How to Choose the Right Commercial Pet Photographer for Your Brand

If you're a pet brand, retailer, or agency searching for a commercial pet photographer, you already know the stakes are high. The images you use don't just fill a website - they define your brand, drive purchasing decisions, and tell the story of your product in a single frame. Choosing the wrong photographer can mean wasted budget, off-brand imagery, and the dreaded reshoot. Choosing the right one? That's when the magic happens.

As a Los Angeles-based commercial pet photographer who has worked with brands like WeRateDogs, West Paw, Instinct Pet Food, Zesty Paws, Benebone, Canada Pooch, Healthy Spot, Pets Know Best, Chill Paws, Live Nation Entertainment, Wallis Annenberg PetSpace, Bright Planet, Blu Dot, and Front of the Pack, I've learned exactly what separates a great commercial shoot from an expensive headache. Here's what you need to know before you hire.

What Is Commercial Pet Photography — and Why Does It Require a Specialist?

Commercial pet photography is a category all its own. It's not the same as family pet portraits, and it's not traditional product photography. It sits at the intersection of both — requiring a photographer who can:

• Direct and work animals with patience and expertise

• Execute a brand brief with precision

• Deliver licensable, campaign-ready images on deadline

• Collaborate with creative directors, art directors, and marketing teams

  
  

The technical demands are significant. Dogs don't take direction the same way human models do. Getting a clean, emotionally resonant image of an animal interacting with a product — in the right light, with the right expression, in a way that feels authentic rather than staged — requires a very specific skill set.

7 Things to Look for When Hiring a Commercial Pet Photographer

1. A Portfolio That Speaks Your Brand Language

The first thing to review is the photographer's existing commercial work — not their personal projects or lifestyle shots, but real brand campaigns. Does their aesthetic match what you're looking for? Can you see range: clean white-background product shots AND lifestyle editorial? Can they shoot both in-studio and on location?

Look for variety in their client work. A photographer who has shot for pet food brands, pet accessories, and pet-adjacent lifestyle companies will have a more versatile eye than someone who only does one type of work.

My portfolio spans everything from e-commerce product shots for pet brands to full campaign shoots for entertainment companies and national retailers — giving clients a wide range of creative options under one roof.

Want to see real campaign examples? View our published tearsheets from past brand work.

2. Experience Handling Animals on Set

This one is non-negotiable. A commercial pet shoot with an inexperienced animal handler can go sideways fast — stressed animals, wasted time, unusable footage. Look for a photographer who either has formal animal-handling training or a background that gives them a genuine edge.

My background as a former veterinary technician means I understand animal behavior, stress signals, and body language at a deep level. I know how to read a dog who's overstimulated versus one who's just warming up. That knowledge directly translates into a safer, more efficient set — and better images.

Ask your prospective photographer: What's your approach when an animal is stressed or uncooperative on set? Have you ever had to pivot a shoot because of an animal behavior issue? Their answer will tell you everything.

3. A Clear Understanding of Licensing and Deliverables

Commercial photography is a business transaction, and usage rights matter enormously. A professional commercial photographer will have a clear licensing structure that outlines:

• Usage period (6 months? 1 year? In perpetuity?)

• Exclusivity (category exclusivity, geographic exclusivity?)

• Platforms (web, print, social, OOH advertising, broadcast?)

• File formats and resolution requirements for different applications

• 
  

If a photographer can't clearly explain their licensing terms, that's a red flag. You don't want to run a national ad campaign only to discover the usage rights don't cover it.

4. Production Capabilities and Set Management

How does the photographer handle the logistics of a full commercial shoot? Do they have a network of trusted crew — stylists, assistants, animal wranglers, studio contacts? Can they manage a call sheet and a production timeline?

This matters more than most brands realize going in. A photographer who is also a skilled producer will save you time, money, and stress. They can troubleshoot on the fly, keep talent (human and animal) on schedule, and deliver consistent results across a full shoot day.

5. Experience With Your Specific Type of Product or Campaign

There's a difference between photographing a dog with a treat bag in a lifestyle setting and shooting a piece of furniture for a major design brand with a dog as the lifestyle element. Both require pet photography skill, but the compositional priorities, lighting setups, and shot lists are very different.

Ask to see examples that are close to your campaign concept. If you're launching a pet wellness supplement, ask if they've shot similar products. If you need campaign-level lifestyle imagery for an outdoor brand, look for work with natural light, real environments, and editorial-quality composition.

6. Real Client References and Repeat Business

The best proof of a great commercial photographer isn't their portfolio — it's their client list. Are brands coming back for multiple shoots? Are they being recommended by art directors and marketing managers?

Working repeatedly with brands like WeRateDogs, Healthy Spot & Chill Paws isn't just a résumé line — it reflects what happens when a brand trusts a photographer enough to bring them back. Repeat clients are the ultimate endorsement.

7. Chemistry and Communication

You'll be spending a full day (or multiple days) with this person. They'll be communicating with your team from the pre-production phase through final delivery. A great commercial photographer is also a great collaborator — responsive, professional, adaptable, and easy to work with under pressure.

Look for someone who asks smart questions during the brief, offers creative input without overstepping, and sets realistic expectations about timelines and deliverables. Clear communication before the shoot means fewer surprises on the day.

Questions to Ask Before You Book

• Can I see 3-5 examples of commercial work similar to my campaign?

• What does your typical shoot day structure look like?

• How do you handle permits, locations, and animal sourcing if needed?

• What is your retouching and delivery turnaround?

• Can you walk me through your licensing and usage fee structure?

• Have you worked with [type of product/brand] before?

• Who are some of your past commercial clients?

• 
  

Why LA-Based Brands Choose Sarah DeRemer Photography

Based in Los Angeles, Sarah DeRemer Photography specializes in commercial and brand pet photography for pet brands, lifestyle companies, and agencies across the country. With a background in veterinary medicine, fine art photography, and over a decade of experience on commercial sets, we bring a rare combination of technical skill, animal expertise, and creative vision to every project.

My client roster for brand & commercial event work includes:

WeRateDogs · Healthy Spot · Pets Know Best · Chill Paws · Live Nation Entertainment · Wallis Annenberg PetSpace · Bright Planet · Canada Pooch · West Paw · Blu Dot · Instinct Pet Food · Benebone · Zesty Paws · Front of the Pack

We work with brands of all sizes — from emerging pet startups launching their first campaign to established national brands refreshing their visual identity. Whether you need clean e-commerce imagery, lifestyle editorial, social content, or full campaign production, we'd love to bring your brand to life.

Ready to Talk About Your Next Campaign?

If you're a pet brand, retailer, or agency looking for a Los Angeles commercial pet photographer — or need a photographer who can travel to your location — we'd love to hear about your project.

📸 View the Portfolio or get in touch to request a commercial rate card and availability.

Sarah DeRemer is a Los Angeles-based commercial pet photographer, former veterinary technician, and rescue photography advocate. Her work has been featured in national campaigns and she has partnered with leading brands in the pet industry and beyond.

Tags: commercial pet photographer Los Angeles, pet brand photography, dog photographer for brands, pet product photography, commercial animal photography, hire a pet photographer, brand photographer for pet companies