Serving Corolla, Duck, Carova, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, the entire New Jersey New York metropolitan area, and everywhere in between!
click here for the Muddy Paws Instagram!
( Muddy Paws is a fun little division of Lorenz Fine Photography )
Precious Pet Portraits in New Jersey,
the Outer Banks and NYC
Precious Pet Portraits in New Jersey, NYC & the Outer Banks
Animals are woven into the fabric of our lives.
For many of us, pets aren’t just pets — they’re family. They’re companions, confidants, running buddies, couch snugglers, and silent therapists. The love they give is unconditional, and fleeting. A professional pet portrait is a way to honor that bond, preserve it, and hold onto it long after the muddy paws have stopped tracking through the house.
That belief is exactly why I created Muddy Paws Pet Portraits.
Timeless, Classic Pet Portraits — Made With Heart
Dogs, cats, horses, birds — animals and photography have always gone hand in hand. If you’re here, chances are you already understand how deeply connected we are to our animals and how meaningful it can be to preserve that relationship in a portrait.
I specialize in classic, expressive pet portraits that feel honest, soulful, and timeless — images that show personality, connection, and love rather than tricks or trends.
Whether it’s a dignified studio-style dog portrait, a relaxed outdoor session, or a pet included in a family portrait on the beach, my goal is simple:
To create artwork you’ll still love decades from now.
An Experienced New Jersey Pet Photographer You Can Trust
I’m Bruce Lorenz, a New Jersey–based pet photographer inspired every day by the joy, humor, and unconditional love animals bring into our lives. I’ve spent decades photographing hundreds of animals — dogs, cats, horses, birds, and the occasional ferret — each with their own personality and rhythm.
Great pet photography doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from patience, experience, careful planning, and knowing when to wait — and when to click.
Clients often find me while searching for:
The best dog photographer in New Jersey
Morris County dog photographer
Classic dog portraits in Mendham, Chatham, Summit, or Basking Ridge
A trusted dog photographer in Hunterdon, Somerset, and Northern New Jersey
A pet photographer serving both New Jersey and the Outer Banks
And many return year after year because the experience feels easy, personal, and unrushed.
Pet Portraits in New Jersey, NYC & the Outer Banks
While New Jersey is home base, I proudly photograph pets throughout the New Jersey–New York metropolitan area, and seasonally in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
I regularly serve:
Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Essex, Sussex, Warren & Bergen Counties
Towns including Mendham, Chatham, Summit, Short Hills, Basking Ridge, Bedminster, Hackettstown, Franklin Lakes, and beyond
Outer Banks locations including Corolla and Duck, NC
Yes — your dog can absolutely be part of a family portrait session on the beach in Corolla.
What to Expect From Your Pet Portrait Session
Getting Started
The process begins by filling out the inquiry form below. Once I receive it, I’ll send you detailed session information and we’ll talk through your ideas, your pet’s personality, and the best approach for your portrait. Then we’ll schedule your session.
Simple. Personal. No pressure.
The Session
Pet sessions are relaxed and fun — think of it as friends getting together rather than a formal photo shoot.
If you’re calm, your pet will be too. And if things feel a little chaotic at first? That’s completely normal. I’ve worked with every personality imaginable — shy, stubborn, energetic, anxious, and everything in between.
I promise: you’re not alone, and you’re not doing anything wrong.
Artwork & Products
After your session, we’ll meet to review the images together. I’ll guide you through the photographs, help you narrow down favorites, and explain all available artwork options clearly — with physical samples you can see and touch.
This personalized ordering experience is one of the things that truly sets my work apart and why so many clients return again and again.
Let’s Create Something Meaningful
If you’d like more information about pet portraits — or would like to give someone a Gift Certificate for a pet portrait session — simply fill out the form below or call me directly at 800-646-5812.
I’d be honored to create something lasting for you and your four-legged family member.
......and one more thing before you leave,
of all of the dog photographers in New Jersey and the Outer Banks, I am the only one that is certified as a Master Photographer by the Professional Photographers Association of America, a distinction that I am very proud of!
Check out my Instagram photos
(and be sure to click follow, thanks!)
Lots of images of large, medium and small family groups on and off the beach in New Jersey and Corolla and Duck and the entire Outer Banks of North Carolina. There are also many images of sunrises, sunsets and surfing photos in the Outer Banks, along with a mix of dog and pet photography, business portraits and headshots from sessions in New York City and all over New Jersey. Lots of fun photos from my journey.
Good morning from Corolla… ☀️
ole’ Dunc has already inspected the beach, approved the sunrise, and is now patiently waiting in the Jeep to see where the adventure heads next.
Not a bad way to start another day.
Hope you find a little sunshine, a little salty air (or whatever feeds your soul), and one good reason to smile today.
Peace. Love. Smile. 🌊🐾☮️❤️
Forty years behind the camera has taught me something...
Your grandchildren won’t care what camera your family portrait was taken with.
They’ll simply be thankful someone cared enough to make it.
