FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #180 How A Fredericksburg Photographer Captures Families With Pets
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The best portraits are not about perfect smiles, matching outfits, or getting a dog to sit still on command. They are about connection and today’s guest, Fredericksburg portrait photographer Karen Presecan, has built her business around capturing it, especially when pets are part of the family story. Karen joins me to share how Karen Presecan Photography grew from a love of biology, animals, and the natural world into a trusted local brand for family portraits, pet photography, senior photos, and professional headshots.
We talk about what makes photographing animals so different from photographing people, and why that challenge is exactly what makes the images feel honest. Karen explains what she is really watching for in a session: the small behaviors that show trust, the way a pet leans toward their person, and the quick moments that reveal the bond. If you have ever wanted portraits that feel like your real life, this conversation will help you think differently about what to plan for and what to let happen naturally.
Karen also breaks down what it is like to work with her from first message to final images, including how she plans ahead, helps clients choose outfits, and decides between outdoor locations and her “shedio” studio space for headshots and smaller groups. For photographers and creative small business owners, her mindset is a standout takeaway: network locally, learn from peers, and choose collaboration over competition.
Subscribe for more Fredericksburg small business stories, share this episode with a pet loving friend, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the show. What would you want your next portrait to capture?
Karen Presecan
Karen Presecan Photography
+1 540-226-2597
Welcome To FXBG Neighbors
Speaker 2This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 1Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the story of our favorite local brands. I have a special guest joining me today. We've got K aren Presecan with us. She is with Karen Presecan Photography. Karen, welcome to the podcast. Thank you. I am so excited for this interview and I want to learn more about you and your business. So let's start
Portraits With Pets At The Center
Speaker 1there. Share with us what is K aren Presecan photography?
Speaker 3It's a portrait photography business. I especially love uh photographing families with their pets. Um any any session that I have, I'm always trying to include pets. Um if I could be just a pet photographer, that would probably be my priority. But um I continue to get like other inquiries, so I don't wanna I don't wanna push people away. You know. So I do try to incorporate the pets as often as I can.
Speaker 1So you and I have worked together for a very long time. I think we met maybe, maybe it's been 20 years, something like that.
Speaker 3Almost. I mean, it's been a while.
Speaker 1It's been a while, and so uh you have done um headshots for me, you did some family portraits for me. I haven't had you uh photograph my dog Rupert yet, so we need to get him on your calendar.
Speaker 3Absolutely.
Speaker 1Yeah. So I know a little bit about your background, but the audience doesn't. So share with
Why Animal Human Connection Matters
Speaker 1us, tell us about your background and how did you get into photography?
Speaker 3I um first was a biology teacher, and um I love biology, I love animals, I love life, you know, all the all the forms. Um and I started out with a film camera and I wanted to photograph wildlife. So that was my passion. Um it turned into photographing, you know, kids of friends and them loving the photos. And eventually when my kids came, I was photographing them. Um and it just turned into a business from there.
Speaker 1So you are so good with children and so good with pets. I've been lucky enough to kind of tag along on some of your photo shoots. And I remember on one particular photo shoot, you had uh some tricks to getting pets to uh look towards the camera. So what is it about pet portraits that um draws you in? And I I I gotta tell you, they're it's a special talent because dogs are wild and they can be all over the place. So talk to me a little bit about that.
Speaker 3I always tell people that dogs are like the toddlers and cats are like the grumpy grandpa because they're photo taken. Um I have cats that I've photographed as well. I photographed, you know, birds and um oh gosh, the the flying um squirrels. I can't remember what they're called.
SpeakerOh, yeah, what are they called? Um we'll come back to that.
Speaker 3I just I don't know. I love capturing the relationship, especially with the animal and the and the person. Um I think it's uh you know, just precious. I think one of the most precious photos that I did was um a sick cat in this in my sheteo um with with her person, and she was just weaving in and out of the per you know her person's legs and just kind of looking up and you know, just capturing that love and that that um connection between them. It's just so special to me.
Speaker 1You clearly have a love for photography. So talk to me a little bit more about that because it clearly lights you up. What does it mean to you to kind of get to be the photographer in some of these special moments?
Speaker 3That's a hard one. Um, I I guess it's you know kind of uh it just fills my heart. Um especially when people come back to me and you know, photographing a preschooler and then later on photographing them as a senior.
What Working Together Looks Like
Speaker 3Um, you know, it's just a very um to know that you know people put their trust in me, it's it's humbling and it's um it's an honor. I'm just you know, it just makes me so happy.
Speaker 1So walk me through the process of what it's like to work with you. So let's say someone listening is um is is inspired by this and and wants to work with you. Talk me through the steps. You know, they contact you and where do you go from there?
Speaker 3Okay, so um usually they contact through an email um from my website, or sometimes people reach out to me on um on Facebook, social media. Um, but from there I'll ask questions, um, you know, set a time and a date, and then uh we figure out I'm already planning things. This is what I think people don't really see. You know, I'm already mentally planning things, taking notes, um I'm asking questions, I'm uh helping people choose outfits if needed. Um and then we get together. Sometimes we'll meet before the session, uh especially with seniors or or big family sessions. We'll meet and talk, you'll get to know me a little bit. Um, I'll explain to you what you know the process is like um during the photo shoot. Um and then we get together and do the photos, and it's you know, a fun time.
Speaker 1I love that. And you will um you can have people come to to you or you can go out to their homes.
Speaker 3Absolutely, yes. I do have my shedio. It's my shed turned into uh shed a studio space. Um I usually do headshots here. It's not a huge space, I can't do huge families, but um I can accommodate, you know, a a little a small group. And then to go out on location, I think a lot of people prefer that. They like the you know outdoors and so yeah, yeah.
Life Outside The Camera
Speaker 1So when you are not busy uh in your photography business, what are you doing for fun?
Speaker 3I am obsessed with audiobooks.
Speaker 1Ah, okay.
Speaker 3Love them. I'm listening all the time. I listen as I edit, um, I listen when I drive, I'm obsessed.
Speaker 1And you've got a beautiful family and two beautiful children, one in college and one in high school.
Speaker 3Yep.
Speaker 1Amazing, amazing. And they've made uh great test subjects for you. Yes, they have as well as your pets. Yes, yes. New dogs. So if someone listening is thinking about maybe they're a hobby photographer, and maybe they're thinking about making
Collaboration Over Competition
Speaker 1this a real business. Being a business owner is a challenge. So, what advice would you give someone who is thinking about making a business out of this?
Speaker 3I would tell them to network with other photographers. Don't um consider them, don't consider them competition, um, consider them colleagues and um learn from them, you know, learn from them, um, grow with them. You know, I've got beautiful friendships that are local photographers, you know, with local photographers. And we constantly are helping each other. We you know, grow together, learn together, we get together, we you know, you know, try new lighting, you know, scenarios together, still, you know, even though we've been doing this for so long. Um, so that would be my advice.
Speaker 1Get with collaboration over competition.
Speaker 3Yes, absolutely. It's so important. There's so many people that want their photos done. So there's enough one person can't do it all.
Speaker 1Yeah, absolutely. I love that.
Where To Find Karen And Nominate
Speaker 1So if the listeners want to learn from you, if they want to work with you, how can they find you?
Speaker 3Um, my website, um, kpresecanphotography.com, social media. I'm on Facebook and on um Instagram. I don't do much of the other things, but those two are my primary um socials.
Speaker 1Amazing. Well, Karen, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today. And congratulations on all your success. Your photographs are on the covers of all of our magazines, and your work is absolutely stunning. So thank you for joining me and sharing your business with us.
Speaker 2I appreciate you. Thank you so much. Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.