purebred dog

Commercial Dog Photography - German Shorthair Pointers by Holly Hildreth

Commercial pet photography of a German Shorthair Pointer dog running and playing with a toy showing a pet product in use

Commercial dog photography set-up showing a product (toy) in action during an outdoor photo shoot

I recently had the pleasure of photographing four gorgeous German Shorthair Pointer dogs for a commercial client project. The client needed some really high-quality professional images of this particular breed of dog for an upcoming product they are making.

Two German Shorthair Pointer dogs during a commercial photo shoot showing off leather collars for a commercial pet business

We held our photo shoot at Hoover Reservoir park in northeast Columbus, Ohio. I chose this park specifically because we could get a good variety of backgrounds and “looks” without having to go to multiple locations. The east side of the lake gave us plenty of natural backgrounds to work with like a field of tall grass and woods, and then the west side of the lake gave use great shoreline access so we could get a few shots of the dogs playing in the water at the end of our photo shoot.

Stunning Commercial dog photography of a German Shorthair Pointer dog wearing a fancy leather collar and standing in front of a lake at sunset in Ohio
Funny commercial animal photography of a German Shorthair Pointer dog running toward the camera. His tongue is hanging out of his mouth and ears are flapping in the wind, giving him a humorous expression

I also wanted to get a variety of poses for the client to choose from. I made sure to get action shots of the dogs playing with toys and running happily through the park, as well as more formal “posed” portraits of the dogs by themselves and together.

While I can’t yet share the final product with you yet, I am very much looking forward to seeing my work in stores!

Commercial dog photography of a black German Shorthair Pointer dog in a field of tall grass in Columbus, Ohio

Commercial pet photography may not immediately come to mind when you’re working on your pet brand, but in today's competitive pet industry, high-quality animal photography is key to standing out. Whether you're launching a new pet product, refreshing your website and marketing materials, or need some eye-catching images for your socials, commercial animal photography can elevate your brand's reputation and help you connect with your audience.

Professional dog photographers understand how to capture the unique personalities of dogs while showcasing your products in the best light. They’re also skilled with making sure the animals (and humans) look happy and natural while being photographed. Visuals like these can make your marketing materials, social media, ads, and packaging more engaging, which in turn boosts customer trust and loyalty. Stunning images can convey the essence of your brand in seconds, helping you leave a lasting impression on pet owners.

commercial dog photography of a German Shorthair pointer dog running with a toy in his mouth demonstrating the real pet product in use

Investing in commercial pet photography shows that you value quality and care about the details, much like the products you're selling. Ultimately, it’s a smart investment that can help differentiate your brand in the crowded pet market.

Commercial Dog Photography portrait of two German Shorthair Pointer dogs posing together in front of a lake at sunset while wearing luxury dog collars made of leather to demonstrate a pet product in use

Still not sure whether commercial dog photography is right for your pet business? Here are some very compelling statistics that might just change your mind about the importance of using professional photography:

  1. 37% higher engagement: Brands using high-quality, professional images see a 37% increase in engagement on social media compared to those using amateur photos .

  2. 67% more likely to be noticed: Research shows that consumers are 67% more likely to engage with visual content when it is professionally produced .

  3. 90% of information processed visually: Since 90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual, using professional images can quickly convey your brand message, helping customers form stronger emotional connections with your products .

  4. Images boost retention by 65%: People remember 65% of visual content after three days, compared to just 10% of text alone . High-quality commercial animal photography helps your pet brand stay top-of-mind with consumers.

  5. Visual content is 40x more likely to be shared: Content with appealing visuals, such as professionally taken photos, is 40 times more likely to be shared on social media, increasing your brand’s reach.

Interested in learning more about commercial animal photography? Check out my For Brands page to find out more

Commercial adventure dog photography action shot of a German Shorthair pointer dog tracking game and pointing in a lake in Ohio

Ready to take the next steps and hire a commercial pet photographer for your business needs? Allow me point you in the right direction:

Dog Show Magazine Ad Photography - by Columbus, Ohio’s Premiere Pet Photographer by Holly Hildreth

Briard dog sitting in a garden in Columbus, Ohio, during a commercial pet photography session for a dog show magazine advert

Meet Remedy

The #1 Female Briard in the US

One thing I love about my job is getting to meet and photograph rare dog breeds. This majestic muppet is Remedy. Remedy is a Briard--and not just any Briard...she's rocking the dog show world as the #1 female Briard in the country!

