Personal Journey and Adventures of Nina

I needed some sample images to show a client. I knew what I wanted to do. I had ideas flying around in my head (such is the life of a creative).  The only way to show someone else what is in your head is to create it so I asked my lovely neighbour if we could borrow Lulu.  Well, Lulu was a dream.  She stayed in the exact spot for the perfect lighting setup. (Doggy treats were definitely the motivating factor.) We also used funny noises and a squeaky toy to get the expressions. In all, we had most of the images within 15-20 minutes. The chair was a last minute thought but so glad as I'm really pleased with this shot. I was so excited by the images that I went out to Kmart and picked up a few more doggy/kitty accessories ready for my next shoot. Can't wait to meet my next mammal subject! FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Here is my lighting setup for the shoot. If you have any questions, pop a comment below this post.

How much fun is my job! Today I got to photograph some very special puppies. These puppies are in training to provide support to people with physical disabilities.  Not to be confused with the guide dogs, Support Dogs are trained to get the mail, fetch your car keys, grab a tin of food from the pantry, open the fridge or oven door even grab the phone for their person. Besides which, they are really cute and wonderful companions. ASDOG is a non profit organisation so they do rely on the support of our community which is why I was happy to help. Nina Beilby is a professional photographer based in Chatswood, Sydney, Australia. You can see more of her work at  www.ninabeilby.com.au .  Social Media:   Facebook   |   LinkedIn    |    Twitter Thanks for visiting!

What did you say? Working with children and pets is a nightmare. Not quite, but very challenging. Usually one or the other is ok but put the two together and you will definitely be in need of a calming cup of tea afterwards! 

I am well aware of the old adage, never work with children or pets but I find the challenge they present, half the fun! What's a little Hedgehog poop among friends... Puppies are like children in that they grow up so fast. Their features and expressions alter as they mature. As with children, I recommend that you take as many images as possible to record this evolution. The pet can be a little nervous on set at first so a little coercion helps. After the pet has a little sniff around, I give them a tasty treat. Once I get a few photo's on the card, I give them another treat and a break. They end up quite enjoying the experience. In fact sometimes, they do not want to leave! Combining pets with product photography provides an extra challenge. The brain child of my friend, Alina, we approached this shoot with juxtaposition in mind - Mary K's "Satin Hands" against the grainy skin of the Bearded Dragon and the wiry spines of a Hedgehog against Re...