Outdoor family photography in St. Louis means working where people and pets feel most like themselves… outside, moving, and interacting naturally.

At Outdoor Pet Photography Services, we specialize in families and pets. Our sessions are relaxed, story-driven, and designed to capture personality, energy, and the bond you share — not stiff poses or forced smiles. Many of our sessions today include the entire family along with the dog.

If you’re looking for a professional family photographer who works comfortably with both kids and animals (and the occasional rowdy adult), you’re in the right place.

$375 for an outdoor family or pet session (or both). Let’s talk about booking your session.

Why families with pets choose us

Not all photographers are built to handle the complexity of photographing families and pets outdoors: movement, unpredictability, bad hair days… well, you know what we mean.

Kids, pets and parents are a handful outdoors… very different than a studio. That’s our sweet spot. Here are a few reasons families choose to work with us:

• We know pets. Years photographing wild animals and birds means we are ready for the movement… the unpredictable.
• We focus on families and pets outdoors. We stay in our lane. It’s not a side offering.
• We are artists. No snapshots here. We create images meant for your walls, not just your phone.
• We are local. We serve St. Louis County and the surrounding areas in Missouri and Illinois. We know the great spots to show off your family and best friend.

Our pet and family packages: Simple, quality, professional

We offer one outdoor session built around your family, your pets, or both. We use the same approach for end of life sessions with everything focused on the pet.

Sessions are $375 and include planning, location guidance, up to 60 minutes of photography, and delivery of a curated set of professionally edited images.

For a full breakdown of how the session works, click here for the details.

What’s included in an Outdoor Family + Pet Session?

You don’t have to figure this out on your own. We guide the process from planning through final delivery.

• Session Planning. We talk ahead of time about your your family, your pet and the kind of setting that fits you best.
• Location Guidance. Parks, trails, open fields, wooded paths, or your own yard. We recommend spots that match your family’s style and dog’s energy.
• 60(ish) Minutes of Photography. Enough time for kids to warm up, dogs to settle in, and the family to relax and let the real moments moments happen. No rushing needed.
• Flexible Pacing. We adjust to kids and pets, not the other way around. That’s how expressions stay natural and dogs stay happy.
• Professional Editing. We review everything and deliver a strong, curated set of memorable photos. Final photos are prepared for both sharing and printing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you photograph my family without a pet?

Of course. Many of our sessions are focused entirely on families. Pets are always welcome, but never required.

Do you photograph pets other than dogs?

Absolutely! While dogs are our most common subjects, we’ve also worked with horses, cats, alpacas, and even birds. If your pet loves the outdoors, we’d love to capture them in their element.

Do you take end of life photos?

Yes. While an emotional time, our clients are always happy they did it. Everything about the session is pet-focused, whether they run and play or just chill by a tree.

Where do sessions take place in St. Louis?

There are so many cool places. We shoot at parks, trails, backyards, and even some pet-friendly cityscapes. Some of our favorite locations include:

• Forest Park. Open fields, wooded trails, and scenic water features
• Castlewood State Park. Great for adventurous dogs who love hiking
• Creve Coeur Lake. Beautiful waterfront backdrops
• Tower Grove Park. A blend of open spaces and charming architecture in the city
• Your back yard! Some of the best photos happen right at home

If you have a favorite place, let us know!

What if my dog is nervous or can’t be off-leash?

No worries! We take time to make sure your dog feels comfortable. Also, through the magic of editing software, leashes can usually be easily removed from photos.

What if the weather doesn’t cooperate?

If we get rained out, we will reschedule for a better day—simple as that.

What do customers say?

“Todd is an amazing photographer! He was very responsive during the planning phase, and arrived to location of the photo shoot early to develop a plan for the photographs. During the shoot, he was fun, patient, and very personable. He interacted with my Gizmo so well, and even brought a little toy for my baby.

Once the shoot was finished, he had the photos emailed to me within 24 hours. Todd communicated his ideas for editing, but also listened to my ideas.

I’ve dealt with a handful of photographers over the years (family photos, pet photos, etc.), but Todd is by far the best! I can’t recommend him enough!”

—Mike Tarticchio

“This was our first experience with a professional photographer for our pets and we could not have been more pleased with the results!

“Todd bonded immediately with our new puppies and had them playing together while he shot many amazing photos.

“From our first contact with Todd through the delivery of our photos his service was professional while showing the personal touch of a fellow pet owner. We really appreciated Todd taking time to understand what we wanted from the photo shoot and his suggestions to improve upon our initial thoughts. Once he arrived he took time to assess the layout of the property and optimal lines for shooting and light. Our dogs were in motion constantly during the shoot and he was able to get many more photos than we expected with the dogs in focus and having fun so we had a lot of great photos to choose from.

“We are looking forward to using Todd’s service again this fall!”

—Robert Lubben

Booking your St. Louis photoshoot

In one conversation, we can plan your session, choose a location, and schedule a time. We’ll talk through your family, your pets (if they’re part of the session), and the kind of setting that fits you best.

We serve the greater St. Louis area, which includes St. Louis and the surrounding counties in Missouri and counties in Illinois along the Mississippi River.

Enjoy some of our favorite photos of families and pets below.