March 6, 2025 • 13 mins
What makes Marco Esposito with Pups Mobile Photography Studio a good neighbor?
A heartwarming look at how pet photography fosters deep connections between pets and their owners. Marco Esposito, the founder of PUPS, discusses his journey into mobile pet photography, his collaborations with shelters, and the joy of creating lasting memories.
• Introduction to Marco Esposito and PUPS mobile photography
• How PUPS supports local shelters and promotes pet adoption
• Breaking common myths about pet photography with real experiences
To learn more about Pups Mobile Photography Studio go to:
https://pupsphoto.com
Pups Mobile Photography Studio
772-874-3207
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Benjamin John.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome back to the Good Neighbor Podcast once again
.
Hey, I want to ask you are youin need of a good photographer
for, yes, your pet?
Well, there might be someonewho actually specializes in that
closer than you think.
Today I have the pleasure ofhaving a conversation with Marco
Esposito.
How are you doing, marco?
Doing great, benjamin.
(00:32):
How are you?
I'm doing really good, yeah,thank you.
I'll tell you what I'm veryfascinated with your business
model, and I think the communityis as well.
So let's just start off.
Tell us a little bit about thecompany.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, so Pop-Up Photo Studios, the acronym is PUPS.
We are a mobile photographystudio that we're able to go
pretty much anywhere in SouthFlorida, servicing Orlando to
Miami.
Go right to your door, pop upour studio, have professional
lighting and take thosebeautiful portraits of you and
your dogs, any of your pets,your cats.
(01:08):
We just love to see the bonding, the connection I know.
I have two boxers and my wifeand they're my whole world, so I
love creating artwork aroundthat and looking at it every day
, just loving and showcasing ourdogs.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Okay.
Well, this is such a uniquebusiness model and I'm very
curious to know how did you getinto this business?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yeah, so I've been a professional photographer since
about 2009.
I work in weddings, portraits,sports, and kind of got this
crazy idea networked with a guyout in Colorado that was doing
it, shout out to Fetch Photo,went out there, kind of saw what
he was doing, fell in love withit.
(01:54):
And one big part around ourmission is to get dogs adopted.
So we volunteer once a month atlocal humane societies, work
with different shelters, takephotos of their dogs to try and
get them adopted as well,because a lot of times when they
come in they're really scared.
(02:14):
They get a picture on an iPhonethat's kind of what goes online
.
So we love to go in, volunteerour time just to get these dogs
adopted, because a lot are justbeautiful, beautiful dogs and
cats.
So we bring them into thetrailer, make them feel super
comfortable.
We have different coloredbackgrounds, lighting and really
just try and showcase theirpersonality.
(02:35):
So we spend a little bit moretime with them, throw them
treats Everybody loves the treatcatching photos where their
mouths are open, catching thosetreats in midair, the treat
catching photos where theirmouths are open, catching those
treats in midair, yeah, and justreally show off who they are
and be able to present thatonline Instagram, facebook and
really get the communityinvolved to showcase those dogs
(02:56):
and get them adopted.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
That's really cool.
I love the first of all.
I like your passion for your,your love for dogs, and then I
love hearing about thecollaboration between you and
the animal shelter.
It's such a again anotherunique approach to your business
.
I love that, thank you.
What are some myths ormisconceptions that you found
within doing this?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
A lot of people say, oh, my dog won't sit still, my
dog is too rambunctious.
Listen, I've got two boxers,the most rambunctious dogs you
can get.
But once we get them into thetrailer a lot of the adoptable
(03:40):
dogs, you know we show them somuch love, give them so many
treats, that once they calm down, once they figure out, oh this
is kind of fun.
Calm down once they figure out,oh this is kind of fun.
Peanut butter is kind of mysecret weapon.
So to bring them in, let themfeel comfortable in that
environment and you know,sometimes I do it for me just as
much, just to give these dogssome love.
So myth number one my dog willnot sit still for a photo.
(04:01):
Well, we definitely have ourlittle tricks and and that we do
inside the studio to to reallyget them involved and relaxed
and then showcase theirpersonalities.
Some other myths that we havethat some of the dogs just won't
(04:23):
sit still, and again that kindof goes back to having them
relax and enjoy the experienceand just show them that they're
loved and that they're in a verysafe environment.
