Not sure if your pet is well behaved enough to be part of a photoshoot?
Curious about what sort of care a groomer can provide and what your pet might need?
Wonder what it takes to create beautiful pet images? (hint, it’s a lot of patience!) Want some tips on how to take better pictures of your pets at home?
In our upcoming interview with Kinsey Winger of Kinsey Winger Photography, we’ll talk all about when the best time to schedule a shoot is, and what goes into creating Kinsey’s stunning images.
You can find Kinsey Winger Photography here –
Facebook: https://www.
Instagram: https://www.
Now, let’s get to the interview!
Transcription:
Laura Wombwell
Hi there, it’s Laura from Laura Wombwell Photography. And today I am joined by Kinsey Winger of Kinsey Winger Photography for another episode of the Southwestern Ontario Pet Collective. Hi Kinsey, I’m so excited to have you.
Kinsey Winger
I’m excited to be here.
Laura Wombwell
So Kinsey, I would love to know what got you interested in pet photography?
Kinsey Winger
Well, I bought my first DSLR, probably about 10 years ago, maybe, getting close to that now. I had dogs of my own, and I just wanted to capture photos of them. And then I became obsessed with it, as I’m sure you know what that’s like, and kept upgrading my gear and researching more how to how to do photography, and how did they get these cool images and techniques and things like that, and switching my lenses. And it just became an obsession and a passion.
Laura Wombwell
I mean, if we’re honest, pets are the absolute best photography subjects. What do you love best about pet photography,
Kinsey Winger
I just love meeting all the different dogs and cats and animals and, and their owners. They’re also amazing. And like I’ve made some great connections over the years and maintain awesome relationships. In fact, one of my best friends now is somebody I met through my photography, and now like we have our own company together, and it’s amazing. It’s really cool.
Laura Wombwell
Nice. So it’s not just about the connection that you’re making through the lens with the pet. It’s about the connection that you’re making with that owner too.
Kinsey Winger
Right for sure. I mean, I do love capturing beautiful images. Sometimes I surprise myself. And I’m like I did that. That’s so amazing. Like, it’s art. It’s so cool. But yeah, I like every aspect of it. It’s just, it’s so wonderful.
Laura Wombwell
Do you have any particular, whether it’s a favorite breed, or a favorite type of companion animal that you’d like to shoot?
Kinsey Winger
Yeah, I so I had a dog named Loki and he was a Norwegian Elkhound. And I had him for 10 years and he was just the most wonderful animal like he had the most beautiful soul and I lost him a few years ago. But that is my heart breed Norwegian Elkhounds. They are just, I love them so much. I’ll get one again one day, one day.
Laura Wombwell
Amazing. So for folks who haven’t seen your work before, how would you describe your style?
Kinsey Winger
Whoo. Ah, it’s it’s pretty bright. I do. Like I like bright colors. And I do minimal editing. So it’s it’s very realistic, I guess. And I like to try to capture the dog’s personality. I don’t like I do pose photos as well. But I like to have them just, you know, do what they naturally would and I will capture as they’re kind of interacting and, and just doing their thing.
Laura Wombwell
One of the things that I love best about your work is the light is always so magical. And just gorgeous, gorgeous pups outside in this beautiful light. How do you manage to schedule that? Is it first thing in the morning? Is it last thing at night?
Kinsey Winger
Oh gosh. That’s that’s the trickiest part. For example, last weekend, I had a couple who booked me for a shoot and they wanted 11 in the morning. And that can be a tricky time because it the light can be super harsh that time of day. And it was a really bright, sunny day. And I was like oh no, what am I gonna do because usually I like you know, sunset where it’s, it’s not super harsh, you get that beautiful, creamy light. But we went to a forest and I lucked out and got this beautiful, colorful, light background background. And the photos just looked amazing.
Laura Wombwell
Wonderful. So you mentioned that a lot of what you do in pet photography is also about interacting with the owners. So what is one of your favorite aspects of Would you like to help people best with within your business?