Briard dog running toward the camera during a show dog photo session in Ohio
Confirmation stack of a Briard dog showing the breed standard traits. Shot by professional dog photographer Holly Hildreth in Columbus, Ohio

Most people have likely never heard of the Briard dog breed before. These French herding dogs have quite the unique appearance with luscious locks for days (is it wrong to be jealous of a dog's hair?) Briards are intelligent, active dogs who have captured the hearts of many, including Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon!

Professional dog photography of a Briard for a dog show magazine

Beautiful Briard

For this session, Remedy’s owner wanted to take some photos of her to use in a dog show advertising magazine to celebrate her successful championship. She wanted to do a two-page spread so we needed to make sure there was enough empty space in the photo to cover the centerfold and binding. Check out the final ad used in the magazine below.

Show dog photography ad for a dog show magazine featuring a Briard as photographed by Holly Hildreth in Columbus, Ohio.

If you are in need of professional pet photography for your show dog magazines and advertisements, be sure to head over to my Book a session page to request photo your shoot today!

Ohio Commercial Dog Photography Shoot - Shetland Sheepdogs by Holly Hildreth

Professional Pet Photo of a spooky scene featuring a Sheltie puppy on a foggy autumn night in Ohio.

I recently had the pleasure of doing a multi-dog photoshoot for a commercial pet brand client looking to license some photos of Shetland Sheepdogs for their products. I put out a model call over on my facebook page. I quickly got connected with Érable Shetland Sheepdogs, who brought me these 4 amazingly-well behaved Shelties. We had our session at New Albany’s Rose Run Park. Although we had a gloomy fall day to work with, that didn't stop these pups from shining bright. Plus the moodier lighting felt perfectly fitting for this October photoshoot.

If you are a pet-focused business looking some high-quality, professional animal imagery, please use my contact page to reach out today. I have thousands of images available for licensing, or we can also set up your own custom commercial pet photo shoot.

Columbus End of Life Dog Photography - Chloe the Sheltie by Holly Hildreth

Woman cries while embracing her dying dog during and End of Life Pet Photography Session in Columbus Ohio

“I lost a treasured friend today

The little dog who used to lay

Her gentle head upon my knee

And shared her silent thoughts with me.

Although my eyes are filled with tears

I thank God for the happy years

He let her spend down here with me

And for her love and loyalty."

Chloe's family recently brought her to me for an End of Life photo session. While Chloe’s health issues limited her mobility, that didn’t stop her from laying in the grass, sniffing the summer breeze, watching storm clouds roll in, and sipping on some dirty lake water (her favorite!) I'm so glad we were able to get Chloe in for her session when we did, as the next day she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. After Chloe’s passing, her mom reached out to let me know how important these photos were to her. They were glad Chloe was able to get out of the house and enjoy one last evening together doing some of her favorite things. They remarked that Chloe seemed happier and more herself than she had in a long time. It was a bittersweet goodbye, but I am honored that I had the opportunity to document some final happy memories together for Chloe’s family to cherish.

Losing a pet is one of the most painful experiences in life. However, End-of-life pet photography can be a beautiful way to capture some last happy memories before your beloved furry family member passes. It can help you cope with your grief, navigate the loss, and remember your pet in a happy light. Owners also report it gives them a sense of closure as the sessions provide a time and a place to celebrate your dog’s life as well as come to terms with what is next. It also provides you an opportunity to give your pup one last evening to do the things they love, whether that’s just laying outside in the sunshine, wading in some water, going for a car ride, receiving pets, eating their favorite foods, or just enjoying some fresh air with you. If you are in need of End of Life Pet Photography services, please use the form on my Contact page to reach out today.

Travel and Destination Pet Photography - Angel in Cocoa Beach, Florida by Holly Hildreth

Blonde Dachshund dog at the beach in Cocoa Beach Florida during a travel and destination pet photography session

Angel the Dachshund had a blast during our destination pet photography session in Cocoa Beach, Florida!

