The 8 Best Pet Photographers in Philadelphia

Tanya shoots on location and, if she’s working at your home, she uses a full studio lighting setup, including optional backdrops. She has been a pet photographer since 2004 and shares the following information about her studio. “We are proud to be the only photographer in Pennsylvania that is a member of all three: the American Society of Media Photographers, Nikon Professional Services, and HeARTs Speak global artist group.”

If you peruse her portfolio, you may notice she has more excellent cat photos than usual (most pet photographers’ collections are pretty dog-centric.) Anyone who’s owned a cat knows how tricky it can be to get them to do what you want. Tanya’s secret? Patience. She never books more than two shoots in the same day, which allows her to take her time. As she settles into the space, excited dogs calm down and become compliant. Nervous cats can be coaxed from under the bed. She makes sure her clients get their money’s worth, and it shows in the work — she waits until just the right moment and catches some truly priceless expressions.

Darren Modricker is the founder of Willow Street Pictures, but the company now comprises about a half-dozen talented individuals, from additional photographers to a custom framer. And the team has seriously been around the block: they’ve created stunning images of not only your typical pets, but also exotic birds, horses, donkeys, yaks — you name it.

Much of their work has a distinctly narrative quality, depicting a delightful scene (we’re particularly fond of dogs in cars, riding through the countryside). But their in-studio work is just as lovely, often capturing the pet under a bright spotlight, creating an effect that’s both dramatic and playful at the same time.

Dogs in Doors is a photo studio designed from the ground up with pet photography in mind. Each wall of the space is another unique backdrop, usually with a vintage flair. Aside from the general farmhouse aesthetic of the studio, Greg also has some cool props to work with — a replica of the Philly “LOVE” sign, for example, and a fun “danger” sign. He’s even got fake trees so you can create a custom-built scene of your pup dashing through the forest. There are a lot of options here to implement some truly creative ideas.

We also love how Greg describes his studio and its mission. “This pet photography studio is a labor of love.  A very talented craftsman and myself did all of the construction.  This project combines all of my favorite energies into one singular artistic expression.  I would love to share this space with you and your furry friends.  From the moment you enter Dogs in Doors, you will feel a welcoming energy. It is my honor to create beautiful photos that you will cherish for a lifetime.”

Andrew Pinkham does a very particular kind of pet photography, one that’s becoming increasingly popular. He takes artistic, classic photographs of pets, and then he integrates them with painted backgrounds to resemble 18^th-century compositions.

The resulting mixed-media images blur lines between the past and present, as well as challenge conceptions about authenticity in art — they’re also simply irresistible and endlessly cute. That’s probably why he’s such a rising star among Philadelphia pet photographers.