17 Unique Pet Photography Ideas for Celebrating Pride Month

Jun 19

During the month of June, Pride events celebrate and commemorate the struggles, achievements, and vibrant culture of the LGBTQ+ community. It's a particularly important time to honor the Stonewall riots that occurred on June 28, 1969. It became a major turning point in the fight for equality and LGBTQ+ rights.

Our pets provide us with unconditional love and acceptance through it all. So, what better way to honor the unique bond between you and your pets than with LGBTQ+ pet portraits?

We've curated 17 creative pet photography photoshoots that embody the spirit of Pride. Join us in spreading love, acceptance, and a whole lot of adorable moments!

1. Rainbow Bandanas

Rainbow pet photography celebrates this diversity and inclusivity through the love of our pets. Incorporating a simple rainbow bandana is a fun and festive way to get your pet in on Pride fun.

Bandanas are easy to put on and add a great pop of color to your pet photography. You can find them in all sizes for large and small cats and dogs. You can even easily make your own out of fabric and Velcro.

Wearing a matching rainbow bandana of your own shows the bond you and your pets share. It offers a simple yet effective approach to Pride pet photos.

2. Pride Flags

The rainbow flag in LGBTQ culture represents the diversity, pride, and solidarity within the community. These flags also signal that homes and businesses are safe and welcoming to those on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

Using a large pride flag can make the perfect backdrop for Pride Month pet photography. Your pet, whether they're furry, feathered, scaled, or otherwise, can stand proud amid a vibrant colorful backdrop.

You can also use smaller handheld pride flags to pose with your pet in these pictures. Pride Month is all about being loud and proud, so don't be afraid to go big and show your love for your pet all while being authentically you.

3. Pride Parade

June is chocked full of affirming and supportive events for the LGBTQ community, but no event is more iconic than the Pride parade. A Pride parade offers the opportunity to express one's identity openly and freely. It demonstrates the power of community while celebrating with like-minded individuals.

If you don't have the opportunity to celebrate in a Pride parade in your community or don't feel comfortable enough yet in public, you and your pets can have your very own backyard Pride parade-themed photoshoot. Dress your pets up in their finest Pride parade attire and take them for a stroll.

Invite friends and family to do the same because the more the merrier. Then, take fun photos while you celebrate diversity with pets.

4. Boxed Up in Pride

A basic cardboard box can easily become a fort for Pride. Take a plain box and decorate it with rainbow crepe paper and streamers. Have your pet peeking out through a hole or window cut out for photos.

Making a Pride Fort for your pet shows the importance of having a safe space where they can be themselves. This is equally true for their owners as well.

You can then take a photo with your pet where they come bursting out of the box. This represents the freedom of no longer staying in the confines of what society expects you to be.

5. Pawsitive Painting

Let your pet create a one-of-a-kind work of art to commemorate Pride. Get some non-toxic paints and a small canvas. Your pet can then walk across the canvas, nose it, paw it, or stamp it using these colors.

For example, if your pet tolerates it, you can make a rainbow out of paw prints dipped in different colors of paint. How you style the perfect pet portraits will all depend on your pet's comfort and cooperation.

Once your pet is done with their creation, let it dry and wipe off the excess paint from your pet. You can then pose your pet beside their artwork for a Pride-based pet photography session.

6. Light It Up

Pride Lights can add a vibrant and celebratory atmosphere to your pet photography for Pride Month. Using colorful fairy lights or LED lights, you can create a rainbow effect that symbolizes LGBTQ+ pride. Arrange the lights around your pet or in the background to create a stunning visual display.

The lights can add depth and warmth to your photos and enhance the overall mood of the shoot. You can experiment with different light patterns and placements to create a unique and eye-catching effect.

Whether you're indoors or outdoors, Pride Lights can help you capture the spirit of Pride Month. It creates Pride pet photos that are both festive and meaningful.

7. Flower Power

Adding a little Flower Power is a delightful concept for pet photography during Pride Month. In the 1960s, it symbolized peace, love, and acceptance. Incorporating colorful flowers into your shoot can create a whimsical and meaningful atmosphere.

In nature, flowers are found in a multitude of rainbow hues. Flowers can represent the diversity and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community.

You can adorn your pet with flower crowns, lay them in a bed of petals, or surround them with floral arrangements. Use different types and colors of flowers to create stunning visual effects to make your pet photos truly special.

8. Pride Family

It should come as no surprise that 97% of U.S. households consider pets to be part of their family. Including all your pets in the photoshoot showcases the bonds and love within your furry family.

The beauty of pets is that they don't even have to be the same species to be loved and accepted. Take photos of your pets and how they fit into your family structure. Whether it's just you and your pets, your partner, or your children, your pets are family.

Each pet adds a unique element to the family dynamic. It's a heartwarming way to honor the LGBTQ+ community and show that family is about love, no matter how it's formed.

9. Pride Inspired Outfits

Dressing pets in Pride Inspired Outfits is a colorful and playful way to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride. These outfits can include rainbow-colored clothing, accessories, or costumes that symbolize the diversity and inclusivity of the community.

It not only creates a festive look but also promotes a message of acceptance and love. Whether it's a pride flag cape or a costume inspired by iconic LGBTQ+ figures, these outfits add a fun and meaningful touch to your pet photography.

