An incredible dog lover has turned her passion side project into a full time job.
When Ina Jalil bought her first DSLR camera at the age of 21, she decided to start taking pictures of her pups for fun.
But after working in Public Services for 12 years, she decided to jump out of the office and pursue her passion for taking photos full time. The 36-year-old from Canberra opened Ina J Photography back in 2019, but only started to work on it full-time in 2022. Since starting in 2019, she’s already captured beautiful moments with over 200 pets, including dogs, cats, and even a bearded dragon.
Pet Photographer Ina Jill with her dogs James and Pippa. Credit: Evelyn Karatzas.
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Ina is living her best life ever since becoming a full-time photographer. She’s been honoured with numerous awards, published Tails of Canberra in 2021, and has the pleasure of working with her furry friends each day doing what she loves most.
She was overjoyed at being able to pursue her passion for photography full-time, even though most people perceive it to be just a hobby.
“In high school, I got to study photography, and it made me realize how much I enjoyed it. I never considered making a career out of it, but I’m so excited to be able to pursue it as a career now,” Ina said.
Pippa, James and Rosie are often the focus of Ina’s works. Credit: Ina Jalil.
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Starting Out As A Pet Photographer
“I’m so lucky to get to spend my days with my three best friends, James, Pippa and Rosie. It’s such an amazing feeling to be able to spend every day at home doing something I’m passionate about. When I’m not with my dogs, I’m able to meet a lot of amazing people by photographing other people’s pets. It’s truly the best job ever.”
As Ina’s love for dogs blossomed, it gave her the inspiration and confidence to leave her government job as a business analyst and start her own pet photography business, an untapped market in Canberra.
Ina won the People’s Choice award in the Portrait category in the Asia Pacific Photography Awards with this photo. Credit: Ina Jalil.
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“In 2019, my dog Mac got sick and I wanted to capture that special bond we shared as I knew he wasn’t going to make it. I looked around for outdoor pet photographers and couldn’t find any, but I did find a studio photographer. Unfortunately, Mac wasn’t comfortable with the bright lights,” Ina said.
“That’s when I decided to give this a try. I mean, no one else is doing it.”
“Mac passed away later that year due to heart failure, so I think another reason why I became a pet photographer was as a tribute to him.”
Transitioning To Pet Photography Full Time
Ina started to invest time and money in pet photography education resources and tools, and regularly practised her craft by taking photos of her Havanese dogs. She also enthusiastically enlisted a business coach to help her bring her passion to life.
Ina placed second in the Advertising and Editorial category in the Asia Pacific Photography Awards. Credit: Ina Jalil.
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Almost a year on from quitting her regular job to work on pet photography full time, Ina has recently gained recognition at the Asia Pacific Photography Awards by winning the People’s Choice award in the Portrait category. She also placed second in the Advertising and Editorial category.
Ina was overjoyed to be recognised, “especially since the Asia Pacific Photography Awards are not just for pet photography. Which means that I had to compete against amazing photographers from all kinds of genres!”
“I was surprised but also grateful when I found out the news in December,” Ina said. “Initially, I was hesitant to submit my photographs as I wasn’t sure if they were good enough. I’m so thankful that I took a chance and submitted my work, because it paid off!”
It Was Scary In The Beginning
Although Ina initially questioned whether she had made the right call to quit her job to pursue a full-time career in pet photography, she has no regrets about her decision.
“I thought that if I didn’t do it, I would regret it. So I put all my time and energy into it, and so far I’ve enjoyed the experience,” she said.
“After taking a close look at my situation and weighing the pros and cons, I chose to take a leap of faith towards running my own business. I was confident that I had the skills and resources to make it a success, and knew it was the right decision for me. It was a calculated risk.”
“Since then, I’ve been fortunate to have met and worked with amazing clients and beautiful dogs. I’ve also been lucky enough to have met people in photography from all over the globe.”
Ina’s advice to anyone just starting out is to invest in education.
“Hopefully, my story can help inspire others and encourage them to also take a chance at themselves,” Ina said.
