Check Out Sarah DeRemer’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah DeRemer.

Hi Sarah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up taking lots of photos for fun and eventually went to school for fine art, while also spending almost a decade working as a veterinary technician. When I moved abroad to teach english, I stumbled into digital art, making surreal animal mashups in Photoshop that somehow took off and got printed and shared all over the world – in The Guardian, Huffington Post, Time.com. I was not expecting that. But it deepened my eye for editing in a way that still shows up in my photography today.

Eventually I landed back in LA and put it all together. The fine art background, the vet tech experience, the obsessive editing. Now I shoot dogs for a living, for brands, for families, for rescues, and for people who just want something real and beautiful of their dog before it’s too late. I had no idea years ago that you could grow up to be a dog photographer, but it’s honestly the best job in the whole world.

I started dog specific photography when I got a gig doing social media photos for a national pet store, which turned into retainer work. I started my Instagram, and it just kind of grew from there!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, yeah, it’s been pretty smooth compared to a lot of people’s stories. Once I got started on social media I was able to reach out to dogs to model for me for brands I was working with, which let me really hone in on dog-specific photography. And once brands started seeing the work, they trusted me with their campaigns, and more dog parents found their way to me too. It just kind of snowballed. Over the past eight years or so it’s organically grown in a way I feel really lucky about. I haven’t had to do much paid advertising or anything like that.

The struggle is definitely the business ownership side of things. The admin, the invoicing, the backend stuff. I have a total artist brain so that part doesn’t come naturally to me, but I’m getting better at it. You kind of have to!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I photograph dogs. Specifically I work with commercial brands, pet parents, and rescue organizations, so the range is pretty wide but the subject is always the same.

I’m known for colorful, expressive images that capture who the dog actually is. Authentic moments, real personality.

What sets me apart is the vet tech and rescue background. Almost a decade working in veterinary medicine means I understand animal behavior on a level most photographers don’t. I can work with anxious or reactive dogs and make the whole experience calm and easy, which shows up in the final images. I’m also just genuinely easy to work with, and I think that’s part of why clients keep coming back and referring people.

Most proud of? That it’s grown almost entirely through word of mouth. The work speaks for itself and that’s always been the goal.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Stick to your vision and be genuine about what you love, and the right people will find you. I think a lot of photographers feel pressure to shoot everything, but going deep into one thing is what makes you known for something.

I only photograph animals (and their people) and I never tried to be anything else. I didn’t chase trends or spend money on ads, I just kept making work I believed in. And slowly, the clients who valued that found me. You can’t fake passion and people can tell when it’s real. That’s what builds trust, and trust is what builds a sustainable business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarahderemer.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogtographer.la/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dogtographer.la