This A-Profiler we bring you pet photographer Grace Chon voted Best Pet Photographer in Los Angeles by several media outlets. Find out how Chon got her start as a pet photographer, what her recommendations for best dog friendly establishments in Los Angeles, and what her secret is to capturing a great photo.

Your site URLs:
Shine Pet Photos
www.shinepetphotos.com/blog

They say a picture speaks a thousand words. What would a picture of you say?
Funny, because even though I've taken thousands of photos of other people and their pets, I HATE having my own picture taken! I would hope that a picture of me might say I'm kind hearted and know how to keep it real.

What are some of the highs and lows in the pet photography biz?
The highs are meeting new pets and their amazing owners all the time, and actually getting paid to take their photos! Sometimes I take a step back and marvel at how blessed I am to be making a living doing this. The low points would probably be the saddest times – when I'm called to take photos of terminally ill pets. Often times they're put down a few days after our shoot. I always tell owners that the shoot will be a celebration of the amazing life their pet has lived with them, but it's still always very, very sad.

Which animal is the most difficult to photo? Which is the easiest?
Most people might guess that the most difficult animals to photograph are the wild, hyper ones but actually they're the easiest because they tend to be extremely outgoing and receptive to make a connection with me. I try to bond with the animals as much as I can during our shoot and when the pet is willing to do that with me it really shows in the photographs. The hardest pets to photograph are the extremely shy pets that dislike new people and experiences. Often times they cling to their owners and hesitate to connect with me. I still manage to get their photos, but it's definitely much more challenging!

What was your most memorable photo shoot?
My most memorable photo shoot is one that involved 3 dogs, each weighing above 100 pounds, a 1 year old kid and a 3 year old kid. I honestly think it was the most hilarious shoot I've had to date. Let's just say there was a lot of peanut butter, ice cream, and naked kids running around involved. I even slipped in pee...and that would be baby pee.

What's your secret to capturing a great picture?
I take the time to connect with my animal subjects and really kind of fall in love with them during our photo shoot. I usually exclaim to owners "I LOVE YOUR DOG (or cat)!!!" and I sincerely mean it. I think when the pet connects with me in that way, it really allows for intimate, personal photography that reflects not just the personality of the pet, but the bond they share with their guardians.

How do you know when you've taken a good photo?
I really like to take editorial photos that tell the pet's story but that usually means there are a lot of things going on in the frame – owners looking on in the background, something interesting in the environment, and the pet doing something interesting in the foreground for example. When all those elements are arranged in a pleasing composition AND the animal looks good or is doing something expressive I know I have an amazing shot.

Why choose pet photography versus other types of photography like weddings?
I've always, always loved animals. Growing up I was convinced I was going to be a vet – I've interned at the Philadelphia Zoo, shadowed a vet at his practice, and even received my undergraduate degree in Biology. Through a series of different turns in my life, I ended up as an art director in advertising instead. But my love for animals and especially dogs has always been there. It's incredible that I've been able to combine my passion for animals with my love for art and design. And I always tell people you have to photograph what you know and love because photography is a passionate, emotional art form. And what the photographer feels is what's captured in the camera. When I had to hire photographers in my days as an art director at an ad agency, I looked for photographers that really knew their subject and could shoot it well. I would never hire a food photographer to shoot cars. The same thing applies to me and my career – I'm fiercely passionate about dogs, about capturing their bond with their owners, and have no plans to shoot anything else!

I noticed you're a crazy dog lover. Do you have dogs of your own? Why do you love dogs?
Oh I am certainly the crazy dog lady. I have 2 dogs - one is a stray from Mexico, and the other is a street dog from Taiwan. I love dogs because they are so pure in their intent and emotions. They teach me how to be a better human being!

Several media outlets voted you the best pet photographer. How did you react when you heard the news?
I received those accolades during my first year in business, so needless to say I was so excited to hear I'd been voted Best Pet Photographer in LA. There are a lot of really talented photographers in the city so I was very honored.

