From her home base in Seattle, Washington, photographer Lauren Bonvini has built a thriving business capturing beautiful images of people's beloved pets. After adopting her first dog in 2015, Lauren found her calling using her camera to document their lives together. Now as an award-winning pet photographer, Lauren brings out the personality of dogs, cats and other animals in her stunning portraits.
For Lauren, no two shoots are ever the same. Each furry subject has its charm and quirks. "I love getting to know each animal and capturing what makes them special," says Lauren. "Pet photography allows me to combine my passion for animals and photography into a dream career.”
Lauren found her love of photography relatively late in life. After working office jobs for years, adopting a dog made her realize that she wanted to spend her days doing something creative that incorporated her canine companion.
She invested in professional photography equipment in 2015 and taught herself the craft through online tutorials, books and practice. Lauren started out taking lifestyle photos of her pets before offering pet portrait sessions to friends. Her images showed such empathy and artistry that word spread quickly.
Now Lauren serves the greater Seattle metro area with stunning pet portraits, Lifestyle photos, and event photography. Lauren's reputation for capturing animals' true personalities in a natural, unforced way sets her apart from other pet photographers. She works with each animal - whether an active puppy or shy cat - on their terms to get candid, joyful shots.
"I love freezing those organic moments of connection between pets and their humans," says Lauren. "The unconditional love shines through in the images."
While Lauren photographs all types of household pets, she has a particular passion for dog sports photography. As an avid fan of canine athletics like herding, agility and dock diving herself, Lauren brings insider knowledge to competition and training sessions. Her photography expertise and canine experience allow her to anticipate peak action moments while staying unobtrusively on the sidelines. Lauren's action shots convey the intensity and athleticism of these impressive dogs doing what they love most.
Lauren also offers "win portraits" for dogs and owners after successful competitions. She captures the thrill of victory in creative, artistic photographs that will be treasured for years. As Lauren says, "I love being able to play even a small part in preserving competitors' proudest moments with their dogs.”
For Lauren, photographing pets weaves together her two biggest passions: animals and photography. While new to the field professionally, her talent and intuition create images with timeless emotional impact. Capturing the bond between dogs and their humans through her lens is incredibly rewarding for Lauren. The excitement and devotion dogs show while competing or training touches Lauren's heart. Being present for those moments of achievement and teamwork is a privilege she doesn't take for granted.
Lauren feels her photography preserves the cherished connection between pets and their owners. Her images document dogs' unique personalities and capture the sheer joy of life. For Lauren, photography is the perfect way to celebrate the animals that bring so much meaning to people's lives. She is grateful to play a small role in helping clients remember and honour their dogs through beautiful, lasting portraits.
When Lauren reflects on her career shift to pet photography in her 40s, she says, "It's never too late to reinvent yourself and pursue work you find meaningful." The joy she gets from capturing pets' personalities and relationships with humans makes all the difference.
As digital photography has evolved over the past decade, it has allowed greater creativity and connectivity in the pet portrait world. Lauren embraces innovations like enhanced low-light shooting capabilities that make natural, on-location sessions possible. She also loves being able to provide clients with high-resolution digital images to share immediately on social media or order prints and gifts.
While technology opens new doors, Lauren believes the foundations of quality pet photography remain unchanged. Patience, empathy and technical skill allow photographers like herself to highlight animals' essence. Clear focus, proper exposure and flattering composition will always be key.
As Lauren’s reputation spreads, she dreams of expanding her services to photograph shelter pets in need of adoption. "I'd love for my images to help pets find their forever homes," she says. Her photography could provide exposure for hard-to-place animals and strengthen adoption efforts.
For aspiring pet photographers, Lauren suggests starting by getting to know your own camera and lighting capabilities. Spend ample time experimenting with pet subjects and studying tutorials. Shadow experienced photographers on actual shoots when possible to learn posing techniques. And nourish your passion by looking at pet images you admire, noting what makes them compelling.
With her creativity and work ethic, Lauren has built a career around her love of animals. Her gorgeous photographs capture beloved pets' spirits to cherish for a lifetime. For Lauren Bonvini and her many happy clients, pet photography is the perfect profusion of passions.
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