Lik @ Creature Focus

Pet expo palooza

2010-03-25T15:25:00.001-07:00

This weekend is full of pet expo fun in Melbourne.

On Saturday we have the Stonnington local Council Pets in the Park, where there will be plenty of pet related activities and a great day out for the family. For more info go to http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/www/html/1010-pets-in-the-park.asp?intSiteID=1

On Sunday we will be at the Eastern Regional Pet Expo in Ferntree Gully. This one is run by the Knox City Council and should be loads of fun. For more info visit http://www.knox.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=1169

So if you have a pet and are near-by come by and visit and have a great day.

Hope to see you at one or both (well not me, I'm not allowed to go, but go and see Anna

Meow

Lik the Office Cat

Working with dogs in the studio

2010-03-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

We have been having so much fun photographing dogs we met at the Beneful Bark in the Park in Feb, that we though we should share with you some of the photos we have taken.

We have photographed small dogs, big dogs, three dogs, all have been very good and I think we have taken some great images.

When photographing a variety of dogs, it is important to remember that every dog, like every person is different. While some dogs may respond well to the camera and lights, others might be a bit shy. Some might respond to sounds and toys, while others will only be good for a treat. No matter what, it is always necessary to be flexible and change for the dog. If you can do this, you will get an image the owner will love and an image that reflects the personality of the dog.

But enough from me, here are some images.

This weekend we will be meeting more puppies at the Glen Eira Council Party in the park pet expo, if you are near Carnegie on Sunday, why not come by and visit us, we would love to meet your furry best friend. For more information, go to: http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=1516

Meow for now

Lik the Cat

Bark in the Park fun

2010-02-22T17:23:00.001-08:00

Well, it was a busy Saturday for Creature Focus. We had a stand at the Beneful Bark in the Park expo in Elwood, Melbourne, and there were thousands of people and dogs all taking in the deals and competitions on offer.

We had a busy day and took quite a few bookings which was very exciting. We had some wonderful comments on our images (especially the ones of me, which is pretty good, considering they were dog people).

Check out this pic of Anna at the stall.

We were also very lucky to get a visit from Jen Bishop from My Puppy, a canine care service for fussy parents, check her out at www.mypuppycare.com.au

Hopefully we will see some of you at our next pet expo outing with Glen Eira Council on Sunday 14th March.

Meow

Lik the Cat

Check out some of our recent work

2010-02-03T18:24:00.001-08:00

It is busy times for little black cats at the moment and we thought perhaps we could show you a bit of what we do and have been working on at Creature Focus.

Through out the year we are fortunate to photograph many different types of dogs, with different personalities. The one thing we always notice though is how much their owners love them, and how much they love having photos of them.

We hope you enjoy the few we have posted here (not many cats at the moment).

Don't forget if you would like to see more photos during the year we are often posting them on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Creature-Focus-Animal-Photography/122116377631 and while your there, why not become a fan and keep up-to-date with our upcoming events and photos.

Meow as always

Lik the Cat

Bring on 2010 & help some animals in need

2010-01-20T19:43:00.000-08:00

After a massive end to 2009 with two Santa Paws shoots per weekend, plus other regular shoots and all the photo post-production work in between, I wasn't sure if my owner Anna would be up to facing 2010.

With a bit of rest between the end of one decade and the beginning of another we are both ready to go. Already we have a number of pet expos lined up in February and March, so if anyone is going to be nearby, come and visit us at the following:

Beneful Bark in the Park, Elwood Park, St Kilda - Saturday 20th Feb 10am to 2pm
Glen Eira Party in the Park Expo - Sunday 14th March 10am to 4pm go to www.gleneira.vic.gov.au for more info.
Stonnington Council Pets in the Park, Central Park, Burke Road, Malvern East - Saturday 27th March 10am to 4pm.
Eastern Regional Pet Expo, Ferntree gully Recreation Reserve, Sunday 28th March 10am to 4pm.

And stay tuned for some further dates as well.

