What does it take to get a portrait like the one below? Unless you’re exceptionally lucky and have a group of very calm or very tired puppies, it’s almost all planning and patience.

Six puppies all seated or laying down on a multi-tiered platform covered with green, and set against a deep green background. On the right are two tan and one blond puppy, all with black markings. On the left are three black puppies with tan markings.

In this case, I was photographing on behalf of Safe Haven Animal Rescue. When they reached out about a litter session, of course, I said yes! My wonderful husband is not fond of puppies. I mean let’s be real. They’re a lot of work, and often a lot of mess. Photographing them allows me occasional exposure to puppy breath and puppy antics for a couple hours, without alienating my husband. I won’t say it’s not a lot of work to photograph a litter, but it’s totally different from raising them. And almost as rewarding!

I tested a multi-tiered set for the puppies to be on.

With the camera on a tripod, I used settings to ensure all subjects would be in focus and reasonably well exposed. Once set, I did not change those settings. This was a two-light setup, one on either side, at about a 45 degree angle to the set.

The basics of a mult-tiered photography set, made up of a suitcase, a footstool, a cardboard topped platform, and a red chair. Behind it all is a green backdrop, and beneath is a parquet wood floor.

I planned where each puppy should go, and we photographed them one by one. The five adults in the room hooted, hollered, clapped, barked, meowed, whistled, and waved our arms. We made every attempt to get each puppy to look at the camera. 😂😂😂 In some cases (front & center puppy) facing generally forward was the best we got!

A composite photograph of a multi-level set blanketed in green with a green background. On each level there is one or two stuffed Wild African Dogs, subbing in for the puppies that will later take their place.
A small blond and black puppy lays on a green platform. A woman in a black tee shirt sits on the floor in front of the puppy holding a camera to her eye. She is also holding a long green stick. There is a silver reflector in the background.

Then came the editing. Since all images had the same settings, I did the compositing first. Next up was overall color and exposure changes. Basically, six photos stack on top of each other. In each image the background is masked off so only the puppy in that image is visible. This allows all the puppies below to show up in their unique positions. A bit of clean up around the edges of each puppy, and a few added shadows help the image not look Photoshopped. Of course, we know it’s definitely all Photoshopped! Last, I pulled the final version into Lightroom for some minor exposure tweaks and some vignetting.

I probably spent six to eight hours total on this project:

  • Two to three hours preparing for this session
  • Two hours on the session itself (including all the solo images)
  • Two to three hours selecting and editing all the final images, including the composite.

While this is pretty good, it could be better. If I were doing this again, I would make a bigger effort to even out the light on each puppy. Specifically, I would place all the black puppies on the outside edges and the blond puppies in the middle. Because of my light placement, the black puppies in the middle kind of disappear on this dark green background. Putting them on the outside edges would allow them to shine, literally and figuratively, while the lighter puppies would still be clearly visible in the middle. Another option would be to use a lighter background the puppies would all stand out on, regardless of color.

And THAT’s what goes into a session like this.

There are very few significantly recognized milestones in a pets life that call for portraits. At least not typically, unless your pet regularly attends a daycare situation in which a photographer comes to visit and provides “school pictures”. But, in my mind, there are four to five perfect times to get your pets portraits made.

After they’re first born. They’ll be cutest if we wait until their eyes are open, but this is a brand new critter, dang-it! What are you waiting for? Kittens and puppies, oh my!!

Small white and grey tabby kitten sitting next to a terra cotta pot bigger than she is. Light blue background.
Foster kitten at six weeks.

Most folks get their pet well after that newborn stage though, so the next best time is shortly after you’ve brought them home. I don’t mean hours, or even days, but maybe a few weeks. Give them time to settle into their new family routine. Allow them to get to know your groomer, if you have one. Let them have the opportunity to learn that your home is now also their home, and gain some confidence.

Three small chihuahua mix puppies standing in an antique brown suitcase with a red handle and red interior. Tan and white mama chihuahua standing left of the suitcase with one paw slightly raised. All on a blue background.
Louise, Gene, and Linda at three months old.

Next up is right after they’ve finished obedience training! Quick before everyone gets sloppy and forgets their training! (That goes for pets and their humans!) Obviously, this applies mostly to dogs, but any other pet you’ve trained to do a specific behavior certainly counts. At the very least, this could be a well-earned reward for all YOUR hard work and patience getting them where they are now.  You didn’t stuff your pockets with smelly treats for nothin’, dangit!

