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pet portraits
One of our goals this year is to work with new types of creatures. As Toledo pet photographers, we want to show that we are not limited to dogs and cats. We will photograph pets with scales, with feathers and even hairless ones. All your beloved family members deserve to be documented.
I was very excited to document a new breed of cattle. The characteristic that stood out to me about these Highlanders was their curiosity. These particular cattle are not very accustomed to being up close and personal with humans but that did not stop them from trying to investigate the camera or myself. Highland cattle are known for their friendly nature with humans.
Having a foster home in which to give birth, learn to care for the puppies, and recover can be a true life saving resource. Those foster families can be difficult to find. Signing up for one dog is a big commitment, imagine having one mom dog and fourteen puppies like this litter! Planned Pethood foster, Heather, shares some of her insight from opening her home to these families in need.
He will always be my baby boy and my 65lb weighted blanket. He brings so much joy and cheer into our lives. Also a lot of mischief and borking for attention, but his positive attributes are so worth it. Titan is all fun and games until someone is upset... He will climb on top of you and force you to pet him until you feel better.
Working with different animals shows me how each species has a variety of personalities and temperaments. The biggest thing that I have learned is to be patient and to have realistic expectations of an an animal.
We are so excited to be offering Lavender field sessions this year! Last summer was our first time at Luckey Road Lavender Farm. Kylee has such a beautiful field and she welcomed dogs with no hesitation. Speaking of dogs, this post features Reise, the Luckey Lavender resident dog. She stole our hearts and we loved getting to document her.
“What stood out to us most about our experience with Rebecca was her love and passion for working with animals. She made all of us feel so comfortable, including Pippin. She was so kind and easy to work with and we couldn’t have chosen a better photographer to take photos of our special boy and our family.”
Despite his talent and passion for the city, the first thing I noticed about Doug was his dog. A golden doodle named Elsa who never seemed to leave his side. He often shares images of her tagging along on his adventures at work throughout the region. When I learned that Elsa had been there for Doug through some hard things, I knew that their story was worth sharing this month.
Now you get to be involved in choosing the winner! All participants were required to post their pet with a brief bio on our Facebook page. How do they win? You get to read all the introductions to these Toledo area pets and cast your vote through the form below! Entrant with the most votes wins! Choose who you think is most adorable. most deserving, or who you’d most like to see with professional photos. You can vote once per day through February 21st.
Leroy is one of those dogs who survived hell and yet maintained an adoration of all people, a love of companionship form other dogs, and the ability to positively represent his breed and rescue dogs everywhere.
I got to interact with a rescue horse who had survived abuse and had long term behavior challenges because of it. Just like dogs, a horse has an innate personality but they can also be molded by their treatment and experiences. My contact with dogs and horses has taught me that every animal has different needs when working with them. It is our primary job as photographers to make sure each animal feels safe and respected while we document them.
This personal project kept me inspired and driven. It gave me amazing experience and challenged my abilities. I got to work with new breeds and personalities. I got to play with new lighting and colors. It absolutely made me better at my job.
Photographing senior dogs is something I find very rewarding. Seeing a dog that has been so loved and cherished get to be preserved in professional photos is very meaningful. It was clear that Watson and Genny’s owners did not want to miss the opportunity to have these pictures.
“We've been through everything with him. He's very special to us. I've had him since he was 20 minutes old. We went through vets telling us at a week old to take him home and wait to see if he will survive. We went through the uncertainty of his injury and not knowing what his life would be like. To now, we have this happy, healthy boy who is an absolute joy. It's been a journey and I'm so glad to have these photos to document how special he is.”
What made you choose to have your dog, Marvin, in your photos with you? “I only thought it was appropriate to have my dog in my graduation pictures since I graduated with a degree in the veterinary field. And let’s be honest, he is so handsome he belongs in front of the camera!”
Charles brought his best boy, Nelsan, to my lavender field pet photo sessions at Luckey Road Lavender Farm. Nelsan is a very handsome Blue Heeler. He is extremely smart and loves to learn tricks and do activities. Check out Charles interview to get to know Nelsan!
“It is meaningful to have professional images of Bailey because he is part of our small family! I feel joy seeing how happy and handsome Bailey looks in his photos.”
Why are professional photos important to you? “Although it’s easy to get decent photos with modern technology, even for amateurs, we wanted this moment to be captured by a professional. True editing experience, experience with framing shots, and locations, etc. Those are things that we can’t really do on our own.”
I always enjoy having puppies in the studio. As a pet photographer in Toledo, I am often looking for ways to challenge myself and become better at what I do. I try to work with all sizes, breeds and ages. Volunteering with a local animal rescue, Planned Pethood, has given me opportunities to photograph dogs who might present some challenges. Some rescue dogs are nervous about meeting new people, some have current health issues and many do not have formal training. If I stay patient and make them feel comfortable, I can document each dog despite their circumstances.
Olivia was truly a dream to work with. She has a beautiful smile and great sense of style. She also adores her sweet senior dog, Maizy. Olivia is a 2021 graduate from Springfield High School in Holland, Ohio. She was planning to schedule her photos in the fall but it ended up working out perfectly to have a spring session.
