The pose, the squeaky toy, the lighting, ambient sounds and expression all come into play when working with pet photography. For Betty Lupacchino, a Sarasota pet portrait photographer, bringing all of these elements together come naturally. Betty has been photographing for more than 25 years. She got her start in Connecticut, as a hobbyist. But when her submission to local newspaper went on to win a National Parade Magazine contest, she knew it would be her life’s work.
“Photography has changed so radically since I started, it now provides a myriad of possibilities to be creative, not just in shooting but also in the editing process. Now you can work with several different images to create one perfect shot, and when you are working with more than one animal – this can be extremely helpful.” Amazingly, she’s photographed families with as many as seven little dogs and has been able to create stunning images.
Betty does most of her portrait sittings outdoors to take advantage of natural light. Garden benches, a shady tree or near the water lend texture and context for each picture.
Her process of working with animals includes some “getting to know you time”. This gives her an opportunity to bond with the pet and let them know that she’s there to work with them and to take their picture. By spending just a few minutes one on one with the pets, the sessions flow more smoothly.
Combining portraits of people with their pets is Betty’s forte. Capturing the moment when the relationship between an owner and a pet is palpable – through a glance, an expression or a loving touch is what it is all about. A database of hundreds of animals – and literally thousands of shots of previous clients is at Betty’s fingertips. She’s often called upon to reprint images shot long ago.
As a member of the closely knit Sarasota pet community, Betty gives back to the non-profits and shelters by donating her time in the form of gift certificates to be raffled off or auctioned at fundraisers.
Visit with Betty’s work at BettyLupacchinoPhotograpy.com. In addition to the traditional digital rendering, you can choose oil on canvas, watercolor effects, and even greeting cards from your pet photos.