Ohio Dog and Owner Photoshoot - Berklee at Hoover Reservoir

An Autumn Pet and Owner Portrait Session in Westerville, Ohio | © Holly Hildreth Photography

Berklee the hound mix came to me for a Pet and Owner photo session at Hoover Reservoir in Westerville. Berklee's mom wanted to be sure we incorporated some color into our shoot—something that can be tough in early winter. Luckily for us, there are still beautiful pockets of color if you know where to look.

One of the trademarks of my photography is my off-camera flash lighting style. Even when a scene might regularly look pretty brown or drab (as is common in the late fall and winter here in Ohio), by utilizing a combination of high shutter speeds and a flash, I am able to make the colors pop. This technique is how I do all my dramatic sky sunset sessions. By shooting this way, it makes the colors of the sky and the golden sunlight much more intense and brings back some virbrant color into a scene.

Columbus Professional Dog Photography Session - Archie & Angel

Two signature elements of my photographic style are bold colors and dramatic lighting. When I get to combine those two things with a gorgeous dog? It's the best feeling ever--so satisfying! Angel and Archie recently came to me for a fall pet session. We began their shoot by taking advantage of the last bits of fall color, and then migrated down to the lake shore of Hoover Reserivor for some sunset shots. This little sandbar is underwater all year and only emerges in late fall/early winter. This is the first session this year where it's been accessible, and it was the perfect spot for getting some gorgeous golden hour sunset portraits.

Columbus End of Life Pet Photography - Dugan

Handsome 13 year old Dugan recently came to me for an End of Life session when he was diagnosed with a sinus tumor. He was a tiny gentleman during his pet and family session and was nothing but happiness, tail wags, and love--at one point taking a quick break from shooting to run up to me and ask for a belly rub. It was very clear to see just how special Dugan is to his people. I’m so glad we were able to capture the bond he had with his moms while he was still feeling good. I'll be thinking of Dugan and his family as they treasure the remaining time they have together.

Ohio End of Life Dog Photography - Louis, Slugger, & Easton

End of Life Pet Photography

Saying “goodbye” to our furry friends is never easy. EoL Pet Photography is a wonderful way to celebrate the life of your furry friend before they pass.

While I always hope for amazing sunny skies for every session, sometimes Mother Nature has her own plans and gives you a dark and drizzly day instead. Your can actually see the raindrops in some of these photos if you zoom in! Louis, Slugger, and Easton recently had their fall session with me. Days before their session, Slugger's family found out he is diabetic. Getting a diabetes diagnosis in dogs can be extremely overwhelming at first--trust me, I know firsthand! Since my personal dog is also diabetic, I knew exactly what Slugger needed. We were able to time his session around his feeding and insulin schedule as well as use low-glycemic treat options that wouldn't impact his blood sugar. I'm so glad we were able to capture some beautiful portraits of these 3 adorable pups, despite the rainy weather, and am wishing Slugger's family all the best as they embark on their doggy diabetes journey together.

Here’s what their owner had to say about their pet photography experience:

“Wow! Holly was fantastic for so many reasons! She worked with all three of our dogs at once and delivered some fantastic photos! She took pictures of our three boys on a rainy, yucky day and turned them into magic!

My favorite part of the experience was the accommodations she made for our newly diabetic pup, Slugger. She was so great working with all of our dogs, but really tailored our experience to Slugger, by recommending the best treats, working around our feeding schedule, and offering her experience with her own diabetic fur baby.

We could not be happier with our experience. :)”

Ohio End of Life Pet Photography - Cosmo

Cosmo and his family recently came to me for an End of Life Pet Photography Session when he received the unfortunate news that his cancer had returned. It's always an honor to be trusted with capturing some final memories of pets and families together—documenting the love and deep bond that is shared. While none of us know how long our pups have with us, it is never easy to say goodbye. I'll be thinking of Cosmo and his family as they spend his golden days together. I'll leave you with my little poem about the most handsome one-eared wonder, Cosmo:

"For now let's cherish every day,

Savor every moment's play.

