I'm Kim, a professional pet photographer based in Niagara. I have a St. Bernard who is always by my side. She's a bit naughty, but I love her just the same. I have run a dog walking business for the past 10 years, so my life really is filled with dogs. I wouldn't have it any other way. Dogs bring such authenticity, joy, and presence to my world, I couldn't imagine a world without them.

Tell us a bit about you?

I have a pet photography business, Two Saints Photography, named after my two St. Bernards, Baya and Piper. Piper is currently my favicon, which I absolutely love. She has such beautiful markings. Since becoming a pet photographer and doing some mentoring with Charlotte, I have developed a huge appreciation for gorgeous light and beautiful locations. I have been working on my photography skills for close to 10 years, but only in the last 4 years have I had a website and charged for my services. I continue to operate my dog walking business as well as photography.

I am a bit of a serial student at heart, I have a couple of university degrees and a TESL certificate, and I think I've tried every job under the sun at this point. Nothing compares to pet photography. It is a real passion for me, and a way to create joy for myself - and for the people whose pets I photograph.

I genuinely enjoy learning and don't see that changing. Pet photography is where that love of learning really lights up for me. I have a Saint Bernard who brings incredible joy to my world and often requires plenty of patience and towels, of course (for the slobber). I could easily become a St. Bernard hoarder, I love them that much. I also have a well-documented inability to walk past a Saint Bernard without stopping traffic — sometimes literally.

Outside of the camera, I really enjoy painting. I like to work with acrylics, and I get the same kind of lost-in-it feeling from painting that I do from photography — that sense of time disappearing when you're fully absorbed in making something.

Why did you start photographing pets?

I have always loved cameras and taking photos. I had my first instant camera when I was 7ish. I took photos of my family members for years, and found that I really loved photographing children and babies as I got older. Probably because they offer the same authenticity. Later on, I found myself taking photographs of many of the dogs I walked in my business. In 2018, I saw a snippet for a three-day pet photography retreat in Florida and didn't think twice about signing up. It was with Nicole Begley from ( what was then called ) Hair of the Dog. When the time came to go, I wondered what the heck I was thinking (going to the US to stay in a house with a bunch of strangers). Anyway, in a nutshell, this is where I found my people!!!! I had no idea pet photography was a thing. And that is how I got to where I am today. It was a great lesson for me -in trusting my instincts.

What camera and lenses do you most often use?

I started with a Canon 1DX Mark 11, which I loved. Then went on to mirrorless, a Canon R5. I love my Canon 70-200mm lens; it's what I use probably %80 of the time. But I really love my EF 135mm, it creates such dreamy images. It takes a bit more work because I need to attach an adaptor and have to be at the right distance from my subject, so I don't tend to use it much. I have rented a Canon 14mm wide-angle lens and really loved the variety it provided.

What’s one thing in your camera bag you can’t live without?

One thing in my camera bag I couldn't live without would be my noise makers and my Expo disc. That's two, but I love and use them both often.

What’s the best thing about being a pet photographer?

The best thing about being a pet photographer for me is creating the art. I absolutely get so excited to find beautiful light and a gorgeous location and have the opportunity to create a beautiful portrait of a dog. I love meeting the dogs; they light my world for sure. There is a great community within the pet photography world, and that is something I couldn't live without! Dogs and photography are like Christmas morning for me, they light me up.

How would you describe your style?

I chase pretty light consistently, it excites me! I often pick beautiful locations that are genuinely beautiful on their own. I would say my images are more warm, with the golden light I love and happy. I really love dark and moody, but my images reflect the opposite.

What is your proudest achievement as a pet photographer?

I would say my proudest achievement as a pet photographer was creating a Calendar Contest fundraiser for a charity I absolutely love. With the help of the Niagara community, over 13K was raised to support the charity. It helps economically vulnerable people to access veterinary care for their pets that might otherwise have to be surrendered, keeping pets with the people who love them. I've been in the local paper a few times as well. I think the best achievement of all is really being able to provide people with beautiful images of their pets and knowing, of course, the images made them happy. And I've recently launched a new website which I happen to really love.

What are your photography goals for the future?

In 5 years or less, I would love to be doing pet photography full time.

What do you do to cultivate and nurture your creativity?

I love to see what other photographers are doing ( not just pet photographers). It inspires me to keep going and creating. I love learning and have done a few workshops with photographers in other realms in order to inspire my creativity. I really enjoyed the Unleashed challenges like Embark; they forced me to move out of my comfort zone.

What specific skills have improved since being an Unleashed Education member?

Everything I know about pet photography is a direct result of being an Unleashed Education member. I've learned so much and gained such an appreciation for beautiful light and the importance of good locations. Participating in the live calls has not only given me a great source of connection to a very important community of people who love the same things I do, but also has sharpened my eye — I've become more creative in my edits and more attuned to the tiny details that can make or break an image. Since joining Unleashed, everything pet photography related has markedly improved for me — posing, capturing great expression, readin...

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