We've done dog photographyoutside and that's a little bit
more chaotic.
So having them in the trailerwhere they're just sniffing
around.
They want to see what's all inthere, and once they figure out,
(04:44):
the guy with the treats isthere and they all kind of
behave a little bit more becausethey want those, those treats.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
A little incentive for them, yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
To behave.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Exactly, very cool.
Well, I think I know the answerto this question, but maybe
there's other customers that I'munaware of, so I'll just ask
you who are your targetcustomers and how do you attract
them.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, definitely anybody with a dog who loves
them enough to put them up onthe wall to showcase that love.
You know, dogs just aren'taround long enough, so we love
photographing them in the puppystage, in the teen stage and
even our older puppies when dogs, when they they're part of the
(05:27):
family.
So that's really who we we aregeared towards is someone who
wants those long lasting bondsand relationships and can look
back at their photos whenthey're not puppies anymore and
remember them in that puppystage or even later on in life
when they passed, and be able tohave them on your wall in an
(05:48):
album to look back and just lookback fondly of those memories.
And you know, it tugs at myheart a little bit because I
know my boxers are turning fourand six and boxers just they
kind of have a 10 year lifespan.
So it's just to think that, ohmy gosh, in a few short years
they might not be around, butwith the photography I'm able to
(06:10):
encapsulize that and keep themfresh in my memory and mind and
every time I see them I justlove the photos.
So, yeah, anybody with a dogthat they love more than life
and just are their whole world.
Um, I know the the word dinkcomes to mind dual income.
No, kids, I never heard that.
(06:32):
People that, um, you know,might not have kids, or even if
they do, we love doing thefamily photos with them.
So anybody who's just, if youtake your dog to a park, if you
walk them, if they're the oneswho sleep in bed with you, that
cuddle up on the couch.
We want those relationships tobe forever photographed and
(06:54):
memorialized, even in ourphotography.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Okay, yeah, you're completely right, they're family
members, and what you'vecreated captures moments just
like children and a familymember, and so I would say
that's a huge value to what youbring to the table with that
business.
Absolutely, yep, yep, all right.
So outside of work, what do youlike to do for fun?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Ah, my wife and I love traveling.
We are, uh, we're big cruisers.
We got married on a cruise.
Um, we went to Europe last year.
Uh, anything outdoor, takingthe dogs involved.
We love going to farmer'smarkets, the beach, uh.
Comedy shows are really big onour list, so anytime there's a
(07:39):
comedy show local, I love tolaugh Concerts.
So we're pretty active andinvolved.
Anything on a boat, anything ona motorcycle, I'm down for Any
sort of adventure.
Sign me up.
If I've never done it, I wantto try it out.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Oh, I like that.
I like that approach and thatmindset, and I probably might
see you at the farmer's market,if I haven't already.
I like going to those as well.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
They're great.
We have so many great localones in Tradition, the Port St
Lucie Green Market.
We actually go there, we pop up.
We don't normally dophotography there, but we're
there showcasing what we do andjust meeting people in our
community.
People bring their dogs out, soit's great for me because I get
to meet all the dogs yeah, soit's great networking and just
(08:26):
meeting people in our community.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Very nice.
All right, I'm going to switchgears on you here a little bit.
Can you describe a hardship ora life challenge that you've
went through and made youstronger?
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Absolutely.
My wife is a two-time survivorof cancer.
She had thyroid cancer beforewe met and then, after we got
married, it came back.
So just being with she's goodnow, all good, we're in the
clear.
But about two years ago it wasreally really tough just getting
(09:02):
that diagnosis but being ableto be beside her and go through
all the doctor's visits, thesurgeries I never knew I had
that depth to me.
I've never really been in acircumstance where, wow, this is
the person you love most inthis world and they're sick.
(09:23):
So to be there for them, takingthat weight and responsibilities
you know a little bit more thanyour normal life goes through,
but it's really helped us out onour journey through health.
I've lost about 40, 50 poundsrecently, so you know, getting
back in the gym, eating, right,so it's all those culmination of
(09:46):
I don't know where I'd be if wehadn't gone through that to see
like, yeah, we, if we can beatcancer, let's, let's go.
Like, what, what's the worldgot that we can't beat?
