How much do you love your pet?
I bet you love your pet a LOT. How do I know? Well, you're here looking at pet photography, for one. You must cherish the bond you share. How could you not? Your pet is there for you and makes you laugh even on the toughest days. They love you unconditionally.
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They aren't just a pet. They are truly part of the family and I bet you have no fewer than one zillion photos of them on your camera roll. Am I close? Maybe you find it challenging to capture their goofy personality or they just don't ever sit still enough for photos.
And one more question...
How many nice photos do you have WITH your pet? Probably not very many.
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I'm here to help change that. You won't get another chance to be in the photos with your four-legged family members when it's too late.
20+ 5-Star
Reviews on Google
Woman-Owned &
LGBTQ+ Friendly
Serving Forest Lake, MN & the Surrounding Areas
Pet Rescue Volunteer Photographer
The Scruff Life Experience
I understand the importance of capturing the unique bond between you and your pets. My goal is to provide you with an enjoyable and stress-free experience while creating beautiful pieces of art that you will cherish for a lifetime.
What's holding you back?
"My pet won't sit still or stay." Believe it or not, most of my sessions have pets on leash. The locations I use are primarily local parks with leash laws and I respect the rules for a multitude of reasons. I can take the leash out in post-processing, so you won't even remember that it was there.
"My dog has big feelings about strangers." I relate to this so much. I have a reactive dog, too, and it is such a struggle. I have learned so much from my experiences with him that I apply as a pet photographer and it has completely revolutionized how I work with animals. I take your pet's fears and anxieties very seriously. We will chat beforehand about how to best work with you and your pet and I always have a super-telephoto lens I can use to stand really far away, if need be. Feel free to reach out if you have questions about how I accommodate reactive pets!
Client Reviews & Testimonials
"Lauren is the best! We've been following her on Instagram for a while and have admired her talent for capturing photos of dogs, especially dogs in action and outside! We pulled the trigger to book her for pictures of our new puppy and she was fast to respond, communicated clearly and often, and scheduled us extremely quickly."
Christina, River, & Ziggy
Hi There,
I'm Lauren!
Let me do what I do best...
Capture your pet's unique personality and the bond you share!
If you've ever tried to photograph your dog going wild with the zoomies or your black cat in a dimly lit room, you probably understand that capturing your pet's unique personality is a challenge!
Even in the best lighting conditions and if they sit still for long enough... you probably aren't in the photo. I am here to help and I love it so much! There's nothing more thrilling than capturing photos of you and your pets living in the moment and having the best time together.
Choose Your Own Adventure
What type of session is right for you and your pet(s)? I offer a variety of session types to fit your needs and budget. Click on the images below to learn more about each offering and see some of my recent work.
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Portrait sessions are my most popular offering and are closest to a traditional outdoor photo session. It's relatively quick without being rushed.
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Adventure sessions are for the adventurous pet parents who wish they could have photos as cool as their pet-friendly adventures.
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Celebration sessions are my version of end-of-life sessions and represent a chance to honor the life and love of your aging or ill pet.
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Dog-powered sports sessions are designed to capture the athleticism and skill of your athlete.
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Volunteering with pet-related non-profits is one of my favorite things about being a pet photographer!
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Branding and product photography options are available to pet-related businesses, whether small or large.
Portrait Sessions
Dog-Powered Sports
Adventure Sessions
Volunteer Work
Celebration Sessions
Branding / Product
FAQ
Have questions about Scruff Life Photography's services?
Check out the FAQ page for answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. If you don't see the information you're looking for, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly.
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What types of sessions do you offer?Portrait sessions are my most popular offering and are closest to a traditional outdoor photo session. It's relatively quick without being rushed. Adventure sessions are for the adventurous pet parents who wish they could have photos as cool as their pet-friendly adventures. Celebration sessions are my version of end-of-life sessions and represent a chance to honor the life and love of your aging or ill pet. Dog-powered sports sessions are designed to capture the athleticism and skill of your athlete. Volunteering with pet-related non-profits is one of my favorite things about being a pet photographer! Branding and product photography options are available to pet-related businesses, whether small or large.