Kinsey Winger
I mean, like the ultimate goal is getting photos that they can always cherish and remember when I back to my dog Loki when he turned 10 I booked a photoshoot for us and I I didn’t know at the time but he was sick. And after that I always cherish those photos and I was so grateful that I I booked that shoot. So I mean, I don’t like you know, bringing up sad things like that with customers but I do want to make sure that they achieve those nice photos that capture the dog’s personality so they can they can keep those forever and remember the dogs how they were or the pets. Cats.
Laura Wombwell
Yeah, especially I’d say if you pet is getting older, like maybe scheduling that shoot while they’re still active and being themselves.
Kinsey Winger
That’s the thing. A lot of people come to me when it’s their pets are kind of in their last days. And it’s hard because they don’t want to remember them. When they’re weak and suffering. They want to remember them when they’re young and healthy. So I always try to, you know, impress, or, what’s the word I’m looking for? Kind of push that on people, when your dog is healthy and happy you want to get those those shots, then?
Laura Wombwell
Absolutely. So obviously, dealing with pets who may be palliative or maybe elderly is is a challenging part of pet photography. What are some other challenging things that you found throughout your pet photography journey?
Kinsey Winger
Oh, well, I’m sure you know that they don’t always listen. Hard to get their attention. I tried to make I sound like a crazy person when I’m doing photos because I make all these shrill, high pitch animal noises to try to get that head tilt and the cuteness factor. But yeah, sometimes they just, they don’t care. They don’t want to look at me, they just want to sniff the ground. And I just have to sit there and be patient and wait for that moment when they suddenly look. And I’m like, ah
Laura Wombwell
I’m sure that the folks listening would love to hear some of those noises.
Kinsey Winger
Oh, my gosh. Kinda like, (trill), like Cardi B (trill)
Laura Wombwell
Nice. I hear you. I sometimes forget when I have people in the shot with their animals, and I’m making the crazy noises. I’m like, oh, what must they think?
Kinsey Winger
I’m glad I’m not the only one that makes those noises.
Laura Wombwell
So what is something that you wish folks knew about pet photography that the general public may not know?
Kinsey Winger
Probably that it doesn’t end, when the session ends, there’s so much more that goes into it. There’s hours of editing and putting things together. And it’s a lot of work.
Laura Wombwell
I think something that surprises people is even when you have a really natural looking image. There’s still so many little things that photographers are doing on the back end. So what are some things that you do to like, tidy up the images after you’ve shot them?
Kinsey Winger
Yeah, I mostly, you know, just touch on exposure and saturation and things like that. But I’ll also go in and I’ll sharpen their eyes or do something like that just to make it kind of pop a bit more.
Laura Wombwell
Nice. Do you ever have folks who are worried that their pet may not be trained enough to do a pet photography session? And what would you say to those folks?
Kinsey Winger
Yeah, I have a lot of people who are worried that you know, their dog is reactive toward people or other dogs or they just they won’t listen, they don’t know how to sit. And that’s fine. We I always say that. It’s it’s all about patience, and I don’t put time limits on my sessions. So to make the customer feel comfortable and know that you know, however long it takes, we’re going to get the shot it just it takes a bit of time the dog has to get used to me it has to get used to you know, being outside with smells everywhere. And it’s just about patient.
Laura Wombwell
And letting them know that like leash removal and Photoshop is pet photography 101 for sure. There are a ton of folks who have brought new furry members into their families over the pandemic. And a lot of folks, I’m sure you can tell from social media feeds have been taking pictures of their pets. Do you have any tips for pet parents who might want to take better pictures of their pets at home?
Kinsey Winger
For sure. I mean, first of all, it’s it’s all about lighting, right? Like you have to get the nice light. So different times of the day are better for photos, different backgrounds are better and also try different angles like don’t always be up above your dog get down to their level, take some that are you know straight on with their face facing you. It’s all about trying different things and experimenting.
Laura Wombwell
And practice just do it over and over. I think something that that really differs in pet photography to like fashion photography or human photography is just the volume of photos that we end up taking, you know with with a an unpredictable subject, you have to just keep going and going.
