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Pet Photography Melbourne

remember them furever

Pet Photography Sessions

because they are not just pets!

Our pets walk beside us through many chapters of life. Maybe it’s just you and your loyal fur baby sharing every adventure, or maybe you and your partner have decided you are happy with a life with your fur babies, or maybe you have children who have grown up and now it’s your pets that fill your home with love and laughter.

No matter the chapter, they’re always there, offering comfort, joy, and a love that’s truly unconditional. Your pets absolutely deserve to have their memory cherished too!

As a pet photographer in Melbourne at Captured Hearts Photography, I am deeply passionate about capturing the true personality of your pets as well as the special bond you share together. My goal is to create heartfelt pet portraits that honour your pet’s memory.

Whether you prefer a relaxed studio session or an outdoor adventure surrounded by the natural beauty of the Dandenong Ranges, each experience is tailored to suit your pet’s unique energy and personality. There’s nothing quite like photographing during the golden hour, when the light is soft, warm, and simply magical.

Although our pets can’t stay with us forever, the memories we capture will. With beautifully crafted artwork, Captured Hearts Photography transforms your memories into timeless keepsakes for your home – a way to hold onto their spirit, their cheeky ways, and the love they brought into your world. Every time you look at your portraits, their presence will be felt all over again.

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VIEW FULL PET GALLERY

Dog Photography Melbourne

Perfect for pet pawrents who see their dogs as family

Dogs fill our lives with loyalty, joy, and unconditional love! From playful zoomies to quiet cuddles, every photo tells the story of your best friend’s unique personality and the special bond your share. These portraits become timeless reminders of the love and happiness your dog brings into your life every day.

Michelle of Captured Hearts Photography believes that every stage of your dog’s life is worth remembering, from puppy photos to seniors. Having memories captured of your dog while they are young and lively is so important as this is how you will mostly remember them. However, the senior years are also so precious as your dog slows down and becomes your constant companion. Whichever stage your dog is at, let’s encapsulate their memory because they deserve to be remembered furever.

 

Cat Photography Melbourne

Our feline friends may be independent, but they hold a special place in our hearts. Cat photography beautifully captures their unique personalities — from quiet curiosity and graceful poses to playful bursts of energy. These portraits preserve the little moments that often go unnoticed, creating lasting memories of the love, companionship, and character that make your cat truly one of a kind.

Horse Photography Melbourne

For the HORSE LOVERS THAT WANT TO ENCAPSULATE THE MEMORY OF THEIR HEART HORSE

Horses have a grace, strength, and spirit that deserve to be remembered. Horse photography captures the deep bond between you and your horse- the quiet trust, the power in motion, and the gentle moments of connection. These portraits celebrate not just their beauty, but the partnership and love that make them such an unforgettable part of your life.

Unique Pet Photography

all pets are welcome in our pet photography sessions!

All pets are special, even when not the traditional ‘pets’ as we know them! People can form special bonds with so many types of animals – chickens, parrots, alpacas, rabbits, you name it! Every beloved pet is welcome in our photography sessions so we can ensure your memories of them stay alive. 

Choose your setting

Studio or Outdoor PET Photography

Studio Pet
Photography

Studio pet photography is perfect for pets who feel more comfortable in a calm, controlled environment. With soft lighting and a quiet space, it’s ideal for capturing the personality of dogs and cats who are shy, gentle, or prefer a slower pace. Studio sessions allow for focus on expressions, details, and those little quirks that make your furry friend unique, resulting in timeless portraits that highlight their character and charm.

Outdoor Pet Photography

Based in the Dandenong Ranges, Captured Hearts Photography believes outdoor sessions are perfect for dogs who love to explore, play, and have bundles of energy! With open spaces, lush green and beautiful natural light, it’s an ideal setting for capturing your dog’s true personality. The Dandenong Ranges provide a relaxed, scenic backdrop where your furry friend can be themselves, resulting in authentic, joy-filled portraits you’ll treasure forever.

At Home Pet Photography

Using your own property for pet photography creates a deeply personal and sentimental experience. It’s especially ideal for animals like horses who can’t travel easily, or dogs who are a bit reactive or anxious and feel most comfortable in familiar surroundings. Capturing them in the spaces where they live and play allows their true personality to shine, while also capturing memories in a setting that holds meaning for both of you.

Artwork that brings love & joy into your home

Your BELOVED PETS, right where you can see them.

bedroom interior, 3D rendering
BoxFrameCanvasPet_web

There is something special about walking through your home and seeing the people and pets you love looking back at you. On an ordinary morning, or after a particularly difficult day, the right photograph can make you stop, smile and remember what matters.

Michelle helps you select the portraits, sizes and artwork that feel right for your family and your space. You will not be left with just a photo gallery and another job to add to the list.

Your photographs are created to become part of your home, where they can bring joy every day and grow more meaningful with time.

