Source: Peerspace
Pet photography rewards patience more than almost any other genre. There is no persuading a dog to hold a pose, no explaining to a cat why the light is better five minutes from now, and no reshoot if the moment passes. The photographers who do this well tend to have spent years learning to read animal behaviour before they ever picked up a camera, and it shows in the difference between a photo of a pet and a photo that actually captures one.
We looked at photographers working across the Glasgow area with a genuine, dedicated pet photography practice rather than a sideline, and picked three whose credentials and pricing we could check against a source.
How we created our list
Our goal is to connect you with photographers who have a proven track record of excellence and reliability. We vetted the best photographers based on a set of criteria:
- Portfolio depth: We look at the full body of work behind each photographer, not just a handful of standout images, to get a true sense of consistency and skill.
- Client reviews across multiple platforms: We analyze feedback from clients on Google, popular booking platforms, and social media to ensure consistent satisfaction.
- Industry recognition and awards: We look for photographers with accolades from respected organizations and industry bodies relevant to their specialty, whether that’s weddings, commercial work, or beyond.
- Professional credentials and associations: Active membership in industry groups, relevant certifications, and verified business operations, including appropriate insurance for working in the city, are often held by our photographers.
Best pet photographers in Glasgow
1. Sara Nowak Photography
Photographer: Sara Nowak / Sara Nowak, based in Glasgow
Speciality: Outdoor dog photography using natural light, shot in parks, on beaches and across the Scottish Highlands, alongside a landscape practice and occasional wedding work.
Notable work: She is self-taught and started entering photography competitions in 2020. Her record includes a People’s Choice Award in the Wedding category at the British Photography Awards in 2021, Honourable Mentions in the Pets category at the International Photography Awards across 2020, 2021 and 2022, a Top 25 placing in the Action category at the Pet Photographers Club in 2020, and a Merit in Portrait from Animal Image Makers in 2022. She also holds four International Merits in Natural Light at the TOG Awards, Honourable Mentions at MonoVisions in Nature, Landscape and Portrait, further Honourable Mentions at the Chromatic Awards, and a shortlisting in Sea and Coast at the Scottish Nature Photography Awards. She shoots with her own two border collies, Altis and Luna, sells landscape prints alongside her session work, and publishes editing resources for other photographers. She photographed a Glasgow march raising awareness for Spanish hunting dogs alongside Free Spanish Hounds.
Pricing: A published session fee of £199, raised from £149 on 15 June 2026, which includes £50 of print credit. That credit now covers fine art prints as well as her standard range. Prints and additional images are bought separately.
Why we rate her: Published pricing is rare in pet photography, where most sites default to an enquiry form, and she announced the increase openly rather than quietly changing the number. The run of competition placings in pet and action categories specifically, rather than a generic photography award, also backs up the specialism. Worth knowing her practice runs wider than dogs, since landscape and wedding work both appear in that record.
Connect with her: Follow @saranowakpl on Instagram.
2. Paws Pet Photography
Photographer: Paul Walker, based in Alloway, Ayrshire, covering Glasgow, Edinburgh and central Scotland
Speciality: Dog and cat portraiture, with dedicated galleries for horses and other animals, shot both on location and at his Ayrshire studio.
Notable work: He turned professional in 2004 and has been recognised steadily since. In 2009 he became the first photographer in the UK to receive a Fellowship Distinction in Environmental Pet Portraiture from the Master Photographers Association, and was named Scottish Master Photographer of the Year the same year. In 2013 the Royal Photographic Society awarded him its Bill Wisden Fellowship of the Year for a panel of pet portraits, the highest qualification level the main photography institutions offer. He has since been named Scottish Master Pet Photographer of the Year nine times and UK Pet Photographer of the Year twice, across the MPA and the SWPP. He was commissioned by Ilex Press to write “Pet Photography Now” in 2008, and his work has been published in China, Israel, Peru, Brazil, Germany and India and featured on BBC One’s The One Show and STV’s The Hour. John Drysdale, author of “Our Peaceable Kingdom”, calls him a highly talented “one off” original.
Pricing: Sessions start from £70 for Paul Walker’s time on the day. Prints, albums, wall art and other products are viewed and purchased separately at a follow-up appointment at the Ayrshire studio.
Why we rate him: A Royal Photographic Society Fellowship of the Year, judged by one of the oldest photographic institutions in the world, is a materially heavier credential than the competition badges common in this market, and he holds Fellowships with both the RPS and the British Institute of Professional Photography. A genuinely wide range of animal subjects is also a different kind of experience to a dog-only portfolio, since horses and cats each need a different approach again.
Connect with him: Follow @pawspetphotography on Instagram.
3. Carrie Southerton Dog Photography
Photographer: Carolyne Cowan, who runs the studio with her husband Alasdair Cowan, at a private estate near Falkirk, around 25 miles east of Glasgow
Speciality: Fine art dog portraiture, shot across a 7-acre private studio estate with purpose-built outdoor sets, established in 2015.
Notable work: Carolyne Cowan holds the ANPS designation and has been in front of or behind a camera for more than 50 years. She and Alasdair own Haughmill Kennels and have bred and exhibited dogs for over 40 years across four breeds, including Best Dog at Crufts, which is an unusually hands-on route into photographing them. The studio describes itself as the only place in Scotland offering permanent sets and scenes built solely for dogs. It won Best Dog Photography at the Scottish Pet Industry Awards in 2022 and National Photography Society awards across 2022, 2023 and 2024. Her site displays an “as featured in” wall including The Independent, The Sun, the Scottish Daily Mail, the New York Times and People Magazine, though these appear as a general logo wall rather than links to specific articles. She also runs a Dementia Book Project and a trademarked group session format called Catchathon.
