I’m busy writing two essays for uni – one on the holocaust and one on privacy in marriage. If I manage to come up for air this week, I’ll be on facebook or here. xx

Swan River Myrtle.

Red Ink Sundew – it’s carnivorous!

Although the pea-like flowers are almost identical, this is not a Hardenbergia.
It’s Hovea pungens or ‘Devils Pins’ – just as pretty as the hardenbergia, but sharp!

Donkey Orchid and some weird ass bud. There were heaps of these, none of them open yet.
Going to have to go back and find out what they look like fully grown because I can’t find a picture of the bud anywhere.

This is a Chorizema or Flame Pea. Western Australia has a gazillion varieties of native pea plants.

And to finish off, here is a picture of bugs having sex on a blackboy.

*Amanda Keeys is a superstar. She is a wonderful photographer with super cute kidlets who model boutique clothing and accessories and an etsy store where she sells knitted baby hats and patterns. And now actions on top of that! Thank you so much Amanda for letting me trial your actions and presets, I’m absolutely loving them!

**They have had other things done to them. For those that are interested, I used Lightzone to convert to jpg with either a soft wow or palladium gold or smart sepia edit preset. Must get around to getting Lightroom instead of Light zone. Then I went into Photoshop and adjusted curves, cropped a few images, added a slight vignette and used BumpMeUp to make the colour pop.

I’m Alex Cearns, professional animal portrait photographer and owner of Houndstooth Studio. I have a fixed base studio in North Perth, WA, a space designed for animals, where they can relax and totally be themselves. It’s well equipped with lots of toys and treats for all manner of pets – dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, rabbits. I also have a mobile studio and use this off site, particularly when I visit not for profit organisations such as the RSPCA WA. I’m their official photographer and provide pro bono photographs and photography services to them on an ongoing basis. They use my pics in promotions, advertising, on products, on their website, and sometimes even in court cases. Advances in technology mean that I can fulfill a shot brief here in WA for a commercial client based in the eastern states, and this includes sourcing the animal ‘talent” locally, so finding the right coloured horse or breed of dog. Plus I have several commercial clients based on the east coast too and I try to visit them as required. I will also travel anywhere in Australia for a minimum number of photo session bookings, so our pet portrait pics are available to everyone regardless of location.

How long have you been a vocation photographer? How did you find your style? I’ve been taking photographs for 4 years, ever since buying my first DSLR – a Canon 300D. Originally I decided I would be an “all rounder’ and take photos of everything, but soon realised that animals were the subject matter I enjoyed the most – and were also what I was best at capturing. It became evident to me that landscapes and people, just weren’t my ‘thing’. The turning point was one morning at a local park, after a friend asked me to take some family portraits. Whilst her adorable 3 year old daughter was doing ballet twirls for me, and I was snapping away, some ducks caught my eye. Whilst the little girl was spinning around, I quickly turned away and captured some shots of the ducks. This happened several times and later I realised I had more pics of ducks than I did of my friends family.

This started happening frequently and I soon realised that anytime a creature was around I was drawn to photographing it. Then in October 2007 I visited Cocos (Keeling) Islands and took a shot of some giant underwater clams. I entered the image into some state and national photo competitions and ended up winning two and placing in two others. This led to gallery representation and print sales, which was the catalyst for me in creating the belief that I could make some sort of a living through photography. I opened Alex Cearns Photographics in April 2008 and mainly focused on natural light pet photos and my wildlife work. In July 2009 I changed my branding to Houndstooth Studio and decided to specialise in studio pet portraits – offering the same service and standards granted to people in a portrait studio, but for pets. I suppose you could say my style crept up on me and there were clues presenting themselves along the way and directing me to what I should be focusing on. I’m glad I saw the signs and followed my instincts on it all. I’m pretty much self taught and tend to work on intuition. I know and understand all the technical aspects but prefer to ‘feel’ my way thorough, seeing what works and what doesn’t and adjusting as I go. After a while it becomes second nature and I can now adapt my lights and camera to photograph any creatures.

First and foremost, I think the images are very important, and so is client satisfaction. I put 6+ hours of work into each shoot I do (including the shoot itself and the purchase appointment where the clients return to select their prints and products). I’m a perfectionist, so always strive to achieve a high standard in my work, so that my clients receive a portrait showcasing the most perfect version of their pet. People book studio photo sessions based on the quality of my work, and we rely heavily on referrals. But the work can’t stand alone without a strong focus on customer service. I never pressure-sell to clients and would rather they spent a small amount of money and walked away 110% satisfied, than spent thousands and felt ripped off. They leave my studio with my reputation, and if they are happy they tell everyone – and if they are unhappy they tell everyone.