Brown fluffy poodle puppy sits with head cocked to the left, on a light brown textured "floor" against a darker brown background.
Mundle at ten weeks.

The fourth opportunity is in the prime of their life. They’re not kittens, puppies, or even gangly adolescents anymore. They’re mature, healthy adults with good energy and lots of confidence.  This is possibly the single best time for a portrait, because this is how you want to remember them years in the future.

White west highland terrier dog sits facing left with a slight head tilt, on a grey fluffy "floor" against a dark grey background.
Bess at one year.

The final time is as soon as possible after there has been a significant diagnosis that may shorten their lives. This is the tough one. The one we really can’t put off. We know their little lives are short, but knowing the end is coming soon? If don’t already have a beautiful portrait of your pet, this is literally your last chance. 

White faced brindle boxer breed dog laying down facing the viewer with pink tongue hanging out slightly to the left, against a dark blue background.
Bentley at age 12.

Which stage is your pet in now? If you don’t already have amazing portraits of your pets, maybe now is the time. Schedule your Meet & Greet appointment RIGHT NOW, with no obligation!

This process is VERY hands on. This will not be photo shoot, online gallery, choose, download, done.

We’re going to work together every step of the way to ensure you get fantabulous portraits of your pet that you LOVE!

But let’s be real, who actually needs a pet photographer?

  • You have a black-furred pet and have trouble seeing details of them in pictures.
  • You want adorable portraits of your pets, but don’t have the technical camera skills.
  • There are A MILLION pictures of your pet on your phone, and none on your walls.
  • You are concerned about taking your pet off leash in public for pictures.
  • Your high energy pet doesn’t sit still for pictures.

If you agreed with any of these statements, OKKat Photography is the pet photographer for you! OKKat Photography works with you to design a custom portrait session for your pet(s) with your input, unique style, and home decor in mind. 

Your pets are the beating heart of my business. Because I’m a pet photographer first and foremost, I not only know the tricks and tips to create incredible images with four-legged subjects, but I’ll also love and adore your precious animals–it’s just who I am.

I create art. Sure, digital files are available and many clients choose to add them on to their order. But at OKKat Photography, the primary focus is creating tangible beautiful artwork that will bring you joy for years to come.

Count on quality. Whether your artwork is handcrafted in Germany or framed using authentically weathered Vermont barnwood, rest assured that it comes from the best artisans in the business. If you’re used to photo prints from Walmart and CVS, you’re in for a revelation!

The Process

Step 1
Schedule your no obligation Meet & Greet appointment here! Bring your pet! They check out the studio while we visit about your pet photography needs and if OKKat Photography is the right pet photographer for you. We discuss things like the colors in your home, where you might hang your portraits, and what unique features of your pet you most want to see in portraits. We’ll even test them with the flash and shutter so if reactivity is an issue, we can schedule an outdoor location session.

Step 3
The Session. This is where the magic happens! Leave all worries and expectations at the door and just enjoy the experience. Your pets only job is to be themselves! You may think they’re too hyper and excitable, but this is perfectly normal! Chaos, fun, and treats at every click! It’s very likely your pet will pass out in the car on the way home, LOL!

Step 4
The Ordering Appointment is when you see your much-anticipated images! Choose your favorites, and we’ll go through your options together to decide how you’ll most enjoy your images, often through a combination of wall art, albums and digital files.

Step 5
Elation! Choose pickup from the studio or delivery to your home. Ask about installation. You can’t stop smiling as you enjoy your gorgeous new artwork!

Small wooden desk with a single white chair rest on a primarily red rug. There's a wastebasket to the right and a cactus plant to the right. On the wall above the desk are three black-framed, white-matted images of a white dog on a blue, or blue and red background.



Hey friends! Are you comfy telling people you’re really good at something? I’m not. Mama raised me not to brag… much. But today, I’m gonna toot my own horn.

Did you know I’m an expert in photography? Had you asked me a couple weeks ago, I might not have said so. I’m just a gal who loves animals, using my camera as an excuse to hang out with them. Then somebody asked for my input about photography. And it hit me, maybe I am an expert.

So I crunched some numbers. The data never lies.

Bad reviews = 1

Magazine covers = 1

Times bitten = 3

Years in business = 6

Positive reviews = 24

Volunteer sessions = 53

Paid sessions = 65

Animals photographed = 124

Images taken = 23,990

With all that under my belt, maybe it’s true! If you believe that doing something ten thousand times, as Malcolm Gladwell wrote about in Outliers, makes one an expert–looks like I got that part covered.

