twoguineapigs at happy paws fitness + new website

If you have been following my Blog (and paying attention!), you might remember one of the new projects I’ve been working on lately is my website.

Yes, twoguineapigs Pet Photography now has a brand new home - in the virtual world that is. I’m excited about our new custom designed website + a logo refresh.

[Thanks to my graphic/web designer Guru Matthew and our Super-duper developer Evan made it all fun and easy for me during the process so I could focus on the bigger and more important things - like photography.]

Who would have thought that photographing animals could have taught me so much about myself: how patient I need to be; how anxious I can be about wanting everything to be perfect (nearly); how silly and mad I can be sometimes (ok, most of the time) in wanting to make something work for my Clients - including wearing a swimming costume to a bay-side photo-shoot just in case I had to get into the water; in fact how I decided to take entire year off to focus on my photography and this business, creating my own website and blog from scratch in the beginning (with the help of my husband Stephen James and my cousin Jessica Chan of course who did an excellent job designing our logo) - but most importantly how I have learned about the consciousness of those amazing other beings staring back at me through my lens.

So please hop over to twoguineapigs.com.au and tell me what you think.

Also coinciding with the launch of this new website, I’m proud to have the opportunity to exhibit my artwork at happy paws fitness (143-151 Bayswater Rd Rushcutters Bay 2011, 02 9332 2338). If you need day care (pick-up and drop-off), dog walking, grooming, health and fitness, training, vet, pet psychic services for your pooches, visit happy paws fitness - their friendly, professional and experienced staff ensure your pooches are in very good hands. Not to mention the interior has a clean zen aromatherapy ambiance any hip city dog (and owner) will instantly chill with (the pictures help too!). And, happy paws fitness will board cats soon - I know where Mr Big and PF will be staying when we take our holidays (they may need etiquette lessons beforehand! :P). Speaking of holidays, I think we need a vacation soon.

Behind-the-scenes:

Baxter the Kelpie and Sheila the Australian Cattle Dog - both single looking for a long-term relationship

I had another dog day afternoon at Mt Anna last Saturday catching up with Sheila and her new foster dog buddy, the irrepressible Baxter - AWDRI Star dogs.

Like many individuals who go a bit domestic (in a happy way) Sheila has grown since the last time I saw her in March. Yep, puppies like humans can grow and change before your eyes. Despite becoming ever more the cattle dog that she is at 8 months, Sheila is still a lady - dainty, gentle and sprightly.

Baxter was rescued by the AWDRI last September. When he was found he was all skin and bone and his health was in a bad way but thanks to the dedication and commitment of AWDRI’s peerless foster and volunteer people who cared and nursed him back to health Baxter is now one Kelpie that never fails to brighten anyone’s day.

At the photo-shoot at Mt Annan’s nearby Reserve I got to experience first hand Kelpie and Australian Cattle Dog culture at play -woohoo! - all fun, games and joy.

If I hadn’t had a job to do I would have joined in the fun.

*** Hide-and-seek ***

*** Chasing shadows and grass(bunny)hopping ***

*** Full of expressions - yes, some mad goofy moments ***

*** Foodie ***

I enjoyed meeting these two and had a good dose of a doggie fix for the weekend. I highly recommend it as a pick-me-up!

And yes, both these lovely dogs are looking for a forever-new-home, if you’re interested. And why not? Check out their adoption profiles:

• Baxter 
• Sheila 

Behind-the-scenes notes
I was stuck in the traffic along M5 on my way up with my ever faithful and diligent assistant Stephen (who by the way is asking for a promotion). We took a detour and travelled along the Hume Highway.

I was worried about losing the light as it was close to 3.30pm and I was still driving about - late - half-way there and half-way not and suppose to be photographng at 3pm. The winter sun sets at around 4.50pm and it was heavily overcast. I was prepared to photograph in the dark! Now that would be interesting - who says the life of a starving artist is without action.

When we got to Sheila and Baxter, their foster Mum packed us all into her car - yes all 3 adults and 2 dogs - and drove us up to the nearest Reserve.

By the time we got to our location, there was still beautiful evening light - so crisp and clean. I welcomed it and marvelled at how well both my 85mm f/1.2L USM II and 24-70mm f/2.8L USM II lenses coped with the lighting condition. Lens magic. I thought both dogs looked like angels in this light - Sheila especially, she glowed!

Adoption is a beautiful thing

AWDRI is not just all about calendars and photos of beautiful but temporarily homeless dogs (I’ve done a few pictures myself in the last few years to help with adoption and raise funds) - occasionally some good people actually adopt a pooch (or two). This was the happy fate of Denny who I photographed previously and who is now living the good life in Victoria with his new house-buddies. Well done guys!

I think these new owners should be complimented for making a choice to help save a life. For one thing I am (as is my usual practice) sending them a print of Denny from my original shoot, when he/we were looking for an owner to love him. Hope you like it!

Although I’m not against the idea of getting a pet from a socially responsible and reputable breeder, I also think we have plenty of abandoned dogs, cats, guinea pigs and what not on our streets who also have their paws ‘n’ claws up hoping for a second chance, for a new home.

So good luck Denny and co! Pats and Hugs from this photographer. I hope you have many long and happy walks in the Victorian years to come.