When Gina Soule tells you she spends her days photographing dogs, it’s not just the cute ones or the well-trained ones. It’s all of them: wobbly puppies, high-energy rescues, semi-feral street dogs, and wise old companions nearing the end of their lives. “There’s no such thing as too wild or too untrained,” she says. “You just embrace dogs for who they are.”
By day, Soule is a practicing physician associate in orthopedic surgery. But after hours and on weekends, she steps into the woods, onto beaches, and into meadows across Maine with her camera in hand and a leash in the other. Her photos are full of motion, magic, and the unmistakable personality of each pup she meets.
Soule’s path to pet photography wasn’t exactly linear. “I got into undergrad on an art scholarship,” she says, “but decided that art wasn’t going to be my career.” After shifting to pre-vet and ultimately pursuing medicine, she found herself years later asking the big question: Is this really it? She bought a camera, taught herself the technical stuff via YouTube, and, naturally, pointed the lens at her own rescue dog, Peanut. “She’s a good girl—she likes posing,” Soule laughs. That first sunset session sparked something, and the hobby quickly snowballed into a second career. Today, Soule and her long-term partner, Alex (a cardiology fellow), run the business together. “It’s kind of a weird double life,” she says. “Hospital to dogs.”
While her portraits feature ethereal sunsets, sharp details, perfect fur fluffs, what sets Soule apart is her process. Every session starts with a planning call where she learns about the dog’s personality, quirks, likes, dislikes, and energy levels. “Dogs can’t tell us how they feel, so I want to make sure they’re in a location where they’re comfortable and set up for success,” she says. The actual photo shoot is just one part of the process. “I only schedule one session per day, so it’s all about the client and their pet. It’s like a playdate or an adventure. The dogs ideally don’t even realize what’s going on.” Sessions are completely force-free, guided by praise, toys, and favorite treats. And if you’re worried about your dog bolting off? No stress—most of the dogs in her portraits are on leash. “I just edit them out afterward,” she adds casually. “Honestly, there are no dogs that are too crazy or too untrained. I’ve photographed everything from shelter dogs who were pulled off the street to champion obedience dogs who have traveled all over.” It’s all about embracing the pups for who they truly are.
After the shoot comes the reveal, a custom design session where Soule helps clients visualize their dog’s portraits as finished works of art, including mockups on the walls of their home. “There’s a big interior design aspect to what I do,” she says. “Your pet’s portraits shouldn’t just sit in the cloud. They should be tangible, something that brings a smile every time you walk by.” That’s especially true for older dogs. Soule often photographs pets at the end of their lives, including three in one recent week. “They’re hard,” she admits, “but incredibly meaningful. These may be the last—or the only—professional photos someone has of their dog. There’s something really special and meaningful about that.”
Over the years, Soule has earned more than 90 international awards for her work, though she’s too humble to bring that up unless you ask. What she really cares about is the feeling she leaves her clients with. “I hope it just reaffirms how important their dog is to them,” she says. “It’s something you can look back on and say, I’m so glad I did that. I’ve never had anyone regret getting photos—only not getting them sooner.” As for the right time? Soule says, “The right time is now.”