Yes, your dog can do this!

You might be looking through our photos thinking, “That’s beautiful—but my dog could never do that.”

Maybe your dog is anxious around new people.
Reactive toward other dogs.
Easily distracted.
High energy.
Or simply has absolutely no interest in sitting and “smiling” for the camera.

That’s okay. Your dog doesn’t need to be perfectly trained or be trusted off-leash to have beautiful portraits.

As a dog photographer with specialized education and experience in canine body language and behavior, I know how to recognize when a dog needs more space, a break, or simply a little more time.

Sessions are designed around your individual dog(s), with plenty of patience, movement, play, and flexibility built in.

Leashes can stay on.
Breaks are always welcome.
And if your dog has their own ideas about how the session should go (which they will)?

We’ll work with them—not against them.

Because the goal isn't to make your dog perform perfectly for the camera. It's to create beautiful portraits that look and feel like your dog.

Eames

I am so happy that I drove 2 1/2 hours for Five Freedoms Photography! We have photos done annually. I've never had someone who specializes in dog photography photograph us because I don't live near a dog photographer. However, after last years portraits left me sad because of the lack of focus on my dogs (they were the last ones with my heart dog before he passed). I said I would never leave it up to just any family photographer.

Having someone understand dog behavior and body language makes a huge difference. Plus, she came equipped with all the noises and all the yummy treats. The session moved smoothly. Joanne was professional, thorough and thoughtful. From start to finish. We even did a zoom call to go over all our goals for the session as well as fact and personality traits about my dog. It wasn't just a portrait session, it was an experience. My heart is bursting with happiness at my gallery and I can't wait for printed products! Especially an album, swoon! I think I might just cry; tears of joy, of course!

-Jennifer W
Swansboro, NC

Milo & Bandit

From start to finish, working with Joanne was an absolutely incredible experience. Calling it a “photo session” doesn’t even do it justice. It truly felt like a white-glove experience every step of the way.

I brought both my 10-week-old Golden Retriever puppy and my 7-year-old Golden Retriever, and I was honestly amazed at Joanne’s patience, professionalism, and ability to work with dogs of completely different ages and energy levels. She has a natural understanding of dog behavior, and it was obvious from the moment we started that she genuinely knows and loves dogs. She never rushed anything, adapted to whatever the dogs needed in the moment, and somehow managed to capture beautiful images even with a very young, wiggly puppy.

What really sets Joanne apart, though, is that the experience doesn’t end after the session. The personalized ordering appointment was thoughtful and completely pressure-free. She helped me select artwork that fit my home, explained all of the options, and guided me through designing a collection that I know I’ll treasure forever. The quality of the prints and folio box exceeded my expectations, and having the finished artwork professionally installed was the perfect finishing touch.

This wasn’t just about getting beautiful pictures. It was about preserving this stage of my dogs’ lives in a way that I’ll be able to enjoy every single day. Joanne delivers an experience that is polished, personal, and truly exceptional. I can’t recommend her highly enough.

-Katelyn H
Cary, NC

Your dog deserves to be art.

Your portraits are meant to be more than beautiful images on a screen.

Together, we’ll transform your favorite moments into custom artwork designed to be enjoyed in your home and treasured for years to come.

From statement wall art and thoughtfully designed galleries to handcrafted albums and keepsake pieces, I’ll guide you through choosing the artwork that best fits your images, your home, and the way you want to remember your dog.

You don’t need to know exactly what you want before your session. We’ll plan with the end result in mind and make choosing your artwork simple, personal, and completely tailored to you.

Willie & Charlie

I knew of Five Freedoms from my sister-in-law, who'd worked with Joanne numerous times and recommended her to everyone she knew. I decided to book a session with my husband and our two dogs for his birthday. As DINKs, this shoot was our version of family photos that we'd get to put on display in our home, so we wanted them to be awesome!

Joanne was extremely communicative, following up with us about a planning call, confirmations of date/time, and wanting to know all the details about our dogs!

Our girl can be a bit rowdy but Joanne was very reassuring about her experience and understanding of all kinds of pups. The entire process felt effortless on our end and the shoot itself was so much fun! Joanne was able to capture the different personalities and quirks of our dogs so well. Totally worth it and would definitely recommend!

-Gray + Alec L
Raleigh, NC

Mocha

We had the best experience with Joanne from the time we first met to introduce Mocha to her two years ago, till the day we got our photos done. She was always there answering our questions, accommodating our schedule changes due to circumstances out of our control.

But more importantly, she genuinely cared to make our session a smooth and fun one! And it showed so much more on the day of the photoshoot because Mocha had fun! Uninhibited fun, that Joanne captured beautifully.

I would do more photoshoots as/when I can with Joanne not only for the wonderful photos, but also for the wonderful experience (both for me and my pup!).

—Akanxa P
Morrisville, NC

FAQs

What if my dog can’t be off leash?

No problem! A majority of the dogs I photograph stay safely on-leash throughout their entire session. With thoughtful posing and a little editing magic, leashes can often be removed from your final images—so your dog can stay safe and comfortable without sacrificing beautiful portraits.

What if my dog is reactive, nervous, shy, or energetic?

Your dog is welcome exactly as they are. With plenty of experience in canine body language and behavior, I’ll tailor the session to your dog’s individual needs, comfort level, and boundaries. We’ll choose an appropriate environment, give them plenty of space and breaks, and move entirely at their pace—never forcing an interaction or pose that makes them uncomfortable.

Can I be in the photos with my dog?

We encourage it! While your dog may be the star of the show, I always want pet parents to step in front of the camera, too, if they are comfortable. The connection you share is an important part of your dog’s story, and we’ll create a beautiful mix of portraits of your dog on their own and meaningful images of you together.

Absolutely! Your session can include multiple dogs in the same household, and we’ll create a variety of portraits of them individually and together. We’ll plan the session around your dog’s personality and needs, allowing plenty of time and flexibility to make sure everyone has a comfortable, enjoyable experience.

What happens if the weather doesn’t cooperate?

Ready to turn your dog into art?

If you've been thinking about creating something meaningful with your dog, I'd love to hear about them and help you plan an experience that's uniquely yours.