Top 10 Reasons to Say Yes to Hiring a Professional Dog Photographer

REASONS WHY HIRING A DOG PHOTOGRAPHER WILL MAKE YOU GRIN EAR-TO-EAR!

There’s nothing really better than having a dog in your life. I’m saying that with conviction, as I fully believe it to be a truth. They bring un-imaginable Joy and unconditional Love, as well as a million other things including controlled chaos at times, but we can overlook that with puppy dog eyes and some snuggling. Since dogs are truly a huge part of our lives, it is such a Simple “Yes” to have heirloom artwork of our babies hanging on our walls.

My name is Kat and I am a Premier Dog Photographer in Westchester NY and to answer the question I get… “when is the best time to get dog portraits”, I can say Every Single Day is a chance to photograph your dog because one day they will not be here any longer, but I came up with a list of why most people seek out a specialized dog photographer. Please take A LOOK at my website CherryWillowPhotograpy.com if you so wish to take a peek inside the world that I LOVE so much.  

My favorite reason is “Just Because”.  We dog people understand that well and make many decisions with regards to our beloved puppers…”Just Because” is the response to why we have 6 fluffy beds and blankets in different rooms of the house, why we buy more snacks for them than we do for ourselves, why we take that extra visit to the park, trail, pet store & every other dog-friendly place to make them happy, why we order cute pajamas off Amazon after promising no more un-necessary shopping. Seriously, Just Because it is our doggie best friend and they deserve everything we want to lavish upon them. However, I do actually have a list of valid reasons below if you do actually need one to book a photoshoot with a professional. Sometimes that little “excuse” is just what we need to hear, although we are already convinced we NEED this in our lives.  Photographers such as myself have this little magical super power to freeze time artfully and bring you back to that moment every time you look at that image. You will never get that time back. Document and honor it by creating it into artwork.  Puppy Dog Art on your wall…YES please

1. You’ve just gotten a NEW PUPPY and don’t we know that they don’t stay little for too long. Just blink…I dare you. Uh-oh they have grown out of that puppy stage already. All jokes aside, puppies grow so fast and before you blink too many times, that soft ball of fur with razor sharp piranha teeth that is falling over its own feet that seem just too big for that tiny wobbly body will be an adolescent pup. There is just something magical about puppyhood. Tumbling fluffy pups make us all smile. Photographing puppies is a skill, with the erratic movements and inability to sit still for more than a nano second. A specially trained professional pet photographer has mastered the skills to get that perfect image and to freeze puppyhood for a moment in time. If you would like to see a full portfolio of studio puppies……. CLICK HERE

2. PET ADOPTION / RESCUE Your new bestie is not always a tiny puppy. New fur family members come in all shapes, sizes and ages. For those of us that adopt a shelter or foster dog- First Off….Thank you for saving a life, as it is nothing short of just that. What an honor it is to photograph an adopted dog that has been given a second chance at life. Photographers can be brought in when you first bring that pup home as a celebration in itself or on any of the “Gotcha Days” each year to continue to commemorate that gift. It is a special memory of when you decided to give a loving home to a dog that had once been hopeless and alone. Definitely a time to celebrate and create memories with photography. If you select a photographer that specializes is just dogs, it will make a huge difference in how he/she approaches, handles the session and matches energy with the rescue. Understanding rescue dog behavior or any dog for that matter is of utmost importance in making a session pleasant and productive. 

3. HIGH QUALITY ARTWORK / DECOR FOR YOUR HOME Oh I so back this one up as a great reason to hire someone who can make this happen for you. Photographers produce images by taking into account location, lighting and composition, and an artistic eye. An average snapshot or a cell phone photo will not result in an aesthetically pleasing and quality printed product. In addition, Photographers have built up relationships with professional printing labs that regular consumers do not have privy to order from. Established photographers can offer you products of museum quality printing that make the images look like decor rather than a printed image. The difference between the two can sometimes be immeasurable. Artfully composed images printed beautifully as framed acrylics or mounted buttery canvases are a treasure and will make you smile every time you walk by. You have now invested in a heirloom quality work of art and the star of this art is your every own dog.

If you CLICK RIGHT HERE you’ll see a Wide Selection of Fine Art Italian Handcrafted Products I offer

4. There is always time for CELEBRATING achievements such as with Competitive Dogs & Working Dogs. For owners of show dogs or working dogs, having a professional photographer document their achievement can be a meaningful part of their success. Whether it’s winning a competition, completing a special training, or reaching a milestone in their career having a photoshoot, can mark that achievement and produce a keepsake that will keep making you proud year after year. There are so many types of competitive events including agility, dock diving, racing, hunting, as well as the timeless traditions of show dog competitions. Accomplishments, big or small can be honored by capturing the moment artfully.

