A woman and her brown dog running across mirror-flat water at golden hour in Vancouver, both reflected below, with the North Shore mountains behind

Vancouver dog & pet photographyPets at play. People at ease.

From dogs at full speed to the quieter moments with pets, babies and families. Photography that captures real personalities, with slow-motion video available too.

Plan your session See the work

Pictured: Full Session at the Beach, with the seasonal special

Two pit bulls in bandanas sprinting across a Vancouver beach at dusk

Kind words

“My dog Sylvester is reactive and Sam made this photoshoot so easy and fun for us by giving the space he needed, all the while collecting every moment. If you need a photographer, look no further!”

Anita, with Sylvester & Ocean · @diamondsinthewruff

Sessions

Three ways to shoot.

Every session is photography first: action, portraits and the moments in between. Add a slow-motion reel to relive the sprint, the leap or the shake-off.

A laughing teenage girl hugging her black Cane Corso on the grass

A wide-eyed baby sitting inside a hollowed pumpkin on a bed of fall leaves

A smiling woman crouched between her two pit bulls on the beach at sunset

30 min · downtown Vancouver

Holiday Mini

$120

At least 5 edited photos
Portraits and candids of pets, families or both
A quick session in Downtown Vancouver
Great for holiday cards: book by Nov 30

Add-ons

Slow-motion reel: +$50

Plan this session

A Malinois leaping high to catch a frisbee on the grass, its owner watching behind

A mother and her two teens sitting on a low wall with their Cane Corso and Malinois in front of a blazing orange maple

A fluffy seal-point cat with bright blue eyes looking straight at the camera

About 1 hour · location of your choice

Full Session

$275

At least 12 edited photos
Action, portraits and candids
Pets, families, babies all welcome
At home or outdoors around Metro Vancouver and Squamish: parks, forest trails, creek beds
In winter: evergreen forest trails and city snow days when we get them

Add-ons

Slow-motion reel: +$100

Extra 30 min: +$75 (recommended for bigger groups)

Plan this session

A small dog running straight at the camera with a ball in its mouth on a Vancouver beach at sunset

A Doberman leaping through the shallows at sunset with the downtown Vancouver skyline behind

A woman walking her brown dog through shallow water at golden hour, both reflected below

About 1 hour · Vancouver beaches

Full Session at the Beach

$325

At least 12 edited photos
Action, portraits and candids
Pets, families, babies all welcome
Catch your pets running, splashing and playing at the beach
Great all seasons, even in winter

Add-ons

Slow-motion reel: +$100

Extra 30 min: +$100 (adds a park or green-space setting)

Seasonal special: from April to early November, catch the golden hour at the tidal flats with an extra 30 min and at least 20 edited photos: +$125

Plan this session

Photos are delivered as an online gallery of digital downloads, usually within a week. Prices in Canadian dollars, no GST. Gift cards are available for any session and add-on combos. Pet businesses (daycares, trainers, groomers): choose “Pet business project” in the form for a quote.

Slow motion

The moments that happen too fast to see.

Add a slow-motion reel to any session and relive the sprint, the leap, the splash, and the quiet moments in between.

Recent work

Running, splashing, laughing.

Dogs in motion are my specialty, but some of my favourite moments are the quieter ones — a curious cat, a baby's expression, or a family simply enjoying being together.

Two Dobermans silhouetted against the downtown Vancouver skyline, splashing through the shallows at sunset

A small dog running straight at the camera with a ball in its mouth on a Vancouver beach

A laughing couple holding their baby daughter against a blue evening sky

A baby in a pink sleeper lying on red maple leaves, holding a maple leaf

A smiling woman crouched on the beach as one of her two Dobermans greets her

A black Cane Corso trotting across the grass with a frisbee in its mouth, its owner following behind

A pit bull in a floral bandana trotting across the beach toward the camera at blue hour

A baby in a cream sleeper nestled in rust-coloured linen, gazing at the camera

A fluffy seal-point cat resting on its owner's shoulder while she smiles behind it

A wet Doberman bounding through the shallows, water flying, with the North Shore mountains behind

A smiling mother holding her baby daughter, who wears a flower headband, in dappled autumn sunlight

A woman in a green and red qipao in warm evening light, mountains soft behind her

A Doberman leaping for a ball in front of the downtown Vancouver skyline at dusk

A grandmother gazing down at her baby granddaughter in her arms

A smiling woman crouched between her two pit bulls in sweaters on a carpet of fall leaves

A brown dog splashing through shallow water at a Vancouver beach, its reflection below

Silhouette of a woman and her dog nose to nose on the beach with the sun bursting between them

Plan your session

How it works

From first message to gallery.