But who asked for my input? Honestly, it came out of the blue. Redfin is an online real estate company.  They reached out and asked me to contribute to their blog. They wanted a 2-3 sentence tip that homeowners may want to try if they are wanting to create a photography studio in their home. I’ve created TWO in home studios, so perhaps I do know a little about this.

In exchange, they said they’d link to my website, and asked that I link to their blog post on MY blog. I know what this is. It’s reciprocal linking, also called ‘link backs’.  A website looks better SEO-wise (Search Engine Optimization) if external sites are linking to it. It’s a win for them. They get content, AND a link from my blog post. It’s a win for me. They refer to me as a photography ‘expert’ AND link to my webstie from their blog post. Everybody’s SEO improves and we all move up higher in the ranks of internet searches, and ideally, more people find us and use our services. Woohoo! Everybody winning is a pretty good thing. 

Light brown yorkshire terrier wearing a blue sweater, all against a blue background. The Curbside Chronicle logo is in the bottom left corner in white.

Here’s their post! If you’re interested in building out your own in-home photography studio, definitely read through all the tips they’ve collected, there are lots of good nuggets there. If you’re feeling really generous with your time, click on some of the other contributing photographers links (seriously, every click helps). Or if you just want to see what input I shared, scroll on down to tip #6.

While I’m not great at tooting my own horn, I’m getting more comfortable with the idea that I’m an expert in the pet photography field. There’s a lot left to learn, and there’s a lot of practicing still to do. I hope I’ll always be learning and practicing, because I really do love this job, and only want to get better.

What about YOU? What’s your area of expertise? How can I help others see your expertise?  Do you have a blog or website that needs an SEO boost and can we play the link-back game together?  Are you affiliated with a local business that wants to connect with a pet photographer? Reach out and let me know, I’d love to connect with you!


What connects gratitude and a pet portrait photographer?


I’m not afraid to live where I live. It’s not the best neighborhood in town. Some of the street lights are out in the median. There are a few sketchy-looking houses. The sidewalks, where they exist, are frequently cracked, broken, or uneven, with weeds growing in the cracks.  My porch lights stay on at night. I park my car in the garage and habitually lock the doors to my home (so habitually that I locked myself out more than once).


But I’ve never been afraid to live where I live. Even when I lived in less desirable neighborhoods, I walked outside, to see and to be seen. I like to keep the windows open when the weather is nice. I’ve never had a security system beyond a locked door, a dog, a few “attack cats”, a baseball bat and a can of wasp spray (which turns out NOT to be a great form of self-defense).


They didn’t succeed and my belongings remained untouched.

Then one day, when I was leaving to walk Bonnie, my Shar-pei-mix shelter mutt, I noticed light coming in through the wooden front door. Where light shouldn’t be.  On closer inspection, there was a crack in the wood, and a large dusty footprint, barely visible in the strong afternoon sunlight. Someone tried to break into my home. They didn’t succeed and my belongings remained untouched.


Bonnie and I left for our walk. There wasn’t anything I could do about the attempted break-in at that moment besides create stress for myself. The walk allowed me the time to think about what I could do. On returning home, I made a call to one of my pet portrait clients. I sent him an invoice for a session just a day or two before, and he hadn’t paid yet, so I asked him not to pay the invoice in exchange for replacing my door and installing some security features (I didn’t pick just any client, this one is fairly skilled in the handy-man department and has done other projects for me). I went home and locked the storm door, so if the perpetrator returned, they’d have a harder time getting in the door.


The following weekend, he spent hours dismantling my front entrance and putting it back together again. My front entrance is now secure with a shiny new steel door, and additional security measures have been added.


As a result of all this, I got mad. I cried. However, I didn’t feel helpless about living as a single woman in a big city, and I didn’t begin to live my life in fear. Instead, I choose to feel gratitude. For my client who, despite having a busy life of his own, squeezed me into his schedule on short notice. For the fact that the would-be burglar did not make it into my home to take my few valuables. Even for the jerk who wanted to have free pick of my belongings, as they gave me a reason to improve my home. And for a whole lot of things and people totally unrelated to this incident. But mostly for Bonnie.