So definitely a hardship thatwe went through, but we're
stronger, we're closer and youdon't take life for granted as
much.
(10:06):
When you've been throughsomething like that You're like,
hey, let's travel, let's loveour dogs every day, let's do the
things that make us happy and,like all the other stuff, the
fluff that we get involved within our life that it just doesn't
matter as much.
So definitely going throughthat, being there for her really
has helped me grow as a person.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Wow.
Well, thank you for sharingthat with us, and I got to say
I'm really happy to hear thatshe's doing well and you guys
are, you know, focused on theblessings and the positive side
of that experience Really happyto hear that.
Thank you, Thank you.
Uh, so yeah, uh, Marco, pleasetell our listeners one thing
(10:48):
they should remember about pups.
Mobile photography studio.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
One thing you should remember, one one love your dogs
every day, give them treats,spoil them, pet them.
You are their world and viceversa.
My dogs and my wife are myworld.
So to be able to photograph andcapture those memories and put
them up on my wall and have analbum just to cherish them, just
(11:17):
to represent that loyalty andthat love, is something that I
love to do, and I'd love toprovide for people in our
community and check out theshelters.
There's some amazing dogs outthere.
Please go, give them love.
Even if you can't adopt,volunteer, uh, show up for them,
because those dogs are littleangels on this earth and the
(11:39):
kitties and they just deserveall the happiness in the world.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Nice, well, I like that.
You gave a shameless plug tothe animal shelter as well, so
that says a lot about you,absolutely.
Um, okay, and how can ourlisteners learn more about pups?
Mobile photography studio aswell.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
We're on instagram pupsphotos.
Our website is pupsphotocom.
We're at tradition market.
We're at the Port St LucieGreen Market.
Come see us.
We try and get involved a lot.
We are having an event at OceanRepublic Brewery with Mabel's
(12:18):
Mission where we're going toraise some money for her mission
and just try and get dogsadopted and out of the shelters.
So we're having mini sessions.
So check our website, follow uson Instagram, like, share,
comment post.
It just really helps build thecommunity around these adoptable
dogs.
(12:38):
And yeah, thank you for havingme on.
This has been fantastic.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Yeah, absolutely, and to you as well, marco.
I really appreciate you makingthe time coming on here and
sharing a little bit more aboutyour business, and we wish the
best for you and your companymoving forward.
All right, thank you, so somuch.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNPPortStLucycom.
That's GNPPortStLuciecom.
That's GNPPortStLuciecom, orcall 772-303-1036.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Benjamin John.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome back to the Good Neighbor Podcast once again
.
Hey, I want to ask you are youin need of a good photographer
for, yes, your pet?
Well, there might be someonewho actually specializes in that
closer than you think.
Today I have the pleasure ofhaving a conversation with Marco
Esposito.
How are you doing, marco?
Doing great, benjamin.
(00:32):
How are you?
I'm doing really good, yeah,thank you.
I'll tell you what I'm veryfascinated with your business
model, and I think the communityis as well.
So let's just start off.
Tell us a little bit about thecompany.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, so Pop-Up Photo Studios, the acronym is PUPS.
We are a mobile photographystudio that we're able to go
pretty much anywhere in SouthFlorida, servicing Orlando to
Miami.
Go right to your door, pop upour studio, have professional
lighting and take thosebeautiful portraits of you and
your dogs, any of your pets,your cats.
(01:08):
We just love to see the bonding, the connection I know.
I have two boxers and my wifeand they're my whole world, so I
love creating artwork aroundthat and looking at it every day
, just loving and showcasing ourdogs.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Okay.
Well, this is such a uniquebusiness model and I'm very
curious to know how did you getinto this business?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yeah, so I've been a professional photographer since
about 2009.
I work in weddings, portraits,sports, and kind of got this
crazy idea networked with a guyout in Colorado that was doing
it, shout out to Fetch Photo,went out there, kind of saw what
he was doing, fell in love withit.
(01:54):
And one big part around ourmission is to get dogs adopted.
So we volunteer once a month atlocal humane societies, work
with different shelters, takephotos of their dogs to try and
get them adopted as well,because a lot of times when they
come in they're really scared.
(02:14):
They get a picture on an iPhonethat's kind of what goes online
.
So we love to go in, volunteerour time just to get these dogs
adopted, because a lot are justbeautiful, beautiful dogs and
cats.
