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Picture this: the sun is setting, casting a golden glow over the beautiful scenery. In the midst of this magical moment, a photographer expertly captures the essence of your furry companion. The love, the charm, the unique personalities of our beloved pets are frozen in time, beautifully immortalized in stunning photographs.
But this isn't just any photography. We're diving into the world of pet photography, where professionals specialize in capturing the true essence of our four-legged friends. From dogs to cats and everything in between, these talented photographers have dedicated their careers to creating unique and meaningful portraits that truly capture the spirit of our beloved pets.
In this blog post, we'll dive into the fascinating world of pet photography, uncovering the stories and expertise of three incredible photographers: Darlene, Kathy, and Bonnie. They reveal how they ventured into this unique niche, the challenges they face, and the joy they find in creating everlasting memories for pet parents.
Whether you're a pet owner yourself or simply find joy in admiring adorable furry faces, this blog post will give you a glimpse into the artistry and dedication behind capturing the perfect pet portrait. So let's embark on this captivating journey into the world of pet photography, where every wag of a tail and every purr of contentment is transformed into a work of art!
Find out more about this episodes wonderful guests:
Find your perfect photographer at Happily Ever After Photo
Darlene can be found at Pant the Town, on Facebook, Instagram, and One Last Network
Kathy can be found at OK Kat Photo, on Facebook and Instagram
Cell phone quality is getting better but it’s never going to compare to the quality of a photo that you’re going to get, not just from a professional camera, but mostly from the professional behind that camera.
The Journey into Pet Photography
Bonnie, Darlene, and Kathy share their personal journeys into pet photography. Bonnie discovered her passion for photography in high school and has been a professional photographer for nine years. Darlene, inspired by her challenging rescue dog, combined her love for dog training and photography to become a dog photography expert.
As a self-proclaimed cat person, Kathy ventured into pet photography to capture the beauty of her own cats and the unique challenge of working with anxious and timid feline models.
The bottom line: to be a successful pet photographer capable of capturing beautiful images you have to love pets!
The Importance of Professional Pet Photographers
In the age of ever-improving cellphone cameras, why should pet owners consider hiring a professional pet photographer?
The quality of a professional photograph goes beyond the capabilities of a smartphone. Professional pet photographers possess the skills and expertise to manipulate lighting, posing, and post-processing to produce stunning results.
Furthermore, pet photography requires knowledge of animal behavior and safety protocols, making it essential to choose a photographer who specializes in working with pets.
Working with Dogs: Capturing the Perfect Moment
Understanding Canine Behavior:
Darlene, an expert in dog photography, emphasizes the importance of understanding canine behavior during a photo session. Being a dog trainer, she can read dogs' body language, ensuring their comfort and safety throughout the session. By paying attention to dogs' needs, Darlene captures authentic and relaxed moments that truly reflect their personalities.
Choosing the Ideal Setting:
Darlene prefers outdoor, natural light sessions for dogs. The ethereal glow of sunrise or sunset adds warmth and depth to the photographs. For dogs that might be reactive or uncomfortable around distractions, early mornings or secluded areas with minimal distractions are ideal. However, she also offers sessions in clients' backyards, where dogs feel most comfortable and can be themselves.
Building Trust and Connection:
Darlene advises pet owners to allow their dogs to become familiar with the session environment before starting. Arriving 10-15 minutes early allows dogs to sniff around and get comfortable. Tire your dog out a little before the session, ensuring they are relaxed but not overly tired. For dogs with long fur, grooming before the session is also recommended to highlight their beautiful eyes and expressions.
Working with Cats: Uncovering Elegance and Personality
Catering to Feline Sensibilities:
Kathy specializes in photographing cats, which presents unique challenges due to their anxious and timid nature. Cats are more easily stressed and require specific techniques to establish comfort and trust. Kathy recommends acclimating cats to car rides and conducting a meet and greet session at her studio to ensure familiarity, reduce anxiety, and learn about the cats' preferences.
Keeping Cats Comfortable:
Kathy primarily works in a studio setting for cat photography, utilizing controlled lighting and her specialized equipment. She recommends a relaxed and patient approach, allowing cats to move at their own pace and providing incentives like tuna puree to keep them comfortable and focused.
