One of my favorite things is to capture golden light and fuzzy critters. This gang certainly provided me with lots of eye candy. Between that gorgeous winter light and their sweet interactions with one another, I had my hands (and heart) full.

One common challenge of photographing larger mammals is being able to read and respond to their body language. Donkeys are reluctant to trust just anyone, and subtle body language changes can be very obvious in photos to those who own them. This is where having a background in animal behavior always works to my advantage!

One thing few people know about my shooting style is that I rarely look through the lens when interacting with and capturing animals. I want the experience to be as relaxed, playful and positive as possible. With horses and donkeys, there is a unique angle at which they view their world, a very "fish-eye" sort of angle. This means that if you are facing them head on, they cannot see you.

It is very important to me that I always introduce myself to the animal I'm working with in their own "language" (for horses, breathing into their nostrils and taking turns making noises [strange? I know.]) This means that my camera can often get in the way of that animal trusting me. It was vital that I learned to shoot the way I do, as a minimal distraction, so that I can capture the animals true personality and expression.