Yvonne Van Leeuwen - Member Spotlight
Jan 02, 2026
My name is Yvonne. I live in the Netherlands. I am 62 years old, wife of Willem and mother of Joyce. I started photography at 15, I think with my mother’s camera. From my first salary, I bought a horse and a bit later my first own camera, a Ricoh followed by a DSLR (analog) Praktica MTL 3. I wanted to work in the pet industry and became a dog groomer. Years later, I started a photography business with a digital camera. First only dogs.
Tell us a bit about you?
I started as a groomer who photographed dogs. But now I am photographing pets and have a few old dogs I still groom. My spare time? I don't have spare time, my life is all about dogs, cats and photographing, editing, and learning more and more. And taking care of my family. Well, maybe I have a little spare time and I love to go into nature and take pictures and late at night or in winter. I like to watch movies.
Why did you start photographing pets?
First, there were pets. And not only pets, but most of all animals. And then I found photography. My first own dog (for my 13th birthday) was my first model. I could put clothes on her and she was a perfect model. Then I knew I want to be photographing animals. They are the most amazing models there are, with their own behaviour.
What camera and lenses do you most often use?
I now have a Canon (5D Mark IV and a R6 Mark II), but I started with a Praktica analog. And changed to Canon 350D digital. Had a 70D, 90D. Never thought a full frame mattered so much. And for lenses, I use the most 24-70 and 70-200. But love my 100 macro. All Canon. And for my latest trip in nature, I had a Sigma 150-600. My most favorite is the 24-70 in the studio and 70-200 for outside, both F2.8.
What’s one thing in your camera bag you can’t live without?
Haha, I spoke to Fi about it. So don't laugh, we discussed it in private but my one thing I can't go without my liberpee. So I can always pee when I'm out and don't have to search for a toilet. Hahah!
What’s the best thing about being a pet photographer?
The best thing is to meet so many different animals and understand most of them. Getting love from them. Being creative and showing what I see in the pets and hearing back from the owners that I captured their pet character so wonderfully, it's almost alive in the picture.
What is your proudest achievement as a pet photographer?
Ohh my proudest, there’s a few! But my latest is to be in the Top 100 of the IPPA with an image, which is the first of a series to become a Gold Master in the Netherlands. Well, I have to make another 17 to complete my series but this gives me wings to go on.
What are your photography goals for the future?
This time next year, I hope to have more clients for private shoots. And in 5 years, I hope to be making pictures for people who love their pets as much as I do and are a little crazy just like me and let me make art like the picture I made for my Top 100. And have my Gold Master title and be successful.
What do you do to cultivate and nurture your creativity?
I have two personal projects. My 18 pictures for pet Gold Master and they have to be with two or more pets, and in a scene that is painterly and like the old masters.
And the second one to explore my creativity is doing 52 frames, with every week a picture of a dog/pet. And to be creative, I've learned that being still and in nature gives my creativity a boost. There are all kinds of thoughts when you can be quiet inside.
What specific skills have improved since being an Unleashed Education member?
Oh, so many! But the first thing I learned was about natural light, from the course with Charlotte. All the edit calls, I learned a lot! But the Style Lab workshop changed me the most. To look at myself and how I work.
What's your favourite thing about being an Unleashed Education member?
My favourite thing about my membership is the kindness of the whole group. Always helpful. And the Unleashed Challenges - I loved all of them.
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