We were lucky to catch up with Courtney Bryson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, thanks for joining us today. What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

“I love the photos, but there is no way my dog could do this!”

That statement is the number one thing most people believe about having their dog photographed. It seems that everyone thinks their dogs need to be perfect before hiring a photographer.

Perfectly trained with perfect off leash manners…

Perfectly groomed & bathed with not a fur out of place…

And while, I love my dogs freshly bathed and being perfectly behaved (you know, when they’re sleeping)—don’t get me wrong …

… but, in fact, MOST times my dogs are dogs.

Lira might roll in something utterly disgusting right before bedtime – and be under the bed covers before I even realize it, Carolina is notorious for swiping that last french fry right off my plate while prancing ON the kitchen table, Mikey? Well, he’s got his own agenda and often ignores me for a solid ten minutes because he’s got important dog business.

AND THAT’S OKAY.

I build every Signature Session with your dogs being ACTUAL dogs in mind—

Dogs don’t have to be perfectly behaved…

… or champion obedience dogs…

… or even off leash AT ALL.

I photograph actual pet dogs on leash 99% of the time. Leashes are always removed in post processing meaning dogs are safely on leash through out the session. Dogs don’t have to have any special tricks or commands to be photographed. Seriously, they don’t even have to know “sit” in order to get gorgeous artwork & photographs.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Courtney – dog mom, professional pet photographer, animal rescuer, & official crazy dog lady of the family. You’ll recognize me when we meet because even though I promise I’m wearing clean clothes – there’s going to be dog hair on them.

I’ve been working with dogs since 2008 and photographing them professionally since 2018. I have been honored as a Top 10 Atlanta Pet Photographer and have been featured in Voyage Atlanta, Lake Life Magazine, The Morgan County Citizen, The Dodo, Bored Panda, The Hair of the Dog, & Unleashed Education. I am a proud member of the Professional Photographers of America & Hearts Speak, an organization dedicated to helping shelter animals get seen. I hold the title of a Certified Printmaker. I have also garnered international recognition through prestigious awards like The Portrait Masters, the International Photographic Competition, the International Pet Photographers Awards, & Unleashed Challenges.

Most days you’ll find me on our small farm in Rutledge, GA taking care of rescued pigs, donkeys, dogs, cats, & a horse & caring for the special needs foster dogs we take in as part of the non profit Boston Terrier Rescue I founded with my wife in 2014.

When I’m not at home editing photos and caring for animals, my favorite place to be is rolling in the grass somewhere photographing dogs!

The best part of my job (besides being able to meet all the dogs) is seeing my client’s face when they see their images for the first time. There is something really magical about seeing the images on screen and then seeing those pixels become real artwork.

While my canine clients might say all the treats at the session are their favorite part of the experience, my fellow dogs people know that having someone walk you through all the choices and delivering finished, ready to display artwork is why they choose to work with me.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I’m not an artist.

This was a belief I spent the first several YEARS of my career in photography unlearning.

My sister is the artist in our family – she was always the creative. She painted and drew and scrapbooked and created throughout our childhood. Her status as an artist was clear. I was (and still am) quiet. I love working with numbers and technology. I love to read and write. I study everything.

I started photography because my marketing brain saw that better photos of my foster dogs meant they got adopted faster. I couldn’t see that the designing marketing initiatives, using the technology, the writing are require creativity. Photography is both science AND art. There is a lot of math and numbers in understanding light AND there is a lot od creativity and art in telling a story through an image.

I AM an artist. I’m not a painter or a potter or a sculptor – but I am an artist.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

My number one source of new clients is relationships with other businesses. I have been so lucky to have met some fantastic business owners that not only share my same ideal client, but have also become great friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cmbryson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmbryson/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cmbrysonphotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-bryson-a400573a/