If your family is together this year…have that portrait made
Don’t wait.
Because sometimes later...
Becomes never.
See more in the first comment. ✌️❤️🙂
About eighteen months ago, this little guy slept his first night in our home.
He was exhausted… body and soul.
Life had taught him that people, strange noises, other dogs… just about everything… might be something to fear.
Today?
He’s still a work in progress. He’ll probably always have a few trust issues with strangers and other dogs. That’s part of his story.
But every morning he greets the day with a wagging tail. He chases crabs on the beach, runs with me at sunrise, naps like a champion, and somehow has us laughing every single day.
Rescue isn’t about creating a perfect dog.
It’s about giving one a chance to discover that the world isn’t quite as scary as it once seemed.
I’d say Duncan’s doing just fine. And truth be told… so are we. ❤️☮️🐾
Mother Nature sure is a funny artist.
The smoke from the Ontario wildfires isn’t great news for our friends up north, but it’s been giving us some unbelievably sweet portrait light here in Corolla.
Soft light... smiling families... another beautiful evening by the sea.
Wishing everyone cleaner skies soon. ☮️❤️
Three generations...
One little girl...
A week they’ll never forget.
Years from now, this won’t just be a photograph.
It’ll be part of their family’s story.
Have that portrait made now, because.......Sometimes later becomes never. ☮️❤️
(I’ll share the story behind this portrait in the first comment.)
This morning the sun came up... and so did a thousand dreams for the future. ☀️❤️This morning I had the honor of photographing a brand new chapter as she said “yes” with the Atlantic cheering them on.
Moments like these remind me why I still love picking up my camera after all these years. Life moves pretty fast... slow down long enough to celebrate it.
Congratulations to the happy couple. Wishing them a lifetime of sunrises together. ☮️🌊😀
Remember when we were building snowmen? ☃️
Now it feels like we’re all melting faster than one. 😅
Hope you’re finding a little shade and a lot of reasons to smile.
Stay cool out there, my friends.
☮️❤️😀
Well... somehow it’s already July 2nd.
Half of 2026 is in the rearview mirror……….hope the first half brought you a few great sunsets, a couple of laughs that hurt your sides, and more good days than bad.
If it didn’t... here’s the good news.
The calendar doesn’t care what happened yesterday. Every sunrise hands us a clean page.
The second half of the year is still unwritten, and most of the good stuff in life usually starts with a simple decision to point your boat toward a better horizon.
Whatever you’ve been dreaming about... making that trip, spending more time with family, getting healthier, learning something new, or simply slowing down enough to enjoy the ride... don’t keep putting it off.
Sometimes later becomes never.
Here’s to making the rest of 2026 one heck of a ride.
See you out there. 🌴☮️❤️😀
Somewhere between the dunes and the sunrise, I remember how little we really need to have a pretty good day. ✌️❤️😀
Every sunrise feels like the ocean saying, “Let’s try that again.”
Sounds like a pretty good plan to me. ☀️🌊🍹
Duncan spotted a crab on the beach this morning and figured he’d do a little investigating.
Turns out the crab had a few opinions of its own. 🦀🐶
What started as ole Dunc chasing the crab quickly turned into the crab having none of that 🤣
Just another day in Corolla… where even the locals don’t always agree on who’s in charge. ☮️🙂🏖️
Some Saturday mornings feel like they’re trying to tell us something.
Slow down.
Look around.
You’re already standing in the good old days.
✌️❤️😀
Duncan and I slipped down to the beach before most of Corolla was awake this morning.
Just a little salt air, a quiet sunrise, and a dog with absolutely no interest in watching the sunrise because there were far more important things to sniff. ☀️🐾
Seems like ole Dunc has life pretty well figured out.
Slow down. Chase a few smells. Enjoy the view. Be where your feet are.
Happy Friday from Corolla
☮️❤️🐾
Getting all of your family members together in one place isn’t easy.
Different schedules.
Different states.
Different stages of life.
And when this group may never all be together again, it’s probably not the time to hire someone who’s still learning on the job.
Large family portraits require experience, planning, patience, and the ability to keep a lot of moving parts moving in the same direction.
I wrote a short article about why large family portraits require a different kind of photographer.
Link in the first comment.
☮️❤️🙂
Happy Monday. ☀️
I’ve never really understood why so many people dread Mondays.
To me, Mondays have always felt more like a fresh start than the beginning of a workweek. A new page. A new sunrise. A chance to begin again.
This morning ole Dunc and I headed over the dune to watch the sun come up over the Atlantic, and it felt like a pretty good reminder that every week arrives with possibility built right in.
Here’s to new beginnings, fresh tracks in the sand, and whatever good things this week might bring.
Peace, Love, Smile. ☮️❤️🙂🐾
Every summer I photograph families who tell me,
“We’ve been meaning to do this for years.”
Funny how life works.
The days seem long.
The years seem short.
I’m always glad when people finally decide to make the time.
☮️❤️🙂
See the video in my comment
A reminder from yesterday...