Kathy's goal is to capture candid and natural moments that reflect each cat's character.
The Final Touch: Transforming Memories into Artwork
Reviewing and Choosing Your Images:
After the photo session, both Darlene and Kathy offer a personalized viewing and selection experience. Clients have the opportunity to view the curated images on a large screen or through Zoom. This intimate process allows pet owners to savor the emotions evoked by the photos. They can select their favorite images and discuss options for displaying the artwork in their homes.
The Importance of Tangible Memories:
Both photographers emphasize the value of tangible memories. By offering framed portraits, storybooks, and other customized artwork, they ensure that the beauty of the photographs can be cherished in physical form. Print copies hold a special magic that surpasses the digital realm, immersing viewers in the emotions and connections captured in each image.
Finding the Perfect Pet Photographer
Look for a Professional Website:
When searching for a pet photographer, Bonnie advises pet owners to prioritize professionals with a dedicated website. This indicates their commitment to the craft and showcases their portfolio and expertise. A well-designed website should demonstrate consistency in style and quality, ensuring pet owners will receive exceptional photographs.
Check for Specialization and Reviews:
Pet owners should also consider whether the photographer specializes in their desired genre, whether it be dogs, cats, or other pets. Reading reviews can provide insights into the photographer's skills, professionalism, and client satisfaction. Bonnie advises pet owners to scrutinize reviews for relevancy to ensure accurate judgment.
Professionalism and Communication:
A professional photographer will provide a prompt and informative response, including details about pricing, session preparation, and timing. Good communication establishes trust between the photographer and client, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Conclusion:
Capturing the true essence of our beloved pets through professional photography is an art form that requires expertise, patience, and understanding. With the guidance and insights shared by Bonnie, Darlene, and Kathy, pet owners can feel confident in finding the perfect pet photographer to immortalize their furry friends. Remember, whether it's a dog's playful spirit or a cat's elegant grace, professional pet photographers have the skills to create treasured memories that will last a lifetime.
Full Transcript →
The following is an AI generated transcription:
Dr. Alex:
Bonnie, Darlene, Kathy, welcome along to the podcast. I'm really excited to be talking to you all today. It's a bit of a novelty for us to have multiple guests on the podcast, but it's fantastic to have all of your your different areas of expertise and interests in what is, a really interesting, exciting, and I think gonna be very relevant conversation to our audience. So welcome along.
Bonnie:
Thank you.
Dr. Alex:
I'd love to start off by thinking about the world of photography, and then we think of the world of pet photography, which is, you know, I guess, a a much smaller, I would imagine, but maybe that's not true. You can correct me that's, kind of niche or subset in the photography space. I'd love to know what kind of brought you into into this world. Maybe, Bonnie, if we start with start with you in photography in general.
Bonnie:
I got into photography in high school, which was 20 years ago. I took a black and white Film photography class and then got into my school yearbook and went from there. It was a hobby for a long time, and then I went into it Professionally about 9 years ago. I don't shoot. I have shot dogs, before, but, my specialties are mostly in maternity, Family and children.
Dr. Alex:
Oh, children and pets. There's probably quite a lot of similarity there at it. I'd I'd imagine. Darlene, you're you're our our dog photography experts, so to speak, today. Yeah. What what brought you into that world?
Darlene:
Yeah. Thanks, Alex. So I didn't start off as photographing everything out there. I actually rescued a challenging dog, just over 11 years ago, And she inspired me to become a dog trainer. And through that, I had started my own business of dog training, dog walking, And she was a beautiful husky mix that I enjoyed photographing. And through that, I learned everything about photography, took courses. And so right away, my niche was photographing dogs, and that's where it all started. And so now I've been photographing dogs Along with their families for 7 years.
Dr. Alex:
I love that. I imagine everyone thinks that their dog is the most beautiful dog ever. And that's kind of your job is to capture that, isn't because often we fall in love with their personalities as much as they look, and that's what we're looking for in in a in a photo as well. And, Kathy, I know you do, kind of dogs and and cats, but you're here for to talk about cats primarily. That that must be a pretty challenging, goal that you set yourself there.
