“What I love is their naturalness.”
José Juan Medina never expected photography to become such an important part of his life. It all began four years ago when he adopted his dog, Drogo, and decided to buy a camera simply to take better pictures of him.
“It’s not a job. I’m a manual laborer,” Medina said. “I bought a camera to take photos of my little dog.”
That simple decision soon grew into a serious passion.
Drogo became Medina’s first model, but before long, he began photographing many other dogs as well.
As his interest in photography developed, Medina gradually invested in better equipment so he could capture sharper, more detailed images. He started visiting dog parks and agility competitions, where he had plenty of opportunities to photograph dogs in motion.
“Now I have a setup that many people dream of owning,” Medina said. “I started by going to dog parks and agility competitions. Sometimes owners ask me to photograph their dogs, but I also choose which dogs to feature myself.”
Over time, Medina developed a distinctive style. Some of his most striking images show dogs suspended in midair, making them appear as though they are flying.
Capturing those moments requires patience, timing and a good understanding of how each dog moves.
Medina has shared behind-the-scenes footage showing how he works with the dogs to get the perfect action shot. He watches closely as they run and jump, waiting for the exact instant when their paws leave the ground.
“You’re wondering what kind of jump they’ll take, whether they’ll be fast and skillful, and if they’ll lead with their little paws,” Medina said. “I love capturing them when they have that look of pure speed. You catch them in the middle of the action — running or flying.”
Photography has also given Medina the chance to meet many dogs and the people who care for them. Each session brings a different personality, energy and story.
For him, the experience is about more than simply getting a good picture.
“I form a real bond with them while photographing them,” Medina said.
Medina hopes to continue meeting new dogs and creating images that capture their personalities in a natural way.
While photographers can find inspiration almost anywhere, Medina discovered that dogs were the subjects that interested him most.
“What I love is their naturalness,” Medina said. “They don’t try to put on a front. They’re just being themselves, and they always look great.”