This Woman Chose a Career Centered Around Dogs, and She’s Never Looked Back – So Touching!

pug in a field

How incredible is it that Jenny Karlsson was able to follow her dreams and become a pet photographer?! At first, she didn't even think it was possible, so she used her photography skills at other events such as weddings. Later she knew something needed to change, so she saved up money and eventually became a pet photographer.

Today there is nothing she loves more. In fact, she is encouraging others that they too can have a career that's centered around animals! Read Jenny's tips on how to get there below from Career 2.0 and never give up on your doggy career!

Jenny Karlsson is a pet photographer based in Pittsburgh. She shared her professional and personal journey from scientific research to photography with Career 2.0.

I’ve always loved nature and animals.

Once in Pittsburgh, I was offered a full-time position as a research specialist taking images, making movies of cells and tissues, and quantitating the response to different compounds.

I took up photography as a much-needed creative outlet when I wasn’t working or studying. I was mostly photographing still life and participating in photography forums such as Flickr until I came across a lifestyle dog photographer in Seattle … it blew my mind that pet photography could be a career. And, even though I shelved the idea for a while, my dream remained constant.

When I wasn’t working or studying, all my free time was given over to photography and building a client base.

In the months before quitting, my husband and I went over all our personal expenses and reduced our spending, treating my salary as if it didn’t exist.

Although my ultimate dream was to become a pet photographer, I didn’t believe it would be possible to make a living if I specialized in animals. Talk about mental roadblock.

With the help of an amazing business coach, I started re-shaping my business, changing my message, and aligning my passion with why I had started my business in the first place.

And in the end, saying I’m a pet photographer always results in interesting conversations. For the record, I hate snakes and only photograph dogs, cats, and rabbits.

Tips from Jenny Karlsson

• Design a life and business that makes you happy. Choose to do the things that are aligned with who you are as a person, and what excites you.
• Run the numbers and figure out how much you need to cover your personal and business expenses for a certain amount of time.
• No matter how much you plan and prepare for it, you’ll never be completely ready or find the perfect moment to quit your job.
• Don’t get caught in the comparison trap, everyone has their own struggles. Look at the big picture and be happy with what you’ve created.
• Surround yourself with a diverse group of driven women in different industries and form a mastermind. Create an environment that fosters honest conversations, allows for vulnerability, and provides support and accountability.
• Schedule regular self-care dates in whatever form you prefer. The body has a tendency to hold a lot of stress, and it is important to be kind to it and take care of it, otherwise burnout is just around the corner.
• There is always more to do, and it is easy to sink into the “not enough” trap. Focus on celebrating the wins, and build momentum one day at a time.



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