Kathy:
Yes. But it's a lot of fun, and I am, I am truly a cat person. And at one point, I did have 5 cats. So I Self about crazy cat lady. And that was part of getting into pet photography. I was wanting to shoot my own cat. Photograph, not shoot. Photograph my own cats.
Kathy:
And then, eventually, getting a dog so I could train the dog in the studio so I could test things out and Work and learn to work with dogs.
Dr. Alex:
Yeah. Wonderful. Wonderful. That's, yeah, I guess pet lovers first and first and foremost. I mean, Bonnie, with your kind of professional photography background, why should we I don't know. I imagine this is something that you all get kind of Questions asked about or or questions that you address. But why should people think about using a professional, pet photographer maybe rather than well, either we've all got cell phones in our pocket that are getting, you know, getting better, or a photographer who actually doesn't specialize in pets.
Bonnie:
Oh, to speak to the, you know, professional versus our cell phones. Yes. Cell phone quality is getting better. It's never gonna compare to the quality of a photo that you're gonna get, not just from a professional camera, but mostly from the professional behind that Camera who knows how to manipulate lighting and posing and what time of day and how to prompt, you know, whatever whoever they're shooting and How to edit those photos and on and on and on. So, quality aspect, yes, phones are great for what they are, but this is never gonna compare to a professional photographer. And then pets specifically, there are several genres in photography where I really think people should hone in on a specialist And that's because that genre is so unique in the training that it takes and the knowledge and the practice, And pet photography is certainly one of those. You really have to have a knowledge, not necessarily like a veterinarian level knowledge, but, you really do have to have a good working knowledge of the animals in general scientifically and how to work with them and, How to, just the things that you need to do to be careful with them and to do and not to do. And, It's just incredibly important, I think, to have a specialist when you're working with your dogs or your cats or your horses.
Bonnie:
And They are so trained on that specific genre that the people who every now and then, like myself, you know, will photograph a dog, usually my own. We can get away with it sometimes, but kind of like newborn photography, if you don't do it on a regular basis, you don't want someone, taking photos of your pet, unless that's what they're specializing in.
Dr. Alex:
Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. I love that It's the person behind the camera, not the camera. I I I dabble a little bit in or I have done in the past, and it's always, oh, that's a nice photo. And someone immediately goes, what lens did you use? And you're like, well, it doesn't really matter. It was, You know? That's not the important thing. So I see you all chuckling there, so I know you'll you'll get that many times.
Dr. Alex:
And I guess, Darlene, going back to to the importance of knowing the the animals. That's that must be where your training, background comes in. Being able to read, how much, Not you can push them. That's the wrong word, but, you know, how much you can get away with posing or or or what have you.
Darlene:
Yeah. Extremely important. And having been a dog trainer first, That's always in my mind first and foremost. My main goal in a photo session with a dog is to make sure the dog is safe, The environment safe and all of that. Like, I keep dogs on leash throughout the entire time. I know a lot about dog body language. And to me, it's important that a Pet photographer knows a lot about reading dogs, behavior, body language. They don't have to be a dog trainer.
Darlene:
I mean, I yes. I was. But they should Have that knowledge to know when a dog might be stressed, when a dog might need a little bit more space, when a dog might need a break, and that comes with all animals too during a session. So safety is huge, and it's important for the photographer to be able to read into a lot of that.
Dr. Alex:
Yeah. And you're only ever gonna be able to get the best photo with a dog being, you know, relaxed in their normal state, reflecting who they normally are rather than, you know, ears up or tail tucked because they're they're anxious about
Kathy:
the situation.
Darlene:
Lot of those signs. It's so so true where people, oh, the dog is smiling, and clearly, the dog is stressed.
Dr. Alex:
Yeah. Those those photos on social media, people post of the the baby hugging the dog that looks like it's about to bite them, but everyone thinks it looks
Darlene:
It's still cute. It gives me anxiety. Right?