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Where are you located and do you charge travel fees for photo sessions?I'm based in Forest Lake, MN, and happily travel to session locations within a 35-mile radius, which includes my favorite Minneapolis parks locations. Outside of this radius, I do charge a modest travel fee of $1/mile.
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Does my pet need to be off-leash to get nice photos?Not at all. Most of the pets I photograph are on leash during their sessions. This can be for a variety of reasons, but most of all is that I shoot in state, regional, and county parks and nearly all of these have leash laws in place. With a little bit of instruction, I will show you how to hold the leash such that it is easy for me to edit it out later. This keeps your pet safe, keeps us in good standing with the parks, and is an overall win-win!
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I have a reactive dog. Is it even possible to photograph him/her?Yes, it is totally possible and I've done it multiple times with other reactive dogs and their owners. The key is finding the right location and going at the right time of day. As a reactive dog mom myself, I know the anxiety you probably feel when you take your dog out even on a simple walk. As your photographer, I bring the same level of awareness and care to our sessions as I do on my own outings with my reactive dog. I am dedicated to ensuring that we have a smooth session together to create images you love.
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My pet takes a while to warm up to new people. Will this make a photo session difficult?Most of the pets I photograph take a little bit to warm up to strangers and that's totally okay! The timeframes provided for each session are flexible (aside from mini sessions) to allow for some introductions and time to adjust. My goal is that you and your pet have a safe and fun photo experience with me and that the images captured represent the pet you know and love, not one that was anxious or stressed about the photo session.
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Can I book a Celebration Session even if my pet if just getting older, but otherwise in good health?Yes, you're welcome to schedule a Celebration Session for whenever you feel it is the right time. It's not always possible to schedule these sessions in advance, but it's often easier on them if they are still moving well and enjoying life with you. Whether your pet is only here for another day or for several more years, the Celebration Session is available to you.
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I see a lot of dogs in your portfolio. Do you photograph other animals?While dogs are my most common subject, I do photograph a variety of animals and I'm always up for photographing more! I have experience photographing cats, horses, rabbits, and guinea pigs, and would love to work with more.
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How can I prepare for an amazing photo session with my pet?Before your session, you’ll receive a detailed email from me, but here are a couple of suggestions: For you, being well-rested and having your outfit picked out in advance will help with any stress you may have in front of the camera. During your session, try not to stress about what your pet is doing. I’ve seen it all and I’m here for it. :) For your pet, it’s important to make sure they’ve had their usual amount of exercise for the day. Not too worn out, but also not bouncing off the walls. You can also bring a favorite treat/toy for me to grab their attention.
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I'm not sure what location would work best for a photo session. Can you help me pick a location?Yes, of course! I have a variety of favorites when it comes to selecting a location for photos based on my own personal time location scouting and from previous photo sessions. Location ideas range from rolling prairie to a beach to a stand of red pines to a boardwalk through a marsh. Some locations include more than one! To narrow down the options, it helps if you can provide some information about your dog and what kinds of activities you enjoy together. For example, if your dog loves to swim, we can look into an option with a dog-friendly beach.
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I don't know what I would wear to a photo session. Can you help me with outfit ideas?Of course! I'd be happy to help you with outfit ideas for your session. There are several factors that go into picking an outfit for your session, but number one is what makes you feel confident and like YOU! You can also consider what colors will also present, such as yellow sunflowers or white snow. I can help you pick colors that compliment the landscape and your pet. We can even discuss accessories for your pet, like bandanas.
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What happens after the session?After your session, you can expect a proofing gallery from me within 2-3 weeks. This gallery will contain edited and watermarked images for you to choose your final images. Each session package includes a specific number of images of your choice. You can also purchase additional images. Once you have your final image gallery, you'll notice that you have web-resolution and high-resolution versions. Your gallery comes with a digital and print guide to explain everything you need to know about your files.
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Can I order photo prints and products from you directly?Yes! With your online gallery, you will have access to shop for a variety of print products directly in the gallery. You can place your order there and the products are made locally by a professional photo lab in Minnesota, White House Custom Color. Your order will be sent to me to assess the prints to ensure everything looks great and then the products will be delivered to you!