‘freida’ the shy dog
Freida a super shy dog one moment, running around the yard like a crazy thing the next…. and the good news she was adopted.
old dominion animal hospital
This was something a little different and I had no idea where I’d been taking photos. I sure as heck wasn’t expecting a room full of furniture and hundreds of places for the 5 little ones I was going to photograph to hid in. BUT, it was a lot of fun and showed me I still have a lot to learn about shooting in ‘interesting places.’
If you’ve followed my style of photography you know I’ll shoot anywhere, from in the snow, to a total downpour on a muddy hillside in South Korea to a beautiful garden. While the background is important, to me, there is nothing more important than capturing the dog or cat in their natural environment. For the most part I wont dress up your pet, just because, and would rather the cats or dogs personality show through how they interact with what’s around them. This way it enables me to get some really interesting shots.
When it comes to working with cats and kittens this is sometimes the best way because anyone who has had or has one of these four legged furballs will know they have a spirit and mind of their own and it’s best to go with the flow than try to make them conform to your ideas.
Cats are their own kings, it’s just best to give in to them!
Check out my Facebook page for lots of cats and kittens looking for great homes. Or check out my adoptable page, your next best friend might be waiting for you!
photographer and dog trainer!
If you haven’t been following me on Facebook (please do), you won’t know that I’ve been employed and am being sent back to school to become a dog trainer. It’s my dream job, I’ll continue to take photos but already I’ve noticed that my time is really precious.
I’ve also got to take my dog to dog training classes with me. This should be hilarious since (I hope) she is already really well trained. She’s been on photoshoots with me and travelled around South Korea and parts of America with our family.
We can’t wait!!!!
cat photographer
There must be an influx of cats and kittens out there at the moment because I’ve been taking A LOT of photos of them.
Check out some of the photos on Facebook and ‘like’ my page to stay in touch and not miss a single moment of the cuteness.
i moved!!!!
So for those of you not following me on Facebook (sad face) I’ve moved to Charlottesville VA. My wife and I moved for a number of reasons and again I find myself in a position where I’ll have to build my client base and get my name out in a new town again. The great thing is that I’m also working at Petco and training to be a dog trainer.
As far as working with Louisa rescue groups are concerned…. I’m not really sure. As much as I would like to with my new job and the price of gas continuing to go up and up and while we also own a farm we’ve had no luck growing that money tree yet. This being said who knows, maybe it’s time to start looking at a shelter closer to home.
Remember if you’d like to work with me please either contact me through Facebook or through this website and I can work with you cat or dog and provide you with an excellent and affordable product.
Thanks
Hamish (Aroha Photos)
kittens and cats cuteness
What a great day. I decided to get an early start on the day as the temperature has hit the high 90s for the last week by lunchtime. By 9:30 I was into it. Several hours later I was sitting down with Meg (the foster mom) having a sandwich and a cold beer. I love my job.
The mission over the next couple of days is to edit and post the photos of all the cats and kittens….. I love my job.
And if you were wondering working with cats/kittens is nothing like working with dogs….. nothing at all. Try telling a cat to sit, there’s a lot of following the little ones around, switching of lenses and in many cases having one attack your feet while trying to take pictures of another one…… I love my job.
Make sure you check out my Facebook page to see all the cats and kittens looking for great homes, or just to check out the cuteness.
Kittens…. it is the season
Take pictures of 10 kittens… yeah sure. On Saturday my wife and I left on a bit of an adventure and it sure was fun. When else do you get the chance to be around so many great cats and kittens?!
All of the kittens I took pictures of are looking for great homes, so please tell your friends and family. Check out my Facebook page to see all ten of them (they all have their own albums). If you are interested in adopting any of them please either contact me or Louisa Humane Society.
i’m still alive and clicking
Okay, so I have sort of left this bog to grow a little mold just recently. In the last month and a bit I’ve moved from South Korea to America, started a farm and found a love for Miracle Whip . As you can guess it’s been super busy.
I have had the opportunity to get the camera gear out on a few occasions and I am loving the open space and lovely animals around Louisa.
Here are some photos I posted on Facebook. As you can see, I’ve had the chance to photograph dogs, piglets and kids (the baby goat kind).
Remember if you are looking for a quality pet photographer, who will work with you and not require you to sell an arm or a leg please contact me.
america (oh yeah)
Okay so after a little bit of stress and a lot more turbulence all four of us made it to America safely.
