From a young age, Amanda Rae Linas found her passion for art and animals. While studying art in college, she worked as a dog groomer and pet care technician, gaining invaluable experience interacting with animals. After graduating, she pursued teaching and further developed her interest in photography. Amanda’s ambition led her to become a High School Photography teacher at Douglas Freeman High School in the West End of Henrico. As she refined her photography skills over the next eight years, she also began volunteering at a horse training center, where she learned more about working with horses. It was during this time that she decided to turn her love for photography and animals into a full-time career.
"After considering what type of photography I wanted to pursue, pet and equine photography made sense," Amanda explains. "I always found myself drawn to taking pictures of animals. I love traveling and realized that even while in a beautiful place halfway across the world, I would find myself taking pictures mostly of cats and dogs. So, I prayed about it, and Beloved Pet and Equine Photography was born. I get to photograph mostly pets and horses, along with their people and the beautiful landscapes around them. To me, that's perfect."
When Amanda started her photography business, she didn't realize the significant impact it would have on the families she worked with. Over the last three years, she has come to understand just how much of a blessing it is to capture the bond between pets and their families. Amanda has listened to heartwarming stories from her clients about the support and companionship their pets provide. Additionally, she has been there to help them preserve memories, offering gallery-quality artwork, memory books, photo displays, as well as digital images and video capture. In more difficult times, Amanda has been able to provide support by offering legacy sessions with special touches like paw prints and photo frames. Her clients are grateful for the lasting memories she captures for them.
Speaking fondly about her profession, Amanda believes photography is the art of telling a story with an image. “I love that nothing will ever be the same twice,” Amanda says. “There is always something new to photograph, learn, see, and experience. It’s about telling a story and capturing a moment in time. That moment I captured will never happen exactly like that again.” The art of seeing, as described by Amanda, is photography, which allows you to witness something unfolding in front of you, capturing it at just the right moment. As an adventurer, photography gives Amanda the privilege of exploring the world around her and meeting new animals and people.
Although fun, snapping photos of adorable and cuddly animals does not come without its hurdles. “Working with animals is all about patience and being able to adapt,” Amanda says. To appropriately prepare, she always meets with clients before the photo session to learn more about them and their pets. She tailors her plan and adjusts her approach based on each pet's needs. Amanda offers a complete experience through Beloved Pet & Equine Photography, guiding clients from start to finish to ensure a seamless process. She helps with attire, preparing pets or horses, and selecting the best images to alleviate potential stress for her clients. Amanda focuses on allowing clients to enjoy celebrating their beloved animals while she handles everything else. She provides studio and on-location sessions, which are ideal for smaller pets such as cats. Her attention to detail and commitment to offering high-quality products make her services truly stand out. Whether you have a beloved pet or a majestic horse, Amanda is there to capture their beauty and create lasting memories for you to cherish.
To find out more about Amanda and Beloved Pet & Equine Photography, please visit belovedpetphoto.com
This year, Amanda is hosting the Third Annual Beloved Pet of RVA Contest from August 12th to 23rd. She teamed up with some fantastic local pet and pet-friendly businesses to spoil one fortunate pup with prizes from the community as The Beloved Pet of RVA! It's sure to be an amazing event with lots of fun and surprises in store for all the participants. To enter your furry friend, please visit: contest.belovedpetphoto.com/belovedpet2024
In addition to the competition, Amanda also offers fall and holiday photo sessions, and the results are guaranteed to be incredible! These sessions get booked up quickly, so if you're interested in a fall session from September to October, make sure to schedule a call with Amanda at: belovedpetphoto.com/contact
The holiday sessions will be available until November 3rd, giving you ample time to order holiday cards and gifts. You can find more details about the holiday sessions at: belovedpetphoto.com/holiday2024
Make sure to capture beautiful memories with your beloved pets!
"I get to photograph mostly pets and horses, along with their people and the beautiful landscapes around them. To me, that's perfect." - Amanda Rae Linas
"There is always something new to photograph, learn, see, and experience. It’s about telling a story and capturing a moment in time.” - Amanda Rae Linas