Pricing: Sessions are highly bespoke. Her FAQ page states that past clients have invested anywhere between £600 and £14,000 depending on the artwork ordered, with seasonal mini and giftware sessions from £99. A £150 booking fee secures the date and is credited against the artwork you go on to buy.
Why we rate her: Forty years of hands-on breeding and showing is a genuinely unusual credential for a photographer to bring to the table, and a dedicated 7-acre estate built specifically for dog photography is a different scale of operation to a photographer who shoots in a local park. Worth knowing this is a premium, considered purchase rather than a quick sitting, in price and in the level of finishing involved.
Connect with her: Follow @carriesouthertondogphotography on Instagram.
Finding the right pet photographer
Pet photography has its own set of questions, separate from what you would ask a portrait or wedding photographer.
1. Ask how they handle a nervous or reactive animal
A good pet photographer should ask you this before you ask them. If your dog is reactive, easily overwhelmed, or elderly and slower to move, check the photographer has a plan for it rather than a one-size-fits-all session format.
2. Confirm where the session happens
Outdoor sessions in a park suit an active dog used to being outside. A dedicated studio or private grounds suit a more controlled, posed style, or an animal that is better off away from other dogs and members of the public. The three photographers on this list cover both ends of that spectrum.
3. Ask what is actually included in the price
Some pet photography pricing covers the session only, with prints and products sold separately afterwards; other quotes are closer to all-in. Two of the three photographers here charge a session fee first and sell artwork second, so get clear on what the headline figure buys. A £70 session fee and a four-figure art commission are not the same product.
4. Ask about turnaround and the viewing process
Pet photography often involves a longer post-production process than a standard portrait session, particularly for more heavily retouched fine art work. Ask how long you will wait to see images and whether you view them online or at an in-person appointment, since one photographer here asks you to travel back to the studio for that stage.
5. Weigh independently judged awards against directory badges
A title from an industry body like the Master Photographers Association, or a placing in a juried competition, means more than a badge from a general business awards scheme with open, self-nominated entry. It is worth asking what a specific award actually involved if it is not obvious from the photographer’s site.
Planning a pet photography session in Glasgow
What it costs
Pricing on this list ranges from £70 for a straightforward session fee up to four and five figures for a bespoke fine art commission with prints and wall art included, so it is worth being clear about which end of that range you are looking for before you enquire. One photographer here publishes a flat £199 session fee with print credit built in, which is the easiest of the three to budget for without an enquiry first. Seasonal mini sessions, where offered, start around £99 and are a lower-cost way to test a photographer’s style before committing to a fuller booking.
Studio, private grounds, or public park
None of the three photographers on this list are strictly limited to one setting, but their default approaches differ. Sara Nowak works outdoors in public parks, on beaches and in the Highlands using natural light. Paws Pet Photography offers both location and studio sessions. Carrie Southerton Dog Photography is built around a private, secure estate rather than a public space. If your dog struggles around other animals or people, a private setting may matter more than it would for a more sociable pet.
Timing and weather
Outdoor sessions are weather-dependent, and photographers who work in natural light often prefer to shoot around golden hour for the best results. Scottish daylight swings a long way between summer and winter, so a session that runs at 8pm in June will need a very different slot in December. Ask what the rescheduling policy is for bad weather before you book, particularly for sessions arranged well in advance.
Preparing your pet
A tired dog is generally an easier subject than an over-excited one. A walk beforehand to burn off excess energy, without overdoing it to the point of heavy panting, is common advice across pet photographers, alongside bringing familiar treats or a favourite toy to hold attention during the session.
FAQs: hiring a pet photographer in Glasgow
How much does pet photography cost in Glasgow?
Published prices on this list start at £70 for a session fee covering the photographer’s time, and £199 for a session that includes £50 of print credit. At the premium end, bespoke fine art commissions can run into four or five figures once prints and wall art are included. Seasonal mini sessions start around £99.
Does my pet need to be trained or well-behaved for a session?
No. Pet photographers generally build a session around candid, natural behaviour rather than requiring posed obedience, and the three here have all worked with dogs that will not sit still. Raise any specific concern, such as reactivity or limited mobility, when you enquire rather than on the day.
Do I need to travel to a studio, or can the photographer come to me?
It depends on the photographer. Sara Nowak Photography works on location at a park or outdoor spot of your choosing. Paws Pet Photography and Carrie Southerton Dog Photography both centre on a fixed studio or estate that you would travel to for the shoot, and in both cases again for a viewing appointment afterwards.
Can a pet photographer work with cats, or only dogs?
Both, though not every photographer covers both equally. One name on this list keeps separate galleries for cats and horses alongside dogs, while the other two work mainly with dogs. Ask directly if your pet is not a dog, since the approach and the session length usually differ.
How far in advance should I book?
Outdoor sessions cluster around the lighter months and around golden hour, so summer weekends fill first. If your session depends on a specific season, autumn colour or snow for instance, book well ahead and agree a weather contingency at the same time.
Great pet portraits start with the right setting
A pet photography session lives or dies on whether the animal is comfortable, which is why setting matters more here than in almost any other kind of shoot. A park suits a dog that loves a park. A secure, private space suits one that does not. Neither is better in the abstract, and the right photographer will tell you which your pet needs before you ask.
If you would prefer a controlled indoor session, which is not the default approach for any of the three photographers here, Peerspace lists photo studios across Glasgow bookable by the hour, including spaces set up for pet photography specifically. You pay for the hours the shoot actually takes rather than a full-day hire.
If you have feedback on our list, our team would like to hear from you. Contact us any time at [email protected] with suggestions, corrections or additions.
This list reflects our research as of July 2026.