You see, I believe she was the reason my home wasn’t entered and my things weren’t rifled, destroyed, or taken. I believe my dog saved my home, and my sense of safety there. Why did they only crack the door and leave? Another kick would surely have broken the door enough they could reach in and flip the locks. But that didn’t happen.

She was enough of a deterrent to protect my home that day.

Something else happened and they left. Yes, it could have been a wide variety of things. A cop or pedestrian could have passed by. Maybe they just got the heebie jeebies. Maybe there was more than one person, and one of them talked the other out of it. I don’t know the reason. But I know Bonnie has a big-dog bark. And I believe she barked when she heard the noise generated when they kicked the door. I think she was enough of a deterrent to protect my home that day.


As a result, Bonnie is the most valuable thing in my home. She very literally earned her keep and I hope never to complain about the cost of her food, toys, boarding, or vet bills again. In addition to all she already taught me about patience and unconditional love, she saved me from untold expenses to repair or replace whatever might have been broken or stolen.


As a photographer, and specifically a pet portrait photographer, I’m lucky. I can walk into my studio with Bonnie any time and get great pictures of her. I have access to professional labs that make beautifully framed heirloom portraits. She won’t be with me forever, but I’ll always have amazing portraits of her that help me remember her contributions to my life, and now my safety too. 


Pet portrait photographer's dog, black dog with brown/white paws wearing purple collar against black background.
Bonnie

What about you? Have your pets saved you in some way? What are you willing to invest to preserve your beautiful memories of your best friend? Is hiring a pet portrait photographer an appropriate gift for you and your family? Contact me to schedule your design consultation today.


The Paseo Arts District hosts the First Friday Art Walk on, you guessed it, the first friday of every month.  All the galleries are open for the evening with a wide variety of art styles and media. If you live in OKC, appreciate and enjoy art, and you’ve never been, now’s a great time to change that! And this is your official invitation to Paseo PhotoFest Opening Reception at 6pm Friday, September 6, 2019, at the Paseo Art Space Gallery, during September’s First Friday Art Walk. Go put it in your calendar real quick.  I’ll wait.

So what the heck is the Paseo PhotoFest and why would you want to go? It’s an annual photography contest and show put on by the Paseo Arts Association.  This year, I submitted a piece, and that image was accepted into the show!  According to the contest coordinator, they received nearly 250 images. She said most years, they can eliminate a lot of images right away as not up to the quality they want for the show. This year however, it was TOUGH to choose the limited number of images to include in the contest.  So this show will likely have a high level quality. And I am SUPER honored my work is included!

Here’s my almost magical story about how I came to be submitting work to this contest.  Last month in August, I met up with another photographer friend, Kurt McDaniel, at a photography exhibit on First Friday.  I am embarrassed to admit I never went to the First Friday walk before!  Don’t tell anyone! Kurt and I walked through most of the galleries and found work we admired. We had great conversations with other artists, and made new friends (shout out to OkieBoho who as it happens, lives just down the street from me!).  And we talked and dreamed about wanting to get our own work hanging in a gallery ‘someday’.

By total coincidence (or was it the universe responding to my wishes?), a day or two later, another friend posted to my FB wall a link requesting submissions for this contest. By the time I looked into it seriously, the deadline was a mere ONE DAY away! But I had done a Flash Foster session with Della from OKC Animal Welfare recently, and had fresh work nobody had seen yet.  I prepared one of her images for submission and printing, making some quick decisions about size and media, and got her submitted with a good four hours to spare!

Next I waited five days to hear whether or not my image made it into the contest.  You know, I lowered my expectations to avoid disappointment if I didn’t get in. But, even entering, and going through the decision making process about what to enter, what size, what media to print on, has been a good experience.  This is my first time entering a show at this level, and I learned a lot about the requirements. And I’ll learn more during the course of delivery, the opening reception, and of course, the show. Of course, the experience is great already since they officially accepted the work I submitted!  Now, to work on keeping my expectations low in case I don’t win anything!

Also, if you can’t take me up on this invitation to the Paseo PhotoFest reception, or First Friday, I have good news!  The exhibit will be on display at the Art Space Gallery on Paseo through September 28! You can still go see all the great photography on display without all the crowds of First Friday.  But I hope to see you there September 6! Come on out and say hi!

I posted a little collage image I did of Snoopy a few days after he visited my studio, but I really should have told you a bit more about him.

