Pet Portraits
A Passion for PhoDOGraphy
Our latest family portrait including myself, my wife Meia, and from left to right in the front row are Sammi (the Aussie/Collie mix) followed by Gracie, Louie and Boomer, the Jack Russell Terriers. Believe me, 3 Jacks make a Full House! And the photo in the background was our dear Rosie who passed in 2011. What a sweetheart.
As the owner of up to 4 at a time, including 3 Jack Russell Terriers and an Aussie/Collie "Designer Dog", you could say I have a passion for dogs. The two-legged kids have moved on, so our family portrait now consist of the two of us with our four-legged kids.
Three Jacks make a Full House!
I've photographed many dogs in the past, but after getting my own, the passion really grew and now it is one of my specialties. I have a few different backgrounds that work beautifully with dogs and if you click on any of the photos on this page, you'll be able to see our Gallery of Dog Portraits. If you look carefully, you may even find a Cat there!
That being said, we've photographed cats, horses, lizards, snakes Hedge-Hogs and parrots. And much like children, when creating a pet portrait, you have to be very patient. And like children's portrait we take the time to do it right and capture not only the likeness of your prized pet, but their personality too! Hmmm... do lizards have personality?
The Dog Portrait Session
or any pet for that matter...
We generally book an hour or more for a session. Like kids, their attention span can be very short and we often have to take breaks to just let them be themselves without the demands of being good. The key thing to remember is not to get upset if they're misbehaving. They'll sense this and it will be harder to capture their personality. Kids are the same. I've been told I have the patience of a Saint,
So unless you see me pulling my hair out, don't worry. People are always amazed at how many good, and even GREAT shots we get. Sometimes I amaze myself!
Gotta love those eyes! This is 'Blue', an Olde English Bulldog.
Other than that, here are some other tips worth considering:
Bring along some treats or toys that your Dog enjoys.
Please leash your dog when entering or leaving the studio. There may be other dogs in the building at the same time, so please act accordingly.
Hopefully it won't be raining, but if it is and you can possibly carry your pooch from the car into the studio, it will save our background and provide a much better surface for your portrait session and those that follow. If you can't (St. Bernards for one are excluded from this requirement), we'll have a towel or two available to help dry them off.
It's best to take them for a short walk before coming into the studio as well. Accidents do happen, especially with males that sense that others have been there before, but no worries. We're dog people too and prepared for all that.
But please, if you walk the dog outside our studio, please stoop & scoop!
We usually recommend only the owner in the studio with each dog. Otherwise it can be too distracting and confusing for the dog. If you have more than one dog, the person that the dog responds to best should be present. If needed, we may call on another person to help get their attention or assist in the photo-shoot, but generally we find that the fewer people, the better. Unless it's a family portrait, its usually best to leave children at home.
Pet Portrait Pricing
Our photo sessions for pets typically start at $185. Prices may vary depending on the number of pets or style of portrait requested. It's best to call ahead to discuss your ideas and then we can provide you with an accurate price.
When you view our pet portrait gallery, you'll notice many of the portraits are on a white background. This is a very specialized background that requires additional time for setup as well as post-production. Pricing on these sessions start at $200.
If you would like more information, or to make a pre-session consultation appointment, please contact the studio.