Wags to Riches Photography is a group of volunteer photographers, not a business. Our mission is to provide free photography services to shelters and rescues to increase positive outcomes for homeless animals. Research shows that high-quality photos of adoptable pets can help them get adopted significantly faster. We believe in spending time with each animal to help them get comfortable and let their personality shine during their photo shoot.
We currently have volunteer photographers that operate mostly in Tuscaloosa, Calhoun, and Etowah Counties in Alabama. We occasionally offer services in a few areas that are outside of these counties upon request.
We have home studios in Tuscaloosa and Calhoun counties for fosters. We can also do outdoor photo shoots. For shelter settings, we set up our studio at the shelter and can also do outdoor photography in a shaded, fenced area. We prefer to do studio photography, when possible, because it helps the animal contrast from others on adoption websites.
What types of animals do you photograph?
All kinds! We typically photograph dogs and cats, but we also have experience with guinea pigs and rabbits. We even have a photographer in Tuscaloosa that is a reptile enthusiast! We are open to photographing any type of animal as long as they are not dangerous.
I work with a shelter and would like to have you come do a photo shoot for us. How do I get started?
Send us a message and we will begin the process! First, we will need to know where you are located so we can ensure that we have a photographer near you. Next, we will want to set up a meeting with the director and whoever has duties related to pictures, petfinder, social media, etc. We will set up an orientation meeting with them where we will review our Welcome Packet and walk them through our policies and the photo shoot process.
I am fostering for a rescue organization or shelter, how do I set up a free photo shoot with you?
Send us a message and we can get you started on scheduling. First, we will need to know what organization you are fostering for. If it is an organization that we are already working with, we will need to get some information about the animal so we can check with the appropriate person and make sure that they do need pictures. If we are not already working with the organization, we will need to get in contact with the director of the organization to review our policies and the photo transfer process.
I really love your work. Do you offer photo shoots for personal pets?
We are not a business or a non-profit. However, we do offer private sessions upon request. All funds raised through private sessions are considered a donation and will be used to buy photography equipment and props to fund our mission to provide free photography to help homeless animals get adopted.
We will also occasionally volunteer our services to help shelters and rescues raise money for their organizations by hosting fundraiser photo session events and donating all proceeds to them. We will announce these on our page.
My pet is just too wiggly! I don’t think you will be able to get any photos of him/her!
We are very experienced in photographing hyper animals. Paired with our professional cameras and a few tricks up our sleeves, we’ll surprise you! Of course, if a dog knows basic commands, it helps us get a higher number of “keepers”. We do understand that some animals do have personalities that are not conducive to the photo shoot environment. In those cases, we will try our best! Our first priority is keeping the animal comfortable. We pay attention to body language and understand that some animals may need a rain-check or change in environment.
I adopted an animal that you photographed. Is there any way I could get the pictures?
Of course! As a special thank you for adopting, we love to share the photos we take with adopters. Photos taken for free will always be watermarked, so make sure to keep the watermark intact and give proper credit for the photos taken free of charge.
I love what you guys are doing! Is there any way that I can help out?
We are always looking for new helpers and supporters. If you love to be hands-on, you can send us a message to let us know that you are interested in helping to pose animals during photo shoots. We will put you on our list of volunteers to contact when we have an upcoming photo shoot. If you don’t have time to volunteer, you can also support us by donating some items from our Amazon Wishlist. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/YRE1Q1TBG1Y1?ref_=wl_share
