We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ellen Zangla a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ellen , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, one thing many business owners consider is donating a percentage of sales or profits to an organization or cause. We’d love to hear your thoughts and the story behind how and why you chose the cause or organization you donate to.

In 2018, I published a book, “Tails of Loudoun County,” that raised more than $30,000 for two animal welfare groups in Loudoun County: Friends of Loudoun County Animal Services (FLCAS) and the Loudoun Community Cat Coalition (LCCC). The book featured photos and stories of more than 200 pets in scenic and historic locations in Loudoun. I donated 25% of each session fee to those groups (split between them).

It’s important to me to help groups that support animal welfare, especially those that area local, and both FLCAS and LCCC are. FLCAS is the non-profit arm of our local animal shelter, and they used this money to help with medical care and vaccinations and to purchase enrichment items for the pets in the shelter. They do fantastic work in our community. LCCC provides medical care and spay/neuter services for community cats, helping those cats live healthier lives.

In addition to Tails, I’ve done a lot of other fundraising. Since 2015, I’ve raised more than $150,000, mostly for organizations that help animal welfare, such as Lonely Hearts Animal Rescue and Starfleet Service Dogs, but also for local non-profits in my community.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve been a professional pet photographer in Loudoun County since 2009. I truly believe that our pets are family, and that we deserve beautiful photos of them—and with them—that we’ll treasure for a lifetime.

I specialize in creating natural, personality-filled photos of dogs, cats, and other animals, including action shots of dogs (one of my favorite things to photograph!) as well as pets with their humans. Most of my sessions take place outdoors—except for pets like cats and lizards who may not go outside. I love being outside, and capturing animals in those beautiful, natural environments feels like the most authentic way to represent them.

As a niche photographer focused exclusively on photographing pets and the people who love them, I’ve developed deep expertise in this area. I understand animal behavior, know how to capture that perfect look, and how to light fur correctly. Equally importantly, I know how to capture the special bond between pets and their humans.

My goal is to give clients photos that bring back memories long after their pets are gone. I can’t express that any better than one of my clients:

“I don’t even know where to begin expressing my gratitude for Ellen and the incredible gift she gave me in photographing my beloved dog, Midna… These images are a treasure. They’re a reminder of the joy, silliness, and love Midna brought into my life. I will be forever grateful to Ellen for capturing that so beautifully… If you’re looking for someone who doesn’t just take pictures, but sees and honors your relationship with your pet, Ellen is the one. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

That’s exactly why I do what I do. I’m proud to provide more than just photos—I capture lasting memories and the deep bond between pets and their people, in a way that truly honors that relationship.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I’ve had two major pivots in my career. From 1990 to 2002, I worked as a health educator. Then, in late 2002, my son was born prematurely with significant medical challenges, so I left work to care for him full-time until he started first grade in 2009.

I’d always wanted to pursue photography, and when it was time to go back to work, I decided to take the plunge. When I first opened my business, I photographed pets, pets with their people, families (without pets), and high school seniors.

But my favorite subjects, hands down, were pets and pets with their people. So, in 2015, I made the decision to focus exclusively on that niche. Specializing so narrowly was definitely a risk, but photographing pets makes my heart happy, so I went for it. It turned out to be a great decision—I love what I do, and it keeps me busy full time!

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Because I’m a small business, maintaining a personal connection is really important to me. I stay in touch regularly—whether by phone, text, or email. I also use Facebook and Instagram to wish clients and their pets happy birthdays by sharing a photo and a shout-out, like, “Please join me in wishing Spot a very happy fifth birthday.”

When one of my clients’ pets passes away, I acknowledge it on social media and send a condolence card as well.

My holiday cards include handwritten personal notes and feature a photo from a recent wildlife trip.

I also send a newsletter that shares stories like “My Close Encounter with Wolves” and helpful tips like “What to Wear for Family Photos—With or Without Pets.” My goal is to offer real value and meaningful content, not just promote my services.

Fundraising is another way I stay connected with my clients. Every November since 2015, I’ve hosted a big photo shoot called Paws & Claus in partnership with a local pet business. It’s something many clients look forward to—I even got an email this morning asking if I’d scheduled this year’s event yet! Last year, we photographed over 200 pets in six hours and raised nearly $9,000 for a local animal rescue. It’s a great way to stay visible and show how much giving back means to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ellenzanglaphotography.com
• Instagram: ellenzangla
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/ellenzanglaphotography

Image Credits

Ellen Zangla Photography