Blondes really do have more fun! This beautiful blonde dachshund is Angel. I met Angel's owner, Liz, about 13 years ago online through Flickr. We hit it off, connecting through our mutual interest in dog photography, and our friendship grew from there. Liz has been a great cheerleader for me and always very supportive of my pet photography passion! So when I recently had an opportunity to travel to Cocoa Beach, Florida, I knew I just HAD to meet up with Liz and do a little photoshoot with her pup while I was there. It was truly so special for both of us to be able to do this!

We wanted to make sure to have a location that just screams "Florida". With those classic pastel hues and beachside views, South Beach Inn in Cocoa Beach was the perfect spot for our session.

A travel and destination pet photography shoot in Florida featuring a blonde dachshund in front of a building with classic Miami color scheme

While many of my clients live in Central Ohio, I do offer travel and destination pet photography services. Contact me today to get a custom quote!

Dachshund enjoying the sand dunes at the beach during a destination pet photography session in Florida

Ohio Puppy Photography - Cellana the Standard Poodle by Holly Hildreth

Isn't Cellana, the 10 week old Standard Poodle puppy just gorgeous?! Besides being super fluffy, she also has a special power--with the help of some water, she can transform into a sheep! Cellana was a good sport for our quiet creek session, and was brave about getting in water for the very first time!

This secret little hidden gem of a location is one of my favs! Nestled in the Appalachian foothills just 20 minutes from Columbus, it provides a peaceful, quiet, and of course gorgeous spot for photos. Although the water level in the creek was quite low due to the drought we've be having, we still made the most of our time there.

Do you have a water-loving dog that you'd like to have photographed in this spot? I have a very limited number of sessions available for this particular location this Fall. My calendar books up SUPER fast, so if you're interested in scheduling something for your own pup, reach out today!

Standard poodle puppy sitting next to a creek in Ohio during a pet photography session.

Columbus Commercial Dog Photography - Envious Borzoi by Holly Hildreth

I have always wanted to photograph a Borzoi, so when a commercial client requested a few Borzoi images, I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to finally photograph such gorgeous dogs! But you don't exactly see these Russian wolfhounds walking down the street every day, so that's why I put out a model call! Luckily I found Envious Borzoi who so kindly made the drive out from Dayton with 4 Borzoi in tow. Their dogs are simply gorgeous, super friendly, and wonderful ambassadors of the breed. During our session, we had lots of people walking by that stopped and asked to pet these beautiful pups and we even unintentionally started to draw a little crowd at one point. But that didn't stop these beautiful sighthounds from being great doggy models for me. We got so many fabulous shots during their session that it was hard to narrow it down for the sneak peek!

We had our session in one of the gardens at Whetstone Park of Roses in Clintonville. This park is always a sure bet when it comes to having loads of seasonal color. If you’re interested in setting up a session for your pups, please reach out via my contact page.

Bexley, Ohio, Puppy Photo Session - Solitaire the Cocker Puppy by Holly Hildreth

Cocker spaniel puppy sitting in a field of tulips during a pet photography session in Bexley Columbus Ohio

Isn't Solitaire just gorgeous?! This sweet, cuddly Cocker Spaniel puppy came to Stop the Suffering Animal Rescue of Ohio as a cast-off from a puppy mill. This poor baby had a bad heart, so her breeder planned to euthanize her instead of providing her with the PDA surgery she really needs to fix it. Luckily STS was able to rescue her and get her the medical attention she needs in order to have a normal, happy life. Solitaire was adopted and now lives with an amazing family who adores her. She has 4 children and 3 doggy siblings to play with, as well as a dream back yard to run around in. We took advantage of the incredible gardens at Solitaire’s new home for her session. There was such amazing spring color, gorgeous landscaping, and of course perfect golden hour light for our shoot. Solitaire was so much fun to photograph, and I’m wishing her all the best in this next chapter!

Action shot of a cocker spaniel puppy running toward the camera during a pet photography session in Columbus Ohio

Westerville, Ohio, Pet Photography session - Kaiser & Copper, Doberman by Holly Hildreth

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 by Holly Hildreth

English Springer Spaniel photographed by Professional Pet Photographer Holly Hildreth during a session in Alexandria, Ohio

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!