NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - “This is exactly where I’m supposed to be,” explains Kat Meehan.
The North Salem resident has worn many hats throughout her life, but ultimately found her calling behind the camera.
Her chosen subject matter is one near and dear to many people’s hearts. As a specialty dog photographer, Meehan has made it her goal to capture the most precious moments in time with our four-legged friends.
This led to the creation of Cherry Willow Photography, which recently celebrated its one year anniversary.
A recent conversation with Meehan revealed the origins of the business, and an insight into what makes this particular brand of niche photography so special.
Canine Collaborations
“I worked with dogs for seven years in pet care services,” Meehan explains. “And in the meantime, I’ve been a hobbyist photographer for 15 years. So I basically just put the two together.”
When she received overwhelmingly positive feedback for her photos of friends’ canine companions, she decided to throw herself into her new vocation.
To sharpen her skills, Meehan completed a 2.5 year mentorship program and attended several workshops and seminars led by award-winning pet photographers from Australia and Germany.
“The really good training is online from overseas, because they’ve been established for more than 25 years,” she adds.
Utilizing this training and her creative eye, Meehan aims to create more than just a simple snapshot. By photographing her subjects in bucolic settings like meadows and woodlands, she looks to offer a unique experience and a moment frozen in time. As such, Cherry Willow Photography provides clients with a litany of high quality, artistic options to best display her work.
A Passion for Pups
“I absolutely love it,” Meehan explains when asked about her level of job satisfaction. “I’m a creative, and I love dogs. I’ve been a foster mom and I’ve done a lot of training to work with dogs. And the photography went hand in hand with that. It makes me so happy.”
On the job, Meehan eschews the idea of being a “shoot and burn” photographer. Instead, she prides herself on setting up and capturing the perfect moment. These photos are then used to create artistic images in a variety of mediums including wall hangings and albums that create a legacy of the pet that will last a lifetime.
She recalled a recent shoot where her client immediately recognized her passion for capturing the image that they had envisioned for years. Before working with Cherry Willow, no photographer had been successful in creating that moment.
“I had tears in my eyes,” Meehan admits. “Sometimes it is very emotional for me because I love animals so much.”
Meet the Family
In fact, it was another canine who helped to name her new company. Meehan’s dog Milo, a handsome Pit Bull Terrier mix, was the subject of a stunning photo shoot beside a blossoming Cherry Willow tree.
The rest is history.
Milo was originally a foster puppy from Puerto Rico who came to stay with the family at only four months old. The connection with Meehan and the rest of her clan was immediate, and Milo had found his forever home.
“He was a ‘foster fail,’” she jokes.
Rounding out their happy home are daughter Emily, currently studying at SUNY Purchase, son Connor, a junior at North Salem High School, and her husband of 24 years, Brian.
Exposure
As she gets set for the warmer weather and the accompanying increase in workload, Kat Meehan is grateful for the recognition her work has received and excited for what the future might hold.
She had been showcased in four different photography magazines and two features, and is also considering a special project involving canine companions and a coffee shop tour. Meehan also recently photographed the participants at the Putnam Service Dogs annual dog show and fundraiser in April.
With a keen photographic eye and a flair for her subject matter, the future of Cherry Willow Photography is blooming.
“I’m passionate about what I do,” Meehan concludes.
To learn more, visit www.cherrywillowphotography.com
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here