Dr. Alex:
Oh, yeah. Yeah. You and me you and me both, darling. And and, Kathy, I guess the same with cats as well and but maybe they're a bit more maybe camera shy might be the way
Kathy:
of putting things. Yes. They're they're more easily Dressed. They're more easily anxious and calming them down or getting them comfortable is harder. And that's the biggest challenge with cats. I love, you know, 3 month old kittens that are well socialized. They're active. They're playful.
Kathy:
They're really easy to get in front of a camera.
Dr. Alex:
Yep. Yep. But the older, the older cranky senior, a bit more tricky.
Kathy:
Yes. And then it's just, you know, how can I how can I keep the animal how can I keep this cat comfortable And hopefully willing to work with me or at least tolerant? That's those are my those are my big goals with the anxious and timid cats. Keep them comfortable and hopefully in front of the camera.
Dr. Alex:
Yeah. And so what does a what does a cat photo session look like, Kathy? Are we we're always talking in the studio. Do you go outside with I mean, cats on on harnesses and leads is becoming more of a familiar sight. What what does that does that look like?
Kathy:
I have never done a cat outdoors. They've all been in studio. I have done a few in homes, But I don't I prefer to use my studio. I have more control over my space, my lights, my all my gear is here. So if I need to go and, oh, let's try something else. Let me go grab this. I've got it right there. I don't have to lug it to somebody's home.
Kathy:
No. I have never done, outdoor sessions if If the opportunity comes up with a cat that's comfortable outside on harness and leash, I'll certainly try it.
Dr. Alex:
That's yeah. That's a a real movement I see more and more. And I'm Certainly, one of my nurses, she has her cat out on a a lead and harness a lot. So, yeah, I'm sure you'll come across that very soon, Kathy. How long How long do do you find that a normal session lasts for your for your cats?
Kathy:
I don't really put a time on I don't put a time limit on them, a hard time limit. I think my last One was probably an hour and a half, and a lot of that time was just spent comforting Kitty. She was not happy. Yep. We got pictures, but she was not happy about it.
Dr. Alex:
Yep. Yeah. But you got there in the end with patience and, yeah, working with them rather than against them.
Kathy:
Yeah. Tuna puree.
Dr. Alex:
Wonderful. And, Darlene, with our with our dogs, I I guess, you're maybe more outside, or are you in the studio or 5050? What does a session look like? I guess it depends on what the owner's looking for as well.
Darlene:
Right. So I'm kinda completely opposite of what Kathy does. I am a natural light chaser. For me, it's all all about light before location. So my sessions will take place if it's on the beach before sunrise, And we play with that beautiful morning light, golden light, golden hour. Or for those who do not like to wake up in the dark before the crack of dawn, I start 2 hours before sunset. So outdoors, for me, love that natural light. And when it comes to length of a session, kinda like Kathy, no time limit.
Darlene:
So I find that puppies and senior dogs can be completely done in 30 to 40 minutes. Like, they're over it and ready to move on. Yeah. So I let the dogs decide how long the session is going to last And pay attention to that.
Dr. Alex:
Wonderful. So looking at that golden hour, the the sunrise, sunset, the the beautiful light, and and getting out there and about. Wonderful. And how can people go about preparing their dog for for a photo session? What do they need to be be thinking about? Is it best that they're they're kind of tired so that they're staying still, or, you know, what do they need to think about?
Darlene:
A little tired is good. It's a challenge in the morning if we do the sunrise stuff. I do try to for early mornings because there are less distractions in the world at that hour. So for dogs that might be a little reactive or just find, you know, a little bit more uncomfortable around distractions. I try to get the early morning, and that's harder to prepare. A lot of times, the dogs are tired anyways if they are Not used to getting up early. So, yeah, I try to tell people to get to a session about 10, 15 minutes early to Have the dog sniff around, check things out, get a little more comfortable, especially if it's a new environment. And then one of the biggest preparation, though, for dogs is, Like the doodle dogs or the dogs with the fur to make sure they are groomed before photo sessions so that we can see those beautiful eyes, the catch and that sparkle in the eyes, so that's a big importance too.