A woman called me in a panic because her photographer had just canceled her family portrait session. The reason?
“It’s too windy and I don’t want to damage my camera.”
Seriously.
Fortunately, I was available and able to photograph her group of 16 people—many of whom hadn’t all been together in several years. We created some beautiful images they’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Unfortunately, that kind of thing happens more often than you might think here on the Outer Banks. Beach photography can be challenging. Wind happens. Sand happens. Weather changes. It’s simply part of the job.
Here’s the thing...
Just because someone has a camera, a website, and a few years of experience doesn’t guarantee professionalism, dependability, or the ability to handle real-world conditions.
After more than 40 years as a professional photographer, I’ve learned that great portraits aren’t made when everything is perfect. They’re made when you know how to adapt when things aren’t.
When your family may never all be together again, experience matters.
Sometimes later becomes never.
☮️❤️🙂
See the first comment
“ If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine” hunter/garcia ☮️❤️😀 #obxsunrise #corolladise
embracing the slow ☮️❤️😆🏃♂️ #beachrunning
Just finished putting together what I think is a pretty helpful article for anyone thinking about family photos while they’re in Corolla or the Outer Banks.
A few thoughts from 40+ years behind the camera about choosing a photographer, why experience matters, and why photographing a family of 20 isn’t quite the same as photographing a family of 4. 🙂
The article link is in the first comment if you’d like to take a look.
As I often say...do it now..........because sometimes later becomes never.
☮️❤️🙂
“If I were a pirate,
I sure as hell wouldn’t own a necktie” j. buffett ☮️❤️😎#corolladise #obxsunset
“I’ve always figured there’s room for everybody. Live your life, be kind to people, and let others do the same. ☮️❤️🙂🏳️🌈”
Saw this guy/gal cruising the dunes the other evening……..the wild horses here remind us that not everything in life is supposed to be rushed.
No schedule.
No noise.
Just sand, salt air, and another Corolla sunset quietly doing its thing. ☀️🐎
Sometimes the best moments out here are the ones that don’t say a word. ✌️❤️😎 #corolladise
“Life is not a race to accumulate furniture.” — Jimmy Buffett ☀️
Funny how the good stuff usually isn’t the stuff at all.
It’s quiet mornings…salt air…a shell in the sand…and those few minutes when the sun reminds you to slow down and just be where your feet are.
Keep collecting moments. The rest tends to sort itself out. ☮️❤️🙂 #liveyourdash #obxsunrise
Real talk...
Anybody can buy a professional grade camera, but the camera doesn’t create the photo.
Years from now you won’t remember what camera somebody used.
You’ll remember who was standing beside you.
Kids.
Families.
Moments.
Everybody together under one roof again.
Do it right.
Hire a professional to make that family portrait you’ve always wanted.
Because one day these moments become priceless.
Do it now...
Because sometimes next time...
Becomes never.
I’d love to help create something your family will treasure long after the beach week ends.
✌️❤️🙂
See the first comment for contact info
Freedom, family, ocean air, and little footprints in the sand. 🇺🇸
Grateful today for those who made moments like this possible.
Hold hands. Slow down. Savor the moment. ❤️☮️🙂
Real talk...
One day these beach weeks become stories.
The people.
The laughs.
The sandy kids.
The sound of the ocean.
Right now you’re living the stuff you’ll someday look back on.
Take a picture.
Better yet...
Get in one too.
✌️❤️🙂
See the first comment
There’s something kind of cool happening during beach weeks...
Phones get put down a little more.
People stay on the beach a little longer.
Families sit together a little closer.
Take it in.
And while everyone’s here...
Do it right. Hire a professional and make that portrait you’ve always wanted.
Because one day this week becomes the story everyone talks about.
Do it now...
Because sometimes next time...
Becomes never.
✌️❤️🙂
like this? check out the first comment
Funny thing about beach weeks...
While you’re in them, they feel normal.
Everybody under one roof again.
Kids running around.
Ocean air and sandy feet.
Don’t just snap a few phone photos.
Do it right. Hire a professional to make that portrait.
Because one day these moments become priceless.
Do it now...Because sometimes next time...Becomes never.✌️❤️🙂
Somewhere along the line people started thinking exercise was about punishment.
I’ve never really seen it that way.
For me it’s always been about feeling good.
Clear head.
Strong legs.
Good energy.
Better mornings.
I still run at least a mile every day, move my body, eat pretty clean, do some yoga … and yeah… I still enjoy a couple of beers now and then too. 🍺🙂
I’m not chasing perfection.
I’m just trying to feel alive and stay engaged with life.
And honestly…
I think optimism might be just as important as vegetables.
Keep moving.
Keep laughing.
Keep going. ☮️❤️😀
#liveyourdash
Sunrise sneaking over the dunes in Corolla… wildflowers glowing… salty air…
“Here’s to us believers.” — Willie Nile ☮️❤️🙂 #corolladise #OuterBanksSunrise
Lorenz Fine Photography
call me anytime 800-646-5812