Pet Portraits in Vancouver and Squamish

Are you looking for the highest quality pet portraits to keep forever? Scroll down to see photos capturing the spirit of dogs and cats rendered in bright colors perfect to print for your wall. With outdoor background and natural lighting, these photos are taken with love, patience, understanding and care.

Cats and Puppies may seem very difficult to capture but I’ve been doing this for years and patience is key! I will take the amount of time your pet needs to feel comfortable and am happy to meet for several small sessions. With all kinds of backdrops right in our home, I’m more than willing to travel to parks, lakes, even hike up for the right background. Let create memories together

Cat Photographer Vancouver

Cat photography is extremely difficult especially outside. I love the challenge of capturing these very wild pets and their personalities. Every twitch responding to sound, every blink meaning so much. Indoor or outdoors, I’m happy to crawl on my knees around with a wand or a ribbon or just follow your cat for as long as it takes to get the photo. For years I’ve been a photographer for rescues so I’ve had the challenge of photographing timid rescue kittens and cats for adoption so I’m pretty well versed in patience and claws.

The difficulties of photographing cats outside.

Safety is the number one concern. Many of the photos below had harnesses removed in post, and even with harnesses and leashes I only photograph cats outside that have a history of being comfortable outdoors. Some cats we’ve let out of harnesses but only after a period of adjustment to the location. Walking cats or posing them is totally different to dogs so overall we will get a smaller number of usable shots than a dog shoot, however I like to think these are all the more stunning!

Preparing for a Cat Photo Session

I will come to wherever your cat is most comfortable to shoot. If possible I would suggest you take your cat out in the location the week before (and/or as much as possible) and let them roam and sniff so that it isn’t new and they are used to the sounds. We will aim for the most quiet time to shoot and if we are using treats, please don’t feed your cat beforehand. Use a thin harness that can be removed in post, or if you’re ok with the harness in the shots, whatever harness you feel most comfortable in. A thin black retractable leash is ideal to blend in with the background, and a carrier to carry your cat to and from the location. Lastly the highest value treats you can get your hands on are ideal!

Adventure Cat Photography in North Vancouver

Michiko is a very special kitty. She’s an adventure cat that likes to go for walks in her neighborhood. When I was asked to capture her exploring I was so excited. We lined up two quick shoots (cats have very little patience for human photographers) and followed Michiko around. For a kitty, this was one of the easiest shoots I had. Michiko was very calm and happy to stay still where placed and loved looking around with her beautiful eyes.

Cat photography is really chancy and sometimes the cat just isn’t in the mood. It’s the excitement of never knowing what we may capture that makes my heart pump! Outdoor Adventure cat Photography may be one of the most difficult subject matters but when you do capture the images, wow! They speak for themselves!

Vancouver Pet Photography

Pet photography is such a specialized niche. Over the last decade I’ve been taking photos in Vancouver, BC and have ended up specializing in dogs, cats and their relationships with their humans. I’ve found that professional photographers who are not “dog people” can take amazing photos of dogs but the eyes look “dead” and their spirit doesn’t come through. Not everyone is up for following pets on the ground, getting jumped on, and trying over and over for the shot. I absolutely love animals and the time it takes to capture an animal’s soul

When I start a session, I like to take my time to meet the pet and get them used to the camera. We then work on a stay with a crouching human and give away handfuls of treats! Dogs that have come back to me for sessions over the years knows me as the treat lady and love photographs. There’s also lots of patience and time given for romp and zoomies, for a dog be a dog and sniff or a cat to hide under a bush.

If you’re in the Sea to Sky area or Greater Vancouve area (I’m based out of Squamish and happy to travel), I would love to photograph your pets and family. Send me a message and lets have a chat! I’d be more than happy to work with you to create a specific vision or roll in the dirt and capture images of your pet in action! In addition, I take family photos as well so come and create memories with me.