5. WORKING DOG PORTRAITS: Dogs are so loyal and intelligent, and can be trained to do the most amazing portrait-worthy things. Not for a minute do I overlook how spectacular a working dog can be and how much it means to their owner. It is a great opportunity to have a portrait of a working dog in a professional shoot setting to commemorate the bond they share with their dog and their important role in their life… As well as creating a HERO Type Portrait where the dogs are shown as the absolute stars they are.  Examples of these would be service dogs, therapy dogs, police dogs, military dogs, guiding eyes for the blind dogs, and the list goes on. It is always an honor and memorable shoot when I am asked to photograph a working dog.  The setting and location can be discussed and be decided upon to really showcase the type of work your dog does.  

6. YOUR PUP IS FAMILY !   This here is for you avid and dedicated dog lovers who view their dogs as family. Yes, your pup goes everywhere with you. Yes, you DO have a zillion photos on your phone, but maybe just maybe you can envision an artful, beautifully edited & professionally printed on canvas or acrylic to showcase your fur-family in a memory keepsake. Just like as with a child, there are moments when you want to photograph your dogs to encapsulate who they are, what they like doing and announcing just how important a role they have in your life. Showcasing your dog’s personality is what professional dog photographers do best. Dogs can be tricky to photograph on your own, especially if they’re excitable or active. A professional can help you get those fun, candid moments that showcase your dog’s quirks, while managing the challenges of unpredictable movement.

7. Two words: ADULT LEGACY !   This is the very opposite of the end-of-life styled shoots that most people think of when visualizing an adult or senior dog being photographed. This is one that I specialize in. Dogs age gracefully for the most part. Up until late in their life, senior dogs can generally still run and act playfully and take meaningful long walks and down to the last minute- show affection and energy with their owners. By this point in life, adult and/or seniors have matured and slowed down just a bit and are wise, connected as well as still emotional and impactful as part of your family.  Why would you not want to capture this ! This is epic. This is frame worthy. This is WHEN to photograph your dog. What do you want to remember ? This and ALL of this. When you can…. 

Many more Legacy / Hero Shots in my FULL PORTFOLIO << Click

8. END-OF-LIFE SHOOTS. These are very difficult but for some, very necessary to book. It is a very last honoring of your pet. It is the good bye, the farewell and the send off to the rainbow bridge. It is all of the Love you can muster in a moments time and pour it all into your dogs soul to show them how very loved they were while still here with you. It is a sadness which is such an ingrained part of life. It is unavoidable and it is truth. The very hardest part of dog ownership for sure. A professional photographer will capture this bond and this farewell like no other. We grieve with you from afar and document the entire event in a tactful, honored manner. It is great way to have enough images to create an album that will be yours to absolutely cherish forever. Albums are like story books and you can flip through the pages of the final days…. And if done correctly will implement your dogs favorite things, their emotions, personality, and most importantly their unique and unbreakable bond with their humans.  

9. BRANDING / SOCIAL MEDIA / BREEDERS   Here are just a few professions that would benefit from hiring a Tog to take pro shots: Any dog centered business including groomers, dog boutiques, doggy daycare, dog boarding, pet shops, large dog stores, dog food companies, private small businesses that make personalized collars or home made dog treats and the list goes on. Dog friendly social media accounts could 1,00% always use fresh new photographs for Facebook and Instagram. And well established Ethical with a capital E dog breeders could always benefit from having their new litters beautifully portrayed in photos for potential buyers. This is really just a short list, as there are so many dog related businesses out there and why am I including this is the top 10. Professional pictures bring professional results. Clean images with sharply photographed details with perfect color harmony will stand out above the rest in marketing material, business cards and updated website design.    

10. GIFTING Gift Certificates for the Dog Lover in your life is such a unique and out of the box idea. You know who those people in your life are…. They’d rather be with their dog home at night (either snuggled on the couch eating popcorn watching a movie or throwing balls out in the yard) than out making plans around town, they will spend their entire paycheck for the newest dog toys and long lasting chew treats, and will also wear matching pajamas during holiday time (yup, that was me in every Christmas photo-no apologies). We all know someone that fits this. Well for me, it’s actually me. I’m that person !  A sweater or a candle just will not compare to giving a gift certificate for a dog centered photoshoot for the people that cherish their dogs more than anything on the planet. #Truth.  

I could definitely go on as to why hiring a professional tog that specializes in dog images is the best idea you’ll ever make but I’ll call it quits here. Who knows…maybe I will come up with the new top 10 reasons blog at some point. But for now, hopefully you found yourself in one of these (or maybe a few).  

My dog photography career is my passion and if you want to take a peek at my world that I love so much, please head over to my website…. See you there. TAKE A PEEK HERE. <<<Click