We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Blyskal and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Lauren, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
By the end of my career, I want to feel like I’ve made a difference in people’s lives, giving them lasting memories of their pets. It is such a special connection we share with animals, and I love being able to celebrate and commemorate that relationship in an enduring way.
I’d love to be able to expand even beyond the Houston area and travel, taking photos of pets in epic locations around the world. It’s also very important to me that throughout my career, I continue to be in a position to dedicate time, talent, and funds to animal rescues and charities.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is all about using photography to showcase the personality of an animal and what makes them special. I want to be able to show the connection between people and their pets and bring joy to people who are devoted to their furry family members.
I grew up right here in Houston in a family that loves animals and places a high value on giving back to causes we believe in. I’ve had dogs since I was two years old and can’t imagine life without their love and loyalty. Before starting my business, I’d been taking photos of rescue animals for years, helping them put their best paw forward in hopes of being noticed for adoption. Having a photograph that shows off their personality can make such a difference and being able to help change their lives for the better and being a part of that process has had a huge impact on me. People kept mentioning to me that I should take photos for clients as well and I’ve really enjoyed expanding my business where getting puppy kisses is a regular part of the job description while capturing images that families will treasure. One thing I think sets my work apart is my level of professional editing. Between my work as a graphic designer and photographer, I’ve been using Photoshop for 20 years and that expertise let’s me take portraits to the next level to make them shine.
The pet photography industry is definitely growing, but it’s still not something that a lot of people are familiar with. To work around the challenges of getting exposure to pet parents who might want to have a photography experience, I’ve found that it is so important to make relationships with others within the pet business community. There are so many great people that I’ve met who also provide products and services to the same clientele and we support each other.
Another area that has helped my business by gaining exposure but has also been important to me on a personal level, is giving back to the community by donating sessions to worthy causes. Some of my favorite sessions this year have come from people who won their session when donating to raffles promoting BARC shelter, the Houston Arboretum, or the Texas Children’s NICU March of Dimes. The recipients were not only excited about sharing this special experience with their dogs, but also care about these wonderful causes.
Another challenge we face in Houston for outdoor photography is simply the weather. A large portion of the year here is simply too hot to do outdoor adventure sessions at on-location parks. The key focus is for dogs to be safe and comfortable and that’s a challenge in the summer even if it’s right at sunrise or sunset. To balance this, I added studio style sessions with my portable setup of colored backdrop paper and professional lighting equipment to capture fun and vibrant images of pets, from dogs and cats to other smaller models like guinea pigs and birds.
I think the most important factor behind my success so far is my genuine passion for animals. It guides everything to do with my business from how I interact with clients (both furry and human) and how I give back to the community through volunteering and donations. I’m so excited to continue getting to know even more people and their beloved pets here in Houston and beyond.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Houston and the surrounding area has so many great activities and places to visit. I love the museum district. Any time of year it’s fun to roam through the butterfly center in the science museum or check out the latest fine art exhibits. Another spot that is really iconic is the Water Wall in the Galleria. It’s so mesmerizing to stand in the center of the horseshoe with the spray of the fountain swirling around you. In the spring, I’d definitely take them to some more outdoor activities like walking the gardens at Bayou Bend, a stroll through the Arboretum, or hiking through Brazos Bend State Park. In the summer I’d recommend hearing one of the Symphony performances at Miller Outdoor Theater and riding the ferry across to Bolivar Flatts to walk along the beach, watching all the water birds scurry along in the waves. If they’re in the mood for a really nice meal out, I’d pick going to Taste of Texas for the most delicious steaks. For a tasty treat after a day of adventuring, I’d suggest going to El Asador for top-notch fajitas. I recently attended a night of puppy cuddles while playing bingo at Texas Biergarten, with the event benefitting a local rescue group and it was a blast, so that would make the itinerary for sure.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
In all aspects of my life, the first person I’d want to dedicate my shoutout to would be my Mom. She has always been my steadfast supporter, listener, cheerleader and the person that I first learned my absolute dedication to dogs from. Without her love and encouragement, there’s no way I’d be where I am in my life. Another group that has been so influential in my path as a pet photographer is Hair of the Dog Academy run by Nicole Begley. She has such a wealth of knowledge and has built an amazing community of pet photographers from around the world, and I can’t imagine how much more difficult the journey would be of running a business without having a mentor and community to bounce ideas off of as well as share trials and celebrations.
Website: https://laurenlovespets.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauren_loves_pets
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenblyskal/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlyskalPetPhotography/