How Do I Become A Pet Photographer?

The average salary for a pet photographer in the United States is around $51,000 per year.  From speaking with professional animal photographers in Australia, it seems that the average earnings are comparable with the US.

However, earnings can vary depending on the experience, location, and the number of competitors they have in their local area. 

Freelance pet photographers may earn less initially in their early years of business, but they have the potential to make more as they build their portfolio and attract more clients.

Additionally, pet photographers who specialise in specific types of animals, such as horses, cats or exotic pets, may be able to charge a premium for their services. Cats can be challenging to work with and not every pet photographer will have the patience or time to do it, so cat photographers may be able to earn above the average pet photography rates in your area.

Pet photography has the potential to be profitable, depending on several factors. The demand for pet photography has increased in recent years as pets have become increasingly seen as members of the family, and owners want portraits of their pets. The market is relatively niche, but there is a strong, dedicated customer base that is willing to pay a premium for quality pet photography.

Also, since COVID and lockdowns, there are many more pets around, potentially increasing demand for the service.

Profitability depends on several factors, including your location, marketing strategy, and pricing model. Dog photographers in larger cities or areas with higher incomes may be able to charge more for their services.

A strong marketing strategy is also important to attract customers and promote your business. Finally, pricing should reflect the value of your work, including time spent editing and producing final images.

Overall, pet photography can be profitable for skilled photographers who are able to produce high-quality images and market their services effectively to potential customers.

According to recent news reports and after researching google search volumes, there has been an increase in demand for pet photographers.

With the rising popularity of social media, pet owners are looking for professional photographers who can capture their furry friends in the best possible way.

Additionally, pet photography is becoming a specialised niche, and many pet owners are willing to spend money on creating beautiful mementos of their beloved pets. However, this does vary depending upon the locality and demographics.

It’s best to do some research on the local market and assess the demand before starting a business in pet photography.

Pet photography can be both easy and difficult depending on several factors such as the pet’s behaviour, the location, and lighting conditions.

Taking quality, well exposed and sharp photos of pets is not easy, especially when you’re dealing with unpredictable animals or the elements. However, with practice and patience, it can be a rewarding experience.

Additionally, fully understanding your camera settings and composition techniques can help to make the process easier and substantially improve your hit rate.

Whenever going out on a booking to photograph an animal, not only should you remember your camera, but you should also definitely take your patience and add in an extra hour as a buffer between jobs, just in case your subject isn’t as co-operative as you hope.

The best camera for pet photography has to be one of the new Canon mirrorless cameras (R5, R6, R3).
They’re perfect for photographing animals and are a great help in nailing sharp images, especially with the animal eye focus feature which locks on and tracks the subject’s eye. It’s especially good with pets that are running or simply won’t sit still.

It is possible to make a living from pet portraits, but it depends on several factors such as skill level, marketing ability, and the demand for pet portraits in your area. Some professional pet portrait artists are able to charge hundreds or even thousands of dollars per portrait, which can make for a sustainable income if they have a steady stream of clients.

However, it can take time, effort, and dedication to build a successful career as a pet portrait artist or photographer.

All photographers have to work out ways of attracting clients so here are some of our favourite tips on how to get clients for your pet photography business:

Set up a website and social media accounts

Create a website that showcases your pet photography portfolio and services. Consider setting up Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Pinterest accounts, and use them to promote your work and interact with potential clients.

Attend pet-related events

Attend pet events in your area and set up a booth to display your work. You can also offer a photo booth where pet owners can have their pets’ photos taken.

Partner with pet businesses

Build relationships with pet businesses such as pet stores, groomers, and dog trainers. Offer to take photos of their furry clients and display your work in their establishments.

Offer Discounts

Consider offering discounts to new clients or for referrals. This will encourage people to try out your services and spread the word.

Don’t rely on this as a business model moving forward though, and only do it as long as you need to get comfortable with your skills and variety in your portfolio.

Use word of mouth

Encourage satisfied clients to recommend your services to their friends and family. This is an effective way to gain new clients and grow your business.

Volunteer your services

Offer to take photos of pets in animal shelters or rescues. This will not only help promote your services but also provides a great service and gives back to the pet community.

Offer Seasonal Packages

Offer seasonal packages, such as holiday cards with pet photos, that pet owners can purchase as gifts or for their own use. This will help generate business during slow seasons.

We find that Santa photos are always popular, but why not consider Easter, Mothers Day and Fathers Day too?

Paid advertising

If you have the budget, Google Ads is a great way of attracting enquiries from a targeted area, FAST!

We suggest you start off with a small budget until you’re comfortable with managing the ads, or get a professional to manage the account for you.

We came across this video recently from an experienced professional pet photographer, offering all the reasons that you shouldn’t become a pet photographer. It’s always good to hear a counterpoint to a discussion and we suggest that you watch the video to hear her reasons, BUT don’t let it put you off starting something that you will most likely love doing.  As always, information is power so if you know what the problems might be, you can prepare to avoid them.

We believe that some of the characteristics of a good pet portrait photograph include:

Capturing the pet’s personality and character, showing their unique traits and behaviours in the image.

Focusing on the animal’s eyes, as they are a natural focal point for viewers and can convey emotion and personality. As the saying goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul.