Kinsey Winger
I know, I did a really quick shoot last week somebody contacted me last minute. They were they’re a foster mom and their dog was going to the new home. The next day and she’s like, Is there any chance that you can just, you know, come out and snap a couple photos of me and the dog, so she might have something to remember him by? And I’m like, Oh, yeah, for sure. I it was maybe a 20 minute session. And I was like, Oh, that was quick. Got back 400 photos. Oh, how did that happen?
Laura Wombwell
So you mentioned working with fosters, I know, like every pet photographer that I have ever chatted with, loves to give back to the animal community. So what are some of the pet organizations that you give your time to?
Kinsey Winger
Maybe the the KW and Stratford Humane Societies, I’ve been volunteering with them for probably six or seven years now with photography. I haven’t been able to in the last little while because of COVID. So they weren’t allowing volunteers, volunteers in the shelter. I’m hoping that things will change. And I can get back there because I really miss it. But lately, I did a couple shoots for Tango’s Lead rescue organization here in Kitchener.
Laura Wombwell
I know working with rescue is one of the most rewarding parts of pet photography. And it’s wonderful meeting owners and and, you know, helping them with their pets. But helping a pet get adopted is just like..
Kinsey Winger
I know and like going to this the center every week and spending two or three hours with kittens and puppies. It’s not the worst gig ever.
Laura Wombwell
We do it for the cute models, right?
Kinsey Winger
Oh, yeah.
Laura Wombwell
I would love to take a look at your work. So I’m just gonna share my screen here. So I’d love for you to talk us through some of these images.
Kinsey Winger
So this is Luna. She’s a beautiful Canadian Eskimo dog. That’s Flint one of my favorite models. He’s my friend’s Australian shepherd. I think that’s Willa. She? There’s Willa and Alydar. And that’s cool, guys. Well, that is Jax. He’s a new puppy. Oh, that’s one of the rescues from Tango’s Lead, Aspen. Such a stunner.
This is my friend’s dog Rocky. He has a bunch of health issues. She adopted him. That was a workshop with the Canadian Raptor Conservancy. His name is Bruce. We found a den of baby foxes. And I was so stoked.
Laura Wombwell
Oh, goodness. Now wildlife photography is a little bit different than pet photography as well. Did you find it more challenging or pretty much the same?
Kinsey Winger
Yeah. Cuz again, with the light like it was a harsh, like, I think we went around noon and it was just a harsh sunlight day. And you know, you can’t direct where the wild animals go. So luckily, I got some shots that were saveable. And I could edit them to look a little nicer.
Birds are one of my favorite things to photograph. I’m a bit of a bird nerd.
Laura Wombwell
So I just love this guy. He’s so cute.
Kinsey Winger
He’s hilarious. He was uh, just hanging out in my parents driveway and I spent like two hours photographing them.
Laura Wombwell
How did you manage this shot?
Kinsey Winger
So this was in Vancouver or no, sorry, we we went to BC my brother lives in Vancouver and then we took a trip out to Kelowna. Um, and we were driving down this this road and these two baby deers. Were just standing there and my my parents were driving Oh my god, it was like era because I take it everywhere with me Of course. And yeah, they were like, Don’t get too close. Oh, that is my zoom lens. I didn’t get close.
Laura Wombwell
That is stunning.
Kinsey Winger
This is my friend’s bengal. Her name is Lux and she is she’s quite a character.
Laura Wombwell
Adorable. So I see throughout your work, like, they’re all really, you know, light and airy and colorful, but you really managed to capture that, that animals personality. Do you find that taking your time helps to get that sort of individual connection?
Kinsey Winger
For sure, I find that the first few photos that I take I rarely ever use. I find that later on in the shoot, the animal becomes more comfortable and and their owners become more comfortable. And everybody just kind of chills out and they’re themselves. So I get nicer photos when they’re they’re not as you know, like, Who is this? Why? What is that thing she’s holding? It’s It’s scary. So yeah, definitely, definitely patience is, is key.
Laura Wombwell
Excellent. Any tips or tricks, as far as, I know, all the time, I have owners who are like, as soon as I pull out my phone, my animal freaks out and they go hide, and they won’t cooperate. I know what I use to encourage my pets. But I’d love to know, some little tips and tricks just to get that animal to actually pay attention to their parents cell phone.
