For those of you that don’t know, June is International Pride month. I thought this was the perfect time to share with you a series of images I’ve been working on for some time.
As a teenager growing up gay in a tiny island community, life got pretty tough at times, I don’t mind telling you that I attempted to take my own life and that I was a regular self-harmer. I was depressed and I felt so unbelievably alone. I’ve spent a lot of my adult life learning to accept that my differences are what make me and I should embrace them not hide them! Never did I imagine I would find someone to share my life with, that finding the fairytale romance I dared to dream of would come true. I was destined for a life of loneliness and unrequited love. Never mind the idea that I would be allowed to marry that person and share the same rights as any man and woman in love. Then along came Chris and a new life in New Zealand. We’ve been together for almost 16 years, in a civil partnership for 9 and married for 2.
Why am I telling you this?
Well it’s a HUGE part of the reason I wanted to create this series of images. It only seems right, given that I’m a pet photographer, to create them with dogs. After all Dogs don’t judge. Well not on the big stuff, they will probably give you the side eye if you ‘forget’ to share your cheese toastie, or put you in the figurative dog house if you don’t take them for their walk, but ultimately dogs just want to love and be loved in return (spot my fave movie reference there).
I’ve titled this series #DogIsLove, keeping in mind while I was creating them that I wanted to celebrate love, equality and diversity in all its shapes and forms. These images suggest marriage which, outside of the religious confines (I don’t believe in God), I believe is the most epic way to proclaim your love for another person. These images are here to say that the colour of your skin, your gender, your sexuality, religion, disabilities, age, what you wear, how you look, none of that matters. Love and kindness is what matters. They were created with love and I hope that you love looking at them. If you do, I’d love (there’s that word again) for you to share them and share this message: Love IS Love.
More info: furtography.co.nz
“I love Dusty’s slobbery kisses” – Belle
“I Do” say Ralph and Reggie
“3 legs make it one more than my people have” Mac doesn’t care Lucas has 3 legs, nor does Lucas
“I love everything about Barnaby, except the snoring” – Louie
“Zhiva spends way more time getting ready than me” – Banze
“I knew right away that Mowgli was the dog for me” – Charlie
“Who knew an 84 year old could find love with someone half their age!” – Daisy on Luna
“What Ed lacks in size he makes up in personality” – Moe
“Flynn, straighten your bow tie, they’re taking pictures” – Indie
“Let me whisper sweet nothings Louie” – Lola
“Can you believe I’m marrying Loulou? She’s easily an 11” – Pepe (an 8 on a good day)
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Pretty much anything with photos of dogs in it brightens my day but these were way better than I expected. The word wedding made me worry that they'd all be in frilly shirts or dresses and I'm not a fan of dressing dogs up much. This is lovely and tasteful though. MORE!
Thank you Laugh Fan. I am not the biggest fan of dressing dogs up either but wanted to add subtle suggestions of them being at their wedding.
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It's not that I don't support the gay community. But usually dogs aren't attracted to the same gender. Yes, the were probably a few cases that they did. You have your opinion, every ones has their own as well. It is not my intention to change your opinion or anyone else's, just trying to share mine. I hope you understand i am not trying to hurt anyone or offended them.( By the way they are adorable)
Hi Scrappy, thanks for your comment, I'm not offended at all, and I'm glad you like the images. Homosexuality among dogs is quite commonly reported, in fact it is reported in over 450 species of animal, in many of them it is very common. New Zealand Sea Lion bulls for example 'practise' mating with each other before they go off to find a female.
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I get it! This is very cute and it put a smile on my face. How can it not when it involves dogs. However, I'm very concerned how we humans tend to force these human-only values and concepts upon animals. Political correctness, equality, marriage, etc. have no meaning in the animal world, or dogs' world in this case. Just because two male dogs are best buds that automatically makes them gay? Really? I'm assuming their owners are inventing these crazy fantasy dog wedding concepts to make their dogs appear gay because their owners are. This is taking ridiculous to the next level. What's next? Gender reassignment for dogs and cats because their owner has an identity crisis? Has the whole world gone mad?
I think you miss the point. I'm not saying these dogs are gay, I'm not saying these are real weddings. As a pet photographer I am simply using my craft and peoples dogs, putting them in the context of a well known celebration of love and devotion as a way of saying who cares about being gay, straight, white, black, religious, disabled, old or in some other way different. Let's just learn to love to spread the message of love, stop hating people.
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Rebecah, these dogs are not just representing the gay community, they represent all minorities and the images were created to show that it doesn't matter who you are or who you love.
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Pretty much anything with photos of dogs in it brightens my day but these were way better than I expected. The word wedding made me worry that they'd all be in frilly shirts or dresses and I'm not a fan of dressing dogs up much. This is lovely and tasteful though. MORE!
Thank you Laugh Fan. I am not the biggest fan of dressing dogs up either but wanted to add subtle suggestions of them being at their wedding.
Load More Replies... It's not that I don't support the gay community. But usually dogs aren't attracted to the same gender. Yes, the were probably a few cases that they did. You have your opinion, every ones has their own as well. It is not my intention to change your opinion or anyone else's, just trying to share mine. I hope you understand i am not trying to hurt anyone or offended them.( By the way they are adorable)
Hi Scrappy, thanks for your comment, I'm not offended at all, and I'm glad you like the images. Homosexuality among dogs is quite commonly reported, in fact it is reported in over 450 species of animal, in many of them it is very common. New Zealand Sea Lion bulls for example 'practise' mating with each other before they go off to find a female.
Load More Replies... I get it! This is very cute and it put a smile on my face. How can it not when it involves dogs. However, I'm very concerned how we humans tend to force these human-only values and concepts upon animals. Political correctness, equality, marriage, etc. have no meaning in the animal world, or dogs' world in this case. Just because two male dogs are best buds that automatically makes them gay? Really? I'm assuming their owners are inventing these crazy fantasy dog wedding concepts to make their dogs appear gay because their owners are. This is taking ridiculous to the next level. What's next? Gender reassignment for dogs and cats because their owner has an identity crisis? Has the whole world gone mad?
I think you miss the point. I'm not saying these dogs are gay, I'm not saying these are real weddings. As a pet photographer I am simply using my craft and peoples dogs, putting them in the context of a well known celebration of love and devotion as a way of saying who cares about being gay, straight, white, black, religious, disabled, old or in some other way different. Let's just learn to love to spread the message of love, stop hating people.
Load More Replies... Rebecah, these dogs are not just representing the gay community, they represent all minorities and the images were created to show that it doesn't matter who you are or who you love.
Load More Replies... 
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