So we bring them into thetrailer, make them feel super
comfortable.
We have different coloredbackgrounds, lighting and really
just try and showcase theirpersonality.
(02:35):
So we spend a little bit moretime with them, throw them
treats Everybody loves the treatcatching photos where their
mouths are open, catching thosetreats in midair, the treat
catching photos where theirmouths are open, catching those
treats in midair, yeah, and justreally show off who they are
and be able to present thatonline Instagram, facebook and
really get the communityinvolved to showcase those dogs
(02:56):
and get them adopted.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
That's really cool.
I love the first of all.
I like your passion for your,your love for dogs, and then I
love hearing about thecollaboration between you and
the animal shelter.
It's such a again anotherunique approach to your business
.
I love that, thank you.
What are some myths ormisconceptions that you found
within doing this?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
A lot of people say, oh, my dog won't sit still, my
dog is too rambunctious.
Listen, I've got two boxers,the most rambunctious dogs you
can get.
But once we get them into thetrailer a lot of the adoptable
(03:40):
dogs, you know we show them somuch love, give them so many
treats, that once they calm down, once they figure out, oh this
is kind of fun.
Calm down once they figure out,oh this is kind of fun.
Peanut butter is kind of mysecret weapon.
So to bring them in, let themfeel comfortable in that
environment and you know,sometimes I do it for me just as
much, just to give these dogssome love.
So myth number one my dog willnot sit still for a photo.
(04:01):
Well, we definitely have ourlittle tricks and and that we do
inside the studio to to reallyget them involved and relaxed
and then showcase theirpersonalities.
Some other myths that we havethat some of the dogs just won't
(04:23):
sit still, and again that kindof goes back to having them
relax and enjoy the experienceand just show them that they're
loved and that they're in a verysafe environment.
We've done dog photographyoutside and that's a little bit
more chaotic.
So having them in the trailerwhere they're just sniffing
around.
They want to see what's all inthere, and once they figure out,
(04:44):
the guy with the treats isthere and they all kind of
behave a little bit more becausethey want those, those treats.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
A little incentive for them, yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
To behave.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Exactly, very cool.
Well, I think I know the answerto this question, but maybe
there's other customers that I'munaware of, so I'll just ask
you who are your targetcustomers and how do you attract
them.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, definitely anybody with a dog who loves
them enough to put them up onthe wall to showcase that love.
You know, dogs just aren'taround long enough, so we love
photographing them in the puppystage, in the teen stage and
even our older puppies when dogs, when they they're part of the
(05:27):
family.
So that's really who we we aregeared towards is someone who
wants those long lasting bondsand relationships and can look
back at their photos whenthey're not puppies anymore and
remember them in that puppystage or even later on in life
when they passed, and be able tohave them on your wall in an
(05:48):
album to look back and just lookback fondly of those memories.
And you know, it tugs at myheart a little bit because I
know my boxers are turning fourand six and boxers just they
kind of have a 10 year lifespan.
So it's just to think that, ohmy gosh, in a few short years
they might not be around, butwith the photography I'm able to
(06:10):
encapsulize that and keep themfresh in my memory and mind and
every time I see them I justlove the photos.
So, yeah, anybody with a dogthat they love more than life
and just are their whole world.
Um, I know the the word dinkcomes to mind dual income.
No, kids, I never heard that.
(06:32):
People that, um, you know,might not have kids, or even if
they do, we love doing thefamily photos with them.
So anybody who's just, if youtake your dog to a park, if you
walk them, if they're the oneswho sleep in bed with you, that
cuddle up on the couch.
We want those relationships tobe forever photographed and
(06:54):
memorialized, even in ourphotography.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Okay, yeah, you're completely right, they're family
members, and what you'vecreated captures moments just
like children and a familymember, and so I would say
that's a huge value to what youbring to the table with that
business.
Absolutely, yep, yep, all right.
So outside of work, what do youlike to do for fun?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Ah, my wife and I love traveling.
We are, uh, we're big cruisers.
We got married on a cruise.
Um, we went to Europe last year.
Uh, anything outdoor, takingthe dogs involved.
We love going to farmer'smarkets, the beach, uh.
Comedy shows are really big onour list, so anytime there's a
(07:39):
comedy show local, I love tolaugh Concerts.
