“They call me Mr Doggy Man’” he told me. “When the children see me in the park each morning, they always wave, smile and shout "There he is! It’s Mr Doggy Man!”

Jose is well-known and well-liked by the local children and the adults too, in Stepney where he lives and works, easily recognizable walking through the church garden everyday, with his custom belt with fittings, and up to six dogs attached. He moved from Tenerife in 2013 with his wife, and stuck in a low paid hospitality job he decided  to start his dog walking business ‘Mr. Wouff’ and since then, three years ago he hasn’t looked back. 

“It's been amazing. I have got to meet so many people from all over the world when I'm out walking. Of course business was tough for a while, but thankfully I rode it out and it’s getting busier again” 

Like everyone he had to change the way he works. “Of course lots of hand gels and hand cleaning all the time, and where I used to have clients keys to go and pick up the dogs, now I don’t do any of that, and I always text clients just before I arrive so they can hand over the dogs at the front door. I never take any chances and I am always extra cautious, I guess because my mother and brother are both nurses back in Spain, so I know first hand the real risks of the coronavirus”

Read more about the project, portraits and words at London-Rebooted - Portraits of London or follow on instagram  @nathanclarkephotography where the new portraits are posted first.

London Rebooted - Portrait Photography Project.

Images Copyright of London Photographer Nathan Clarke | For any image use or enquiries contact me at nathan@nathanclarkephotography.co.uk