PHOTOGRAPHING FIDO

By Shanna Hogan
Photos by: Ross Mason

Photographers often tell their subjects to “Say cheese.” Dave Pool’s clients, however, are more likely to respond to “sit” or “stay.”

It’s just one of the more peculiar parts of the job when your livelihood is photographing dogs and cats.
“Sometimes the animal can be squirrelly,” Pool says. “Sometimes you get your lens licked.”

Two years ago, Pool had just retired from his job as a neurophysiologist, and he decided to take on a second career merging the two things he loved most—photography and pets.

After taking a photography course at Phoenix College and practicing taking pictures at local animal rescues, Pool launched Arizona Pet Photography.

While pet photography is still an emerging industry, Pool says as pets become more a part of their owners’ lives, more people are willing to invest in professional pet portraits.

“Pets are more a part of the family than they ever have been,” he says. “It’s a huge industry. People spend a lot of time with their pets.”