What are some dog issues we as a society should be made aware of?
Every time I read stories in the news about animal abuse, I get so infuriated. Just because animals can't talk doesn't mean they don't have emotions. It's appalling to hear some horror stories about the way pets are treated – I think it's akin to abusing a baby or child. It seems like common sense to me but based on the number of animal cruelty cases it makes me think otherwise – maybe we'd benefit from mandatory classes on learning to treat animals with compassion and respect.

Have you noticed any of the owners and their pets resembling one another?
Haha, this question made me laugh. I notice this all the time! It's so funny how that happens isn't it?

What other activities do you enjoy doing besides taking pictures and hanging with dogs?
I just got into organic vegetable gardening and it's been so much fun! I also love cooking, trying new restaurants, reading, and spending time exploring Los Angeles with my boyfriend.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Living in my own craftsman style bungalow in Los Angeles with a little organic veggie garden and lots and lots of mature fruit trees. And still taking photos of LA's most pampered pets!

Best dog friendly establishment in Los Angeles?
Healthy Spot in Santa Monica and The Modern Dog in Venice are my absolute favorite pet boutiques in LA. And Grub is a fun place to go eat because you can bring your dogs and eat on the outdoor patio. The 3rd Street Promenade is fun because you can actually bring your dogs shopping inside stores with you. And my favorite place to go hiking with them is Runyon Canyon. LA is so ridiculously dog friendly I love it!

What are some of your favorite Korean dishes? Best Korean BBQ spot in L.A.?
I love Gool Pa Jeon (Oyster Pancake), Soon Doo Boo Jjigae (Spicy Tofu Stew) and Sul Lung Tang (Beef Knucklebone soup). I think a lot of KBBQ joints in LA are great but my favorite is Gui Rim on W. 6th street. I actually just became a vegetarian a month ago so thinking about all these favorite, carnivorous dishes is making me a little sad!

In an alternate life if you weren't a photographer what do you think your occupation would be?
Before I was a pet photographer I was an art director in advertising creating print ads and commercials. If I left the photography industry I'd probably go back to that.

Were your parents supportive of your career choice?
When I told my mom I wanted to attend art school (to study art direction and advertising) after I received my undergraduate degree in Biology like a good Korean girl, I think she wanted to cry. When she saw I could be successful in creative advertising, I know she was super proud. I was definitely apprehensive about telling her I was leaving the industry to become a pet photographer because I imagined her telling me I should just go to pharmacy school (her answer to everything). But surprisingly she was so incredibly supportive and continues to be! When I first started in the ad industry and had my ads printed in magazines, her response was "Why isn't your name on it??" At least now with my magazine covers I get a nice little credit line inside. And that makes her very happy.

How do you feel about the whole Michael Vick episode? Do you think he should be given a chance to play in the NFL?
The whole Michael Vick episode makes me so sad – this goes back to my response on animal cruelty. It is so disheartening that people think this kind of behavior is acceptable, and the NFL giving him a chance to play again only validates that. I'm sad the Eagles picked him up – I'm from Philly!

Are there many Asian Pacific American Photographers? Is it a tough industry for API's to get into?
I think there are quite a number of APA photographers! One of my favorite photographers to work with during my agency days was a phenomenally talented Chinese photographer. I don't think it's tough for Asians to get into photography because often times, you're your own boss and you're the ones calling the shots. There's really no bamboo ceiling like there might be in a more corporate atmosphere. And ultimately, your work speaks for yourself – not your skin color. So if a client is choosing a photographer to work with, they're judging the work and the financial costs, NOT ethnicity.

Thanks for taking time out to answer my questions; do you have shout outs you like to give?
Thanks for a fun interview! I'd like to give a shout out to God for leading me to this amazing career and allowing me to use all my past experiences in my current vocation, and to my amazingly supportive boyfriend who stood by me while I juggled a stressful career in advertising with starting a new photography business from scratch. I wouldn't be anything without either of them.

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This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Ray Lam.
Special thanks to Grace Chon.

Photo copyright retained by original copyright holder(s).