CHENNAI: After the ceremony, Varsha Karnik introduced her babies Misha and Apple to their now father. The babies were part of her family photographs as well.
Her pets, the cocker spaniels, are her babies and they were very much present at her wedding four years ago. She says pets are definitely a part of the family and hence, a part of the pictures too.
The pet relocation specialist in Muscat, Varsha says, “They were very good at the wedding. The photos were taken right after my wedding. I introduced them to their now daddy. It wasn't a full photoshoot though, my wedding photographer got pictures of us with my dogs at the wedding.”
The pet photography has been a trend Abroad for years but picking up in India for the last two years now, say the pet photographers. Ashok Chintala who started Paws for a Picture last year with a partner Kavya Shreeram, says “Pets are given equal importance as that of children and people want to fill the walls with their pictures.”
The Pet Shoot
Not every pet are same. Some are friendly while some are not. Ashok says, “I send an email to the pet parent with a questionnaire to understand the nature of their pets. I ask them questions like how friendly and comfortable their dogs are. Once I get the reply, I plan the shoot accordingly. At shoot, I usually take them for a walk to befriend them, along with my camera so that they get used to the camera as well. If they are not okay with strangers, I carry wider lens and take a long shot.”
All the pictures are candid. “When you instruct, you will not get good shots,” he advises. It takes about two to three hours for a shoot. Ashok charges `5,000 for 15 pictures.
Abhilash Damodaran, founder, Clicks of Innocence that caters to child photography, says, “Also, it is all about tribond. If you walk differently towards their owner, they will sense a risk to their owner and attack you. If they understand that the person has been accepted by the owner, the pet will be comfortable too. It takes about 600 to 700 shots to get a perfect shot with them.”
He adds, “The pet owners consider their pets as their own family. So, it is even more easier when it is with a child. The pet accepts and understands that there is a new born in the family and take care of them."
Pets are Celebrities
Pets are celebrities and deserve to be recognised, says Devina Wallang. Devina became a pet parent to an adopted labrador six months ago. She decided to go an extra mile to make him happy and forget his traumatic past and that's how photo shoot also happened. “He was so happy playing and jumping in the pool in the resort during the Diwali weekend. We let him be himself.”
A corporate lawyer Natasha Pai wanted to create a perfect family picture. She says, “When Grace and Hobbes gave birth to Diva, I realised the family is complete and wanted to click pictures to fill an entire wall. I groomed them a day before the shoot but as soon as the little Diva saw the pool, she jumped into the water. Her mother Grace is like a celebrity. She doesn’t like to dirty her paws. She is a delicate darling.
Hobbes is crazy about balls.”
Dogs neither want or understand pictures, says the canine behaviourist Amrut S Hiranya. “It is important for dog owners to create memories. A pet gives you immense love and care but do not live as long as a human. They live only for about 10 to 12 years. So, pictures help create memories of their pets.”