Choosing the Right Pet Photographer
A great way to start your pet photographer-seeking journey is by asking friends and family if they recommend anyone in the area. Or ask at your favourite pet supply store, veterinarian, or groomer. Word of mouth is always something that makes people feel more comfortable. Chances are that if they've worked with (or know someone who's worked with) a great pet photographer, that photographer will also work well with you and your pet!
Facebook and internet searches are also great ways to find local pet photographers. Most professional pet photographers have a strong online web presence with portfolios of their work for you to browse. Once you've found a few you're interested in working with, don't be shy about setting up interviews! Schedule a phone call or casual in-person meeting to get a feel for the photographer and their process for creating images. It will quickly become apparent whether it's a good fit for you and your pet!
Are you hiring a generalist or a specialist?
A photographer that claims to specialize in many types of photography (weddings, babies, pets, maternity, families, etc.) is not a specialist. They're a generalist.
Pets, especially dogs, require an experienced pet photographer to work with them to make the session fun and capture great portraits. Someone inexperienced with animals may not recognize the signs of stress or, worse, may cause stress for your pet. I have over 20 years of dog handling experience, and I'm an expert at reading canine body language.
What does the photographer do to ensure your pet's safety and comfort are always the top priority? Many of my images are captured with pets on leash. Leashes are removed from the images in post-processing. If you have a reactive Rover, we can hold the session at a location and time where distractions will be minimal.
It's About More than Pricing!
Of course not. But, it's generally the first question people ask. They have no idea what else to ask, so all too often, the first questions are "What do you charge for an 8x10" and "Do I get all the digital files?" In reality, most people don't want these products anyway - these are simply the questions that come to mind, so the answers aren't always helpful in choosing your perfect pet photographer.
Consider a different approach. Sit down and figure out your budget for your pet photography experience. Then ask each photographer what suggestions they have for you given your budget. Ask them what the average client spends with them to understand better what you should be prepared to invest. Do they have payment plans if something you love is just out of reach? Or smaller packages to fit within your budget. After all, isn't it better to get a little of what you really want than a lot of something you don't?
Remember that this is an experience with your pet and the images created are an investment. Those memories and the pictures you choose will be with you long after your beloved companion is gone.
What Style Do You Prefer?
Photography is an art; as such, you can expect every photographer to offer a unique style of imagery. You don't have to be an art expert to decide whether or not you like a style - just browse through their portfolio. If the photographs you see make you feel good and are something you could envision in your home, chances are the photographer is a stylistically good fit for you!
Printed Products, Digital Files or Both?
I believe you should get both!
When you choose to purchase only digital files from a photographer, make sure to ask what you're purchasing. Are they edited? Light edits or full edits? Is there a charge for edits? What resolution are the photos - how big can they be printed? If you want to print a large piece, will they resize the file for you?
If you're like most people, there's a big risk that those digital files will sit on your computer or flash drive and never make it to print. Printing them will become one more thing on a long list of "to-do's." You've hired an expert pet photographer to capture precious memories of your pet, and I believe that investment should result in more than just digital files that live on your phone's camera roll or some prints from the local drugstore.
When you purchase a print product from an experienced photographer, they may spend hours perfecting the crop and colours of the photograph to produce the best possible result when printed. This process of colour correction is often overlooked but absolutely essential to reproducing what you see on your computer screen accurately onto printed media. Most consumer-facing print labs also do not offer the standards of colour quality that professional labs do, and you may find yourself with prints that are muddy and awkwardly trimmed!
All products purchased from Cedar & Bark Photography come fully finished and ready to enjoy. By working with professional labs, all the products I offer are among the finest in the industry. From being handcrafted in Italy to being created from aged barn wood, they are the best of the best, and your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.
Would you like to know more about what it's like to work with me? Check out the video below.
Learn more about booking a pet photography session with Cedar and Bark Photography. Click the link below to set up a free, no-obligation consultation!