While we are all getting back into gear from the new year, it is important to also keep in mind my furry friends who will be 'dumped' because they are a Christmas gift that is no longer wanted or have become and 'inconvenience'. More than 16,000 animals will be abandoned at this time of year. If you are considering a pet, please llok first to animal shelters such as the RSPCA www.rspca.org.au and Lort Smith Animal Hospital http://www.lortsmith.com/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=397 to name just two. Many of these animals desperatley need a home.

I would like to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous 2010.

Meow

Lik the Cat

Is all publicity a good thing?

2009-11-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy week here at Creature Focus. We have been helping another Melbourne Pet Photographer Furrever and we will be working with them at the RSPCA today and over the weekend doing Santa Paws photos at the RSPCA in Burwood.

On Tursday morning Creature Focus Animal Photography was featured on the Dave, Chrissie and Dicko Breakfast show on Vega 91.5 FM as part of their DDC Ad Agency segment. Each presented created a unique ad for Creature Focus and then Anna had to pick one on air. Visit http://www.vegafm.com.au/vega915/Audio_The-DDC-Ad-Agency-and-Creature-Focus-Animal-Photography_95227 to have a listen to the segment and see if you agree with the ad Anna chose.

In the coming weeks we will be doing Santa pet photos at a couple of different venues with Furrever, so if you are in the Melbourne area, keep a look out for these at your local pet store or Vet Clinic. As well as being at the RSPCA this weekend, we will also be at Pets in the City in Albert Park on Saturday, check out http://www.petsandthecity.com.au/index.htm and make a booking to have your pet photographed with Santa.

For now, it's Meow from me.

Lik the Office Cat

Keeping your pets cool for a photo shoot

2009-11-11T19:52:00.000-08:00

Ok, so keeping them completely cool may not be possible given we wear fur coats all the time, but there are a couple of things you can do that might help out when they are going to have their photo taken.

Try to walk your dog (or cat) early in the morning, this way they have their exercise in the cooler part of the day.
If going to the studio bring along a bowl and a bottle of water (chances are the studio will have a bowl of water, but better to be safe than sorry)
At home let your pet take a drink between shots when they look like they need it, this might help with a tongue hanging out.
Have a spray bottle handy and when your pet looks hot give them a couple of soft sprays to help cool them.
Animals help control temperature through the bottom of their feet, so try dipping them paws in some shallow cool water.
Most importantly don't overwork them, make sure that the photographer is aware when your pet has had enough ( there won't be any more good pics if they are over it anyway

Lots of these tips are good for helping your pet stay cool during these hot summer days anyway.

Stay cool.

Lik the Cat
Creature Focus Animal Photography

Pet Expos help with responsible pet ownership

2009-10-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

On Sunday Anna (my human) had a stall for Creature Focus at the Nillumbik Pet Expo in Melbourne.

Many of Victoria's local councils run these pet expos, which are full of activities for kids, pet focused businesses and quite often the opportunity to register and microchip your pet. Also there is a wide variety of stage and outdoor shows including snake handlers, owning a ferret and dog agility.

One of the great things about these expos is the promotion of responsible pet ownership. Kids can sing and dance along to songs about meeting a new dog and how to approach it and adults can ensure that they are protecting their pets with advice from professionals such as vets.

As well as the all important information there are often face painting, snake and other reptile handling, meeting farm animals, pet competitions and plenty of great businesses to get deals from.

It was a great day all round and we look forward to participating in a couple more next year. If your council offers one, we highly recommend attending for a great day out for you and yur family.

Don't forget to pat your pet.

Meow.

Lik
The Office Cat

P.S. You can take your dog along to many of these expos as well. Great way to help them socialise with other dogs.

Tips for photographing animals

2009-10-13T22:33:00.000-07:00

So we have had our first live client and it went well and things continue to go along at a steady pace. Next week Creature Focus will be at the Nillumbik Pet Expo, so come along if you are in the area.

