Best Pet Photographers in Washington DC

With their unconditional love and loyalty, pets are treasured members of any family. A pet photography session is a fun way of preserving their personalities and unique traits and celebrating them through wall art or a dedicated dog album.

In the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., you’ll find some of the country’s most talented pet photographers, each of which has forged a unique style. From highly stylized studio shoots to playful park romps, they’ve found individual ways of capturing the characteristics of their clients’ fur babies.

Julie McGuire

Having owned everything from budgies and hamsters to dogs and horses, Julie McGuire is an undeniable pet lover. After leaving her PR career in New York City, she moved to India where she started her dream career as a pet photographer and has since studied with some of the world’s best. Julie’s work has been featured in publications such as the “Washington Post, the “New York Times” and the “Times of London” and she won a World Press Photo Award for her “Hounds of Hope” series.

Sara Riddle Photography

While Sara Riddle is based in northern Virginia, she regularly works with pet owners throughout the Washington, D.C. area. She specializes in lifestyle photography with pets and their people, although she does photograph just pets too. Drawing on 10 years of professional experience, she says it’s all about capturing the unconditional love and real moments through sessions that are relaxed and fun for everyone. Not only is Sara incredibly patient with pets but she’s had success capturing compelling images of even the shyest creatures.

Ironi Schleder

Renowned for her Pet Bath Time series, Ironi Schleder is a Washington, D.C.-based pet photographer who originally hails from Brazil. She’s worked as a pet sitter, dog trainer, and dog walker with various animal rescue organizations and holds certifications from the New Skills Academy in the United States and the POA Dogs Training in Brazil. She’s skilled at getting animals to relax around her, which enables her to capture the best shots possible.

Pooch Portrait Studio

Pooch Portrait Studio is run by Sarah Meashaw who describes herself as a “dog whisperer” who “happens to be holding a nice camera”. She’s a master at the use of studio lighting to create a contemporary look, as well as capturing playful outdoor images that reflect your dog’s unique personality. No matter where you decide to hold the shoot, the comfort of your pet is her priority and she never pushes dogs into stressful situations just to achieve a great shot. Her gorgeous images can be transformed into wall art, albums, and surprise gifts for your loved ones.

Red Leash Photography

Lori Gross is the woman behind Red Leash Photography, which was established in 2010, although she has around two decades of experience in the industry. Her emotionally charged photographs have won multiple awards and have been transformed into wall art and coffee table books for clients. Lori always photographs pets at their most comfortable, primarily using natural light. She has a knack for capturing the unique moods and expressions of the pets she works with through photos that are modern yet timeless.

Hannele Lahti

While Hannele Lahti spends much of her time photographing dogs as part of brand campaigns, she also welcomes private commissions from pet owners. She strives to capture life on a dog’s level - the joy of playing with a ball, the comfort of a bowl of food, or the expectation of a knock at the door. Her photography is a reminder to enjoy the small things about your pets through images that are striking, to say the least. When she’s not documenting animals, Hannele works as a contract photographer for the Smithsonian Institution.

Artful Paws Photography

Serving Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C. area, Artful Paws is an award-winning pet photography company run by Annie Ballantine. She offers in-studio and on-location sessions, as well as capturing affectionate portraits of pets with their people. Annie discovered photography in high school and has worked as both a wedding photographer and in photojournalism before making the shift to pet photography. She believes strongly in giving back and volunteers as a dog photographer and walker for the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

Puptrait Studio

Named "Baltimore's Best Photographer" by the Baltimore Sun Readers' Choice Awards, J.B. Shepard is the man behind Puptrait Studio. He’s renowned for his signature headshots of dogs wearing paper hats, which have earned him acclaim throughout the United States and beyond. Elizabethan-style collars and stetsons regularly feature in his studio shots, offering something refreshingly unique. J.B. is a master at the use of studio lighting to create fine art pet portraits that you’ll love hanging on your wall.

Bright Eyes Photography

Bright Eyes Photography is owned and operated by Julie Gould who traveled around the world documenting her adventures before settling down as a pet photographer. She’s drawn to a documentary style of photography and loves capturing scenes from pets’ everyday lives. Julie believes that pet photography is a means of preserving the spirit of your animal companions and memories from their all-too-short lives. All of her sessions are on-location (she’ll come to you) for what she describes as “Authentic. Tails Up. Outdoors. Fun.”

Find a location in Washington, D.C. for your next film or photo shoot, meeting, or event.