How I got Involved With Pet Photography

When you view my portfolio, pet photography is most likely the last thing you would associate with my work. Yet, I have a collection of portraits with pets and their owners sitting on my computer.

Although pet photography is not my main focus, some of the most beautiful photography stories I have collaborated on have come from pet owners.

Telling a story through photography is what I love to do. It doesn't matter if I'm taking photographs of people, dogs, or products. I want the viewer to connect with the subject.

One of my main passions has been to allow pet owners to have a moment to honor the love and life they have shared with their pets. The majority of my pet photos have featured owners capturing a moment with their pets who are terminally ill. These portraits help celebrate their lives and honor their time with their owners before they pass.

This project began a few years ago with my sister-in-law. She asked me if I could do a series of photos with her and her beloved bullmastiff, Alf. Alf had just been diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer.

During the shoot, we went to places they'd loved hanging out together and captured pictures of their favorite activities together.

I published the pictures on my old blog in honor of Alf and a dog lovers' online community - iHeartDogs - picked the story up and did an article about it. You can read it here along with all the photos:

https://iheartdogs.com/photographer-captures-touching-moments-for-woman-and-her-terminally-ill-dog/

Back then, I thought that Alf's pictures were my first and the last photoshoot of it's kind for me. It's not easy to capture those moments of love, connection, and saying goodbye to a pet without becoming emotional and losing focus. At the same time, I understand the great importance of these photos, and I felt honored to gain someone's trust during this extraordinary assignment.

Since then, I have done a few other photoshoots of owners and their pups in similar situations. It is still an emotional journey to learn about the stories and connection behind these pet owners and their beloved animals. Yet, these shoots no longer make me sad. I am grateful to have the opportunity to give these families a chance to create a beautiful memory in honor of their pets.

These photos will be cherished forever in their homes and in their hearts. It is these moments that I feel connected and proud of the work that is seen through my lens.

Why You Need a Professional Headshot?

"I am not photogenic at all" - this is what I hear from most of my clients. But, what happens when they need to take a professional photo? They take one with their phones or ask a friend to take one for them. 

This is the main mistake I witness all the time. How many times have you seen a social media profile that featured a blurry or inappropriate profile picture? Your profile picture is your first introduction to potential clients and you want to appear confident, trustworthy, and professional.

In today’s world, both business and personal, we are surrounded by visuals like never before. Your headshot is your first impression. You must make it count!

LinkedIn and Twitter have become hunting grounds for recruiters, and your profile picture will be the first thing that grabs their attention. Before a recruiter reaches out to a potential applicant they will do a quick Internet search to find out more about prospects in advance. Having a professional headshot that represents you well, you’ve already made a positive impression on anyone who has discovered your profile.

You want your headshot to tell your story and allow your personality and expertise to shine through. From the location and your outfit to the expression on your face, your photo tells your story. Picking a location that represents your career and desired visual aesthetic is key. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that your headshots should align with your brand, whether that’s personal, professional or both.

Having a high quality headshot ready to send at a moment’s notice shows you think ahead and represents who you are and your personality. Plus your headshot can be useful for so many situations:

• Your email account

• Your email signature

• Your website or portfolio

• Your guest posts

• Your company bio

• Your entire professional life. 

Trust me, at some point in your career, you will want to have this on hand. All of my clients have come back and said what a difference their headshot made to their business!

Getting a professional headshot done is an investment in your business and in your future.

A quality headshot does more than just present a professional impression to recruiters or potential employers. It infuses confidence in your own professional capabilities. Recruiters will see you as strong, confident and put together, and knowing you were prepared can ease your stress and inspire you to be as confident and professional as that photo implies. 

It is time to look at your headshot as your first introduction, and a representation of who you are to potential connections or employers.

Take the time to invest in yourself and your future, and I guarantee you will be happy with the results.

Why You Too Need Personal Branding Photography In Your Business?

Let’s be honest for a second. In the world of digital age, your photos on your LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Page, etc. will be your first impression. Before you even get a chance to do your pitch at a meeting with potential clients, they probably had seen your photos already. 

Investing in high quality, authentic images is necessary if you want your visuals to deliver the personality of your brand. People shop with their eyes and they like to do business with people, not businesses. This is why it’s crucial to show yourself to the world, the person behind the business. 

The images on your website will influence the way your target market thinks about you and your business or product. This is why Personal Branding Photography can have a huge impact on your business. Often times buying is an emotional decision not a practical one. 

Having custom photography saved in a library on your computer will be one of your biggest assets. You’ll be able to constantly pull images and provide consistency on your social media platforms. Because consistency is also key when you want to attract the right crowd!

Therefore with most of my Personal Branding Photography clients we do a quarterly session to make sure their photos are always up to date (not only to their latest hair styles but the actual holidays - yes, I plan all sessions with the upcoming holidays in mind). Doing a shoot every quarter saves my clients time and provides them with 3 months worthy of visual social media content.

Did you know that posts that include an image receive 120% - 180% more visibility and engagement? Yep. That’s what I’m talking about.

Personal Branding Photography is a very powerful tool which can have a significant impact on how people see you and if they want to do business with you. I will plan the session with you from the very beginning by building it around the personality of your business. 

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Still not sure if this is what you need? Check out my sit down interview with a brand expert, who explains the importance of having quality images on your brand and much more.

If you’re interested in a Personal Branding session in Orange County or in Los Angeles, get in touch with me HERE.