I found these tips recently and thought I would share them for all who would like to try their hand at animal photography. These tips are aimed mainly at doing wildlife photography, but many could also be put into practice for photographing your pet.

http://malektips.com/digital_wildlife_and_animal_photography_help_and_tips.html

Anna is helping out Furrever Pet Photography at the Williamstown Vet shoot this weekend in Melbourne, so if you live nearby and would like a free studio sitting, ring the vet and book in today, I think there are only a couple of places left.

For now... Meow

Lik The Cat

2009-10-01T23:19:00.000-07:00

Not much happening in the word of pet photography this week - well nothing exciting enough to blog about anyway, so I though I would share this lovely video with you from Land of PureGold Foundation's blog:

Meow
Lik the Cat

Visiting the Arctic

2009-09-22T18:12:00.000-07:00

In June, my humans left me to travel to the other side of the world to visit the Arctic. In this beautiful ice desert there was an abundance of life, includig polar bears, seals, walrus, arctic foxes, reindeer and thousands of birds.

They also saw plenty of flora growing in the harsh rocky land, pushing their way through the permafrost.

They have just added some of the wildlife pics that they took to the Creature Focus website, so check them out at http://www.creaturefocus.com.au/gallery_wildlife.html

I have included a little pic above to give you a taster.

This once in a lifetime trip was made possible by the great people at Peregrine Adventures, so a big thank you to them from Anna and Michael (my humans) for all their help and advice.

Remember to give your pet a pat.

Meow

Lik the Cat.

Tips on getting your pet ready for a photo shoot

2009-09-16T22:44:00.000-07:00

I thought it might be helpful to share with you some tips for getting your pet ready for a photo sitting. Most of these tips will relate to dogs and cats and mostly dogs (they are much more difficult than us cats).

Give your pet a clean, it doesn't have to be the groomers, it might just be a brush or a wash at home. Remember to look around their eyes and mouth for any gunk that can build up.
For dogs, give them a clipping if they need one, this is especially true for poodles and poodle crosses as often the hair on their face can block their eyes (one of the most important things in a pet portrait).
For dogs take them for a good, long walk the day of the sitting as this will help to calm them down.
Think about words they respond to, like 'walk', 'park', 'treats'.
If your photo sitting is going to be somewhere other than your home or where your pet is comfortable bring along something they are familiar with like a rug they sleep on or a toy they play with.
Bring a lead with you to keep hold of your pet (this can also be useful for cats).
Always bring your pet along on their lead or for cats in their carry case, there might be other pets having their photo taken when you arrive.

Please note from my own personal experience that cats are usually more comfortable in their own home rather than in a studio and this will show in their photos.

Hope this helps anyone considering having pet portraits done, you can also ask the photographer for their advice on what you should do before a sitting as they may have their own preferences as well.

For now, meow.

Lik the Cat

Building social networks

2009-09-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

Work is progressing at Creature Focus and we are working on updating our website, which will soon include a bit of a bio about yours truly.

In this past week I have been working hard in my promotions job, signing up to the social network sites of Facebook and Twitter. We have also made a company page for Creature Focus, which yu can see advertised on this blog, so if you would like to be a fan, please visit us on Facebook, if you would like to follow my tweets, look for Lik the Cat on Twitter. I am steadily building a group of followers, and I am also following a lot of like minded people and animals, like Gus the Boxer.

You can find more pics of me on the Facebook page and more Creature Focus images on that Facebook page, but above is a sample of what we can offer.

Anyway more cat news next week.

Meow

Lik the Cat.

Creature Focus up and running

2009-09-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

My owner Anna Clemann has just started her own pet photography business called Creature Focus Animal Photography based in Melbourne.

I am excited because I have the prestigious position of model and promotions in the company. You can already see me on the brochure and website. Check me out at www.creaturefocus.com.au or just look at this pic of me to the right.

I look pretty good, don't I?

You can learn more about me or Creature Focus on Facebook and I like to tweet on twitter (even though it has a bird as its logo.)

Meow.

Lik the Cat