After years of procrastinating, I finally jumped through all the hoops to volunteer at OKC Animal Welfare. One of the many things volunteers can do is “flash foster”. There’s a list of dogs that need a bit more attention for one reason or another, so we can “check out” that dog for a few hours or the whole day. Just like the library, but with dogs! If there are none on the list, any of the adoptable dogs can be flash fostered.

Snoopy was my first flash foster.

He was so excited to be out of his kennel, and he pulled so hard on the leash! He’s a 65 lb pit bull terrier mix, and I worried about keeping him under control, but we made it to my car. Once there, he hopped in happily with zero hesitation about the car, or the fact that it already smelled a lot like my own shelter dog, Bonnie (to his nose anyway, I don’t THINK my car smells that strongly of dog, LOL).

We got to my house, and the first order of business was a walk. I wanted him to have an opportunity to shake out his legs and move a little before we got into the studio for ‘work’. Here, in my neighborhood, away from the shelter, Snoopy was AMAZING on leash! A total pleasure to walk with, stayed right by my side, didn’t get excited about other dogs, or lunge at birds–he was pure perfection on a leash. I was so proud of him, and thought maybe he could teach Bonnie a thing or two about leash manners, LOL!

Here, Snoopy is just beginning to understand the treat catch game.

It’s just a mile walk that I usually take with Bonnie, so that’s what Snoopy and I did too, and we went into the studio afterwards, after a brief stop to terrorize the cats. It turns out my play yard ‘gate’ that keeps Bonnie out of the living room was no match for Snoopy when he decided to chase Goldie. Woops! Okay, lesson for next time, cats need go in my bedroom BEFORE the flash fosters come in. Seriously, I didn’t see Goldie for two days after this. Nobody was bitten, scratched, or clawed, and she has since forgiven me.

Let’s get to work.

I grabbed a few treats from the kitchen and took Snoopy to the studio, closed the door and removed his leash. Freedom! Or 200 square feet of it anyway. He wandered and sniffed, to get the lay of the land while I turned on flashes, triggers, and camera. Testing each flash allows me the opportunity to see how a pet will react to the bright lights. They all worked, and he didn’t even care so it was time to get to work!

I guided Snoopy up onto the stage with the lure of a cheese cube, and he complied easily. Then a few attempts at convincing him to stay on the stage while I moved away to pick up my camera. “I mean, c’mon lady, you’ve got cheese in your hand, I can see it! Do you honestly expect me to stay up here?” Lure back onto the stage. Command to sit. Slow compliance. Reward. Move off stage. Repeat ad nauseum. So far, every dog that’s come to my studio has caught on quickly and Snoopy was no exception.

He did a fabulous job!

He gave me some super model poses and looks, plus the great and goofy treat catch shots that I just love. The dog had fun, I had fun, the pictures look great, and he got a few hours out of his kennel. What could be better?!

He totally understands the game now, and is a willing participant!

Twenty minutes, I was completely out of treats, so I took him to the backyard for a bit more freedom. I brought Bonnie out to get them each some socialization time in a closed, observed environment. Bonnie’s smaller than Snoopy, and played you-can’t-catch-me for the first five minutes, sniffing at him, then dashing away. Before long, they were playing chase and tag through the backyard, just having a grand time!

A new adventure.

We only had a little time left before Snoopy had to return to the shelter, and we had plans. We drove up to Paw Park on Grand Blvd for a little dog park time. I’m not really wild about dog parks because things can break bad quickly. But it was practically deserted in the middle of the day! There were maybe three other dogs there when we arrived. Two were a matched set with short brindled fur, taller than Snoopy, and narrower too. Their two humans had a ball and launching stick, and they were getting some nice running in for their dogs. Snoopy showed no interest in ball chasing which would have been a great chance for him to really stretch his legs, but there’s no way to command a dog to instantly like something.

It was a little awkward when the humans began asking about my dog. I was able to cover the basics, age, breed, name, etc. But then they asked how long I’d had him! Honestly, just a couple hours! I worried that they wouldn’t appreciate me bringing a dog I didn’t even know to the dog park. I had concern for him too, not knowing anything of his history, or how he might respond in various situations. But it worked well. I told them about the flash foster program at the shelter, and they were more understanding when things got weird.

And here’s where it got weird.

