John Fletcher – known to many as Fletch – has loved animals for as long as he can remember and once dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. That changed the summer after fifth grade, when a fall from a hayloft left him with a broken wrist and an unexpected discovery of his parents' old Kodak 8mm film camera. He was hooked and started making little films of his own.
That spark carried him through college, where he studied film and video production and won an award for best picture. Afterward, he traveled the world teaching English while sharpening his photography skills – travel shots, landscapes, cityscapes, a bit of astrophotography, and plenty of street photography – before moving back to the U.S. just before COVID-19 hit.
Now, Fletch has found a way to merge his two great loves: photography and animals. Thanks to that, Get Pet Pics was born.
“The thing that sparked it all, though, was that my girlfriend and I had the amazing opportunity to travel to South Africa,” recalled Fletch. “I remember this clearly, she said to me, ‘You’re going to be kicking yourself if we go on these safaris and you don’t have a real camera and telephoto lens to capture all of these incredible scenes and animals’. So, I bought a decent DSLR and rented a telephoto lens someone recommended. I refer to that trip as my ‘baptism by fire’ when it comes to photography.”
During COVID, he studied online with two respected pet photographers, Claudio Piccoli in Italy and Alex Cearns in Australia. After earning his Master of Dog Photography designation from Claudio, Fletch went on to train with him in person at the Purina facilities outside St. Louis. Though he doesn't currently have a pet of his own, when Fletch first moved to Nashville three years ago, he did so with his best friend by his side, a cat named Lola.
“(Lola) was rescued off the side of the road when she was only about 3 weeks old,” said Fletch. “She made it to the ripe old age of 20 before passing away. I haven’t found the opportunity since then for the right fit, but it’s not been without plenty of temptation, especially through the work I’ve been doing with Nashville Humane and others like Adopt A Golden Nashville.”
Fletch volunteers his time and talent with both of these local rescues, donating pet photography sessions and event photography to help animals in their care find their forever homes. A great photo can make all the difference for an animal waiting to be noticed, and Fletch sees it as a small way to give back using the skills he's built over the years.
“I do get to interact with lots of animals in the volunteer work I do for Nashville Humane and Adopt A Golden,” said Fletch. “So, that helps fill the void some, and I know I’m able to help lots of animals that way even though I haven’t rescued or fostered an animal recently.”
For Fletch, pet photography is about more than the final image; it's about capturing the bond between an owner and their animal companion, a relationship that's often as meaningful as any human connection in their life.
“My goal is for the entire experience to feel enjoyable from beginning to end, not just the final photographs,” said Fletch. “Photographs become even more meaningful as the years pass because they preserve expressions, little habits, and relationships that we never want to forget. I've had many clients tell me their portraits became some of their most treasured possessions after losing a beloved pet. My hope is that every session creates artwork that brings joy today and comfort for years to come.”
While pet photography remains one of his favorites, Fletch still enjoys shooting a wide range of subjects such as headshots, travel photography, events, commercial work, and more. He's even earned his Part 107 commercial drone license. At the end of the day, though, he's especially grateful for the work he gets to do with pets.
“More than anything, I want people to know that I care about the experience just as much as the photographs,” said Fletch. “For pet photography, whether I'm photographing a playful youngster, a senior pet, or a family saying goodbye to a lifelong companion, I understand these images often become part of a family's history. It's a privilege I never take lightly. If someone leaves a session feeling like their pet was celebrated for exactly who they are, then I've done my job.”
To see more of Fletch’s work or to book a session with him, check out his website or follow him on social media.