Polly – New Zealand White Piglet wearing pink pearls around the neck

Rachael loves working with Pigs, they are incredibly smart, therefore relatively easy to train, and are always keen to perform in exchange for a handful of licorice allsorts or a tasty slice of bread, actually anything that can pass a pig's lips, in a pigs eyes, is a good enough reason to smile for the camera. Polly was no exception, when Marie, the animal trainer, placed a treat above the camera, Polly would raise her head to the camera with a smile on her face knowing that a tasty morsel was soon to grace her taste buds. When Rachael works with any species that are not a standard ‘domestic’ type pet, Rachael employs an animal trainer to work with the animal prior to the session day to get them used to working and use to wearing any props, if props are to be used. The trainer also then works alongside Rachael on the shoot day to assist with getting the perfect images and expressions captured.

This image was published in Rachael’s book Why Dog’s are better than Cat’s which she published in conjunction with internationally acclaimed author Bradley Trevor-Grieve.

Polly was photographed in the studio by Rachael on her Hasselblad H2 Camera with a Phase One Digital Back using a large Elinchrom Octa Studio Flash.

Rachael recommends this image be framed using a White or Whitewashed Frame, with or without a white border.