Snoopy started barking angrily at the male human with the ball chucker. At first, we three humans thought it was a game, but Snoopy didn’t let up.  His hackles raised and that was enough body language to let me know know he was serious. I got a little anxious that he would actually bite the guy, and then a new thought occurred to me. “Put down the stick, see if anything changes,” I asked–well, told the guy. He tossed it aside and sure enough, Snoopy settled down, but also proceeded to ignore the guy completely, despite his attempts to get back into Snoopy’s good graces, holding out his hand as a peace offering. Totally ignored. He was no longer a threat but also unworthy of Snoopy’s attention.

I concluded that at some point in Snoopy’s life, he’d been beaten, probably by a man with a stick.  Previously, I felt sorry for the shelter animals, but I realized he had probably been in worse situations before. His brief stay at the shelter was a short stop before a better life.

Great catch, Snoopy!

With that situation managed, Snoopy started mounting the smaller of the two brindle dogs, who didn’t enjoy this at all and turned around to show teeth and snarl at Snoopy. This continued for a few failed attempts on Snoopy’s part and I began to imagine a full on dog fight. How awful would it be to take him–my first flash foster–back to the shelter with gashes and open wounds? No, it was time to go, so I said our goodbyes to the two humans and we headed back to the car.

In pre-rush hour traffic it was about a 20 minute drive back to the shelter, and Snoopy took the opportunity to settle his fairly large frame in my passengers seat for a break. I loved on his ears most of the way there. Despite his excellent behavior on leash during our walk, when we arrived at the shelter, he went back to pulling hard at the leash toward the building! I was stunned! Surely the shelter would be the last place he’d want to go? I expected to have to drag him through the front doors, but he was even happy to get back into his kennel! I guess home is where it smells familiar, and you know the neighbors?

Time to do it again.

That was my experience with Snoopy and my first real session volunteering for OKC Animal Welfare. It’s been a month since then and I’m sure they’re wondering if I’ve fallen off the face of the earth. The trick is, if I don’t actively put it on the calendar, free time doesn’t passively appear for me. So I scheduled a few days over the next month to go out and work with 2-3 dogs. As it turns out, there’s a holiday coming. Since I have nothing planned, I blocked off another day for some foster time!

Now, I realize this account is fairly long, detailed, and maybe even boring.  I’ll try to keep any future flash foster posts a little shorter, but I thought I could give details on how the process works, for both dogger and for me. If you’ve always wanted to to volunteer at OKC Animal Welfare, they host offer a Volunteer Orientation fairly often. Watch their Facebook page for announcements about orientations.  There’s an initial orientation, a form or two, online training, followed by hands-on training, and then they set you free to do good deeds and love on animals!  What are you waiting for?

Classic grade school picture!

If you are interested in adopting Snoopy, he is at OKC Animal Welfare, under ID #302758. I have not heard yet whether or not he has already been adopted.

Why would a photographer tell you how to get your own great pet photography at home? It may seem counterintuitive for someone selling their services to offer free tips, but I really do want you to have great pictures of your pets! If I can help you do that in any way, then I want to do it. So, let’s skip the small talk and get down to the important stuff!


1. Use the best camera you have. It doesn’t matter if you have a digital SLR or mirrorless camera, a purple point and shoot you bought ten years ago, or your mobile phone. Just use the best one you have. The brand doesn’t matter because they all do the same thing! Which one is the best one? The one you have with you.


2. Know your gear. That best camera you have might not be your best if you don’t know how to use it. If that’s the case, read your manual, ask Google, take classes, or ask a photographer for tips (hm, who could you ask?), but above all else USE your gear lots and lots. The more you practice, the more you’ll know about your equipment. The more you know your tools, the better you’ll be able to use them. The better you can use them, the better pictures you’ll be able to get.


3. Have a plan. You know your pet best. You know how to get their attention and you know all their favorite things. Use this knowledge to create a plan for how to get the pictures you want. Write it down somewhere. Try the notes app on your phone or go low-tech and write it on paper. What locations do you want for your backgrounds? What colors compliment your cat best? Where is your dog most comfortable? What temperature keeps your snake happiest? Think about the details when you’re planning. Be prepared to throw your plan out the window if a better opportunity presents itself.


4. Clean and declutter the area. Pick up in the backyard and mow. Dust Kitty’s favorite napping spot. Wash all the fur off the bed. Vacuum the carpet. Sweep the floor. Wherever you planned on taking your pictures (remember that plan you made?), make it look as nice as possible. The less distractions you have in your pictures, the more the focus will be on the very important subject.


Toby is a beautiful cat, but he almost disappears into all the clutter.