Using natural lighting and avoid flash, unless it’s a very particular style you are shooting for. Without an assistant or easily moved light stand, flash can sometimes cause red-eye and harsh shadows. Using off-camera flash is the way to go.

Considering the composition and background of the image, using shallow depth-of-field and framing techniques to draw attention to the pet.

Capturing the pet in a natural and comfortable environment with a non distracting background, where they can be themselves and show their true personality.

Using high-quality cameras and lenses to produce a clear and detailed image.

Having patience and capturing multiple shots to ensure capturing the right moment.

Having a connection and bond with the pet and their owner to capture the essence of their relationship.

There are several ways for you to sell your animal photos:

Online marketplaces

You can upload your photos to websites like Shutterstock, Getty Images, and istock and earn money whenever someone downloads them.

Stock photography websites

Upload your animal photos to websites like 500px and Alamy and earn money whenever someone buys your photos either for personal use or to publish online, in print or on television.

Print-on-demand services

You can create prints, posters, and other merchandise using your animal photos and sell them online through sites like Redbubble or Zazzle.

Sell your photos directly to clients

Reach out to magazines, websites, and other businesses that might need animal photos for their content and sell your photos directly to them.

Social media

Attend public dog events and take photos of every dog you meet. Post the images (with a watermark!) on social media or a gallery on your website and hopefully a few owners will buy one from you.

Poor composition: Capturing pets in awkward or unflattering poses.

Unfocused images: Failing to focus properly on the pet’s eyes, or using a slow shutter speed that produces blurry images.

Bad lighting: Poorly lit images that have harsh shadows, overexposed highlights, or underexposed shadows.

Red-eye: Pets, may end up with the dreaded red-eye if you use on-camera flash. Once again, off camera flash is your friend!

Unnatural posing: Forcing pets into unnatural poses or positions for the sake of a photo.

Over-editing: Over-editing photos can make them look unnatural or fake.

Not capturing the pet’s personality: Failing to capture the pet’s unique personality and character in the photo.

Distractions in the background: Having distractions in the background of a photo can take away from the pet as the focus.

Inappropriate use of flash: Flash can startle or scare pets, so it’s important to use it sparingly and in a proper setting.

It’s not solely photography skills you need to become a good animal photographer, it’s more about combining and improving your skills from several different areas to make a complete package. Check out these suggestions:

Knowledge of animal behaviour: It’s important to have a good understanding of how animals behave and react to different situations. This will help you to anticipate their movements and reactions while photographing them.

Patience: Animals can be fidgety and unpredictable, therefore, pet photographers must be patient, calm and composed. This skill allows the photographer to encourage their subjects to relax and be comfortable during the shoot.

Photography skills: Pet photographers need to have good knowledge of photography techniques, which includes lighting, composition, and exposure. 

Communication skills: It’s important to have good communication skills to interact with pet owners and make their pets feel comfortable in front of the camera. 

Creativity: Being creative and thinking outside the box can help create unique and beautiful pet portraits. Dare to be different. Photographers with a unique style will set themselves apart from their competitors.

Technical Skills: Technical skills such as photo retouching, editing, and post-processing are essential skills a pet photographer needs to have, as clients may expect these services to be included in their package. 

Animal welfare: Photographers must respect and prioritise the welfare of pets throughout the photography process. Being observant of a pet’s disposition, surroundings, and overall comfort.

The best background for pet photography is one that doesn’t compete with your pet’s appearance.

Neutral coloured walls, grassy areas, tree-lined paths, and other natural and clean elements make great backdrops that will help your pet stand out.

If you’re shooting indoors, a seamless white, grey or single coloured paper backdrop can create a clean, modern look. 

Consider your pet’s colouring when choosing your backdrop – if your pet has a dark coat, you’ll probably want to avoid dark backgrounds; if they have a light coat, avoid light-coloured backgrounds.

And don’t be afraid to get creative – your pet’s personality can shine through in any setting.

Generally speaking, pets may feel unsure or afraid when they see a camera pointed at them, especially if it’s an unfamiliar object or if they’ve had bad experiences with cameras.

Some pets may also be curious and interested in the camera and show no signs of shyness. It all depends on the individual pet’s personality, past experiences, and level of comfort with the camera.

Many dog photographers consider Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds to be the easiest dogs to photograph due to their friendly nature and ability to stay still.

Other factors that can make a dog easier to photograph include their coat colour and texture, size, and level of training. 

Cats and dogs with dark fur can be trickier to photograph as camera auto focus sometimes has trouble picking out features such as the eyes against black fur, but experienced photographers will know how to deal with this situation. 

Ultimately, every dog is unique and have their own personality and disposition.

According to recent price surveys and reviews from various websites, the cost of hiring a pet photographer in Melbourne can range anywhere from $150 to $500 per session. 

We have found that the cost of a pet photographer in Sydney can vary considerably, but prices range from $250 to $1000 per session, with some including some form of final product. We have recently published an article on the best pet photographers in Sydney to help you find the best photographer that will suit you and your pet.

The price may depend on factors such as the photographer’s experience, their location, the length of the session, the number of pets, and the type of photography you want. 

It is advisable to check the photographers’ galleries, compare their rates or request quotes, and always read independent reviews before booking a session.