Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Trumbull.
Hi Rebecca, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I decided to pursue visual media in college. During my time earning a communications degree at Nyack College in Nyack, NY, I was specializing in video production. I took one still photo class and I completely fell in love with the medium. After graduation, I moved back to Toledo where I grew up. Despite still being interested in film and video, I was not successful at finding a full time job in that field.
As I worked some part-time gigs outside my field of interest, I began digging deeper into photography. I spent about a year building a portfolio and learning the basics of running a business. In September of 2015 I officially registered my business with the state.
In the beginning, I photographed a little bit of everything. I got experience with families, weddings, seniors, headshots, maternity and branding. Early 2019 I was approached by a foster volunteer with a local pet rescue to photograph some of their adoptable dogs. I had no idea how volunteering to take photos of these animals would impact my business.
Here I am in 2025. I have been volunteering with dog rescues for six years, my photography business is turning 10 in the fall and I have just moved into my second studio space. (Oh and I have a partner in the business who also photographs and runs the studio with me). My business has become known as the one that works with pets. We have built our brand around the skills that working with those rescue dogs inspired.
Dogs aren’t the only animals I enjoy working with. If it is a pet and it is a part of your family, I am happy to document them. It feels amazing to be able to do something I feel I am talented at and that fulfills me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Struggles… as a small business? Psh…
Finding my voice in my brand has been a big struggle.
The problem wasn’t that I truly needed to be different, it was that I thought I needed to be different. A lot of standard marketing is peppy and fun. After I received some mentoring and viewed some educational seminars, it was affirmed that I could be myself and still have a successful brand. So I embraced the introvert, the sentimental, the deeply feeling thinker and put her voice in what I do. There’s some silly and snarky as well but it all feels like the real me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Having my own rescue dog with a difficult history got me interested in training and breed personalities and I have become a huge dog nerd because of her. That, plus photographing for rescues and shelters, has given me the knowledge and experience to work with almost any dog at a session.
I pride myself on putting their safety and comfort first. We (my partner, Jessica, and I work as a team at sessions) take time to let the pups settle into a new space or get to know us as new people. We learn what motivates them and what makes them nervous. We are patient enough to wait for them to be ready but persistent enough to pose them over and over. We are gentle enough to not use force but stubborn enough to keep trying until we get the photo.
I think what sets me apart as a photographer that works with pets is my knowledge of dog behavior. I understand that every dog will be different. I have problem solved to be able to photograph a reactive dog with her owners without her knowing it was happening. I have played fetch in the studio with a dog until he could try to sit still for .5 seconds for a photo. I have sat on the floor, moving very slowly so as not to terrify a very scared dog. I will accommodate mobility issues, incontinence issues, stranger danger, dog reactivity, crazy energy, deaf, blind and even dying dogs. If they are a member of your family, they deserve to have their lives photographed too. I will do everything I can to make that happen safely with as little stress as possible.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Our website has a trove of information about the types of work we do and a contact form to reach us.
trumbullphoto.com
We have an email list where we announce special photo events and keep people up to date on our current projects.
www.trumbullphoto.com/newsletter
Our socials are:
www.facebook.com/rebeccatrumbullphotography
instagram.com/rebeccatrumbullphotography
Phone: 419.944.4493 call/text
Email: info@trumbullphoto.com
Pricing:
- $250 One Hour Session Fee (Products sold separately)
- $150 Twenty Minute Session Fee (Products sold separately)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.trumbullphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccatrumbullphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccatrumbullphotography
