People have long had a connection to animals—but photographing that connection is no easy task. Besides ensuring the safety of both the people and animals in the image, photographers have to work with the animals’ unpredictability. This week, we feature five portraits that feature both people and animals, from pets to wild animals to yes, even farm animals. Find inspiration in these images from Jonathan Keh, Maika Anthoni, Raini Rowell, Laury Fernandez, Frédérique Cloutier, Lauren McCormick, and Davis Gerber. 

Jonathan Keh and Maika Anthoni, Oak Street Studios 

Inspired by the couple’s love for their cat, Tuti, Jonathan Keh and Maika Anthoni of Oak Street Studios made sure to include the tiny feline in the wedding day photos. The photographers explained it was only natural to want to include the cat in their documentary style wedding images. The photo was captured with the Sony a9 and Sony 35mm f1.8 lens. 

“Each animal has its own distinct mood and personality, and they don’t always thrive in bustling environments,” Maika said. “For instance, cats, like Tuti, tend to have a more independent nature and may not readily follow instructions as dogs might. Although Tuti did remarkably well with the attention he received on that day, he, like many animals, can become overwhelmed when surrounded by a large crowd and in a noisy environment.” 

Raini Rowell, Raini Rowell Photography 

For this photograph, Raini Rowell of Raini Rowell Photography chose the location for the dramatic layers of the Suliven mountain area. The incoming storm added even more drama to the image. But the real hero is the tiny stag on the next ridge over watching the couple. While the couple had wanted to see wild animals on their wedding day, neither the couple or the photographer noticed the stag—until Rowell began editing the images. She captured this shot using the Nikon D750 and a 105mm f2.8 lens. 

“Working with wild animals is always a risk and should be treated with caution and respect (especially when they have antlers),” Rowell said. “When I’ve had the opportunity to photograph stags in close proximity, one of the most important factors to consider is the time of the year. Between September-November is rutting season and stags are more likely to display aggressive behavior. It’s best to observe from a safe distance during this time as they can be unpredictable.” 

Laury Fernandez and Frédérique Cloutier 

This couple wanted photos different from the usual traditions, so when photographers Laury (@iam_laury) and Frédérique Cloutier (@frederiquephotographe) spotted this field of cows, they knew is was a great opportunity. The photographers captured images from the session on the Sony a7III and a 7R IV with a 35mm f1.4 and 50mm f1.2. 

“While on the road, we spotted a field of cows in the distance and thought it was the perfect opportunity to create some completely unique shots,” Laury said. “We stopped, and the cows weren’t scared but rather genuinely surprised to see us there. To set the mood and capture natural photos, we played a playlist of Daft Punk, and the magic happened.” 

Lauren McCormick, Lauren McCormick Photography 

As a documentary wedding photographer, Lauren McCormick of Lauren McCormick Photography says this image was the result of being prepared to capture the moment as it unfolded. The photographer explained that the brides had wanted to stop by their home to take pictures with their dog. After not seeing his humans all day, the dog initially went straight to his owners. But, once he spotted Lauren, he zoomed towards her, which is when she snapped the photo. The focus on the brides and blur of the dog highlight both the emotion and energy that the dog brings to the family. She captured the image using the Sony a7iii and a 35mm f1.4 lens. 

“The challenge with working with animals in general is not being able to always control (or predict) their behavior,” McCormick said, “especially on a wedding day where, in a case like this, the dog was so excited to see his humans as he hadn’t seen them all day. Being ready to capture anything that happens organically is key.” 

Davis Gerber, Davis Gerber Photo + Video 

A key part of working with animals is ensuring the safety of both the animal and any human participants. When Davis Gerber of Davis Gerber Photo + Photo captured this image during a branding shoot as a staff photographer for Hacienda de San Antonio, in Colima, Mexico, there were a few key steps to safely featuring both the horse, Charro, and the restored 19th century Hacienda. The horse is standing on a platform made just for the shoot to prevent any missteps and also wore custom fitted rubberized horse shoes while a veterinarian, ranch director and lead cowboy were all on hand for the shot. The image, designed to highlight the Hacienda’s Charredas, a traditional Mexican rodeo, was captured with a Canon 1V 35mm camera, Porta 400 film, and a Canon 50mm f1.2 L lens. 

“I wanted to honor the beauty and tradition represented by both Charrería and Hacienda de San Antonio simultaneously. A beautifully restored 19th century Hacienda — there could be no better backdrop to set the skill and passion of Rogelio in front of, in his timeless ‘traje,’ or traditional dress, atop the magnificent Alemán,” Davis said. “Alemán is a magnificent horse. However, being a stallion, he can be very spirited, and it takes a skilled horsemen to effectively ride him. Coupled with the ‘floreo’ taking place above his head, a rope waving around a horse’s head can easily make them unsteady. However, in this moment, I appreciate the incredible precision of the rope work and how calm and collected Alemán remained and is seen in the image.” 

Dig into our Photo of the Day archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching wedding photos and portraits. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery to: [email protected]

The Location Lighting Series