Welcome to the first blog entry on our new Houndstooth Studio website! This is where I will be posting all of the latest news straight off the Houndstooth Studio press, so be sure to check back in from time to time to see what we have been up to.
The magic team at Clever Starfish have been working hard on this site for the past few months, and I’m sure you will agree it looks fabulous. Thanks so much to Dave, Levi, Kay, Uli and the rest of the Clever Starfish team. Your hard work and patience is appreciated!
With the year about to draw to a close, I find it a fitting time to reflect on how wonderfully busy 2009 has been!
In January an opportunity presented itself for our photography business and as a result we began planning the July opening of Houndstooth Studio – Our specialist pet photography studio. I have to say another thank you at this point to Ken and Beck Drake of Zoo Studio. Ken and Beck packed-up and moved their animal art photography business and fur kids to Brisbane in April and were extremely supportive of my plans to open Houndstooth Studio. Since their move, Ken and Beck have forwarded all of their Perth gift voucher photo shoots over to us, and have passed on several referrals as well. A big thank you to you both! I know your business is going extremely well and I wish you continued success.
From January to July we renovated renovated renovated to get the studio space pet ready. We contracted a builder to take care of the finishing touches, and the studio began to take shape. During that time I entered the York Society Photography Awards, one of the biggest photography competitions in WA, and was awarded two Highly Commended prizes.
In May, the Houndstooth Studio team set up shop at the RSPCA WA Million Paws Walk. We had a fabulous display and it was the first time the pending studio opening was advertised. People responded favourably and we frantically recorded the details of interested pet owners. Ken of Zoo Studio returned from Queensland to run the pet photo booth, whilst I (acting in capacity as their official photographer) documented the day for the RSPCA.
Finally in July the studio opened to a rush of pet clients. Since then we have had a steady stream of pets through the doors. But more on this later…
In August one of our images was featured on a billboard for Stop Live Exports. Members of the public were able to donate funds to Stop Live Exports and sponsor the placement of a billboard (below), which were then installed at prominent high-traffic areas throughout Perth.
During October and November I took a brief break from the studio to travel to Victor Harbour in South Australia, Tasmania and then Christmas Island. Three of the highlights were the sweet dispositions of the little penguins, all of whom were being rehabilitated at the penguin centre; the wonderful array of native animals who visited our chalet in cradle Mountain, including Wombats, possums, echidnas, pademelons, currajongs; and the red crab migration which had just commenced when we arrived on Christmas Island.
Never one to pass up a wildlife photo opportunity, I took a series of stock images of the little penguins for the Victor Harbour Penguin Centre, and stock images of crabs and birds for the Christmas Island Tourist Centre.
In November we released the official 2009 RSPCA WA Calendar, which is filled with some of our favourite images from 2009 and is available online via Red Bubble. All proceeds go to the RSPCA WA.
And last but not least, this month one of our images was selected for the Animals Australia Christmas e-cards. You can check out the free e-cards here.
It’s been a hectic year but we have an even bigger and busier year planned for 2010. We are working on photography projects with the WA Dingo Association, Animals Aid Abroad, the Christmas Island Tourism Association and the National Trust of Australia (WA), plus our existing not for profit and charity organisations – the RSPCA WA, Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Penguin Centre Victor Harbour (SA), Animals Australia, and Stop Live Exports.
We would like to say that we are most grateful to each and every one of our wonderful clients who took the time to visit our studio and who entrusted us to capture portraits of their beloved pets. Many of our clients have referred us on to friends and family and we can’t say a big enough thanks for your continued support and belief in what we do.
Whilst we are eagerly anticipating 2010, the studio is still open over the Christmas period, and we currently have a special offer available to celebrate the launch of this site. For all pet photo sessions and gift vouchers purchased from now until 28th February 2010, we will include a free 5 x 7inch print valued at $120. Plus we will donate $25 from each session and voucher to the Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. This is a great last minute gift idea – treat yourself or a loved one to a studio pet photo session, and help the native animals of Kanyana as well!
We wish everyone a safe and merry Christmas and a prosperous 2010.
Alex