Dr. Alex:
Yeah. Yeah. No. I imagine that is really important. Yeah. Kind of, yeah, grooming them and getting any eye goobers out from from the inside of their eyes. And, but I guess if they're if they're normally a pretty dirty dog, and, Yeah. That might be part of that character as well, but you wanted to see their their true true features.
Dr. Alex:
And, Kathy, what about for our cats? Because I imagine if they're coming into your your studio, are they Is there anything people need to do to, you know, have a trial run, to get them used to the carrier, or is it just about time and letting them settle?
Kathy:
Some of both. If, if a cat is not used to traveling in a car, absolutely take them take them around in a car just for a few minutes So that they figure out that this is not actually torture. I do, as part of my process, I do have a meet and greet session. So Kitty gets a chance to come to the studio, Check it out. See if there's any good hiding places. There's none that I can't get to. And so that hopefully when they come back, they're a little bit more comfortable and Less traumatized, less likely to be anxious and stressed. My other big advice is for the people is relax.
Kathy:
If you're wound up, if you're anxious, if you're nervous about how your cats can behave or your dog, they're gonna pick up on it and they're gonna be anxious and nervous. So Absolutely. Keep it relaxed and easy, and they'll have a better time.
Dr. Alex:
Absolutely. We see that I see that in the consult room as well. And sometimes they're they're so wound up in there with the the the owner there, and we actually take them out into the prep room, have the nurses hold, and the pet they don't sense that nervous energy, and they actually just relax, and they're so much better there where you'd think maybe if they were taken away, they'd be even more uptight. But it's yeah. They feed off our own energy, don't they?
Kathy:
Yep.
Dr. Alex:
And and are there are there any cats I'm thinking, you know, if they're aggressive, they're really shy, they're scared. If they're gonna freeze. People are really worried about these things maybe and think that their cat wouldn't be a good fit for for photography session. Is is that a case, or is it a case of all, you know, all cats are welcome, and we will get to well, I mean, as much as you can guarantee anything, we will get a good photo regardless of that because we work with with them.
Kathy:
Yes. I I've not I've not failed on, cat photography yet. I have Done a couple where I did a session in the studio, and it just didn't work. So we went home to their house where the where Kitty was a little bit more comfortable. Interestingly enough, Katie still had an attitude. She's like, I'm tired of your bowl. But, yes, I I do try, with I have not had an aggressive kitty yet. I've gotten several that just, you know, freeze and they're They're tight and paused here and tucked nice and tight on the surface.
Kathy:
If they're really anxious, I can back up across the studio and use a longer lens. If mom and dad can keep them in place, where my lights are. So
Dr. Alex:
Yeah. Wonderful. Wonderful. I guess maybe the super aggressive ones are too much to get into a cage in the 1st place, and they're you know, if they're wild, they're wild, and, yeah, they're maybe self selecting.
Kathy:
I have had some very spicy foster kittens.
Dr. Alex:
Adds a little bit of, drama to your day as well.
Bonnie:
Yes.
Dr. Alex:
And, Darlene, I'd I imagine if you're outside and you may be keeping distance, then aggressive dogs or people that or dogs that are scared of other people, You know, anything goes as well, and and with your training background, that's really going to help too.
Darlene:
Yeah. If we go even niche within a niche, I Do a lot of work with reactive dogs, having had a reactive dog for 11 years who didn't get along with other dogs and was a little iffy with people, so that's important to me too. I'm not there to be the dog's best friend and to let people know that's Not as important as giving the dog space and keeping the dog safe. I definitely have my longer lenses that I use To get my distance away from the dogs. Another thing I recommend too with locations, we can do a photo session right in someone's backyard, And that's perfect. The dogs are most comfortable at home in their own yard. They can run. They can be off leash, and we don't have the other distractions too.
Darlene:
So that is just as easy to do.
Dr. Alex:
Nice. So, again, doesn't matter what your dog is, what their background is. We can get that get that image. And then when it comes to, You know, the the session's kind of done and dusted, if you like. What's what's the next step? Because I imagine there's some kind of review or, people are picking My favorites, what does that look like for our for our dog dog parents out there?
