Thomas Strand Studio Featured in Voyage Minnesota
Thomas Strand, a Minnesota-based fine-art pet photographer, reflects on a 35+ year career shaped by resilience, curiosity, and purpose. Recently featured in Voyage Minnesota, Thomas shares how adaptation, animal rescue, and black-and-white portraiture continue to guide his work and creative philosophy.
The Best Time of Day for an On-Location Pet Shoot
The best time of day for an outdoor pet photography session is early morning or just before sunset, when the sun is low and the light is soft, warm, and flattering. Low-angle light brings out your pet’s natural detail and keeps them comfortable, while weekday sessions in public spaces offer fewer distractions and a calmer environment for stunning on-location portraits.
How to Prepare Your Dog for Their Photoshoot
Whether your dog is bold and outgoing or calm and reserved, a professional photoshoot can be an exciting and memorable experience — for both of you. At Thomas Strand Studio, we treat every session as a collaboration, working with your pet’s natural energy and personality to create timeless portraits.
Saying Goodbye: How Portraits Can Help Memorialize a Beloved Pet
Discover how fine art pet portraits can bring comfort, honor your beloved companion, and preserve their memory long after they’re gone.
Why You Should Print Your Pet’s Portrait (Not Just Share It Online)
Don’t let your most important memories live only in your phone or vanish in the digital stream.
Print them. Frame them. Live with them.
Let them remind you—every day—of the love, loyalty, and spirit that walked beside you.
Why I Photograph Pets in Black and White
I’ve chosen to create pet portraits in black and white not just as a stylistic decision, but as an artistic philosophy. It’s a deliberate return to form—a nod to the timeless tradition of portraiture, and to the masters who shaped the way I see the world through a lens.