When Nature Laughs: 50 Of The Funniest Animal Expressions Caught On Camera

For a comment on funny animal expressions, we reached out to pet photographers Karen Hoglund and Allison Shamrell and a licensed vet tech and equine photographer, Christina Lathrop, who capture them on a daily basis. 

Firstly, we were interested to know what inspired them to choose such a career path. Hoglund told us, “In my first year of business, I won a photography contest with a funny photo of a dog drinking from a water fountain. It made me realize that my pet photos were more creative than my traditional portrait photography. I felt I could capture animals' personalities better than humans, and their spontaneity intrigued me.”

What led Shamrell to pet photography was her love for dogs. "Photography is a medium that doesn't use words, and neither do dogs. Capturing their joy is such a great way to connect with these souls who are never with us for long enough... not to mention it's a LOT of fun!"

Meanwhile, Lathrop shared, “I worked as a licensed vet tech for eight years, and photography has always been a passion of mine. When I took a break from the field to welcome my fourth child, I got a camera set as a Christmas gift. I started experimenting with pet photography while also running my retail store in Seattle. 

Unfortunately, the pandemic hit my business hard, and we had to close last year. A friend suggested I turn my photography hobby into a professional pursuit, so I took her advice, enrolled in some photography classes, and dove right in. My background as a vet tech and animal behaviorist really helps me connect with animals and capture great shots.”

Having done so many adorable animal photoshoots, all photographers had their fair share of funny expressions they were able to capture. One of Hoglund’s favorite moments is the award-winning photo of Vizsla drinking water (click here to see it).

“I knew that dog had been trained to drink out of fountains because his owner didn't want to carry water on their walks,” she explained. “So, I started with the dog's normal behavior and made it funnier by making it look like he was doing it all by himself. Behind the scenes, I had my husband hold the water button; he was lying on the ground so that you couldn't see him. We also had the dog walk around the park first, so he'd be thirsty. His enthusiasm for getting a drink is what makes it funny!”

"I can't get enough of head tilts. That inquisitive, trying-to-understand-you expression is priceless," Shamrell added.

For Lathrop, it was a recent photo she took of a very young gypsy colt who was an adorable ball of energy. “I am a hobby horse trainer and enthusiast, so I of course LOVE my equine shoots. So I just snapped away and got this super cute photo of him; his owner ended up loving it too,” she fondly shared.

During her career, Lathrop has noticed that certain types of animals have distinct expressions she can expect from them during the photoshoot. “For instance, shepherds tend to give that classical head tilt when any sort of unknown noise arises, goldens are just a ball of love and will typically hold anything we ask in their mouths, and Bostons will give me an enthusiastic eye-popping expression. Horses are all unique, and the personalities really vary within individuals, but geldings (neutered males) tend to give more playful expressions.”

Meanwhile, Shamrell found that dachshunds are some of the most expressive dogs out there. "Pugs and Frenchies, too!" she said.

Hoglund believes that the types of expressions animals make are dependent on their individual personalities. “People assume golden retrievers or other breeds with dopey smiles would be the funniest, but all animals do something that makes them unique. Guinea pigs have wonderful deadpan expressions! Cats are often hilarious when they're being mischievous. It's not so much about the breed but about each animal's individual personality.”

When asked if they have any tips and tricks to bring out the playful side of animals in their photoshoots, Lathrop mentions letting them be themselves and not posing them too much at the beginning of the shoot. “I just stand back and let them interact with their owners while I look through the lens. I always take a bag of what I refer to as "ear getters" to get their attention or their eyes to look at me when I want that. But it's really a lot like working with human toddlers, I just gotta go in with a lot of patience and the ability to change my plan for posing on a whim because animals don't always do what we want them to.”

“Aside from capturing fun playfulness, I also capture connection; that's usually my goal,” she adds. “Since I worked in veterinary medicine for so long, I know too well how little time we get with our beloved pets. I wish more owners would reach out for photography with their pets to capture them on their best days and keep photography in mind when the end approaches. Once they are gone, we don't get the opportunity to go back and freeze those adorable faces and the beauty they bring to the world.”

To snap a playful picture, Hoglund always asks the owners what tricks or funny things their pets do. “That gives me a general plan of what might happen, but I stay open to what the animal actually does. An example is a photo I took of two golden retrievers in a convertible. Typically, people want their dogs to look at the camera. We got that shot, but then the pups saw other dogs walking in front of the car and looked forward. That was the humorous shot because it looked like they were driving!”

She also mentions, “I tend to avoid having animals wear hats, sunglasses, or other props. It's too common and often not as funny as what the animals do on their own.

If an animal is having fun and not feeling stressed, they're more likely to be animated. I let the animals take lots of breaks and never force them to do anything. I'm always patient and ready to snap the unexpected moment!”

Shamrell finds that pets' personalities can shine on their own, all the photographer needs to do is provide a comfortable space where they can be themselves. "When animals feel safe, comfortable, and happy, then their personality takes center stage. And natural (and often funny) facial expressions just pour out of them!|"