Hello! I’m Melissa
I’m a specialised dog photographer with more than 10 years experience in travel and pet photography worldwide.
I was born in Germany but have spent most of my years living in a small coastal town in South Africa. I have had the pleasure to live and photograph in countries all across the globe ever since I ventured into the world of photography during my Bachelor of Arts studies in Europe in 2010.
In 2017 my family adopted a dog, Sheila, from a local rescue organisation. She has been my inspiration and sidekick ever since, and was the reason for me to change direction and focus on pet photography exclusively. I have spent many amazing years photographing the wonderful dogs of South Africans, and have worked with groomers, trainers, rescuers and dog sports competitors.
In 2023 we made the bold decision to move to Canada. We quite literally packed our bags, and our animals, and boarded a plane to Calgary. I am slowly rebuilding my photography career and am currently getting to know this beautiful province by hiking and finding all the hidden gems to photograph and to hopefully bring future clients to.
I hope to bring the joy of pet portraits to all the wonderful pet owners of Southern Alberta!
My Philosophy
I believe photos should capture the real spirit of a person and animal.
I like to capture the full spectrum of a personality; the playful, the amusing, the gentle, the bright and the beautiful. I am a firm believer that photos should represent your real personality, not mask it!
My Approach
Pet photography is more than a simple genre to me. I have extensive knowledge in pet behaviour and training, which enables me to communicate with your furry friends on the right level to keep them comfortable and happy throughout their session.
We use positive reinforcement exclusively, and rely heavily on rewards with treats or toys that will help settle even the most nervous of characters. Their session will seem as one big game to them.
My Style
I am driven to create a unique vision instead of just a photograph.
I take great care in creating colors and moods to complement your pets unique nature and often add a dash of magic to transform it into a captivating piece of art for your living room.
Your Photographs
Photography enables me to turn a quiet moment into a magical memory, and it is my passion to create that memory for you, to make it last forever.
I want you to be able to treasure these photos through the decades. To take home a tangible memory that you can look at every day instead of forget about on a computer hard-drive. If you go through the time to have beautiful photos taken, I want to encourage you to take the extra step to showcase it in your home.
My Qualifications and Awards
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Digital Filmmaking and Animation – 2013
- Dog Photography Masters Level 3 accreditation – 2022.
- Official Selection and Honourable Mention in the International Photography Awards 2022
- Top 35 South African Photographers and Top 50 Motion Photographers in 8th annual 35Awards