Photographer of the Star’s … Pets
By Marie Stempinski
 “I’d rather photograph animals than people,” says Ren Netherland. The nationally known animal photographer notes that he can always get the best out of his four-legged subjects. Humans are another matter. “I’m very picky and meticulous in my work. I never give up on doing it just right. There’s never been a day that I couldn’t get what I wanted to get with an animal. I have more patience with animals than people,” he laughed.
Netherland learned photography skills in the Navy and then worked in a photo lab in Norfolk, Virginia. “I started out like a lot of photographers shooting weddings, portraits, families and parties. One weekend I did a big show in a mall. I had to put together a huge display and I was hoping not only to get business, but to also sell some of the photographs. I didn’t sell a thing. But people kept coming up asking me to photograph their pets. I decided I was on to something. So I opened my first studio and right there decided to name it Animal Photography.”
Soon he was in demand shooting large animal shows all over the area. He also became popular with grooming salons, vets and pet stores. “We only deal with certified and licensed people. They coordinate the event, invite their customers, and we have a ready-made client base,” Netherland added. The move to Florida came later. He explained, “The winter months in Virginia were slow and boring. I decided to go to a dog show in Tampa and really liked the weather. People told me I should move down here, so I did. I opened a studio in Largo and had it for 15 years. But I found the business season is just the opposite of Virginia’s - summers are slow here. So I began to work the shows again and to make alliances with vets, groomers and pet stores. That’s how the business grew and thrived.”
 Netherland seems to have found his calling. He has been in business since 1986. His photography graces the cover of People Magazine and prestigious trade journals including AKC Magazine, Pet Dealer and Dog and Kennel and he is featured in an upcoming segment of the Animal Planet TV show Groomer Has It. He’s also expanding his business model. “We’re getting into the greeting card business,” he noted, “making greeting cards with your pet’s picture on them.”
His reputation ensures his gigs. Big name stars and well-known celebrities ask him to photograph their pets. “I’ve photographed Billy Bob Thornton’s dogs and Kate Hudson’s pets. She’s Goldie Hawn’s daughter, you know. I’ve also taken pictures of Jack Osborne’s dog, Lola.”
These days Netherland travels around the country in a revamped Greyhound bus photographing winners at major animal shows primarily in New York, Rhode Island and California. He also continues to take shots of pets at grooming shops and veterinary clinics. He says, “I work out of the bus exclusively for about 8 months out of the year. It has a studio area, a viewing area and a living area. We’re completely self-sufficient. We have thousands of dollars in camera and lighting equipment, computers and printers. We work with a lab here in Florida and they mail the finished pictures to the clients.”
 Netherland also trains others to follow in his footsteps. “I teach photographers how to be animal photographers,” he said. “People pay between $1,300 to $1,500 to learn everything from which camera and lighting equipment to use to how to work with and capture animal images on film. I’ve self-published a book, Pet Portraiture Made Easy, which students also receive,” he added. There’s also a thriving business in providing animal images for promotion companies and handbag manufacturers to use on their products. Daily he receives calls from firms throughout the country asking for specific images of animals. His colorful website, www.animalphotography.com, lists his services, his availability, a gallery of magazine cover samples and available products.
Yet, Netherland admits that being on the road can cause problems. “There was a time when the postman decided not to forward the mail. You can’t imagine the shock of coming home after four months away and finding a revolting mess in your refrigerator because the power company had turned off the electricity.”
Netherland also cites the challenges of dealing with the human side of the owner-pet equation. W.C. Fields wasn’t the only one who hated to work with kids and animals. “It’s really hard when you have a kid and an animal in the same shot. Whatever you do to make the animal take notice scares the kid. Whatever you do to make the kid smile or laugh leaves the animal cold. It can be a real challenge.”
 He noted that there are other stumbling blocks to getting that perfect shot. “People hate to face reality when their dog is really old. Old, old dogs can have hearing problems, they can be incontinent or they can’t stand up. Often their owners expect me to get them to look like they did in their prime. One of my tricks is to have the owner get up and say goodbye to the dog as if he or she is really leaving. Instinctively the animal perks up with an attentive look that says, ‘Where are you going?’ That’s when I get the shot.”
Despite the obstacles, Netherland says he always allows the owners to see what’s going on during a shoot. “They must obey my rules. They can’t get behind me or counter what I’m doing or saying to the animal. But, I make sure they understand what I’m doing and why. When they see the results, they’re satisfied.” He says the best subjects are small dogs. “I love to work with a person with a small dog. You can get them to sit, lie down, place them in a chair…you can do anything with them. Yorkies and poodles are my favorites.”
What advice does he have for potential animal photographers? “I’d tell them how to avoid the pitfalls. I made mistakes for 10 years before I got it right. First, the business basics. Get the professionals behind you. You need a good attorney, a bookkeeper and a tax accountant. Find out what business licenses you need. Get whatever certifications each state requires and remember liability insurance. Most states consider animals property, but humans can trip and fall or have some type of accident at your place of business. You have to be prepared for that.”
Netherland says newcomers need to sharpen their photography craft under the tutelage of someone like him. “There’s a big difference between photographing people and photographing animals. Learn from someone who has experience. Then you have to love animals. You have to love them no matter what. They will go to the bathroom on your table, they will bite you, and they will throw up. You never know. But you have to show them you love and care for them through it all.”
Finally, he adds that anyone using the title animal photographer must be totally dedicated to animal photography. “This is a full-time profession. You can’t mix it with wedding, portrait or other types of photography. It’s either all animals or no animals. That’s what keeps me going - my love for animals,” he said.
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