Giving Back - Pet Rescue Photography

Pet overpopulation is a big problem in Australia, with pet shelters and rescue organisations being constantly over-run with unwanted cats and dogs. These organisations and the hard-working networks of volunteers behind them take in pets, provide care and rehabilitation, organise foster carers where required and most importantly, match up pets to new and lasting forever homes. There is much to do and often there is only time or resources to take quick snapshots of these pets for online profiles, which don't really show off their looks and personality to the best advantage.

Over the years, I've volunteered my time with a number of rescue and animal shelters in Queensland, providing professional photography services of adoptable pets. The main aim is to find the best homes possible for them in the shortest time and beautiful images are proven to increase adoption rates. I've also worked with rescue organisations to donate time, auctionable gift items and design services.

The shelters and rescues I have worked with include:

• Peninsula Animal Aid - website design and adoptable dog photography, active member of the Communications Sub-Committee, calendar image photographer
• Arctic Breed Rescue - regular adoptable dog photography
• Great Dane Rescue & Rehoming - donations and fundraising
• 3R Animal Rescue - website design and adoptable dog photography
• Pets Without Partners - adoptable pet photography

My volunteering commitments in 2013 are currently full. However if you know of a rescue in Brisbane that could do with a little photographic help, please get in touch, I'd love to try and slot in some time to work with them in 2014.

As of July 2012, I am happy to announce I am now a full Service Professional Member of HeARTspeak, a fantastic worldwide organisation dedicated to uniting artists with shelters and animal relief organizations. This quote on their website sums it up - "A compelling photograph can reach into the heart of a potential adopter and bring an animal one step closer to a long life outside the shelter."