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Celebrating the “Perfectly Imperfect”: A Dog Photographer’s Perspective

by Donna Kelliher Photography 6 Comment

Let’s face it, perfection is overrated. And impossible to achieve. Our dogs are so lucky, they don’t lay awake at night brooding over the extra pound they’re carrying or that mom isn’t too happy that they rolled in that slightly smelly thing in the yard. They’ve embraced their perfectly imperfect status 💖

I’ve had the privilege of capturing all kinds of tail-wagging mayhem in my 15+ years as a professional pet photographer. From dogs who will try to convince you that they’ve NEVER heard the word “sit” before to those who’ve mastered the art of zoomies. And guess what? It’s precisely these quirks that make our four-legged friends such rockstars! And why I have the best job in the world!

Real-life Moments, Real-life Love

In my sessions, perfection takes a back seat to authenticity. I’ve had the pleasure of capturing countless moments that encapsulate the quirky, wild, and wonderfully imperfect nature of our canine companions. It’s these unique qualities that make each dog a star in their own right.

From the dogs who treat “stay” like a distant relative and others who believe “fetch” is just a fancy game of keep-away. Forget the script – it’s the unscripted chaos that steals the show.

Championing the Unpredictable

A session without unpredictability is like a hotdog without mustard – bland and missing the kick. The goofy expressions, the sudden sprints, and the little bit of naughtiness make for images that aren’t just pictures; they’re a storybook of a canine’s character.

Let’s bark down those stereotypes that say a “perfect” dog fits a certain mold. In my world, every dog is a superstar, whether they’re a drama queen, a goofball, or the class clown.

So many potential clients feel they have to wait until their dog is “better behaved”, or can be off-leash or “calms down”. And none of those are true. Almost none of the dogs I have photographed in my career are obedience stars or even had much training at all. Most of them are “perfectly imperfect” – great dogs who occasionally raid the trash or chew a shoe or run off in the middle of a session after a rabbit 🐰.

photograph of two perfectly imperfect golden retrievers at a park in Rhode Island during a portrait session with dog photographer Donna Kelliher Photography

They’re dogs! They’re expected to act like dogs – be a little (or a LOT) crazy, pull on leash, bark their fool heads off just “because”. I didn’t get into this career to photograph robots (I don’t trust robots, even robot dogs, tell me that “dog” will cuddle with you on the couch… ). Your session will be one of laughter, action and slobbery kisses. So don’t wait to schedule a session for your pet – let’s capture all the chaos that makes you love them so much.

Your Dog is Perfect for the Camera – Just as They Are

To all the awesome pet parents out there, your dog is a star in the making – no auditions required. No need to wait for the stars to align or for your furry friend to become a canine Einstein. So, here’s to celebrating the perfectly imperfect, embracing the mayhem, and capturing the essence of your furry partner in crime. Ready? Let’s turn your furry rockstar into a frame-worthy legend.

dog photography artwork by Massachusetts dog photographer, Donna Kelliher Photography.

Here’s to the tail-wagging, tongue-lolling, laughter-inducing journey of photographing your unapologetically awesome canine buddies. 📸🐶

Donna

Have a reactive or really shy dog? Click here to read a blog on how I design special sessions just for them. Focusing on their comfort and safety at all times.

Donna Kelliher Photography

Website: https://www.DonnaKelliher.com

Donna Kelliher is a fine art pet photographer and Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA, certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers) based just outside Boston, serving Greater Boston, the North Shore, and beyond. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and has spent more than twenty years behind the camera, her career beginning in dog sports photography before she shifted her focus to fine art portrait work. Her photography has appeared on the covers of Clean Run, Dog World, and Dog Sport magazines many times over, along with interior features in each, and her images appear in three books: The Everything Dog Training and Tricks Book, 2nd Edition, The Science Behind a Happy Dog, and Do More With Your Dog. Her work is also currently on display in a gallery exhibition celebrating dogs in art. What sets Donna apart is a rare combination: a trained fine art photographer who is also a hands on dog trainer with real experience working with every temperament, from timid and fearful dogs to high energy and reactive ones. That expertise was hard won. Donna spent years afraid of dogs herself after being bitten as a child, and worked through that fear so completely that she now trains and rehabilitates dogs with serious behavioral challenges, and competes in agility with her own dogs, Believe and Asher.

6 comments

Karen

I love this because I think people think you can’t possibly capture pictures of their dogs being exactly that – dogs! A perfectly imperfect dog is a fantastic way to see it! Thanks for sharing.

    Donna Kelliher Photography

    thanks Karen! People are so worried about how their dogs are going to behave. I think they’re afraid we’re going to judge them, but honestly (when it’s someone else’s dog) the naughtier the better 🙂

Joanne Merner

How true this is! I think some of the best photos is where the dog is being themselves and you catch those moments! I know with my dog it is the silly moments I always miss, like when his lips would be stuck up in his gums and he’d have a silly toothy smile on his face. Or chasing his ball – his favorite thing to do. He had a little bottom lip that would stick out a little bit and any photo that captured that little lip sticking out would melt my heart!

Jessica Wasik

Perfectly imperfect dogs are a dream for dog photographers! You never know what they’re going to serve up at their session.

    Donna Kelliher Photography

    exactly, so many of my favorite images were not planned (well, not by me, the dogs obviously had plans 🙂