I know what you might be thinking, NONE of these tips are about working with animals! And you’re right! But that’s the thing about good photography. Taking consistently good pictures of anything involves all the steps above. Sometimes you get lucky and catch a great shot without all this preparation, but luck just isn’t promised to us. So set the stage and your chances of getting the shot you want go WAAAY up. Now let’s move on to the animal specific portion of our show.


5. Have an assistant. Most animals are easier if you have an assistant that is comfortable handling your pet. You can have them soothe your pet, get their attention, or just fetch things for you–this frees your hands up to operate your camera. Make sure this is someone with whom you already communicate well, and share your plans with them so you’re on the same page. Ideally, this is also someone your pet already knows and likes.


6. Lots. Of. Treats. I can’t emphasize this enough. Have lots of rewards your pet really loves and have them easily accessible to you.
– You know those geeky pouches animal trainers wear on their hip? The fancy fanny packs that are designed for training treats? Yeah, this is a good time for one of those. They keep your treat supply really close at hand and easy to get to. Drawback? You might be laying down, kneeling, sitting, crouching, standing, running… let’s just say there’s a good chance you’re going to be moving around a lot. If you use the pouch thingy (these are technical terms, folks), make sure it’s easy to open and close! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dumped treats on the ground when changing positions and Bonnie’s gotten a big bonus she didn’t earn!
– What to use for rewards? What your pet loves, of course! High value treats are best. Most dogs love chicken or cheese. Cats usually pay attention when tuna or chicken is involved.
– If your pet isn’t food motivated, try toys, or affection. Use whatever works best for your critter! Remember, you know them best, so start with what you know and then experiment. (That assistant can also come in handy here, handing out treats or pets while you click click!)


7. Get the best light you can. Most of the time “best light” will be bright indirect light. This could be light from a window or door, but outside cloudy days work too. Open shade is another great option and is created when your subject is shaded by a building, tree, or other object, but the sky above them is bright. Every setting is different, so use what you have to your best advantage. Avoid using the flash on your camera as your primary light source, except as a last resort. For more on good and bad light, see my previous blog post on the subject.


Fluffy is illuminated with light from the window. The background disappears into darkness.
Remus is lit with the on camera flash. Notice the weird hard shadowing behind his ears. Plus we can see all that harvest gold shag carpet!

8. Get on their level. This might mean you’re belly down on the floor. Or that kitty is on the back of the couch, and you’re kneeling. Or your iguana is on the dining room table and you’re sitting. Anyone can get shots where the photographer is standing and the animal is on the ground. You’ve seen a million of them, and it’s just not your pets best look. Sometimes it turns out well, but you’ve got a much better chance if you change your point of view to be more like theirs.


Bonnie taken from a standing position.
Still taken above Bonnie, but we’re closer to her level and the image is more engaging.

9. Focus on the eyes. This is where the magic is. If you forget all the previous tips, remember this one. Ideally, get them looking into the camera to really get that feel of connection that we so love about portraits. Some pets don’t like not being able to see your face though, and if you’ve blocked it with your camera they may turn away. Use treats, toys, and all the weird noises you can possibly make to get their attention back to you.


Can’t you almost feel the texture in Squeaks eyes?
He’s not looking at the viewer, but the sharp focus on his eyes is captivating.
Without that, the picture is basically just a black cat. YAWN.

10. Break these rules. The wonderful thing about knowing the rules is that you also learn to break them. So try these tips. Read other tips and try those too. Try all the things you think of that that aren’t mentioned on any of these lists. These are your starter pack for better pet pictures. Use them as a launching pad to propel your pet photography to the next level. You can do this for a lifetime and still learn something new every time you work with an animal.


11. Have fun. Whatever you do, make sure it’s an enjoyable experience for your subject. The better time they have, the more likely they are to grace your camera with their beauty again in the future. Aim for a few minutes at a time, and be prepared to stop and pick up the camera another time if necessary. If you don’t get what you want right off the bat, try again later. If you get frustrated or anxious, your pet will feel it and they’ll get frustrated and anxious too, so keep it light and fun for everybody. If it’s not fun, it’s not worth it.


Now that you have all this advice, go get started and capture your cat being the high fashion model she is! Show friends what an athlete your new puppy can be! Birds, reptiles, fish–all the pets–make them all look spectacular!

