After 20 years of experience in portrait photography, Spires’ career took an unexpected turn after the heartbreaking loss of a cat.

“In 2018, I found out both of my beloved cats had received cancer diagnoses. My cat Noguchi passed away from lymphoma, and Panton survived thyroid cancer. I was beside myself with grief from losing my best friend and almost $24k in debt from vet bills. I decided to pivot my portrait business to pet portraits and give people what I always gave myself and my cats—weird and unique portraits of people and their pets,” the artist said.

“I started offering stylized sets, one-of-a-kind backdrops, and the iconic double exposure to clients and their pets. I’ve photographed everything from lizards to rats to hedgehogs and snakes (and once a tarantula!), but usually, my clients are cats and dogs. After my pet portrait business took off, I have exhibited art shows of pet portraiture, worked with movie studios, and shot at pet events all over Los Angeles.”