Though I may not have much pep

Please know I’ve loved every step.

So scratch my ear that special way,

Say the things you want to say.

Talk to me and let me know

It's "ok" when I must go."

Westerville, Ohio, Pet Photography Session - Gunner & Jasmine

Meet Jasmine, Gunner, and their adoring pet parents! Jasmine was such a sweetheart, coming right up to me and demanding pets as soon as I arrived. Gunner wasn’t so sure about getting his photo taken, but with some treats and patience he came around!

We chose Everal Barn and Homestead in Westerville for our soot location, as we wanted a park that still had some late fall color and was also quiet. This tranquil park is one of my favorite spots for my shy dogs! There’s not much noise or other park-goers, and it’s big enough that I don’t need to be super close to a shy dog—I can give them lots of space by photograph them from a distance with a telephoto lens. That way the shy pup does not get stressed about a stranger being too close.

As with all sessions, I work at the dog’s pace. I want to make sure every photoshoot is fun for the dog and owners, so we’ll only do things your dog is comfortable with. Through my pet photography career, as well as my experience in training my own dogs for obedience and agility, I’ve learned how to read all the subtle cues and body language dogs give off when they’re feeling overwhelmed. During your session I am always watching your pup’s interactions and continually reading what they’re “saying” during the shoot. When I see your pup needs a break, we will pause to give them a minute to relax, get a drink of water, play with a toy, or get some belly rubs from their owners. Having that small moment to reset and focus on something positive always helps pups to regroup, and keeps the whole experience positive and happy for them.

Westerville, Ohio, End of Life Pet Photography Session - Shadow

Shadow's owner contacted me when she received some devastating health news about this sweet, 9-year old Labrador mix. They wanted to get her in for photos while she was still acting and feeling like herself.

We planned to do photos with some nice fall colors in the background. However, after having 2 days the previous week with 50mph winds, I was worried there would be no leaves left. But even with most of the trees being bare, there are still little pockets of color to be found if you know where to look!

End of Life sessions are such an incredibly valuable gift that you can give yourself and your loved ones. I keep time reserved in my schedule every week specifically for cases like this where owners aren’t sure how much time their dog has left and/or are dealing with tough decisions around the declining health of their best friend. If you find yourself in this situation and would like to book your own EoL Pet Photo shoot, contact me today and I will be in touch ASAP.

Westerville, Ohio, Pet Photography session - Kaiser & Copper, Doberman

I had the privilege of photographing Copper and Kaiser, the Doberman Pinschers, at Hoover Reservoir in Westerville. We had perfect, unseasonably warm autumn weather for our session. One reason I love photographing at this park is that it offers many different “looks”. We took advantage of the colorful leaves and gorgeous backgrounds, and ended with the pups taking a little dip in the lake for some action shots. These two good boys were a total pleasure to work with, and were eager to try anything, whether that was posing on a rock or splashing through the water.

Commercial Pet Photography Shoot in Central, Ohio - English Springer and Cocker Spaniels

I always love commercial shoots, as they’re just so much fun to work on. For this particular project, the client was looking for glamorous and seasonal images of English Springer Spaniels in the great outdoors. Of course I instantly knew which location to use!

This secret spot is my absolute favorite spot in the fall. It’s a little hidden gem in the Appalachian foothills, just a short drive from Columbus. Every October the trees completely carpet this creek bed with leaves, which makes for an incredible scene set against towering shale cliffs. For me when I get to combine dramatic landscapes with gorgeous dogs in a shoot—it’s just ...*chef’s kiss*

I had the pleasure of photographing Kelce and 14 week-old Tate from Windmoor English Springer Spaniels. They brought along 2 beautiful English Cocker friends as well, so of course I snapped a few shots of them too! It’s hard to pick a favorite shot from this session, as they’re all just sublime!

