Family photos with pets: Monthly cat portraits!
My fur babies,
Yuki & Ekko
Austin, TX
Family isn’t always just people - for many of us, it’s our pets too. As a wedding and portrait photographer, I’ve always believed in documenting the connections that matter most, which is why I started doing monthly photo sessions with my own fur babies, Yuki Powder and Ekko Nekko.
These little siblings have completely stolen our hearts, and it’s been such a joy to watch them grow while capturing their personalities through each stage. Around the house, they answer to a whole lineup of nicknames: Yuki (our white “snow princess”) also goes by “Tiny Tangle Toes” and “Swish Swish Girl,” while Ekko (her Siamese-looking brother) has earned names like “Buddy,” and “My Little Bear.” Watching their quirks come to life in photos reminds me why I love documenting growth and connection for my clients.
Documenting their growth
We got Yuki and Ekko when they were just two months old, and ever since have done monthly family photo sessions to document how quickly they’re growing. It’s been such a treat to capture these milestones and see their evolution (the two photos featured below were taken only three months apart — so crazy!).
3 months old
Our first photoshoot was one month in. It’s wild to see how tiny they look here, especially since they were even smaller when we first brought them home. At that point, we only took iPhone snapshots as we were too busy adjusting to our new “parenting” life.
4 months old
We decided to step it up and do a studio-style session. Ekko had gotten SO BIG in just a month, while Yuki was still very much in the “get me out of here!” stage.
5 months old
As they started venturing outside, we moved our session to our backyard. Their faces hadn’t changed much, but their little bodies were definitely getting longer and lankier.
6 months old
By this month, Yuki had finally chilled out and was comfortable looking at the camera — success! They’re also starting to shed a lot more and needless to say, I was covered in cat hair. (Pro tip: match your clothes accordingly to your pet’s fur color).
Pet parents and fur babies
Since most of the photos so far have been just me with the cats, I have to credit their amazing cat dad, Topher (and occasionally my trusty tripod and timer). Including both of us in these portraits makes them feel even more special — they’re truly our family photos. These fun, kitty treat-filled sessions always leave us laughing and awing, and I know they’ll be the kinds of memories we’ll hold onto for years to come as they get bigger and bigger.
Ready to book your family photos?
My job is truly the best. When I’m not photographing destination and multicultural weddings, I get to hang out with the cutest babies, kids, and animals (if you’re a dog lover, check out this family session with puppies!). Family photos are such a meaningful way to celebrate the everyday moments that make up our lives and I’m so grateful to photograph them year after year.
I’ll be traveling in Japan and Korea this October, so I’ll be booking fewer family sessions this fall, but I still have availability in November and early December. Reach out if you’d like to schedule a date — I’d love to help capture the love between your family (furry friends included!).