Courtney Bryson - Member Spotlight
Mar 03, 2026
I’m Courtney, a professional dog and equine photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia. I specialize in creating albums and wall art that showcase the deep relationships people share with their animals. Outside of photography, my wife and I run a nonprofit rescue for medically fragile Boston Terriers, Pugs, and French Bulldogs, so my life is filled with dogs. For me, photography isn’t just about pretty pictures - it’s about creating artwork that recognizes our animals as true family and celebrates the relationships that define our lives - showcasing that relationship in artwork that gives them the same pride of place as any family portrait
Tell us a bit about you?
I run my pet photography business as my only job, but work part time hours to accommodate my volunteer hours with the nonprofit rescue for medically fragile Boston Terriers, Pugs, and French Bulldogs my wife & I founded in 2014. At home on our small farm, we share life with dogs, goats, pigs, donkeys, a horse, and a cat. In my spare time, I love kayaking, playing pickleball, and simply being outside with the animals.
Why did you start photographing pets?
Pets have always come first in my life. As a little girl I dreamed of working with animals, but didn't want to be a vet - which was the only "real" job I could think of to work with animals. Instead I got a business degree and worked in luxury marketing for 15 years and I started fostering animals. Part of my marketing job included creating a national direct mail magazine and I took what I learned about selling from a photo to my foster dogs - photographing them in ways to showcase their personality and get them adopted. In 2018 I officially started taking dog photography clients professionally and quit my day job in 2020.
I have several pets that have defined my life. My first, Ginger, was a horse gifted to me for my 4th birthday. Ginger and I spent 30+ years together - the longest relationship of my life. My childhood was shaped by that love for horses. In 2013 I took a photograph of our dog Willa. Something about that photo shifted something in me - it wasn't just a photo of a dog, it was a photo that WAS Willa. I realized how a single photo could capture exactly who she was and I was hooked on photographing dogs beyond just my foster dogs. Most recently was Lira. Lira was born here at my house in 2016 after her mom was surrendered shortly before giving birth. The relationship I shared with Lira goes beyond dog & owner. She was truly my daughter. Lira is everywhere in my brand from my logo to my colors to the first images I ever entered into competition. Losing Lira on September 2nd 2025 has split my life into 2 parts - and has made me even more committed to photographing my client's dogs because I know just how much those photos mean.
What camera and lenses do you most often use?
I use a Nikon Z8 primarily with a Z7ii as my backup body. I use my Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 90% of the time, and then a Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 for 8% - and the last 2% is my 100mm macro lens.
As much as I love my "fancy" camera, I built my business with a Nikon D3200 & a 50mm f/1.8 lens.
What’s one thing in your camera bag you can’t live without?
I've narrowed down what I carry to each session the longer I have been in business. Other than my camera, lens, and expo disc the only other thing I always carry are some animal hunting calls for getting attention.
What’s the best thing about being a pet photographer?
The dogs. The dogs are the best part about being a pet photographer. That moment where I get the image that seems to perfectly be them and we have this moment of connection through the lens - that's what keeps me coming back.
How would you describe your style?
My style is true to color, warm, & rich in both tone & emotion. My images lean toward clean, classic portraiture that I hope feels like they're meant to live on a wall or in an album. I love the classic paintings of animals and I want my work to feel like that.
What is your proudest achievement as a pet photographer?
I’ve been honored to have my work featured in national media like The Dodo & Bored Panda, shown in magazines & newspapers, interviewed on podcasts, and to won multiple awards through professional photography competitions. But honestly, the moments that feel most meaningful are when a client tells me their artwork has become one of their most treasured possessions—that they cried when they opened their album or how they smile when they walk past their portrait on the wall or that having these photos made it feel like their dog was still there.
What are your photography goals for the future?
In the next year, I want to continue refining my client experience and making sure every family I work with walks away with finished artwork—albums and wall art that truly celebrate their dogs as family.
Looking further ahead, in five years my goal is to be semi-retired, photographing dogs in beautiful places simply for the joy of it. I envision spending more time creating images of adoptable dogs to help them find homes, while my business supports me in choosing only the projects and clients that inspire me most. I also see myself mentoring other photographers, helping them build profitable, sustainable businesses so they can experience the same freedom and fulfillment that I’ve found.
What do you do to cultivate and nurture your creativity?
Years ago we fostered a terminally ill puppy with encephalitis. It was incredibly hard to pour as much love and life as we could into her knowing we had only a short time with her. Her name was Boogie and we created Boogie's Bucket List for her. I photographed her having as many experiences as we possibly could and when she passed I turned those photos into a fundraising book project. All the funds went towards canine neurological research at the local university veterinary teaching hospital to help other dogs like Boogie. Those photos were not technically great - I had only been photographing dogs for a short time, but the impact those images had on our rescue community and the ability to tell Boogie's story through photos shifted something forever in me in the way I see the things our dogs can teach us.
What specific skills have improved since being an Unleashed Education member?
Since joining Unleashed Education, I’ve grown tremendously as a photographer. The courses have deepened my technical knowledge and given me new tools to approach dog photography with more confidence. The Embark, Emerge, and Empower challenges have pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me experiment with new techniques, compositions, and storytelling approaches. The photo feedback and labs have been especially valuable—I’ve learned to see details I would have missed before and to refine my work with a more critical, artistic eye. Overall, my skills have sharpened in everything from lighting and posing to editing and final presentation, and I can see the impact directly in the quality of artwork I create for my clients.
What's your favourite thing about being an Unleashed Education member?
It would be impossible to pick just one thing as my favorite about Unleashed Education. The courses & calls would have to be at the top the list, but there is so much good stuff to learn from inside the membership. I joined Unleashed Education the day it opened and I will always be a member.
Have you ever had something funny happen during a shoot?
I had a client hire me to photograph her 2 boxers. The male was primarily white, especially on his head and neck. While I always prefer the dogs to stay on leash - for some reason, the first thing the client did when we arrived to the location was let both dogs off lead. Immediately the male dog took off running - directly towards a large pile of deer poo - where he proceeded to spend 5 minutes throughly rubbing his head, neck, and shoulders through they very smelly pile with absolute delight while his mom ran towards him trying to get him to stop. He had a fantastic time -- and I spent HOURS in photoshop removing smeared poo stains from white fur in every single photo.
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