It may seem like a splurge to book a photo shoot for your pet, but I can’t stress the importance. Recently, I’ve had the honor of capturing two of my closest friends’ dogs, and those experiences grounded me and how passionate I am about why these photographs matter.

The permanent puppy

When adopting my first dog, Raleigh, I remember leaving his foster mom’s home and heading straight to the park to capture him on “Day 1” together. Raleigh is just over five years old, and those “Day 1” photographs are today. I love looking back and remembering the day I showed up to an adoption appointment to meet this tan-speckled puppy, and instead, the foster mother walked out with a solid black puppy. Looking back at these photos reminds me of how much I loved Raleigh at first sight, even though he was not the dog I had initially applied to adopt. I love seeing my now 90lb dog captured permanently in such a small state.

Needless to say, when my boyfriend and I decided to adopt our second dog, Rooney, I knew that taking puppy photographers was a MUST.

These puppy photographs are always the framed photographs my friends comment on most when they stop by our house.

Birthday celebrations aren’t just for humans.

We only get so many birthdays with our animals. Especially in the later years, photography can be a fun excuse to go all out for your pet’s birthday. I’m talking pet-friendly desserts, balloons, party hats, and the works.

I recently photographed one of my favorite dog birthday parties to date, admittedly, I’m one for one on this. Upon finding out a friend finding that her 17-year-old Labradoodle’s cancer had returned, she realized this would likely be the last birthday her family would share with their beloved family dog. These photos captured happy moments with their whole family and their party-hat-wearing senior dog smiling after blowing out the candles.

This celebration was so special that the local paper picked up the story. You can read it here.

Bringing closure to hard goodbyes

It can be hard to say goodbye to our pets. If you’re fortunate enough to have time for closure, having your pet professionally photographed is a great way to capture them permanently in a time when things feel transient. It’s hard to believe, but you likely have very few photos WITH your pet, rather than just of them.

Being photographed with your pet before having to say goodbye is so special. Your love for your animal shows up in these meaningful photos that you’ll cherish for years.

Is it worth it?

Whether you’re just looking for a cute Instagram post, a photo to frame in your home, or an addition to your annual holiday card, I’m a big fan of pet photography for all of the above. I know the impact of a good photograph doesn’t stop at people.

If you’re considering whether or not having your pets professionally photographed is worth it, reach out to me! I’d love to talk through packages that may make the most sense for what you’re looking for. And of course, thank you for reading!