Real Words From Real Clients

Here’s what some of our lovely clients have to say about their experience with Captured Hearts Photography

"We had a fantastic experiencing working with Michelle for our family photoshoot! She was super friendly, easygoing, and made the whole process feel relaxed and fun - even with our chaotic cat in the mix. The shoot went smoothly from start to finish, and the final photos turned out absolutely perfect. My mum loved them, and so do we. Highly recommend Michelle to anyone looking for a talented and patient photographer!"
Rachel
RachelVermont VIC
"Our family, including two dogs, had a wonderful experience in Michelle’s studio. She is a very patient and calm photographer which is exactly what you need with two dogs running wild! Our photos came out great and there are many affordable packages to choose between. Highly recommend!"
Jeanie
JeanieDrouin VIC
"Michelle was fantastic to deal with, very responsive to arranging a suitable date and time and understanding of my complicated life schedule. The day of the shoot was very relaxed, in spite of trying to wrangle a 3.5 year old, a cat and 3 chickens! She is extremely talented and her photographs are phenomenal. I will definitely be back in the future for more shoots."
Lauren
LaurenUpwey VIC

The Process

01

Plan your session

We’ll chat about your pets, choose the right location, answer your questions and help with everything including what to wear. By the time your session arrives, you’ll know exactly what to expect.

02

Enjoy the session

 This is the fun part. I’ll gently guide you throughout the session while leaving plenty of room for natural moments to unfold. Whether we’re in the studio or outdoors, we’ll create photographs that feel relaxed, genuine and uniquely yours.

03

Make art you'll love

Around one to two weeks later, we’ll meet to view your photos. I’ll help you select your favourites and design artwork that suits your home, so your memories don’t end up tucked away on a hard drive but become part of your everyday life.

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Meet your PET photographer

Hi, I’m Michelle! I have been behind a camera since I was 15 years old, studied photography and visual arts at university, then spent more than ten years working as a camera assistant in the film industry. I then decided I wanted to do something for myself again and began to build my portrait business focusing on pet and family portraiture. 

My first model during school was our beloved family dog Dusty, a rescue Kelpie cross with the sweetest nature. She would sit still while I practised my camera settings! She was my Mum’s shadow and heart dog and when the time came to say goodbye it was heartbreaking. My first instinct was to go through my negatives (yep, back in the film days!) and find a beautiful photograph of Dusty. I had it printed, framed it, then gave it to my Mum – as you can imagine there were lots of tears, but she also put that photo up on the wall in her bedroom and it has stayed there since. I think at that moment I realised the power of photography and how it could keep a memory alive forever. 

These days I combine my professional experience with an understanding of real family life. As a Mum and dog Mum, I feel comfortable working with energetic children, reluctant adults, and pets with very different ideas about how a session should unfold!

My approach is calm, natural and gently guided, with every photograph created to not only to preserve a memory, but to become meaningful artwork within the home.

FAQ

Dogs can definitely stay on lead during a session. In fact, I recommend it unless you are super confident in your dog’s recall. We can tuck the lead away when possible, otherwise I can remove the lead in the edit. For dogs and pets that are very anxious, a studio session may be the best option. Upon enquiry, we can discuss your dog’s personality and what setting is best for them and your family.

I don’t want your dog or pets to sit still, I want them to be themselves so I can capture their true personality! Although I always aim for one beautiful, traditional looking-at-camera portrait where everyone sits still, most of the session if full of movement, laughter and zoomies! This is when your true personalities shine and they are usually the portraits you will love most.

For a standard session I only ask for a reservation fee of $225, in studio or outdoors.

I believe that clients can only decide on what purchases they would like to make upon seeing their photographs, so this is decided during your Ordering Session approximately 1-2 weeks after your photo shoot.

Most families invest between $800-$2900 which gives you 5-20 of your favourite photographs fully edited and in a combination of Wall Decor, Professional Prints or Digital Files. Payment Plans are also available.

I try my best to make the Ordering Session an easy and enjoyable process. After the photo session, I go through your photographs and carefully select 20-50 of the best. I present these to you in your Ordering Session where you decide what purchases you would like to make.

Most clients decide to select 10-20 of their favourites, and I’m there to help you with this process and work out what is the best option for you that also fits within your budget.

If we come to a decision that is slightly above your budget, you are welcome to take up a payment plan to help you.

For all photography sessions, you can re-schedule within 2 business days of your appointment without losing the session fee. Under unforeseen circumstances or when a family member becomes sick, we ask for you to please give notification ASAP, so we can re-schedule. Session fees being refunded or transferred for last-minute changes is at the discretion of the photographer and also based on availability.


Sunset sessions are weather-dependant and you will not lose your session fee if we need to re-schedule due to bad weather.

Bring the love home

Your beloved pets deserve a place on the wall

Book your pet photography session with Michelle and begin creating natural portraits and meaningful artwork that celebrate the pets you love most.

Complete the booking form with a few details about yourself & your pets, and Michelle will be in touch to guide you through what happens next.

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