Brits snap more photos of their pets than of their family

If you’re a dog owner who knows the struggle of running out of storage space on their phone because they cannot bring themselves to delete any photos of your dog, you’re not alone!

Towergate Insurance surveyed 1,000 cat and dog owners and found that, during lockdown, one-quarter of people said they had taken more pictures of their pets than ever before, with most of them doing so to “make memories” and also “to capture them doing something funny” – which certainly helped lift spirits during lockdown.

The pet owners surveyed said they took “more pictures of their pets than their family, partner, food or holiday sights”. For single people, it might be a winning move as photos with dogs make people “instantly more attractive” on dating apps!Towergate says, “Respondents loved taking photos of their pets so much, that over 50 per cent said they would be prepared pay for a professional pet photographer to capture their pets in a studio setting, with some even willing to fork out over £500 for the privilege.

“Those aged 25-34 were the most open to splashing the cash on their pets, with the average cost they were willing to spend reaching £106.”

These photos and memories captured between the pets and their owners have real-life benefits too, with around 76% saying that spending time with their pets has helped to improve their mental health during a stressful and worrying period of lockdown.

Pet photographer Kerry Jordan, the creator of National Dog Photography Day, says, “I created National Dog Photography Day to celebrate the fact that people’s relationships with dogs are so important, and people want to document their best friend.”

Jordan, along with fellow pet photography, Tracey Smith, offered their top tips for how to capture the best possible photos of your pets at home.

Alison Wild from Towergate Insurance said, “We all know how important pets are to us, but these results underline the connection many have seen grow with their cats and dogs during a time of uncertainty and isolation.

“For many, pets were a constant fixture and always available for comfort and companionship, so it is unsurprising how many people agreed that their presence improved their mental health and will miss them as we return to work.”