I’m taking some time to get up and running and getting to a slower pace of life (which can’t be a bad thing).
I’m updating Facebook as much as possible so that’s probably the best way to keep up-to-date with the ongoing situation for the next week or so. I’ve already got 4 dogs to take photos of and 6 photoshoots in April.
And for those of you that have followed Bambina and Hope in South Korea and now America, they are doing great.
Let the madness begin.
my last CARE shelter trip
Yesterday was my last CARE shelter trip, in total I was away from home for over 12 hours and it was worth every moment!
Part of me was really sad that I wont get to interact with the dogs and cats there again but I tried my hardest to capture as many of them as possible so I could help get them into fuever homes.
As a photographer I know my part is only a small one and I’m very thankful for all the wonderful people that I’ve worked along side and will continue to work finding these dogs and cats homes.
I’ve learned a lot from working at different shelters in South Korea; like what it’s like to try and take photos of a single dog when there are 5 or 6 others trying to lick and sit on you, what it’s like to take photos in all sorts of weather (wet, snow, wind, dust… you name it, I’ve done it), and how to interact with dogs and cats that have no idea why they’ve ended up in front of a Kiwi taking photos of them.
Go and check out the newest photos on Facebook at Aroha Photos.
From here my next photo sessions will be in America and in less than a month I’ll be there.
it’s all in the way you look at things
With the cold weather setting in and the New Year underway it’s time to evaluate what I want to do and what I hope to accomplish.
I’ve always said that I don’t want to be like anyone else, rather try and push the boundaries and try different options. So I’ve been trying some of these ideas (and I still have a few more to explore).
Today I decided to remove the window out of its frame and see if I could use it in a different use than it was originally intended (why not).
The glass in this window is extremely thick and the whole frame and glass weigh about the same as a 7-8 year old who’s been dieting on cheeseburgers. As such I had no fear it was going to break as I would never do ANYTHING to put my dog in danger.
After several attempts at getting the shot right I changed tack a bit. I had first decided that I would shoot up (from under the glass) but this was a whole new challenge in it self (reflection, lighting and space, oh and big fluffy dog). In the end the one I was most happy with is the one below.
Sure there are things I would still like to change about it, but as my first attempt at this sort of shot, it serves the purpose and opens up many more possibilities.
Tomorrow on Facebook I’ll also post some of the other photos I took, including one of my wife’s dog Hope, who was less than pleased.
As a photographer you have to challenge yourself, you have to see if the impossible is really possible and sometimes you just have to have a little fun.
I wouldn’t try this with just any dog mind you. I have been using Bambina (my dog) for these sorts of photos because I know she is well trained and will listen to me.
turning facebook red
A week or so ago I was invited to an event. I’m usually somewhat skeptical of these sorts of things but I went in with my eyes open and sometimes you just have to give it a go.
The event and now the group are trying to get out the message of animal abuse (among other things). Their goal; to get as many people on Facebook to change their profile picture red, in a show of support towards their goals.
The group is a real eclectic mix of people (from all over the world) and there have been some passionate debates and arguments on a range of subjects. For me it’s been a great way to make some new friends and contacts around the world as well as learn from like minded people.
Maybe turning your Facebook profile picture won’t change the world but it might make a difference to one animal out there by opening the eyes of someone who has no idea there is the need for change.
The link to the event is here <—- click and this is the one for the group <—- click away. As I post this there are over 30 000 people attending the event and over 4 000 people in the group. Nice to see people coming together to try and make a difference.
where there’s a will
It was amazing, something you don’t see every day let alone get the chance to photograph.
In November last year I photographed a dog with paralyzed back legs. I watched the dog struggle around a wooden pen outside and climb a step, that even I thought would be impossible for such a dog to overcome.
Fast forward to November this year, yesterday actually! The same dog came back to the shelter, not to be returned but to visit with her Korean owner. The same dog with the same will to live but this time A LOT faster and now with wheels!
It has helped restore some of my faith in humanity I had come to question just recently. More photos of this great dog can be found in my album of shelter dogs on Facebook.
“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” ~Immanuel Kant
aroha photos on facebook
I normally update Facebook at least once a day…. it’s worth heading over and taking a look. Don’t miss a thing.
Today Mandy made muffins, totally delicious and while I was trying to take photos for an article Mandy is writing, Bambina decided to join in. Bambina goes bonkers over bananas!
Remember to hit the ‘like‘ button please.