Kinsey Winger
For sure, I mean, it’s funny, because anytime, a lot of the time when I’m doing a shoot, someone will be like, oh, have you ever had, you know, a difficult animal to photograph and I’m like my dog, is most difficult animal to photograph because as soon as I bring my camera out, his ears go flat. He makes this like, face and so cute all the time until my camera comes out. And then he’s like. So it’s, I have to find, you know, interesting words that he likes and treats that he likes. And I have to get creative with it and like throw it in the air. So his ears go up. And it’s just all about finding what works for your dog. What noises, what buzzwords, what treats, it’s just, you know, trial and error.
Laura Wombwell
and pulling those things out, like right at the last minute when you’re ready to shoot.
Kinsey Winger
Yeah.
Laura Wombwell
So speaking of your dog, I would love to talk a little bit about about you and your personal pets. So I know that you have a rescue dog currently. What can you tell me about him?
Kinsey Winger
Oh, he’s hilarious. He’s the funniest little thing. He was on a Facebook page about nine years ago. And he was in a kill shelter. And they were gonna put him down. If he didn’t find an adopter, within a week. And as rescue organization was trying to raise the funds to pull him so I donated some of that. Some of those funds. I was like this poor thing. Like he’s so cute. And they got him. And then I couldn’t get him out of my head. I was just like, he’s he’s too cute. Like I I’m just thinking about all day long. And he was in the States. So he was in, I think, originally North Carolina, and then the rescue that pulled him was in Pennsylvania. And I contacted them and I was like, Look, I can’t get him out of my head. Like, can I adopt him and they, you know, checked references and did the whole nine yards and they approved me and I got to drive down to Buffalo and pick them up. Well, and that was on Canada Day. So I’m always like he became a Canada Canadian citizen on Canada Day.
Laura Wombwell
Oh, nice. So what’s his name? How old is he?
Kinsey Winger
His name is Diggs. He’s probably nine or 10 I think he was about a year old when I got him. So he’s probably nine or 10. Now he’s getting gray around his little sbnout. Yeah, he’s, he’s hilarious. I love them.
Laura Wombwell
Oh, nice. So what are some of your favorite things to do with Diggs here in Southwestern Ontario.
Kinsey Winger
We love going for hikes. We go for hikes. Finding new trails he loves chasing squirrels. Like his favorite thing I’m pretty sure he has some terrier in him because he’s a little Hunter. But yeah, we do everything together. I take him to work with me, I, you know, take him to friends houses with me. He’s like my little constant companion.
Laura Wombwell
Excellent. Are there, I know whenever I’m going for hikes, I love to look for beautiful new spots for photo shoots. Any particular favorite spots that you like to go?
Kinsey Winger
For photo shoots, I do like going to Huron natural area in Kitchener. I find it it has a lot of different options opportunities for various backdrops like there’s a meadow with beautiful flowers in the summer and then there’s a boardwalk and a beautiful forest. So it’s just nice to have those options. Yeah, like I find cool places pretty much on every trail that I go. You know, there’s always something about each trail that’s beautiful.
Laura Wombwell
Exactly. I know. I’m always encouraging folks like if there’s a walk that you go on with your dog all the time, that’s maybe going to be the most meaningful place for you. Maybe not your backyard but but those those natural areas that you’re always going to they can be super special.
Kinsey Winger
Yeah, I have a lot of happy memories with my, my old dog and I frequent the trails that we would go to all the time. And I’m like, Oh, I remember when we were here. And, you know, this happened or that happened. One time I got stung by bees.
Laura Wombwell
Oh, my goodness.
Kinsey Winger
Right. Yeah. So I, I believe I mentioned I was a bird nerd. But I was on the Grand River Trail. And I spotted and ospreay across the river and I was like, I have to get closer. I have to get a photo of it. So I walked through the woods. And I guess I stepped on a bee’s nest and I didn’t realize it and I thought I had walked into like a thorny bush because I felt something pricking my legs. That what is it? And then I realized it was bees, and I just started running. I grabbed Loki, I was like, go go go get out of here. But I got stung like 15 times.
