Hi friends! I’m a dog and family photographer living in Auckland and photographing in my studio and on location. My business is called Yellow Lab Photography. I’ve been shooting in New Zealand for close to four years now and want to share my journey and story with you.

This is where “Yellow Lab” Photography comes from, how it all began and why I do what I do

I've always been a very visual person. I studied fine art at school and completed my studies in visual design. What I was most passionate about at the time (pre Y2K bug - yes, I’m old ;-)) was painting faces in bright colour oil paintings. I also had photography as a subject at university. I liked photography, and I enjoyed it, but the timing wasn't right. 
What I didn't realise was that I just hadn't found the right subject matter. YEARS later, when hubs and I committed to two puppies, my heart skipped a beat when I took this photo. 

I saw the picture in my head just before I took it and as I took it it was as if something went "Sha-BANG!" and I had a perfect picture to remember the pups exactly as they were then.

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This photograph changed everything for me

I realised that this is what I want to be doing & starting pursuing dog photoshoots more

I was a photographer and graphic artist in South Africa. I photographed families, corporate branding, I was even a news photographer for a year.

Our first little boy (we have two!) is born and he is the most perfect little thing to me and I can NOT put the camera down. I set up little photo shoots and when the big camera's not out I use the next best thing, my iPhone. I use it so much that I write posts on how to photograph your kids and an entire ebook how to take amazing photographs of your dog using your phone.

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I LOVE when I press the shutter and something in me just knows I'm gonna love that photograph and the subjects are going to love it too. I'm still fascinated by faces but now paint my pictures with light. I started to photograph friend's newborns and do couple shoots for newly engaged family members. And you know what? I loved it! Time goes by so quickly when I'm shooting and every shot that "Sha-BANGS!" makes me smile from ear to ear. The best part, is that the people who I photograph LOVE their photos too! It makes me SO happy.

I am really good at posing people so I also started photographing dogs with their people. Every time I did it, I was just so happy. I love doing this and creating these portraits for people that they love.

At Yellow Lab we want to be as happy as Lily (the doggy that started it all), running around in the park. Life should be more like that. Hence the inspiration for Yellow Lab photography company's name.

Life is so short, so it makes sense to be positive and vibey and happy. I mean, you only have one life, so you might as well ENJOY it, right?! I only have this life here now to make Yellow Lab work and follow my passion and build my own dreams.

But life changed.

My husband I knew we had to move out of SA for our two boys’ sake, our 2 very young kids and we came to New Zealand in search of a better life.

Lily and Poppy stayed behind. We’ve cried many nights over them. They’re living a very spoilt life with my mum on a small holding, they are chasing peacocks and have befriended many bunnies. Too many ;-D. We get updates from them and skype/ Facetime them some times.

Once we came to Auckland New Zealand and started building our new life, I knew I wanted to continue being a photographer running my own bizz, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to photograph some body else’s dog. Especially seeing as I miss my own dogs so much. If I don’t have my dogs, can I photograph some else’s? Months went by before I picked up camera again……

It turns out I HAVE to photograph other people’s dogs!

I’d made a few friends and made a few portraits of a friend’s dog. Next thing I was right back at it and had built a brand new Yellow Lab in Auckland and created an amazing offering and experience for my clients.

It fills my cup and makes me happy. I know this, because when I’m in my shoot space, sitting on the floor, camera in hand and in my face, my big toes curl over my second toes. I’m having so much fun that my toes are ‘curling’. Weird, but amazing as.

I love dogs!

I don’t have my own dog at the moment but it is in our goals to buy a house next year to have our own doggie. Once we have our own dog, I’ll still be doing this, creating family photographs and family portraits with dogs. It fills me after a photoshoot - I’m so happy.

I don’t stop smiling for hours. Im still on cloud 9 for days after.

I love being creative and creating portraits for my clients who love my work of their families and pets.

I love life and value family and the ones in it. That's why I want to capture you with your loved ones having a blast, so that you will always remember this time in your life.

I feel so privileged that people invite me into their lives to share in their moments. I'm so pleased that I can help people capture their little ones with professional photographs. I hope that the little girl who I photographed playing with bubbles in my studio when she's older will look at her portrait photographs, that she'll remember a time where she had no worries and will smile and remember the day we danced out our little dance, with a happy camera and a big smile. I feel very special that people drive from far to have me create their portraits.

I am so passionate about remembering memories because we regret things once it's too late. I'm completely distraught that my granny didn't live to see our boys. I wish I had more photographs of my granny and myself. Odin's namesake (his granddaddy) also passed away before we could make a trip to go see him so he could meet Odin. We NEED to photograph the people we love before they're gone. 

Because tomorrow might be too late, I believe in capturing the happiness you're experiencing today, TODAY. If we capture it, we'll always remember it. 

Yellow Lab started almost six years ago as a dream to photograph and 'work' for our own business. Yellow Lab is a portrait photography studio, but we also want it to be a way of life. That's why we photograph our dogs, and your special fur babies too. Because they're our kids too and they make us happy. We all deserve to feel happy and I believe that everybody has their piece of history that is WORTH remembering.

If you’d like to see, view the best family and dog photographs from 2019 here.

https://yellowlab.co.nz/blog/best-dog-photography-auckland-2019

Is a photoshoot with Yellow Lab a good fit for you?

You want photographs of your family and kids but can’t imagine how to organise it. I’ll guide you every step of the way. This is what I do for work - it’s easy.

You want pro photos of your dog but you don’t think your dog will sit still/cooperate.

You want pro photos of your dog but you dont want to cause him unnecessary stress.

My clients tell me after a shoot that it was way more fun than they thought it was going to be. It wasn’t stressful at all or feel impossible at any time.

I know that asking a dog to sit for his portrait is the most unnatural dog thing to ask of them, so i make sure there is play, treats, cuddles, if they like, relaxed environment, photos with you, a ton of patience, and I let the dogs guide me.

After the studio type portraits, we go for a walk for outdoor photographs. It’s a fun morning out. All my dog models have an extra long nap after their photoshoots.

I love that I get to be creative making portraits while getting my doggy fix.

PS If you're interested in capturing a piece of your history, or would like to know about photography pricing contact us right now so that we can discuss your very own photo shoot whether it's with your family, your best friends, your pets or your kids - you won't regret it.

If you’re not sure, contact me or email [email protected] to learn more.

If you’d like to see what’s happening in the studio or who’s in front of my lens, follow on Instagram for daily updates. I’m @yellowlabpetphoto.

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Thanks for reading, connect with you soon <3

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