Darlene:
Yeah. So I love looking over the images with The family, with the clients. And so usually within a week afterwards, we either get together in person with a computer or in my studio. I do have a studio Where I don't do sessions, but I get together with clients. And we'll look look at the images big on the TV screen, or we'll catch via Zoom. I love seeing the expressions that people have when they see the pictures of their dog and also of selves with their dogs because those are the images that they cannot take with their cell phones is the pictures of that connection that they have with their dogs. And, also, I specialize in artwork for dogs, and it's not just handing over digital files. I like to create framed portraits for the home.
Darlene:
I like to create what I call storybooks that tells the story of the session And all that. So that's important to me. Those are the things, the tangible memories that we need that last forever.
Dr. Alex:
Yeah. I love that. And I guess if we're going, you know, if we're going to the the the efforts in inverted commas of of getting a a professional in to take the best photos possible, then actually having physical copy is just so important because the the magic of that print outweighs that digital file and that image on the cell you know, your cell phone screen just just inordinately, and I imagine that's the similar process that you work with Kathy as well?
Kathy:
Yes. I I do. I have them come back into the studio. We watch a short video of all Final images and then go through 1 by 1 so they can eliminate any that they that don't speak to them. And then when we're talking about what they want to order, I do offer digital files, but my primary goal is to get artwork in their hands and hopefully on their walls. But yeah. Then when they're we're talking about what they're going to order, they know that they're looking at images they know they already love.
Dr. Alex:
Fantastic. That's wonderful. And, Yeah. I I can just imagine the the the frame photo on the mantelpiece just you know, we think of our pets as family. I was you know, certainly I do, and I imagine everyone listening to the and watching this does. And, Yeah. We have photos of our our human family members up on the wall and on the on the countertop, so so why not our our pets as well? Bonnie, when it comes to actually finding a photographer, we've obviously got 2 wonderful photographers here, Kathy and Darlene, but, you know, you don't travel across the world everywhere. Although maybe you'll be open for a flight if someone wants to wants to hit you up.
Dr. Alex:
But how can people go about finding a a great pet photographer?
Bonnie:
I think the 1st and foremost thing to look for is that the photographer has a website. And I'm sure somebody will push back on me about this, but I don't think That a photographer who's taken themselves seriously as a professional, it I don't they they should have a website. And so make sure that they have a website. Once that you get on that website, look for consistency in their portfolio because with the digital age, Pretty much anyone can take a 1,000 photos and wind up with 1 or 2 good ones, but we don't want those 1 or 2 good ones. Right? We wanna make sure that we're gonna Consistent work from these people. So look through their entire portfolio and make sure that it's measuring up to the type of photos that you want, that their style matches yours, that kind we were talking about, like, if they're studio or outdoors, make sure that what they're doing is matching what you're wanting. Obviously, like we said, look for a specialist, if that's important to you. Some people are a little you know, they've got really easygoing dogs.
Bonnie:
Maybe that's not as important, but I really think that People in the pet photography world should be looking for a specialist. Read the reviews that they have. Make sure they have reviews because that means they've actually been around long enough. And if there's bad ones, I mean, read them all and make sure that the bad reviews are even relevant to what you're wanting or they even make sense it all because a lot of us get, you know, weird reviews that Yeah. People who have never even seen us before. So make sure you read those, and then make sure that you're getting a professional response from them. So if you're reaching out, make sure that they are professional in their response. They are sending you, information about what to expect, the timeline that you should be looking at, probably a contract they're gonna send you.
Bonnie:
Obvious you need to know at least a general price that you're gonna be spending, how to prepare for the session. All these things should be given to you by the photographer, that kind of signals that they're and they're gonna take you seriously, take themselves seriously, and you're gonna get a a good outcome out of it. And then also with pet photography, Be willing to travel maybe a little bit because like you were saying at the beginning, this is a niche in photography, and there aren't a whole lot of pet photographers out there yet. So Be willing to spread your net a little bit wider. You might have to go a little farther than you would certainly for maybe a family session or something to find the Perfect pet photographer for you.
