My focus with animals is always to get a sense of who they are. Don’t be surprised if I ask you about their personalities and for stories and anecdotes about their quirks and the funny things they do, because I strive to create emotion in my images. You have to have feeling involved to do that…
My photographic work is all ‘artistic’, using a variety of camera techniques (including moving it around during the exposure time) to create multiple images of a location blended with ‘straight shots’ of your friend to create unique bespoke artwork to treasure.
What to Expect….
Once you decide to go ahead, we arrange the date and time via Zoom or similar and discuss your friend’s personality, your relationship, and their favorite activities or quirks.
We’ll pick the best location—home/garden, stables, a favourite walk or ride, dog field, or beach—where everyone feels comfortable.
On the day, it’s very relaxed. I’m sure you know as well as I do, that the instant animals sense (and they are very sensitive), there’s something “going on”, they can get tense, their expressions change, they aren’t themselves… and we don’t want any of that!
So, it’s all about me being incorporated into your outing…. I capture the images depending on personalities, age, and environment… bottom line — it’s relaxed, natural and all about the needs of your individual animal friend. We can play ball, walk, wander, sit….. we meet their needs not the other way around…
A bit more about my training and experience with animals…
I’ve loved animals all my life. My life has been filled with horses, dogs, rabbits, hamsters…
I hold a Master’s degree in Anthrozoology from Exeter University studying the culture, society, and kinship of animals from an anthropological and philosophical perspective.
I went on to train in welfare and behaviour focused on trauma in animals, and welfare needs, acquired a Graduate Diploma in Applied Behaviour, and then further training in equine welfare at the Royal Dick Vet School, Edinburgh, and training skills mainly for dogs with the Karen Pryor Academy. I was registered as a behaviourist for a while, but I no longer practice or maintain my registration. I’ve now gone full circle, returning to my love of creativity when illness struck me and I pulled the camera from the cupboard and, well…the rest is history as they say!
My passion as a photographer is exploring and pushing the boundaries of creativity. I’ll be on the international and popular creative photography platform Camversation in January 2026 to share my creative process and teach some techniques. I’m also the author of ICM Demystified, published and available on Amazon from September 2025.