We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Coakley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Ashley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
My husband and I adopted our rescue dogs in 2020, a White German Shepherd named Luna and a Husky mix named Arwen. Soon after rescuing the two of them I made them an Instagram account to share their adventures. I began to follow dog photographers that would pop up on my feed and instantly decided that I need photos like that of my dogs. I bought my first professional camera that year and immersed myself in learning and practicing dog photography with my girls. I was soon taking photos that I loved of Luna and Arwen. After getting so many photos that I loved of Luna and Arwen I decided that I wanted to share my photography with other pet parents. When starting my business coming up with the name came pretty easy. My business was inspired by my dogs which is why I named it Dog Inspired Photography.
Ashley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
As a full-service pet photographer, I take pride in offering a client experience that leaves people with stunning, high-quality artwork of your pets—artwork they can cherish for years to come. I understand the joy of seeing beautiful images of your fur babies every day because I, too, have created fine art albums, wall art, and desktop prints of my own dogs. It fills me with happiness, and I want every one of my clients to experience that same joy.
Each photography session is tailored to client needs, ensuring the resulting artwork perfectly complements their home. My deep understanding of dogs allows me to capture moments they may have thought impossible, and I fully guarantee their satisfaction. From helping clients choose outfits to planning the session details, I’m with them every step of the way, making sure the session is fun for everyone—because the best photos come when both people and pets are enjoying themselves. Whether their dog is shy, full of energy, untrained, or a senior who may have trouble seeing or hearing, my knowledge of dog behavior enables me to work with any dog, making every session a success.
At home, I have two wonderful rescues: Luna, a White German Shepherd, and Arwen, a Siberian Husky Mix. Luna and Arwen have taught me so much, inspiring me to delve deeper into the world of dogs. I’ve spent countless hours reading, studying dog body language, and learning how to communicate with them and others, all of which helps me bring out the best in the dogs I photograph.
My own journey as a pet parent is what elevated my photography from a hobby to a full-fledged passion and business—Dog Inspired Photography. Luna and Arwen are the heart and soul behind this venture, and their impact continues to inspire every image I capture.
In my free time, you’ll often find me outdoors, snowboarding at Mammoth Mountain, hiking trails, camping under the stars with my dogs, or hitting the beach for a game of volleyball. I also love water skiing, diving into intense board game sessions (especially Dungeons & Dragons!), and making an annual trip to Disneyland to capture a little magic.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
My best source of getting new clients has been Google, even when my SEO wasn’t fully optimized. I recently decided to put more effort into my Google ranking by hiring somebody to write blogs for my website. She has published three blog posts for me so far and my website is already getting more attention.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I partnered with a force free science based dog trainer and a pet sitter who has also partnered with the same dog trainer. I think being out in the community and attending monthly community walks with them has been helpful in building my reputation. It has also been nice having them as friends to bounce business ideas off of. And the obvious reputation booster is building up more 5 star reviews on my Google business page.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
All images are by Dog Inspired Photography.