Dr. Alex:
Yeah. But that little bit of effort is is going to be well well worth it. Darlene, have you got any other kind of questions that people commonly com commonly ask you or concerns that they might have that we haven't really spoken about yet.
Darlene:
No. But one thing I wanna mention that Bonnie just mentioned is When looking for a pet photographer, look at their portfolio. Look at their images. Because one situation I had, Someone contacts me, and they were looking for pictures of their dog with a white background in a studio. And I thought to myself, I do not have 1 studio image on my entire website, and I am Happy to refer out to someone else when that happens. But, if you're looking for a pet photographer, really kinda dive into their website, See what they're all about. See what their story is too, and if you can kinda connect, to who they are. I know my story on my website kinda talks about My heart dog and going through grief and loss and how she inspired me to run my business, and I find a lot of people reaching out about that and connecting in that way, having a similar situation.
Darlene:
And one thing we always want to do is Get photos sooner rather than later. So if it pops in your mind ever the thought of, oh, you know, maybe I wanna someday do photos with my dog or Pet cat as they get older. Don't think that you wanna do it down the road. Pick up the phone. Do it that day because we never know. Our Pets clearly aren't here with us long enough, and there's never enough time. So Yeah.
Dr. Alex:
We never know what's on that horizon, do we? And, with our pets aging, even if it even if it's nothing serious with our pets aging, you know, relatively quickly. That 2, you know, 3 years can make a big difference in the kind of images that potentially be able to to get.
Darlene:
It's so true.
Dr. Alex:
Yeah. I mean, Kathy, any other questions that pea or concerns that people often have that you have to to address that you'd like to talk about today.
Kathy:
No. I I would add, ask if when you're looking for a photographer, make sure that they are insured. If something goes wrong, you want, you want all parties covered. Yep.
Dr. Alex:
That's a wonderful tip. Absolutely. And I guess it goes to being being a professional in your space, having that in that insurance. Yeah. The website absolutely is a is a must. It's such a low barrier to entry, and if someone hasn't even gone, you know, that far then. Yeah. You question how serious serious they are.
Dr. Alex:
So, everyone, this has been a wonderful conversation. There's been a lot people to get their heads around, and I think anyone thinking about having a professional, portrait session done with their with their pets, will be so much better informed and better prepared as a result of of every kind of all of your expertise you've shared with us. I'd love to know where people can go to find out more more about you. So, Cathy, where where would you like to send people if they'd like to learn more about kind of photography and and and cats and and, you know, where you where you where you, where you're based and everything like that.
Kathy:
I am in Oklahoma City, and my website is, www.okkat ph0t0.com. That is a k for Cathy, not c for cats. And I'm also on Instagram and Facebook at Okay Cat Okay.
Dr. Alex:
Wonderful. And, Darlene, what about you?
Darlene:
Yeah. So Darlene Woodward, and I'm located just north of Boston, and my, Service areas are Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and Pant the Town Photography, a play on words, not paint the town. It's pant the town. I am on Instagram, and you can also find me on Facebook. And I'm also part of a group of called 1 Last Network, and we Help, pet parents, you know, with resources that are getting close to the end of life phase with their animals. So a group group of pet photographers educating and finding resources for people who are entering that phase in their pet parenting.
Dr. Alex:
Challenging phase, but that's that's wonderful work. And, Bonnie, what about, where people can go? Because I think you've got the resource that where people can look and find a photographer in their local area.
Bonnie:
Yeah. So I know Darlene and Kathy through the photography directory I Created called Happily Ever Photo. It's based in the US, so it's for US based photographers of any portrait genre, and you can search by location, by specialty, by experience, by editing and style, and multiple other things. But it's happily ever photo.com. Pretty simple.
Dr. Alex:
Wonderful. Fantastic. Well, thank you so much all of you for your time. It's been wonderful to to to connect. All of those links, and and Social handles and everything will be in the show notes so everyone can can click through and and dive deeper into your wonderful portfolios or find, a a more local photographer if they're not not in, in your parts of the states. Yeah. Thank you so much for your time. It's been a pleasure.
Dr. Alex:
Thanks
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