They serve as a visual representation of support for the LGBTQ+ community and a reminder of the importance of equality and diversity.

10. Pawsome Playtime

Pawsome Playtime is a joyful concept for pet photography during Pride Month. It combines a play session and a photo session to highlight the happiness and freedom pets bring to our lives.

This theme focuses on capturing pets in playful and carefree moments. It symbolizes the spirit of pride and celebration. Whether it's a dog jumping for a ball, a cat chasing a toy, or pets frolicking together, these images showcase the pure joy and fun of companionship.

By incorporating colorful props or backgrounds associated with Pride, such as rainbow toys or decorations, you can enhance the festive atmosphere of the photoshoot. Pawsome Playtime photos are a delightful way to celebrate the bond between pets and their owners during Pride Month.

11. Beautiful Bubbles

Bubbles add a whimsical and magical touch to pet photography. This concept involves incorporating bubbles into your shoot to create a dreamy and enchanting atmosphere.

Use a bubble machine to blow bubbles around your pet or use them as props. Bubbles create a sense of lightness and joy in the photos. The iridescent colors of the bubbles can symbolize the diversity and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community.

Capturing your pet playfully interacting with the bubbles can result in charming and captivating images. Your photos will evoke a sense of wonder and celebration for sharing in Pride Month fun.

12. Pride Silhouettes

Celebrating Pride gives members of the LGBTQ+ community to come out of the shadows. Using Pride Silhouettes offers a creative and artistic approach to pet photography. This concept involves capturing the silhouette of your pet against a colorful and vibrant backdrop, such as a sunset or a rainbow sky.

By focusing on the outline of your pet, you can create a striking and visually appealing image. The juxtaposition of light, color, and shadow symbolizes the beauty and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community coming out of the darkness. The colorful backdrop adds depth and dimension to the silhouette to make the photo stand out.

13. Walk Through the Rainbow Tunnel

A basic rainbow pet tunnel can provide a whimsical and symbolic prop for Pride Month pet photography. This idea involves creating a tunnel-like structure adorned with rainbow-colored decorations, such as streamers, balloons, or lights.

You can encourage your pet to walk through the tunnel and capture their journey in a series of photos. This concept represents the idea of pets and their owners walking together through a colorful and inclusive world.

The rainbow colors symbolize diversity, acceptance, and love. This makes the photos both visually appealing and meaningful. These photos are a joyful way to celebrate diversity with pets.

14. Bountiful Balloons

Balloons soar high and carry our hopes and dreams with them as they float gently toward the sky. They can create a festive and joyful atmosphere for pet photography ideas as well.

This concept involves using an abundance of colorful balloons as props or decorations. You can arrange the balloons around your pet or use them as a backdrop to create a vibrant and celebratory scene like a balloon arch. The variety of colors in the balloons symbolizes the diversity and inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community.

Using balloons in photos captures the essence of celebration and happiness, highlighting the beauty of love and acceptance. They add a playful and uplifting element to your custom pet portraits.

15. Reflections of Pride

Utilizing a mirror for your pet photography can offer a unique Pride Month theme. This idea involves capturing your pet's reflection in a mirror or other reflective surface. You can surround the mirror with Pride-themed decorations or colors.

The mirror serves as a symbolic element. It reflects not only your pet's image but also the message of diversity and inclusivity. Mirrors are representative of how we see ourselves as well.

The rainbow colors and Pride decorations create a vibrant and visually appealing backdrop. They add depth and meaning to the photos to showcase the beauty and uniqueness of your pet while also conveying a powerful message of acceptance and love.

16. LGBTQ+ Book Inspiration

With more and more LGBTQ+ books available, you can use these books in your pet photography. Arrange the books around your pet or have them posed with an open book to create an engaging scene.

The colorful covers and meaningful titles can symbolize the richness of LGBTQ+ literature and the importance of representation. For example, "Queer Ducks and Other Animals" by Eliot Schrefer explores the nature of same-sex relationships in the animal kingdom.

This theme not only creates visually appealing photos but also promotes awareness and appreciation of LGBTQ+ stories. It celebrates love, acceptance, and the power of storytelling during Pride Month.

17. Pride-Themed Photo Editing

Of course, it's not always easy to get your pets into those picture-perfect poses you want. Nor is it easy to have the perfect setting or background. Sometimes you may need a little extra help through creative photo editing.

Photo editing software can allow you to easily add rainbow effects or overlays to your photos. You can adjust brightness, add focus, and include fun backgrounds and text. This will ensure a fabulous pet photography outcome you'll treasure.

Trust Your Pet Photography Needs to Pawsh Photography LLC. Today

Pride pet photos are a terrific way to celebrate Pride Month with your best non-human friends. With these pet photoshoot tips, you'll have LGBTQ+ pet portraits you'll be proud to show off. If you're looking for a more polished look a professional pet photographer can help you capture the perfect shots.

Pawsh Photography LLC. in Minneapolis, MN specializes in pet photography of cats and dogs. We understand that pets are a part of your family. Our photography services can help you create lasting memories of your beloved pets. Our founder, Lisa, is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and proudly welcomes all beings to be photographed at Pawsh.

Lisa Peterson