Aloha from Kauai Bliss

This week I'm beginning work on portraits of animals available for adoption at Kauai Humane Society. My time as a volunteer there has already taught me something about the visitors looking for a new pet. They are looking for a connection, so many animals to choose from, and all need homes, but making an instant connection with one is not so easy. It reminds me of searching for true love. So many fish in the sea, but which is the right one for you... searching for a pet shouldn't be like searching for "the one" but it kind of is. This new pet will be a family member, one you'll be responsible for everyday, and most animal lovers don't take this commitment lightly, as they shouldn't. This new relationship will take time to develop and nurture and although love at first sight does occur enough at the shelter, it can be seldom. Animals at the shelter are in a state of stress, they are not at their best and sometimes that connection is based upon feelings of pity instead of chemistry. That was how it went for the first dog I adopted back in Kona in 1995.


Nala was a pathetic sickly puppy, and the shelter workers thought she might not make it due to health issues. She was filthy and stinky and wouldn't look me in the eye. She was kind of what I was looking for, a female lab mix puppy, but I wanted a healthy and playful puppy. When I tried to give her back to the handler she wrapped her paws around my forearm, clinging to me, I started crying then because it was so sad and I so felt sorry for her. I adopted her for probably not the best reason, pity, but within a couple days Nala did become that playful puppy I had wanted and in a couple weeks she was healthy too and our relationship blossomed into a precious bond.  This is a photo of Nala in 2000.

But I wouldn't recommend on adopting an animal because just because you feel sorry for them. Most people don't, and lots of people leave the shelter without an animal. They failed to make the connection they were looking for and find that companion they were searching for, and even worse they leave depressed because they were unable to give an unwanted pet a home. It is important to find the right match. I am hoping that my photography will do more than show what the animal looks like. I want to capture the personality and essence of these animals. To find and bring out the real personality of a shelter animal is difficult. First of all, cats and dogs don't understand direction, they are unfamiliar with the camera equipment and the sounds it makes. In a familiar and comfortable setting this was easy enough to work around in past projects. I'd just spend more time with the animals and the owners would be there to assist so the task wasn't so challenging. But these animals aren't happy, they are living in a stressful state, there is no place that is familiar and a kennel is anything but natural. And there are no owners that understand how to bring out the best for photos to help. If I can accomplish this, it is my sincere hope that people will respond to the images I create and come to the shelter for the animal they saw the photograph of. The photograph will introduce the potential pet and the personality of the rare and special being pictured will shine through. They will know the animal before they meet him/her. They will come in to the shelter to bring that specific pet home. If I am successful in these endeavors it will mean that more dogs and cats find homes, and that would be more rewarding to me than any paid job.







Love&Lifestyle Photographer Heather Ransley lives on Kauai and owns Kauai Bliss Photography, based in Koloa Hawaii, on the south shore of Kauai. Kauai photographer Heather Ransley specializes in Kauai portrait and family photography, Kauai wedding photography, Kauai Fine Art Photography and lifestyle photography. Please visit kauaiblissphoto.com to see more Kauai photography, Aloha!