THE PHOTOGRAPHER - CASSANDRA BLANCHARD

Cassandra Blanchard

If only our pets lived as long as we do… that is the saddest part of owning any animal. Unfortunately, I know how it feels to lose a beloved pet and not have a photograph that is worthy of printing and displaying on the wall to see every day and smile every time I look at it. Our iPhone photographs are snapshots to stick on the fridge and that is what I was left with, but I wanted more than that. I wanted a huge frameable photograph of my beloved dog Truffle. She left a huge gap in my life and she deserved a large space on my wall.

Our dogs won’t sit still long enough to get the perfect shot in the perfect setting and the perfect light and all at the same time! So, I made it my mission to be able to provide those 3 seemingly impossible factors and bring them all together into one to help other people create those memories in an artistic and display-worthy style on archival quality print formats. Therefore, I now specialise in custom pet photography for pets and their owners only. The only way to get in front of my lens is to bring something with fur and a tail with you!

C. Blanchard Photography is a company built around a lifelong love of animals coupled with my qualifications and skills in what I call “old school photography”, meaning that I studied photography in its original form, with a roll of film and a darkroom. The pleasure and satisfaction from going through the whole process comes when I see my image hanging on the wall to enjoy as art. As technology has changed over the years, so have parts of my process. I use a “digital darkroom” now and I have all the latest equipment but my belief in the purpose of photography has not changed. Hard drives and clouds have their place in today’s world but in my world of professional photography, if one is not going to print and admire their work, the effort is pointless. Therefore C.Blanchard Photography provides a full service that enables my clients to indulge in a personalised piece of art that can be enjoyed for many years.

It has been my good fortune to have enjoyed many different breeds of dogs all my life. I know how one can build a unique bond with an animal who gives unconditional love and loyalty in return. A dog makes a house a home and becomes an integral part of the family. They ask very little but give so much of their personalities to us over their lifetimes and this great friendship and powerful relationship deserves to be, and should be, captured and displayed with the same pride as our family portraits.

Being a specialist pet photographer, I understand and believe deeply in the responsibility that comes with helping people celebrate their pets and for me, to be commissioned and trusted to capture such a special relationship is an honour and a delight.

Born and bred in Liverpool, England, I have recently moved to Saint-Prex in Switzerland with my husband to be closer to home having spent the last 20 years working in various parts of Asia and America.