Reading the Dog

With more than 15,000 dog portraits behind him, Kevin Sarasom knows that the secret to a great image starts long before the camera comes out. It’s about energy, patience and knowing when to step in and when to let a dog come to you. From his fashion and filmmaking background to his instinctive way of working with animals, Kevin Sarasom has built a distinctive visual language that puts personality and connection first. Here, he talks about what dogs have taught him, why every shoot is different, and why, after 15,000 portraits, it still never gets old.

You’ve photographed 15,000+ dogs. What have they taught you?

Kevin Sarasom: "Energy takes priority. Patience is key. Every dog is different, and you have to be able to read them the moment they walk into the studio. Some dogs are ready to go immediately, while others need time to settle in and figure out who you are. After 15,000+ dogs, I’ve learned that you can’t force it. You have to be patient, pay attention, and work with the dog in front of you. When you understand their energy, everything else becomes much easier."

It’s really about reading the dog and meeting them where they are. Once they trust you and you’re speaking their language, their personality just comes out naturally.

Kevin combines the precision of fashion photography with the spontaneity of working with animals.

How do you capture a dog’s true personality?

Kevin Sarasom: "You gotta get on their level. I’m instantly on the ground when a dog comes into the studio. You can feel a dog’s presence the moment they walk through the door, and you have to match it. If they’re standoffish, I’m not going to jump in their face. I’ll give them space and let them come to me. If they jump in my face, then I’m jumping in their face right back and we’re going to have fun! It’s really about reading the dog and meeting them where they are. Once they trust you and you’re speaking their language, their personality just comes out naturally."

Getting on their level: Kevin meets every dog on its own terms.

If the dog had fun, the owners had fun, and we created some incredible images along the way, that’s a successful shoot to me.

After photographing more than 15,000 dogs, Kevin still approaches every encounter with the same curiosity.

What makes a dog portrait truly special?

Kevin Sarasom: "As long as the dog is having fun and the lighting is on point, I’m happy. For me, it’s not always about getting the perfect photograph. It’s about the entire experience of the shoot. Sometimes the experience the dog and their owner have with me is just as important as the final images. I want everyone to leave the studio having had a great time. If the dog had fun, the owners had fun, and we created some incredible images along the way, that’s a successful shoot to me."

But dogs are still dogs, and they’re going to do whatever they want.

The most memorable portraits happen when instinct takes over and the dog is free to be itself.

How has your fashion background shaped your work with dogs?

Kevin Sarasom: "My background in fashion and filmmaking definitely shaped the way I photograph dogs. It gave me a strong foundation in lighting, composition, movement, storytelling, and creating a more refined visual style. I think that background helped me approach dog photography differently and gave my work a level of polish and refinement that you didn’t see as much in the dog photography space when I started. But dogs are still dogs, and they’re going to do whatever they want. So I combine that refined, intentional approach with the spontaneity of working with animals. That’s where a lot of the fun comes from."

No two dogs—and no two sessions—are ever quite the same.

Through his portraits, Kevin celebrates dogs as individuals with personalities, stories and presence.

After 15,000+ dogs, what still fascinates you?

Kevin Sarasom: "Honestly? Everything. After 15,000+ dogs, I still get excited to meet every single one. Every dog that walks into the studio is different, and every shoot brings something new. And every single time I pick up my camera and photograph a dog, I still get that feeling. That high never goes away. I love what I do. I genuinely feel incredibly lucky to have built a life where I get to spend my days meeting amazing dogs, creating images, and doing something that I absolutely love. It never gets old. I love my life."

I think Canine Society is important because it shows dogs as individuals, not just as pets. They have their own personalities, stories, relationships, and their own place in our lives. Thank you for documenting that.

More than a perfect photograph, every shoot is about creating an experience both dog and owner can enjoy.

Why do you think a magazine like Canine Society is important today?

Kevin Sarasom: "I think Canine Society is important because it shows dogs as individuals, not just as pets. They have their own personalities, stories, relationships, and their own place in our lives. Thank you for documenting that. I also love a good collaboration that helps spread awareness of just how awesome dogs are and what’s happening in the dog world. There are so many incredible people, brands, organizations, stories, and things happening around dogs, and I think it’s important to celebrate and share that. At the end of the day, anything that helps people appreciate dogs a little more is something I’m happy to be part of."