Fine Art Background & Artistic Practice

I earned my Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where I specialized in studio lighting and commercial photography. That foundation in fine art photography continues to inform every professional project I undertake, from pet portraits to corporate headshots.

Before establishing my commercial photography practice, I taught photography as an Adjunct Professor of Fine Arts at Washington State University and as an adjunct online instructor at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Those years of translating fine art principles into practical instruction shaped how I think about image-making at a fundamental level.

Exhibitions & Recognition

My work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions across the United States:

Solo Exhibition

  • Washington State University Exhibition Center, March 2011

Selected Group Exhibitions

  • 1650 Gallery, In Living Color, Los Angeles, CA (2018)

  • LACDA (Los Angeles Center of Digital Art), Snap to Grid, Los Angeles, CA (January 2010)

  • 1650 Gallery, Dogs, Dogs, Dogs, Los Angeles, CA (2010)

  • Projekt 30, Wild Life (2010)

  • Allied Arts Annual Juried Show (2010)

  • Washington State University Tri-Cities Chancellor's Exhibition Series (2008, 2009)

  • PDN Photo Annual, Personal Projects Division (2008)

  • Lexington Art League, *Photography NOW* Juried Show, Lexington, KY (2006) - Juror: Sam Abell

Awards & Recognition

  • Moscow International Foto Award, Honorable Mention (2015)

  • PDN Faces Competition, Animal Category (2009)

  • Academy of Art University Spring Show, Third Place Fine Art Portfolio (2009)

  • Rising Star of Photography (2009), Jurors: Tom Hubbard, Reid Callanan, Andrew Darlow, David Saffir

  • Humanitarian Award Nominee, American Dog Magazine, Photographer/Artist/Veterinarian Category (2010)

Publications

  • Shelter Cats (author/photographer), Merrell Publishers

  • Shelter Puppies (author/photographer), Merrell Publishers

  • Findelkatzen (author/photographer), Knesebeck - German-language edition

Collections & Licensing

  • Getty Images (via Veer/Corbis), 399 licensed images in the Creative collection - relationship established 2009 following PDN Faces Competition recognition, continuing through Veer acquisition by Corbis and subsequent Getty Images acquisition

  • Your Daily Photograph / Duncan Gallery, Cable Bridge Moonrise, listed August 7, 2020

Lectures & Media Appearances

  • Washington State University Liberal Arts Lecture Series (2010)

  • NPR Dog Talk (2010, 2011)

  • Martha Stewart Living Radio, Sirius/XM (2010)

  • Animal Radio, various North American stations and XM Radio (2010)

  • Cat Chat, Martha Stewart Living Radio on Sirius/XM (2010)

  • KVEW-TV Good Morning Northwest (2010, 2011)

Press

  • Kentucky

  • Ace Weekly (Lexington, KY), "Lexington Photographers Capture the Bluegrass," Arts & Culture section, September 14, 2006

  • Ace Weekly (Lexington, KY), "The Art of the Animal," Arts & Culture section, July 12, 2007

  • Ace Weekly (Lexington, KY), "Departures: Michael Kloth Moves West," Arts Shorts section, May 2008

  • Washington

  • Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business (Richland, WA), "Michael Kloth Joins WSU Tri-Cities Faculty," October 2008

  • Tri-City Herald (Richland, WA), "WSU Tri-Cities Art Exhibit Features Michael Kloth," Lifestyles/Arts section, May 22, 2009

  • Tri-City Herald (Richland, WA), "A New Lens on Shelter Life," Lifestyles/Arts section, August 14, 2009

  • Amateur Photographer (UK), review of Shelter Cats, December 4, 2010

  • Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business (Richland, WA), "Small Business Spotlight: Michael Kloth Photography," December 2010

  • Yorkshire Gazette & Herald (UK), review of Shelter Cats, February 2, 2011

  • Daily Express (UK), review of Shelter Puppies, 2011

  • Tri-City Herald (Richland, WA), "Shelter Cats: Local Photographer Captures Feline Personalities," Lifestyles/Arts section, April 1, 2011

  • Tri-City Herald (Richland, WA), "Capturing the Underdog," Lifestyles/Arts section, June 10, 2011

  • Arizona

Permanent Collections

Professional Memberships & Advocacy

I hold the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation through Professional Photographers of America and maintain active memberships in both PPA and the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP). I've been an ASMP member since the early years of my practice, during which time I also joined the Copyright Alliance's advocacy efforts, including signing the 2009 letter to the White House urging the Administration to strengthen intellectual property protections for artists and creators.

Fine Art Meets Commercial Practice

My MFA training emphasized technical mastery and conceptual depth. I studied lighting not just as a technical skill but as a language—a way to shape mood, direct attention, and create meaning within the frame. I learned to see light the way a painter sees color, and that understanding shapes how I approach every photograph.

The commercial applications of this training are direct. Studio lighting skills translate to controlled, consistent results. Fine art training in composition and visual storytelling helps me create images that go beyond simple documentation. Understanding art history and visual culture helps me recognize what makes an image compelling rather than merely competent.

Technical Approach

My approach to photography draws from both traditional and contemporary techniques:

Alternate Processes: I work with pinhole lenses, cyanotypes and Van Dyke Brown printing for archival fine art editions, bringing darkroom sensibility to contemporary work.

Infrared Photography: I explore the invisible spectrum for ethereal animal portraiture and experimental personal projects.

Large Format Printing: I produce museum-quality archival prints on a professional Epson 9900 large-format printer, meeting exhibition and permanent collection standards.

Digital Workflow: My contemporary digital process integrates fine art principles with commercial efficiency for client deliverables.

This technical foundation means your pet portrait or professional headshot receives the same attention to lighting, composition, and print quality as work I've exhibited in galleries or published in books.

From Fine Art to Professional Photography

My path into pet photography began with a fine art project photographing shelter animals. I wanted to create images that showed these animals as individuals rather than statistics, and I wanted to use museum-quality printing and presentation to elevate their stories.

That project led to my published books on shelter animals, media appearances discussing animal welfare photography, and ultimately shaped my approach to professional pet photography. The same technical precision and artistic attention I brought to exhibited work now informs every client session.

Continuing Practice

I maintain my fine art practice alongside my commercial work. I continue to photograph shelter animals regularly at Pima Animal Care Center and the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, and I pursue personal projects that push my technical and creative skills.

This ongoing practice keeps my approach fresh and prevents my commercial work from becoming formulaic. The MFA isn't just a credential, it's a foundation that continues to inform how I see, how I light, and how I approach every photograph I create.

Close-up portrait of a smiling bald man with light-colored eyes, wearing a black and white plaid shirt, against a blue background.