431: Karen Hoglund - Creative Pet Photography

In this episode of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with Denver-based pet photographer Karen Hoglund to explore the art and business of photographing dogs and cats. Karen shares how her background in fine art and graphic design informs her approach to composition, use of color, and working in both urban and natural settings. The conversation covers practical challenges (like working with energetic or reactive pets and capturing cats indoors versus dogs outdoors), the creative flow involved in pet photography, and the importance of managing client expectations. They also discuss gear, scouting locations, leave no trace principles, and how Karen balances artistic vision with the realities of unpredictable animal behavior. Whether you’re a pet lover, portrait artist, or landscape photographer, there are plenty of actionable insights and amusing anecdotes in this episode.

Links Discussed:

1. Karen's pet photography website
2. Profoto A2 Flash
3. Support the podcast on Patreon
4. Join my newsletter
5. Karen Julia - SEO for photographers
6. Shelley Paulson - Horse Photography
7. Cowgirls with Cameras