Laura Wombwell
Were you alright?
Kinsey Winger
I was okay, I was having a bit of a panic attack on the way home because I was like, What if I’m allergic. Oh, my goodness. And they, I hadn’t been stung since I was a young kid. And I don’t remember it hurting that much. Like it felt like my muscles were seizing up that day, like it was. It was not fun. I don’t recommend it. Don’t get stung by bees.
Laura Wombwell
No, as pet photographers, because you’re so focused on your subject, whether it’s a bird or a cat or a dog. We often end up in like crazy crazy circumstances, like being stung by multiple bees. Are there are there any like misadventures that you’ve had?
Kinsey Winger
That’s probably the biggest one. Thankfully, I haven’t had any, any dogs running around. I haven’t had too many injuries from from photography. But you know, I do get, I like to say down and dirty when I’m doing shoots, I’m usually like sitting on the, on the ground in the snow or like I do the surf dogs event for the Humane Society every year. And I’m sitting in the pool, taking photos, and I just I’m soaked by the end of the day.
Laura Wombwell
Excellent. So if folks are thinking about pet photography, and maybe they’re on the fence, what would you say are like, the best things to encourage someone to just take the plunge?
Kinsey Winger
I think just having, you know, moments captured for the rest of time, you know, you’ll always remember your dog and you’ll always have those beautiful images. And so I find it I find it very important.
Laura Wombwell
Yeah, I would tend to agree. Yeah. And I think too, like, you know, we we especially now that we’re spending a ton of time in our houses, it’s become really apparent to me, like when I pass that picture of my dog on the wall, I’m like, mm I love them, and it’s just like an instant pick me up.
Kinsey Winger
Oh, for sure. I know. Yeah. Our pets bring us so much joy. You know, it’s nice to just show them off.
Laura Wombwell
Exactly. So I would love to end off with some quickfire questions for you.
Kinsey Winger
Okay.
Laura Wombwell
Are you ready?
Kinsey Winger
I guess so.
Laura Wombwell
All right. Cat or dog?
Kinsey Winger
Oh, dog.
Laura Wombwell
Favorite breed?
Kinsey Winger
Norwegian Elkhound.
Laura Wombwell
What is your pet’s favorite treat?
Kinsey Winger
Lay’s chips? You can blame my mom for that one.
Laura Wombwell
Is your pet full of beans full of dreams are full of something entirely different?
Kinsey Winger
Oh, I would say a little bit of both. He has his moments where he’s crazy and acts like a young pup again. But he sleeps a lot.
Laura Wombwell
If a human actor were to play your dog in a movie, who would it be?
Kinsey Winger
Oh my goodness. Maybe Benedict Cumberbatch
Laura Wombwell
He’s so distinguished.
Kinsey Winger
Well, he has dark hair and Diggs is he’s a black dog. So I think that would fit.
Laura Wombwell
If money were no object, what one incredible thing would you do to spoil your dog?
Kinsey Winger
I probably Take them on a road trip, go to all these different trails and eat all these delicious foods and special dog treats.
Laura Wombwell
Excellent. So to finish off, I would love to know how can the southwestern Ontario community best support you?
Kinsey Winger
Oh, well, you could like my socials and participate in my posts and like and comment that always helps. If you want to book a shoot, I’d be happy to, to oblige.
Laura Wombwell
Excellent. I will post all of your details here in this interview so that folks can find you. And is there anything else that you would love to say to the folks who are listening?
Kinsey Winger
I just thank you so much for listening, and I hope you enjoy my photos. I enjoyed taking them and sharing them and yeah, thank you so much.
Laura Wombwell
Awesome. Well, Kinsey, it has been a pleasure chatting with you today. I really appreciate you taking the time.
Kinsey Winger
Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. It’s been great.
Laura Wombwell
And thank you all to all of you listening. This is Laura Wombwell with Laura Wombwell Photography. I’m here with Kinsey Winger of Kinsey Winger Photography and we both hope that you and your pets have an awesome day. Bye!
Kinsey Winger
Bye!
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