Wild Wonders: Exploring the Captivating Photography of Diana Haskell

above: Scruffles from Fairfield was the sole feline client of Diana who would indicate when he required a little respite. He’d stroll in the yard and return rejuvenated for more.

“Share some insights about him,” Diana Haskell inquires, directing her thoughtful attention towards Winston, an eight-year-old Goldendoodle, whose profile acts as the mobile phone screensaver for a guest in her Fairfield photography studio. This pet, akin to most cherished household companions, occupies a revered status in his family. According to Diana, the bond she observes is entirely reciprocal.

“You can perceive the extent of his adoration for the individual who took that photograph,” she states, assured in her evaluation of the animal’s feelings. “This is because dogs don’t gaze at just anyone in such a manner.”

Diana is assured of this bond as she devotes considerable time observing through her lens the connections between pets and their human companions.

The photographer has cultivated an international clientele that seeks her expertise to showcase unique and cherished associations with their adored animals. Her artistry transcends merely seizing remarkable portraits of beloved family pets. While a majority of her subjects are stunningly photogenic dogs and cats, Diana’s expertise is in capturing the emotional ties that bind pets and their caretakers.

“I am passionate about this form of artistry and capturing animals in this manner because I believe you can witness and feel these fleeting moments that wouldn’t be possible if you were painting a portrait,” she explains. “It’s akin to perceiving the love reflected in the eyes of that creature. These nuanced details are only discovered through a camera.

that you’re unable to reach by any alternate means.”

Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, Diana moved from Manhattan to Fairfield, seeking more room after welcoming her now tween daughter, Lucie, from China. “Having her in the city during a lockdown was simply not an ideal way to adapt,” she explains. Consequently, they chose to reside in an old residence (ironically, a veterinary hospital from 1890) where Diana established her studio in a transformed barn situated on a pond in a pastoral section of the town.

The artist swiftly forged local ties—and attracted a growing clientele from Fairfield County—by issuing an open invitation on social media for town women and their dogs to participate in portrait sessions.

She compiled these dog-mother bonding sessions into a stylish coffee table publication, Moms of Fairfield and the Large Dogs Who Adore Them. This endeavor led to a January 2024 showcase at the Fairfield Museum and an ongoing project that will highlight as many as 70 women from the county alongside a variety of animals.

“I began contemplating, ‘Why is a Saint Bernard of greater significance than a hedgehog, if a hedgehog is the one you cherish?’, ” Diana reflects regarding her choice to broaden her subjects. “Thus, if an individual wishes to pose with their pet snake, I want to encompass that. To me, that affection is equally beautiful.”

Although she traces her profound bond with animals and photography back to her early years, Diana navigated a winding path to her present career. “As a child, there was frequently a leash in one hand and just as often, a camera in the other,” she recalls. “However, there were numerous unanticipated diversions along the way.”

Let’s begin at the Bronx Zoo, where Diana, as a teenager, convinced her way into a position. She subsequently worked with animals (including a beloved orangutan who appreciated her company so much that she could spend time in his enclosure) at the London Zoo. Nonetheless, her practical and ambitious nature suggested to her that working with animals couldn’t be more than a passing interest.

She sought a path in social work and later obtained her MBA from Columbia University. Diana first settled in Fairfield County decades ago while she was a driven and rising executive at General Electric. “I was completely absorbed in my work. It was GE’s prime time; the Jack Welch era, and I thrived on it. If I wasn’t at my desk, I was either at the gym or asleep.”

Everything altered when Diana’s health began to decline inexplicably. In 1993, she received a diagnosis of an extreme case of

Lyme Disease led to a sequence of heartbreaking neurological complications. For several years, she found herself largely confined to bed, unable to engage in work and yearning for recovery. Her path to wellness involved years of healing through trial and error. She embraced the age-old Chinese practice of Qigong, journeyed to India, and now refers to herself as “a transformed Type A.”

She began capturing images with her camera, initially focusing on landscapes and later on animals, seeking to reconnect with the thrilling life she once knew. “I come from a remarkably active family,” she shares. “At times, looking through my lens was the only method I had to engage with the world around me.”

In 2011, she became well enough to concentrate on animal photography full-time. While she accepts commissions from zoos and ventures outdoors whenever possible to record creatures in their habitats, it’s her unique work portraying what she refers to as “animal love stories” in her studio that has defined her signature style. “We all rush about so much,” she remarks. “I prefer to concentrate on what truly matters.”

Her studio is adorned with large panels curated from her photographic sessions; each image carries a narrative that has made a lasting impression on the artist. There’s a golden retriever sharing a moment with a soon-to-be mother. “She believed she couldn’t have kids, and he was always there for her. You can sense the bond; how significant they are to one another.” Another image captures a proud owner radiating joy as she presents her puppy toward Diana’s camera; this portrait was a birthday present from the woman’s spouse. “She has it displayed over her bed,” Diana shares. “She claims she usually dislikes her pictures, but she adores this one.”

Additionally, there are captivating images of Diana’s German shepherd and poodle cross, Luka Longlegs, playing joyfully with Lucie. Now in middle school, Lucie has faced considerable challenges as a baby and has various physical restrictions, including partial paralysis on one side. Diana notes that Lucie is flourishing at her school in Fairfield, allowing her to manage her work and parenting seamlessly.

“I believe my bond with animals enabled me to embrace her into my life as an older, single mother,” she reflects on bringing Lucie into her family at the age of 52. “The animals and this craft played a role in my healing so that we could discover one another.”

Motherhood has enriched her perspective on her art, granting her a deeper gratitude for those tender, ephemeral moments she captures through her lens. “Animals serve as a portal to our profound connection with nature, our children, our families, and ourselves,” Diana expresses. “What I truly cherish is…

is assisting individuals in recalling the delight and appreciation they hold for their pets and for each other.”

Behind the Lens

Diana journeys for unique commissions but favors working in her studio whenever possible. Her procedure commences with an extensive “discovery call” where she converses with family members—often a number of them—about the pet they will be photographing along with their bond. “This allows me to grasp the narrative we wish to convey,” she remarks.

During a session, the emphasis is on ensuring her clients feel at ease and authentic in front of the lens. “We play music, arrange hair and makeup, ensure their pet is joyful and then let the magic unfold,” she explains. “No one is hurried. It’s a special day for them.”

Diana has a sitting fee of $399, but this initial rate serves merely as a base. Commissions can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars based on the extent of the project and her clients’ selections. Among her specialties is the crafting of exquisitely bound “Love Story” books as well as wall-art of gallery quality that frequently showcases multiple images from a session.