Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Ernhart. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sarah, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I didn’t set out to be a pet photographer. I was always an artsy kid, and the only “career” that I was interested in and seemed plausible was graphic design, so that’s what I pursued. I always had film cameras and took pictures for fun, going on photo adventures with my roommate and taking pictures of flowers or abandoned houses.
At my first design job, digital photography was just starting to become commonplace and part of my job was helping out with product photography and portraits of local celebrities. Seeing the digital image results in real time instead of waiting an hour for Kmart prints reignited my passion for photography. I soon realized I was more excited about this than designing brochures and mediocre logos. So I got myself a digital camera. Friends started getting married and having kids, and I was there to photograph those milestones because that’s what photographers did, right? Weddings, kids, high school seniors… but there was always a bit of a disconnect. I was doing it, I was pretty good at it, but was it really what I wanted?
A turning point for me was a magazine article about Amanda Jones, a photographer who made a career of only photographing dogs. I’d never heard of someone doing that, but I did find myself gravitating toward the family pets when I was supposed to be working with their kids. Maybe there was something to it.
My partner and I moved to Minneapolis in 2007, and my mind kept going back to the dog photographer article so I searched to see if anyone was doing something like that here. There wasn’t much, but I did find a book signing event coming up soon with Mary Ludington, a fine art animal photographer shooting and developing her own film. I had to meet her. Mary was wonderful and encouraging and a real life example of someone making a career out of pet photography.
At the book signing, a local pet rescue was there talking about their need for volunteers in various roles, including photographing the animals for their adoption listings. I started volunteering for them and soon discovered a whole community of pet businesses – pet daycares, trainers, artists, treat makers, toys and accessories. I was still doing freelance graphic design and was able to help out these new colleagues with logos and postcards and event posters. One daycare was hosting a halloween party for their clients and I asked if I could come take pictures at the event. They actually thought it was weird, but agreed, so I set up an orange backdrop and took portraits of all the dogs in costume that day. People loved it!
There seemed to be dog-centric events every other week – Beer with your Buddy, Sushi with your Poochie, singles mixers where you bring your dog, dog parades, Woofstock… I’d set up a booth with my work, rove around taking pictures of the events, and for a few years I was everywhere all the time. There were a couple older, established photo studios who would take pictures of pets, but no one was doing the personality-filled, fun, modern work that I was putting out. It was a novel idea and product, and I was in the right place at the right time.
As my business was gaining momentum, I received more and more requests from people whose dogs were nearing the end of their lives. The very first one I remember photographing, I actually thought it was odd that they wanted pictures of their standard poodle while he was in his last days. However, I quickly came to realize just how important this type of photography was for people.
Pet photography in general is a luxury item. It’s a “want” more than a “need” and some people still wouldn’t pay to have pictures taken of a dog or cat. After all, they’re just pets right? Not for my clients. They’re truly family members, and they deserve a place of pride on the wall. The desire for tangible memories becomes even stronger when you realize you don’t have much time left together.
As the need for end of life pet photography grew, I branded my sessions as Joy Sessions – named after a service dog whose owner wanted pictures before she herself passed away. Since Joy was such an important part of her life, she wanted all her friends and family to feel that bond when they came to her funeral. Sarah Beth Photography became synonymous with Joy Sessions, and I started getting requests in other states to come and photograph pets at the end of their lives. Other photographers were catching on and I created a worldwide directory of photographers offering a similar service, along with end of life care information and tips, memorial keepsake options, and more.
Seeing the gratitude that these pet owners have, and witnessing their beautiful relationships with animals has made me understand that this is my calling. In what could be seen as a frivolous undertaking of snapping dog pictures, I’m preserving moments in time, emotional split seconds that embody a lifetime of loving care and friendship. People have told me they’ve cried over my pictures of people and dogs they’ve never met, because the images and stories are so powerful.
Time and again I hear how these images are priceless keepsakes that aid in the grieving process of enormous loss. The sessions themselves are a time to be present, to slow down and appreciate all those little things that will soon be gone, to commiserate with someone who’s been there, who gets it. Many of my clients have needed a shoulder to cry on, to share their story, because they don’t have people in their lives who understand what they’re going through. The disenfranchised grief of pet loss means that friends or coworkers or even family members can’t grasp the weight of your loss and may brush it aside as overreacting. They’ve never known a deep connection with an animal, and think you should just get over it.
I love photographing the graying faces, clouded eyes and arthritic legs, because each one of those animals is deeply loved and will be truly missed. I know my photos will be one of the only things left when they’re gone, and I want to help pet parents remember the beauty of their companion, the connection the shared, and how they felt in those moments.
I hadn’t really thought about having a “purpose” before, but the longer I go down this path the more I understand that this is what I’m best at and this is what I’m supposed to be doing.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
It’s so important to find your own style and not simply copy others who are doing what you hope to do. Look to others for inspiration but build on what you learn and make it your own. Practice as much as you can, understand your equipment, experiment with different angles, lighting, locations, poses, and your own style will start to develop. And never, ever, ever copy and paste text from someone else’s website onto your own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sarahbethphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahbethphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahbethphotography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbethphotography/
Image Credits
Portrait of me and Gracie by Katie Fears
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
