When you search for pet photography in Dublin, you’ll find lots of options. Studio portraits. Outdoor sessions. Different styles, different approaches.
This is what I do: I photograph the story of you and your pet together. Not just what your pet looks like, but how you actually interact with each other. (And yes, ok, I’ll also get cute pet photos!)
What storytelling pet photography actually is
I’ve been photographing families around Dublin for years, and when there’s a pet involved, those moments always stand out. The relationship, the routines, the real life together. So I’m now offering sessions specifically for people and their pets – whether that’s you and your dog, your family and your cat, or however your household looks.
This is documentary photography. I’m not here to pose anyone or make your pet do tricks. I’m here to follow along and photograph what actually happens.
So I’ll be photographing things like:
- Your Saturday morning routine at Dollymount or Sandymount beach
- The walk you do together every day around your neighbourhood
- Your dog lying under the table while you have breakfast
- Your kids playing in the garden with the puppy
- That spot in the house where your cat always sits in the afternoon sun
- The chaos of everyone getting ready to leave the house
- Your teenager and the dog they grew up with
- Bedtime routines with pets who think they’re people
- The way your dog waits by the door when they hear your car
It’s the everyday moments that show what your lives together actually look like.
Why some people want this approach
There’s nothing wrong with a beautiful studio portrait of your pet. Lots of people want that, and it’s a perfectly good thing to have.
But some people want something different. They want photos that show the relationship. The context. The life they share with their pet.
If you’re the kind of person who thinks “I don’t just want to remember what my dog looked like, I want to remember what our life together was like,” then this approach might be for you.
The photos from these sessions show:
- What your morning walks looked like
- How your pet was part of your everyday
- The way your kids and your pet grew up together (if you have kids)
- Where you lived and how you spent time together
- What it actually felt like to share your life with this particular animal
It’s about capturing the whole story, not just one moment.
Jen from www.livinglegacy.ie
What a session actually looks like
We do this at your home or wherever you normally spend time together. A lot of Dublin people do this at places like:
- Phoenix Park
- Your local beach (Portmarnock, Howth, Killiney – wherever you actually go)
- Around your neighbourhood in Clontarf, Drumcondra, Ranelagh, wherever you are
- Your back garden if that’s where life happens
- Your home, photographing your actual routine
The session usually runs about 90 minutes. If that feels too long, we can chat about alternatives.
I come along, I photograph what happens. We go for a walk. We play. Your pet does their thing. You do whatever you’d normally do together.
I’m not directing this. I’m just there following along with my camera.
Some pets are immediately comfortable with a stranger showing up with a camera. Some need a bit of time to warm up. That’s fine. We work at whatever pace makes sense. If your dog needs to sniff every single thing in the park before they settle down, that’s what we do.
Who this is for
This works really well for:
- People whose pets are a huge part of their daily life
- Families with pets who want photos of everyone together
- Anyone who wants photos that show the relationship, not just the animal
- Older pets, because you want to remember this time properly
- New puppies or kittens, capturing how they fit into your life
- Multi-pet households (the chaos is part of the story)
- Single people with pets – your life together matters just as much
- Couples and their pets
Who this probably isn’t for
If you want:
- Studio portraits with backdrops and props
- Your pet sitting perfectly still in a bow tie
- Heavily edited or retouched images
- Something that looks like a magazine ad
Then this probably isn’t what you’re after. I photograph real life, and real life is messy and imperfect and that’s the point.
Where? Dublin & surrounding counties
I’m based near Dublin Airport and work throughout Dublin and the surrounding areas.
However, I’m not going to suggest locations, as I’m sure you have your favourite park, beach or forest already.
Sessions can also take place at home.
If you’re in Dublin or the surrounding counties (Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Louth) and you’re wondering if I can work in your area, the answer is probably yes. Travel within 50km of Dublin Airport is included.
What you actually get
After the session, you get access to all the images, usually 60-100 photos depending on how long we’re out and what happens. They’re edited to look natural (proper colour, exposure, that kind of thing) but not retouched or filtered.
These are photos that look like your life, not someone else’s idea of what your life should look like.
You can download the digital files for sharing, archiving and printing, but I will also get a photobook designed and printed with your favourite images.
The practical stuff
Sessions start at €1,800 for 90 minutes. Find full pricing here.
Longer sessions are available if you want more time or have something specific in mind. Maybe you want to photograph a whole day with your pet, or multiple locations, or add other family members to your session.
I also offer professional photobook design and printing if you want to turn your images into something physical. There’s something about having an actual book of you and your pet that makes the photos feel more real.
What happens next
If this sounds like what you’re looking for, get in touch. Tell me a bit about your pet, what your lives together look like, what you’re hoping to capture. We’ll have a conversation about what makes sense for you.
I take on a limited number of sessions each month, so I can give each family proper attention. If your schedule is flexible, we can usually find a time that works within a few weeks. If you have something specific in mind (like photographing your elderly pet while they’re still comfortable and mobile), we’ll prioritise that.
Why I do it this way
I’ve been photographing people for years. My main work is portrait sessions for families: authentic, documentary-style photography that captures people as they actually are.
When I photograph families and they have pets, I see how much those relationships matter. How much the pet is part of the daily life, the rhythm, the story of who this family is. Or who this person is.
So I’m bringing that same approach to sessions specifically for people and their pets. Documentary-style photography that captures your real life together. The relationship, the routine, the reality of it.
Because that’s what matters, isn’t it? Not whether everything looks perfect. But whether in five years or ten years, you look at these images and remember what it was actually like.
Get in touch
Ready to do this? Have questions? Want to know if your particular situation would work?
Contact me through the website or email directly. Tell me about your pet and what you’re looking for. We’ll figure out if this is the right fit and go from there.
I’m based near Dublin Airport, working throughout Dublin and surrounding areas.