Lewis Center, Ohio, Pet Photography Session - Dove

Leaves, camera, action! You may recognize this gorgeous White Swiss shepherd as Dove the Diabetic Alert Dog in Training! I photographed Dove last year while she was still a puppy. It was great to see her again now that she’s all grown up. Not only is this dog gorgeous, but she’s got brains and athleticism too! Dove showed off her recall skills, frisbee catching, and diving/water retrieval prowess during her shoot. Even though it was a chilly day, Dove couldn't wait to jump into the water! We walked a beautiful trail at Alum Creek State Park down to the lake and back, stopping along the way for short play sessions against gorgeous fall colors.

Grove City, Ohio, At Home Pet Photography Session - Marcella

Sometimes home is where the shoot is! Meet Marcella. Marcella’s owner found me through The Tilly Project, which is a network that connects pet owners with photographers who provide end of life photography services. We did Marcella’s session in her own back yard where she was most comfortable. While this girl is getting up there in age, you'd never be able to tell. She was happy to play tug and fetch just like a pup! Here’s what Marcella’s owner had to say about her session:
“This was a stress free project and Holly’s organizational skills and knowledge led to amazing results. It could have been stressful with the wrong person. Her energy is calming. I did not feel rushed at all or pressured about anything from our first contact on Facebook to the correspondence with the final product. Booking Holly is 100% with the time and money!!! Thanks to her I have images I only dreamed of having but she made them a reality. Thank you, Holly, for being so easy to work with and sharing your talents with us all!!!!!”

Do you have a furry family member who is in need of End-of-Life Pet photography services? If so, please contact me today. I keep time reserved in my schedule every week for cases just like Marcella’s, where owners aren’t sure how much time their dog has left and/or are dealing with tough decisions around the declining health of their best friend. End of Life pet sessions are such an incredibly valuable gift you can give yourself and loved ones that captures your pet’s personality and the special bond between owner and pet.

Westerville, Ohio, Pet Photography Session - Buggy the Shar Pei mix

I admit, I absolutely LOVE fall! And whenever I see some gorgeous golden sunlight shining through colorful autumn leaves during a session, it's just perfection. Meet Buggy, the Shar Pei mix. Buggy takes doggy modeling very seriously and demanded to be paid in McDonald’s chicken nuggets. Obviously she got all the nuggets she wanted! I mean, how could anybody say "no" to that face?

Buggy has short black fur, which really stood out against the colorful fall leaves. One concern I hear a lot from clients is that they can’t seem to get a good picture of their black dog on their own at home. Often there’s no detail in the fur or the fur looks blue. I tell these owners that they’ve come to the right person, as I have extensive experience photographing black dogs of all shapes and sizes, and have been able to hone my lighting to really show off that gorgeous black fur that truly looks black.

Westerville, Ohio, Puppy Photography Session - Carmella the Mini-Bernadoodle

Meet Carmella, the 10 week old Mini-Bernadoodle. This insanely cute puppy was just as sweet as she looks—nothing but wiggles and kisses from this good girl. She was curious about everything during our session at Everal Barn and Heritage Park in Westerville, which made for a super fun shoot. I LOVE photographing puppies! With all their energy and excitement, it makes it easy to get lots of great personality shots. But you have to have a quick trigger finger, or else you’ll miss those fleeting moments of stillness!

One concern I hear quite often from prospective puppy clients is the worry that we won’t be able to get good pictures because their young puppy doesn’t know any commands, and also can’t be trusted off leash. But, what most folks don’t know, is that I keep the puppies on a leash the whole time. Yep, that’s right. In every photo here Carmella is actually wearing a collar and leash, and I Photoshop the leash out afterwords. That way there’s no worries about safety, and we can keep your pup close by. There’s also no need for these little ones to know any commands. Although it’s always nice to have a good “sit”, sometimes you get more exciting photos when you just let your pup play, explore their environment, and just be a puppy. Puppies have a very short attention span, so it’s important to make sure to keep the session light and fun. That way the experience is as stress-free as possible for both you and your puppy.