Heartwarming Dog Photography Adds Magic to the Festive Season
All images by Eva Kassekert. Used with permission.
Dog photography always puts smiles on peoples faces. Our cute canine friends bring all the joy and love to warm our hearts, especially this time of year. Throw everyone’s favorite festive season super hero into the frames and everything gets even more heartwarming. Be ready to feel all the feels, as we’re sharing some festive dog photography by up and coming photographer Eva Kassekert.
Although the theme is very much Christmas, this mini dog photography series is for everyone who loves humans best friend. Taken at a doggy daycare center, Kassekert offered her skills to create dog portraits with Santa. From group photos to one-on-one’s, these adorable pups look as happy to meet Saint Nick as humans do.
We caught up with Kassekert to learn more about her dog photography session and to share a series of images that will be one of the high points of your day. Enjoy!
Them Frames: Hey Eva! You’re an animal lover…how was this love first born?
Eva: My love for animals has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. They've always brought me immense joy, even just watching them from afar. As a child, people would often call me the “animal whisperer” because animals seem to warm up to me much faster than they did to others.
I find so much comfort in their presence, and honestly, I feel a deeper connection with animals, especially dogs than with many humans. It's as if we simply understand each other on a deeper level.
Them Frames: How did the idea to make christmas dog photography portraits first come to life?
Eva: I work at a dog daycare, and every year they do Christmas photos for the pups. This year, I decided to step up and offer to be the photographer. Over the past year, I have been diving deeper into photography and thought this would be a perfect opportunity to put my skills to the test.
I was so excited about the chance that I asked months in advance and spent time preparing every week to ensure that the shoot would be as special as possible when December finally came.
Them Frames: Dog photography must present some challenges. How do you get dogs to play along with the portraits?
Eva: For the treat-motivated pups, I kept some dog treats in hand to help them stay focused. For the more energetic and unpredictable ones, a squeaky toy worked wonders. The biggest challenge, though, was dealing with the dogs who were absolutely terrified of Santa!
Some were even howling in fear at the sight of him. To help ease their nerves, we had Santa hold a treat in his hand to show them he wasn't as scary as he seemed. Most of the time, this worked like a charm, but there were a couple of dogs who were just too frightened to participate–and that's totally okay! If I were in their paws, I might feel the same way.
Them Frames: How do you feel about the final outcome of the portrait series?
Eva: I'm absolutely thrilled with how the photos turned out. From setting up the camera and the flash to guiding the dogs in their poses, everything came together exactly how I envisioned it.
I love the warm, festive Christmas feel captured in each shot. Every time I look back at the photos, I can't help but smile–I'm so proud of what I accomplished and how the pups and I work together to create such beautiful dog photography!
Them Frames: Finally, please finish this sentence: I need photography in my life because…
Eva: It gives me a sense of purpose and serves as a creative outlet that leaves me feeling fulfilled and confident.
You can enjoy more wildlife photography by Eva Kassekert by following her Instagram.
Love wildlife? Check out this interview with Anup Shah.
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