So we're pretty active andinvolved.
Anything on a boat, anything ona motorcycle, I'm down for Any
sort of adventure.
Sign me up.
If I've never done it, I wantto try it out.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Oh, I like that.
I like that approach and thatmindset, and I probably might
see you at the farmer's market,if I haven't already.
I like going to those as well.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
They're great.
We have so many great localones in Tradition, the Port St
Lucie Green Market.
We actually go there, we pop up.
We don't normally dophotography there, but we're
there showcasing what we do andjust meeting people in our
community.
People bring their dogs out, soit's great for me because I get
to meet all the dogs yeah, soit's great networking and just
(08:26):
meeting people in our community.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Very nice.
All right, I'm going to switchgears on you here a little bit.
Can you describe a hardship ora life challenge that you've
went through and made youstronger?
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Absolutely.
My wife is a two-time survivorof cancer.
She had thyroid cancer beforewe met and then, after we got
married, it came back.
So just being with she's goodnow, all good, we're in the
clear.
But about two years ago it wasreally really tough just getting
(09:02):
that diagnosis but being ableto be beside her and go through
all the doctor's visits, thesurgeries I never knew I had
that depth to me.
I've never really been in acircumstance where, wow, this is
the person you love most inthis world and they're sick.
(09:23):
So to be there for them, takingthat weight and responsibilities
you know a little bit more thanyour normal life goes through,
but it's really helped us out onour journey through health.
I've lost about 40, 50 poundsrecently, so you know, getting
back in the gym, eating, right,so it's all those culmination of
(09:46):
I don't know where I'd be if wehadn't gone through that to see
like, yeah, we, if we can beatcancer, let's, let's go.
Like, what, what's the worldgot that we can't beat?
So definitely a hardship thatwe went through, but we're
stronger, we're closer and youdon't take life for granted as
much.
(10:06):
When you've been throughsomething like that You're like,
hey, let's travel, let's loveour dogs every day, let's do the
things that make us happy and,like all the other stuff, the
fluff that we get involved within our life that it just doesn't
matter as much.
So definitely going throughthat, being there for her really
has helped me grow as a person.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Wow.
Well, thank you for sharingthat with us, and I got to say
I'm really happy to hear thatshe's doing well and you guys
are, you know, focused on theblessings and the positive side
of that experience Really happyto hear that.
Thank you, Thank you.
Uh, so yeah, uh, Marco, pleasetell our listeners one thing
(10:48):
they should remember about pups.
Mobile photography studio.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
One thing you should remember, one one love your dogs
every day, give them treats,spoil them, pet them.
You are their world and viceversa.
My dogs and my wife are myworld.
So to be able to photograph andcapture those memories and put
them up on my wall and have analbum just to cherish them, just
(11:17):
to represent that loyalty andthat love, is something that I
love to do, and I'd love toprovide for people in our
community and check out theshelters.
There's some amazing dogs outthere.
Please go, give them love.
Even if you can't adopt,volunteer, uh, show up for them,
because those dogs are littleangels on this earth and the
(11:39):
kitties and they just deserveall the happiness in the world.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Nice, well, I like that.
You gave a shameless plug tothe animal shelter as well, so
that says a lot about you,absolutely.
Um, okay, and how can ourlisteners learn more about pups?
Mobile photography studio aswell.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
We're on instagram pupsphotos.
Our website is pupsphotocom.
We're at tradition market.
We're at the Port St LucieGreen Market.
Come see us.
We try and get involved a lot.
We are having an event at OceanRepublic Brewery with Mabel's
(12:18):
Mission where we're going toraise some money for her mission
and just try and get dogsadopted and out of the shelters.
So we're having mini sessions.
So check our website, follow uson Instagram, like, share,
comment post.
It just really helps build thecommunity around these adoptable
dogs.
(12:38):
And yeah, thank you for havingme on.
This has been fantastic.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Yeah, absolutely, and to you as well, marco.
I really appreciate you makingthe time coming on here and
sharing a little bit more aboutyour business, and we wish the
best for you and your companymoving forward.
All right, thank you, so somuch.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNPPortStLucycom.
That's GNPPortStLuciecom.
That's GNPPortStLuciecom, orcall 772-303-1036.
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