Absolutely! Some clients prefer that we just focus on their pet, others want images of them together. I always recommend we take at least a couple photos of you and your pet together, just so you have them.

The short answer is no, not usually. As much as I love dogs, I really wanted Oneiroi Photography to be about photographing cats, reptiles, horses, and other pets that aren’t as commonly photographed as dogs. Dog photography is a whole genre on its own with specialized skills that are necessary to create wonderful photos. There are a lot of great pet photographers in the city who specialize in dog photography. I do make exceptions on a case by case basis, so feel free to reach out.

I photograph most pets in their own homes—especially my cat clients. Cats can be really particular about the spaces they feel comfortable in. Having their photo taken can be a little scary as it is, especially if they haven’t experienced a photo session before, so I try to ensure they are in an environment they feel safe in so that we can get the best photos possible of your pets. For horses and other animals that don’t rely on the safety of home as much as cats do, we can discuss your preferred location.

I have different tips for different pets that I will go over with you before your session. My biggest thing for all pets, but especially cats, is to not do anything that will alarm them the day of the session. This means no vacuuming, no changing their routines, no overly loud sounds, no dressing them up if they aren’t already used to it. We want your pet to be as stress free as possible. If they are feeling stressed they are way less likely to want to sit and pose for photos. It is likely they will already be a little nervous when I show up, so keeping them as calm as possible is essential.

I also recommend giving your pets a bath (not usually recommended for my cat clients) or brushing them the day before so they are all clean, fluffed up, and ready for their big day. If they enjoy being brushed, then you should do so the day of the session as well.

Usually, yes! Most cats are nervous when I first show up with all of my gear and backdrops. This is totally normal. I like to spend the first part of the session just letting them get used to me, before I even set anything up. I will bring treats and other things to try to make them feel comfortable with my presence. Having you there and involved during the photo session is a really important part of photographing not only easily scared cats, but all cats. They feel safe and comfortable with you, so we will use this to our advantage.

With cats that are easily scared we may be limited to the types and number of images we can get. I find that these cats usually don’t like being put on the backdrop and prefer a chair or spot in the house they feel safe in. You can see some examples here and here of a nervous cat I recently photographed who was tolerant enough to sit in her favorite chair for a few moments so we could get some beautiful images of her.

All of my pricing is based off of two or less pets. I do have to charge a fee for more than two pets since this significantly adds onto my time prepping, taking photos, and editing, as well as the extra effort it takes to manage more than two pets. If you have three or more pets you would like photographed, let me know and I can give you an updated estimate depending on the type of pet.