations and working with dogs and cats, while also sharing how we approach a shoot and the choices we make along the way.
Of course, there will be plenty of time to ask questions too.
By covering the theory beforehand, we can spend our time in Düsseldorf doing what we came for:
Less talking. More photographing. More creating. More fun
The learning starts before Düsseldorf and continues after the weekend is over.
Online Webinar, Theorie
Photograph Dogs
Photograph Cats
4 Complete Videotutorials
Meet your Hosts
pet photographer from Germany
Natalie Große
Natalie Große is the photographer behind Purrpaws Photography in Berlin. Her journey into pet photography started in 2015 with her own cats and eventually grew into a full-time photography career.
Today, Natalie photographs dogs and cats throughout Germany and beyond, regularly teaches workshops and shares her knowledge with other photographers. Her distinctive and creative work has also been featured in numerous magazines and publications.
Known for her atmospheric imagery and creative eye, Natalie loves capturing the individual personality of every animal while making beautiful use of light, colour and location.
During the Masterclass, she’ll share her experience and creative approach to working with dogs and cats, inspiring you to discover new possibilities within your own photography.
pet photographer from the Netherlands
Monica van der Maden
Monica van der Maden is the photographer behind MoNoa Photography and has been photographing dogs professionally for more than 15 years.
Known for her atmospheric and creative style, she loves working with natural light, unexpected locations and different perspectives turning ordinary places into something extraordinary.
As an award-winning photographer, educator and international photography judge, Monica loves sharing not only how she creates her images, but especially how she sees them before pressing the shutter.
She is also the founder of Paw Creators, a growing Dutch photography community where pet photographers come together to learn, create and inspire each other. Currently available in Dutch, Paw Creators will expand internationally with an English community in 2027.
Her goal? To inspire you to look differently, experiment more and create images that truly feel like your own.
TWO PHOTOGRAPHERS. TWO PERSPECTIVES.
Monica and Natalie don’t photograph in exactly the same way and that’s exactly what makes this Masterclass so special.
Throughout the weekend, you’ll experience two different ways of working, seeing and creating. The same location, the same model but often a completely different approach.
We want to show you how we see, so you can discover what inspires you and develop a style that truly feels like your own.
You love photographing animals and want to take your photography to the next level.
You want to become more confident working with both dogs and cats and learn how to adapt your approach to different animals, personalities and situations.
You want to learn how to really see a location finding interesting light, backgrounds, lines, depth and perspectives instead of simply searching for the “perfect spot”.
You want to feel more confident choosing the right camera settings, lenses, compositions and perspectives for the image you have in mind.
You want to challenge yourself creatively, step outside your usual way of working and discover new possibilities.
You want to learn from two experienced photographers with different styles and approaches, while having the freedom to develop your own.
And above all...
You want to spend an inspiring weekend surrounded by people who share the same passion, creating, learning, experimenting and talking about photography from morning until evening.
EVERYTHING THATS INCLUDED
This is more than two days of photography.
From preparing together before we meet, to two full days of creating in Düsseldorf and continuing your learning at home afterwards we’ve designed this Masterclass as one complete experience.
Spend Saturday and Sunday photographing alongside Monica and Natalie, with plenty of time to create, experiment and ask questions.
Dogs in the city. Dogs in nature. Cats in the city. Cats in nature. Different models, different locations and completely different challenges
Monica and Natalie will both be there throughout the weekend to help you with your settings, composition, lens choices, light, locations and creative ideas.
Before Düsseldorf, we’ll meet online to prepare you for the weekend, go through the theory and answer your questions.
After the Masterclass, you’ll receive four complete video tutorials two dog edits and two cat edits, created by Monica and Natalie, so you can continue learning at home.
We’ll arrange the dog and cat models and select our locations beforehand, so all you need to do is bring your camera and get ready to create.
Lunch on Saturday and Sunday is included, giving us time to recharge, talk photography and get ready for the next location.
Two days surrounded by people who are just as passionate about pet photography as you are.
THE DETAILS
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Dates: 14 & 15 November
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Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
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Language: English
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Duration: Two full days with more then 24 hours of learning throughout the complete masterclass experience, including the online webinar, practical photography days and editing tutorials
INCLUDED
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Online Theory webinar
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Two full photography days
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Guidance from Monica & Natalie
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Dog & Cat models
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Four complete editing tutorials
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Lunch on Saturday & Sunday
NOT INCLUDED
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Accommodation
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Dinner
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Travel and Transportation costs
INVESTMENT: €1250,-
Your place in the Masterclass is secured after payment of the required deposit.
The remaining balance must be paid before the Masterclass. Full payment details and deadlines will be provided when booking.
Because we are keeping this Masterclass intentionally small, only a limited number of places will be available.
Ready to join us in Düsseldorf?
2 DAYS | 4 WORLDS | 2 TEACHERS | 24+ HOURS OF LEARNING
TERMS & CONDITIONS
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Upon registration, you agree to provide at least one edited photograph free of charge to each owner of the models you photograph, as a thank you for their time and participation during the Masterclass.
The photographs must be delivered to the model owners within 8 weeks after the Masterclass.
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Photographs created during the Masterclass may not be submitted to photography competitions or awards in any form.
You are welcome to use the photographs created during the Masterclass for your own portfolio, website and social media channels.
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If you are a photographer who offers workshops, coaching, mentoring or photography experience days within the same field, participation is only possible with prior approval from MoNoa Photography and Purrpaws Photography.