Diane Schlichting - Member Spotlight
Jun 13, 2025
Diane is a newly retired elementary school teacher who is reigniting her photography business after taking several years off.
Her greatest passion lies in photographing newborns, children, and dogs, though she also enjoys capturing maternity and family sessions. She’s excited to have joined Unleashed and Embark, has already learned so much, and is looking forward to continuing her growth as a photographer with a specialty in pets.
Tell us a bit about you?
I used to be an elementary school teacher for 17 years, then went off on disability. At that time I had started a small portrait business on the side. Then I had my son and that gradually dropped off. Now that he's 11-going on 12, I want to start up again, but getting clients is hard as I don't have the contacts I used to have when I was working. We have a little dog, Teddy, who is a shitzu-poodle mix. He'll be 5 this summer. I love photographing children and dogs and really want to make this a good business. In my spare time my other passion is wildlife photography, especially birds, and night photography (star trails, Milky Way, aurora and the newly found light painting).
Why did you start photographing pets?
I started photography as a child, when my parents gave me a little Kodak camera. I went to Africa in 2000, using film, then quickly expanded into digital when it first arrived on the scene. Back then my passion was wildlife and landscape. Newfoundland, PEI, Minnesota Black Bears, Lake Superior, both sides. Then when I was still teaching, I took a few photos of a friend's new puppy, then I got a dog myself, Toby, and photographed him. Now, 2 falls ago, I upgraded my Canon 6D to the new Canon R6M2 and its remarkable focusing system. This has inspired me to break out into photography again and re-ignited my passion. I've been photographing dogs since January 2024, basically all free model calls, and now would like to increase my skills so I can get paying clients and turn this into a real job.
What camera and lenses do you most often use?
I have the Canon R6M2, the R5ii, and a huge variety of Canon lenses, both EF versions and some newer RF versions. I love the RF24-70mm, use it all the time in studio. For outside I love the RF70-200mm f2.8 lens and have used it a lot on my dog photography. This has succumbed to my beach work though and is now being replaced by the newer version. I also recently got the RF10-20mm lens and have loved trying to capture photos at 10mm that resemble the images that Kaylee Greer takes - I absolutely love her style and just discovered her last year. Other lenses I own are the RF100mm macro lens, and EF 50mm f1.4, EF85mm, EF14mm, EF135mm f2.0, and the newer RF24-105mm lens, which I got for more reach in studio so I do not have to change lenses. For wildlife/birds, I have the RF100-500mm and RF200-800mm lenses. I do love my gear! I think my favourite lenses are the RF70-200mm and the RF24-70/105mm.
What’s one thing in your camera bag you can’t live without?
RF70-200mm lens.
What’s the best thing about being a pet photographer?
I love capturing special photos of people's beloved pets that they'll treasure. Same with children - it's all about capturing those milestones and magical images that will last forever, even when our memories fade. I love editing images, bringing them to life, sometimes adding "magic" in Photoshop and sharing my work. I'm quite a shy person, so it often surprises me how I can easily talk to dog owners (or parents), and ask them to do my particular requests to capture the images I desire. I love dogs and their excitement and enthusiasm. It makes me sad to see a scared dog, who cannot relax when we meet. I love being able to capture the owner's pet in a way that they cannot do with just their phone.
How would you describe your style?
I think my style is a mix of bold and beautiful and light and airy for in studio. I really enjoy the bold colours of photographing outdoors and love the bokeh that the RF70-200mm lens gives - that's my favourite way to create images I think. I'm in love with the crazy wide angle shots as well and pretty much always use my 10-20mm lens on a session. I like creating unusual and different types of portraits. I find I get inspired by the cool things others have done and want to try similar myself so I can learn how it was done. I'm still finding my way though, especially with people and pets outdoors, so it's a bit hard to answer more specifically.
What is your proudest achievement as a pet photographer?
My proudest achievement is earning 6 Bronze awards and 1 Bronze with Distinction in last year's IPPA contest, my first time entering! And then, just recently earning 11th spot in the Free challenge from Unleashed and a Top 20 in the first Embark challenge. This tells me that my photography is good, maybe good enough to be earning clients. I cannot wait for this year's IPPA contest and the rest of the Embark challenges.
What are your photography goals for the future?
In 5 years time I would hope that I would have a good clientele and be able to capture images of dogs and families on a regular basis. I want to show my son, that even at my age, you can find a second career and make it work. I would also like to win one of the coveted Durham's Best Photographer awards that is done by community voting. I'm renovating my studio so it will be a clean, organized and lovely space to work in for clients.
What do you do to cultivate and nurture your creativity?
I've always been the type of person who gets inspired by seeing what other's have done. Doesn't matter the genre. So my personal projects lately have been to practice some of these things. Treat catching, wide angle shots in the daytime and at sunset (Kaylee Greer, Gabi Kline Leon, CatsdogsPhotography), and most recently I discovered Light Painting in the dark. A friend is going halves with me on the equipment and we are having a blast going out at dusk and trying our hand at light painting/long exposure photography. I had the great idea to try this with a dog, and will be using Diesel for this attempt, since he is the one dog that I know will hold a stay in a practically frozen position.
What specific skills have improved since being an Unleashed Education member?
I've definitely improved my portrait shots, both outside and in studio. I've worked on lighting, and I think I'm getting better, more aware of where it's coming from and what will work when outside. I'm developing my action shots, which I love doing, and have gotten some really great ones lately. Craig's panoramic images excite me and I am getting better at that too, although I don't always do them. My last one is IPPA worthy, I believe. Definitely my editing has improved a great deal. I have used Photoshop since like version 6 or so, but just started Lightroom in Nov. of 2023. The tutorials Charlotte and Craig have put together have taught me tons.
What's your favourite thing about being an Unleashed Education member?
I like all the videos and tips to be had, to learn, but also like the community, that I can share my work and receive worthwhile feedback. I also like the challenges that inspire me to grow more.
Have you ever had something funny happen during a shoot?
Just getting pounced on by a big dog who knocked me right over! And my latest client actually hitting me right in the head with the ball (like I asked her to), when shooting her running dog. Or having to actually sit in the lake to capture a beach shot, and yes, the water was very cold as it was fall.
4 month old Nudge, whom I met at the dog park, last year when I was just starting, photographed for free with the RF70-200mm lens.
A family photo, my family, with our little guy Teddy. Followed a tutorial for this, but pretty pleased with how it turned out. Even more poignant now that my dad just passed away.
Using the 10-20mm lens with my Teddy in the tulip field. Finally nailed the ambient light and flash.
Cooper at the beach at sunrise. His ball is his most favourite thing. Look at that focus!
Cooper in studio.
Moxie, a foster dog, for her End Of Life session and her two house mates.
A young teen and her beloved dog. 200mm.
Bekham, a volunteer for my Embark challenges.
Another lovely dog from the dog park, who was walking toward me with his owner (photoshopped her out). Sent her this image and she loved it. Again the RF70-200mm lens at 200mm, f2.8. I just love how the light filters down at the back end of the path.
Cooper again (he's so lovely), for the Embark challenges.
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