If you find these tips valuable, share them with your friends! If you want to say thanks, drop me a line–I’m available by email or phone anytime (well, 9am to 9pm anyway).  When you get your great pictures, post them to social media, and tag @okkatphoto on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. I’d love to see what you create with your pets!



I’m really excited to be able to offer gift certificates now, and just in time for Mother’s Day too!


It started with a request from a friend. She was attending a wedding soon, and wanted to gift the couple a pet portrait session. When she asked,
there was already a design I had in the works for the certificate itself, but I knew exactly what I wanted for packaging immediately! So I went shopping right away for all the little details to make this a beautiful item for current and future clients.


When you order a gift certificate from OKKat Photography, you get a certificate printed on a divinely smooth paper. I absolutely LOVE this paper! It’s thick and heavy, with a silky smooth luxurious finish.


You know when your bank delivers a new credit card and it’s tacked onto the paper with little sticky tabs? My gift certificates have the same little sticky dots! The certificate will not slide out of the packaging until the recipient has the opportunity to remove it from of the envelope it comes in.


Oh, and the envelope! I’m still searching for exactly the right paper for this, but for now, I’ve found a beautiful linen textured cardstock in just the right colors to match the OKKat Photography logo. I score and fold each one by hand myself, and you can choose a teal or a purple envelope with a contrasting or matching ribbon. Or I’m happy to pick the colors for you if you don’t have a preference.


The package design is intended to be attractive enough that you can hand it over as a gift without putting it in a bag, or finding a suitable size box and wrapping that. It’s ready to go to your recipient, and all you have to do is hand it over! Your name is included on the certificate so they know exactly who it’s from. I’ll even deliver it to your home or office (within OKC metro area). What could be easier?!


You can choose a particular dollar amount as your gift, or you can specify a session and a specific product. If you go with a session and product, I can list those on the gift certificate itself, so your gift recipient never sees the “price tag”.




What are you waiting for? Contact me today to get your gift certificate order started! And remember, Mother’s Day is just around the corner! Perfect for the furbaby mama that has everything–except beautiful wall art of her little furry darlings! Or winged, or scaled! At OKKat Photography, all pets are cherished!



I’ve been busy behind the scenes the last few weeks, but it’s finally time to tell you what I’ve been up to.  You read in my last progress update about the stage I had built and the new lighting implemented in the studio.  I’ve also worked with a few practice dogs and let me tell you, I AM IN LOVE WITH THE RESULTS!

I’m very excited to finally show off some samples from the project I’ve been working on, and to give you the opportunity to get great portraits of your dogs…  


just….  

like…

this…

Oklahoma City pet photography is being kicked up a notch because this service is available NOW only at OKKat Photography! Look, here’s another one.  These dogs are GREAT!


So, how can you get awesome portraits of your dog like these?  You can certainly try them yourself, but if you find it a little tricky, you can set up a session with me!


I know what you’re going to tell me: “My dog can’t catch!”  That’s okay! Look at this awesome shot of Rex with no treats at all!  Even if they can’t catch, we will still get great portraits of your best friend.


Think your dog won’t sit still long enough?  I need a whopping 200th of a second – my shutter speed for these images.  If they like sausage, cheese, or chicken, I guarantee I can get their attention long enough to get a few great shots.  If I can’t, and you’re not happy with what I do get, I’ll refund your session fee in total. No questions asked.


It’s so much fun watching a shy dog come out of their shell as they realize, “Hey, I get yummy stuff thrown right into my mouth if I just stay right here!”  Even anxious puppers begin to relax and get comfortable, and that all starts to happen within about five minutes of us getting started.


Look at this, even the failed catches are adorable!


To kick off this project, the first TEN people to schedule a Treat Catch session can take advantage of a SERIOUSLY reduced session fee.  $50 (per pet) will get you a twenty minute session in my home studio, a reveal and ordering appointment to view the finished images and pick your very favorites.  You’ll order your print products at that time, and once they’ve been received at my home studio and reviewed for quality, you’ll be able to pick them up. Schedule by April 30 for a session to occur by May 31 to take advantage of this crazy low session fee.


Click the paw to get started!


If you’d like more studio time than offered here, a different location, delivery to your home, or any additional specialization, please consider scheduling a more traditional custom portrait session at regular prices in which we can also include some treat catch time.


Here’s one last preview in case you haven’t already seen enough adorable dogs catching treats!


Now, go sign up to get started on getting your dogs in these pictures or sign up below to be notified of future fun projects and offers like this one!