How Working in Veterinary Medicine Has Influenced My Pet Photography
My entire life I always knew I wanted to work with animals. I had many ideas of what that might look like.
🐾 Zoologist
🐾 Veterinarian
🐾 Animal Rights Lawyer
🐾 Run an Animal Sanctuary
Notice how “pet photographer” wasn’t on the list.
As I got older and finally started looking for a job, I had my heart set on working in veterinary medicine (okay, I was still hoping to work at the zoo, too).
Working in specialty and emergency surgery, sometimes we got to work on some unexpected furry friends like this wolf!
But boy, was it tough to find a place to hire me! It was a classic case of every clinic wanting you to have experience working in vet med, but no one willing to hire you to give you that experience.
Until one day, it finally happened! It was fate for sure, because I was actually the second choice for the position at this clinic but the gal who was originally hired never showed up.
I would definitely show up.
Granted, at the time I was living in Tacoma and the clinic located in Snoqualmie. But I didn’t care. They were willing to train me in the field I was determined to work in, so I would commute.
Influence #1 - I have no problem with long commutes.
Portrait sessions often take place in some pretty awesome locations, but they require a bit of driving. It’s not uncommon for me to drive 1-3 hours to reach a beautiful location to photograph dogs (or cats).
Not to mention, our clients live all over Washington, so purchase appointments and deliveries can sometimes be a 1-2 hour drive each way.
I never mind and it truly doesn’t bother me. Possibly because for 4-5 years I enjoyed a beautiful 1-1.5 hr commute to work every day.
Over the years, I got to meet so many incredible pet parents and hear the stories of companionship, love and devotion. People from all walks of life with one big thing in common: a love of dogs and cats.
Influence #2 - A community of dog lovers
Growing up, we only had cats until my mid-teens when my parents purchased our first dog, Kyra. I never knew there was this huge community of dog lovers out there! But getting to experience it, to talk and get to know so many different people and how deeply they loved their dogs, it was an eye opening experience.
Nowadays, it comes as no surprise. Hell, Seattle has been named the best city in the country for dogs thanks to things like having so many dog parks, dog-friendly places and an abundance of veterinary options!
But more than that, y’all are obsessed with your dogs! And I’m here for it!
Despite how much I loved meeting every single dog, cat or other pet that walked through those doors, many of them didn’t initially feel the same about me.
Influence #3 - Getting the job done while respecting their boundaries
Sometimes, they’re just shy or nervous about being in a new place with new people. For some, they were aggressive even on a good day, and others who were aggressive because they were sick or in pain.
Either way, we had a job to do, and we were going to do it with kindness and compassion as much as possible.
I learned so much about canine body language, ways to keep them comfortable, how to respect their boundaries and give them space when needed.
This has been invaluable in working with dogs at their photo session. We take breaks, give them space, lots of playing and sniffing breaks, slow warm ups. Whatever your dog needs, they’ll get. Even if it means I never get to pet them. During your session we always try to keep a close eye on your dogs to make sure we’re respecting any signals they may be sending our way.
Working in veterinary medicine isn’t just playing with puppies and kittens all the time. It’s a tough job for a multitude of reasons. But I think we can all agree on the hardest.
Influence #4 - Being a support during the hardest day ever
Over nearly a decade, I've assisted countless families in bidding farewell to their beloved companions. The family dogs, the childhood companions, the soul-dogs and heart-dogs.
Many of them, I cried for.
The ones who were alone.
The ones who couldn’t wait till their parents got there to say goodbye first.
The ones I’d seen for annual visits for years before it was time to let them go.
I watched so many lives get changed in an instant, and the sorrow that immediately followed.
As a pet photographer, end of life sessions are a regular part of my job. Having had those experiences in my life has aided me in being there for my clients. Understanding what they’re about to go through. Knowing how to take care of them and make sure their dogs are comfortable during their session.
And knowing just how important these photos truly are.
Influence #5 - The reason I do what I do
When I was getting started in pet photography, my first practice client was a co-worker. He was so happy to get photos done with his dog who was unfortunately close to saying goodbye.
A few days later, he was showing the photos to another of our coworkers who almost immediately started crying. She told me how these are such a gift and how she wished so badly that she had photos like those of her dog who had passed the previous year.
I knew then, in no uncertain terms, that I had found my calling.
THIS is what I was meant to do.
Continue helping pets and their families, but in a more long term, forever kind of way.
Ready to create lasting memories of the dog who captured your heart?
Contact us today to learn more and craft the perfect session for your furry friend!