Get in touch
Use the form below or DM me on Instagram about your pet, your family or both. Nervous or reactive dogs are welcome.
Pick the spot
From your wishlist, we choose the locations and time that suit you and the season.
Shoot
For dogs, I work with long lenses so they have space to relax and play. With families and little ones, I keep things easy and natural. No stiff posing — just genuine moments.
Get your gallery
You receive an online gallery of edited photos, usually within a week, to download and share.

Questions

Good to know.

What if it rains?

Overcast light is great for portraits and action, and a little drizzle can look lovely. Golden hour on the tidal flats is all about the light, so I watch the forecast closely. Even a cloudy day often breaks into a glow on the horizon, but if we don't get the glow, we can move to another tide window. For any session, if the weather turns to moderate rain or gusty conditions, we can reschedule at no charge.

My dog is reactive or needs to stay on a leash. Is that OK?

Absolutely. I work from a distance with long lenses, and we'll pick a quiet time and place so your dog can relax. Leashes and long lines are fine. A Full Session gives us the most choice of time and place, and in winter a Full Session at the Beach works well too, since the beaches are quiet.

Where do we shoot?

Holiday Minis are at a spot downtown. Full Sessions can be at your home or outdoors: parks, forest trails and creek beds. Full Sessions at the Beach are on Vancouver beaches, with a golden hour tidal flats option from April to early November, timed to the light and a low tide. Tell me where your pet loves to go and we'll find spots together. A place that's comfortable for your pet or meaningful to you often makes for better photos than a popular backdrop.

Can more people come?

Of course. Partners, kids, grandparents and friends are all welcome at no extra cost. For bigger groups or lots of combinations, you can add 30 minutes to a Full Session so everyone gets their moment. Just tell me who's coming and I'll suggest what works.

Do you photograph senior or unwell pets?

Yes, gently and at their pace. A Full Session can be at your home, and I'll do my best to fit you in quickly.

Can I give a session as a gift?

Yes. Gift cards are available for any session and add-on combos. Choose “Gift card” in the form or message me and I'll set one up.

Plan your session

Tell me what you have in mind.

Tell me who's coming, your wishlist of spots and ideas, the style of photos you'd love (action, portraits, candids or a mix), and a few days that work. I'll get back to you with a plan built around your wishlist and the season.

Thanks! Your message is on its way. I'll reply within a day or two.

Instagram: @samroland.visuals

Message me on Instagram

For pet businesses: daycares, trainers, groomers, rescues and pet brands. Action photos and slow-motion clips for your website and social media. Use the form or message me for a quote.

Sam Roland, Vancouver dog photographer, on the beach with his camera and long lens beside him

About

Hi, I'm Sam.

I'm an engineer and a pilot, and I came to photography through wildlife. Herons, eagles and hummingbirds on Vancouver's shorelines taught me to read movement, wait for the moment, and work from a distance without getting in the way.

That's how I photograph dogs: real play and genuine moments rather than stiff poses. I'm happiest when a dog is mid-sprint, mid-leap or mid-shake, and the person who loves them is laughing in the frame too.

Long lenses give dogs room to relax, which is why clients are often surprised by what I get from dogs who are reactive, shy or not perfectly trained.

I bring that same patience and attention to photographing other pets, babies and families — letting personalities and genuine moments come through.

I'm based in Vancouver and shoot around Metro Vancouver, Squamish, and occasionally Victoria & Whistler. Happy to travel elsewhere.

Wildlife

Where the long lens comes from.

Before dogs and families, I spent my mornings on BC's shorelines photographing birds and wildlife. It's where I learned patience, timing and how to get close without getting in the way.