I never say no to anything, even the difficult requests for digital files and the like, preferring to negotiate an outcome where we are both satisfied, and I always ensure I don’t lose focus on my core business, which is pleasing clients with my pet portraits! We attract a certain client demographic too – people who love their pets so much that they want to display their portrait photographs in their homes. It’s wonderful to work with (and for) people who have this common good in all of them. What do you enjoy most about being in the photography industry? I get a huge buzz out of creating new photos which previously didn’t exist and trying to craft a better image each time I pick up my camera…and showing those photos to a client and seeing tears of joy as a response is just the best feeling. It means I achieved the standards I set myself and reached beyond the clients expectations. Often people come to me because they can’t get any decent shots of their pet, and when they finally see them in a finished portrait product it could be the first time their pet has ever been viewed in that way. I also love the ongoing learning associated with photography. Technology is advancing so fast, and there are so many things to know and learn about it all – I could spend five lifetimes on it all and still only know 20% of all there is! And lastly, I really enjoy being a part of a professional outfit namely the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers (AIPP). We have to meet stringent standards of ethics and standards in our photography to be deemed “professional”. The members are all achievers, most of them very successful in what they do, and I find them an inspiration!

What is your favourite image (yours or someone else’s)?

I think the image I’m most grateful for is Blue Clams, for all the good things it bought me. But my current favourite, which could change tomorrow, is below.

What is the hardest part about running a photography business? I think the hardest part for me is being the ‘everything’ person. I’m the photographer, the receptionist, the courier, the order taker, the problem fixer, the technical adviser, bookings manager, data entry officer, filer, accountant etc. Not to say I don’t appreciate the help I get from my business manager, digital re-toucher and several animal handlers who assist me, but there are always a million other things to do. Part of the reason I’m not that great at delegating is my perfectionist spirit and wanting total control over every aspect so I can maintain the quality and standards I set. But I am directing my business towards employing an office manager/assistant in the not too distant future and think starting out doing everything has been a fabulous grounding for giving me an appreciation of all the aspects which need to gel to make a business a success. What would you suggest is the first step on the road to being a vocational photographer? I think two things are beneficial – finding a subject you love and being critical of your own work and accepting feedback on your own work. You have to shoot what makes you happy, things or situations that inspire you, things you enjoy or feel passionate about, as the emotion you feel when you are taking the shot then comes through in your work. If your heart’s not in it, this will show in your images. I also think you need a strong critical eye, and have to be able to self assess your own shots. Only show people your absolute best work, and learn as much as you can about why your shots work, or don’t work.

Small focus groups of friends are always a good measure for finding out what people like and why. You really do have to put yourself and your work out there into the public arena in order to move forward. Which is hard, as that also leaves you open to people’s opinions of your work. If you’re going to ask for them you’re going to get them, ha-ha. And you need to know how to receive that criticism and what to do with it. Take on board the bits you think are relevant and discard the rest. Be your own best and worst critic. And take a million photos to find those perfect few. I’m not a supporter of feeling pressured to get it right every time – that comes with experience.

The joy of digital is we can learn from our mistakes and can quickly figure out what works and what doesn’t. Where or what would you most like to photograph? I’d love to photograph chameleons and lemurs in Madagascar, the penguins in South Georgia or perhaps even have some exotic animals in the studio. Even a hedgehog seems exotic to an Australian, just like a koala seems exotic to someone from the UK! Actually, I’d be very keen to photograph a full catalogue of Aussie animals – I’m yet to do studio shots of a koala, wombat, fox, platypus, sugar glider… Documenting them all photographically would be fantastic.

Just remember that at the end of the day, photography is so subjective and really we are all shooting for ourselves first and foremost, to satisfy that little photo –bug inside of us which is continually chasing a better shot than the last one, or showing people the way we see things. So if you do put your work out there for others to view and pass judgment on, and you happen to receive negative feedback, it’s totally ok if you still love the photo. If you can’t please yourself, who can you please! And to be honest, deep down inside, we are All shooting to please ourselves.

Lazy Cat

I love the late afternoon light that comes in through my bedroom and so do my cats. So I decided to try and capture Gemini relaxing in the warmth on my bed. Gemini is not the easiest of subjects – when you point a camera at him, he tends to either tuck his head under a paw, stalk off in the opposite direction or run up to you for petting. Luckily, the warmth and the laziness won over and I got a few good shots before Ava came running in yelling CAAAAAAAAAAAAAT and trying to poke him in the eye. Then he gave me a look that said “why woman? why must my rest be disturbed so?” and hid under the bed to clean his already immaculate fur.

The light was so lovely that I didn’t have to do anything in photoshop apart from crop the picture to get focus on those eyes. Gemini’s eyes are really green, but the warm light and use of flash had flattened the colour a lot. To accentuate them, I added an adjustment layer, increased green and yellow in the colour balance and masked out all but the iris of his eye. An important thing to remember when changing the colour of someone’s eyes that the pupils should remains black, so I made sure Gem’s pupils were masked out from the adjustment layer.

Shooting info: Nikon d300s 1/60s 200ISO f4 80mm fill flash WB-PRE, Vivid setting.

My two images are Shed at the Weird and Autumn Flight. I’m so, so, so excited. This is the first time I’ve ever ‘won’ something (you had to audition for a place in the gallery) and it’s for such a good cause. Now I’m off to email every CEO’s PA of every major company in WA an invitation and hope that because it’s a worthy cause, people will come. Such awesome exposure and for two shots that I really love.

