Meet Amelia Durham of Banyan Pet Photography

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amelia Durham.

Amelia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started working with dogs when I lived in the Bay Area 28 years ago. I always loved dogs and cats and would find them and bring them home and give them a bath immediately. When I got a part time job as a pet bather I realized I had found my calling of working with animals. For many years I worked as a pet groomer and really learned a lot about dogs and cats, their hair, faces and bodies, temperaments and personality traits. It’s amazing what you notice once you know to look!

When I took up photography as a multimedia college course in the Temecula Valley, again I realized that I would naturally specialize in photographing pets. I haven’t regretted it, it can be pretty strenuous and I spend a lot of time on the ground, but it’s so worth it. I delight in getting that perfect shot and even the efforts that I take to get there.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think my biggest hurdles were just letting myself be in the phase of learning that I was currently in. Learning not to obsess over being as good as someone that I saw online and thinking that maybe I needed to emulate it to succeed in what I wanted to create. Mind you I still obsess! Just in a healthier way. Photography is hard to learn! There were times where I thought I would give up because I just wasn’t seeing the results I wanted. Once I stopped rushing and pushing myself unrealistically it freed me up to focus on thinking about what I needed to do to achieve a certain look. This was wonderful and brought so much enjoyment and growth to my process… I think stopping to focus on what your own personal style and even quirks are help to give a uniqueness to your craft that becomes recognizable if you take those moments to nurture it.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Banyan Pet Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I try not feel proud but humble. Humbled and awed that I get to do what I enjoy for a living. I have been honored with pet photography awards and have worked and studied to become a certified professional photographer (CPP). I compete regularly to learn and grow in my craft and every award that I have received has validated my efforts and tell me that others appreciate them as well. I guess what I feel is mostly grateful, to have such a cool job, to have a great husband who is a pet lover and pet whisperer too who patiently helps me. I’m glad that people enjoy what I create and that it makes them feel good. That for me is what it’s all about.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Lately I have been getting into creating digital paintings from my photographs. So far, I am loving them! they are so much fun to create and they always turn out stunning. This is a whole new level of pet art that I’m very glad to be able to offer.

I’m also looking forward to competing internationally with my images and maybe someday getting an image on the cover of National Geographic or Time. Although at this time I don’t plan to go commercial because I love the one on one experience so much, I admit that I dream of seeing my photos reach those great heights. I’m also considering giving seminars through many of the great photography affiliates I am involved with as they have done so much for me and I’d love to give back to the community.

I often dream that every shelter dog or cat that I photograph gets adopted. That right there would be pretty amazing…

Contact Info:

• Website: www.banyanpetphotography.com
• Phone: 951-265-0517
• Email: amelia@banyanpetphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/banyanpetphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/banyanpetphotography/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BanyanPhotos

Image Credit:
Banyan Pet Photography

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