Anyway, Ariarne is the most photogenic child in the world*. She’s so adorable. The whole family is adorable and I’m going to get to do a shoot with them soon – yay! It’s so easy to make photographs when your subjects are this beautiful. I’ll stop gushing and show you the photos now. These were taken in the playground at Eastlake, where Mums and Mochas is held.

See, just delicious. Thanks heaps Raelyn for letting me use these on my blog and I look forward to doing your shoot soon. xx

*Apart from Anabelle. Anabelle wins coz I photographed her first. Or maybe it’s a tie?

Jace and Avalon at Wannanup Reserve

Sometimes a central focus does work. This photo was taken about 30 minutes before sunset, the kids were grumpy, the contrast was harsh and the mosquitoes were hungry. Normally when I shoot, I stick to the rule of thirds. I don’t do it consciously anymore, it just happens. Even when I’m capturing snapshots with my camera phone, It’s always center-focus and then move to the side. So when I looked through these, I was pleasantly surprised. The curve of the path moves your eye through the photograph, while the overhanging trees and the stripes of light below them frame the kids nicely. It’s impossible to get two toddlers to be looking at you at the same time, so even though it’s a photo of Jace’s back, Ava checking behind her to make sure he’s following is cute and the light on the side of his face and ear means he’s not just a black blob.

Nikon d300s 1/350s f5.6 ISO800 55mm WB-PRE and ‘Vivid’ setting.

We regularly walk down this path, the kids run ahead and me and Sach yell after them to watch where they are going, slow down, stop and wait, don’t touch that, etc. etc. This photograph is one of the reasons why it’s important to always have your camera with you, even if the light is harsh and you spend more time scratching mossie bites than shooting! You’ll never know when the magic is just there. xx

Pentax ist DL camera body
Albinar 85-200 f4 zoom lens
Sigma 18-50mm f3.5-5.6 zoom lens
Sigma 100-300mm f4.5-6.7 zoom lens
Sigma 28-80mm 3.5-5.6 macro zoom

Contact me by email if you’re interested – shannon.gillespie@hotmail.com. I thought I’d ask here before I put them on ebay. Pictures available if anyone wants them.

Who are you and where do you work?
I’m Rachel. I work part time for a boss, and the rest of the time on starting Aussie Pet Services Directory. Aussie Pet Services Directory is like the name says – an online Directory of Pet Services in WA. www.apsdirectory.com.au We aim to include everything from groomers, trainers, pet shops and accessories, to vets, pet photographers, holiday care and more.

How long have you been in business?
Well it’s been in planning about 4 years, in start-up phase for about 9 months, and our launch is planned for September

What do you enjoy most about being in your industry?
The animals I’m all about the animals. Our animals are part of our family – they get christmas pressies and all. I have two dogs, two Guineas and fish. I have had cats, a frog, birds and even snails. I appreciate a pets place in the family, and aim to help pet owners care for their pets or find their new pets through the website.

How did you find your niche? Has your business gone in a different direction to what you originally envisioned?
As a kid I wasn’t particularly fond of dogs, and being bitten by a random dog when walking home from school didn’t help either. Then I met two beautiful dogs Winston and Angel, and they helped me get over my fear of dogs. In 2003 I got my beautiful dog Kaely (that’s her, below!). She is my best little buddy was my inspiration for my first pet care business. I used to walk dogs and look after pets whilst people were at work and on holiday and had a great time doing it. But I discovered how hard it was to advertise the business on a small budget. A few years later when talking to a workmate about business, I came up with the idea to pool the advertising budgets of small businesses – and the idea for Aussie Pet Services Directory was born.

Where or what as would you most like to work?
I’d love to own a kennel or doggy daycare someday too. I love working hands on with the animals. That’s what I wanted 8 years ago when i first started in the industry, and someday I’d love to do it still.

Whats your best tip for would be business owners?
Plan, plan and plan again. Starting a business without a plan is like driving in a new place without a map. Sure you may get to the destination in the end, but you’ll probably go the long way and hit more roadblocks and detours that way.

See – isn’t she brilliant? You can visit the Aussie Pet Services Directory here or see the facebook page here. Thanks so much for taking part Rachel and thanks so much for your help and advice over the last few months – Best of luck with your launch next month! Next week we are continuing the animals theme, with Alex from Houndstooth Studios featuring.

Ok, I really don’t want another baby. I’ll stick to other people’s babies and other people’s baby bumps.

Pauline has actually had her baby now. He is just adorable. And I apologise Pauline, that I haven’t had the time to edit all of these and to get out to your house and shoot the rest of the kids. But here they are. And you look beautiful. You totally can’t tell that you were 3 days away from having a baby. And thanks for putting up with me dragging you all over Pinjarra and being attacked by mad ants! I hope you like these. xx

Ok, looking at them again, maybe I doooo want another baby. Must go and chant my mantra “Get a Puppy instead. Get a Puppy instead.” Is anyone else ridiculously clucky? xx