Category Archives: Events

Photo Competition | Sydney Dog Photographer

Just before Christmas I was contacted by Woollahra Municipal Council and asked to judge their Puppies in the Park photo competition. I was really flattered and of course I agreed to it. Ruthless Photos and Ruthless Leather are also donating prizes, so if you live in the area you should get your camera out and start snapping!

The Wentworth Courier are sponsoring the event, so they interviewed me last week. They asked for some photos to run with the article including a self-portrait of me with the dogs. I absolutely loathe being in front of the camera, so combine that with a really hot day and three dogs that don’t want to cooperate and you’ve got a recipe for disaster! Eventually I decided to make life easy for myself and just work with my #1 model, Chopper. As you can see, he wasn’t exactly over the moon about being the chosen one.

If you think there’s a glitch on my blog because the image is appearing twice, there’s not! I’ve just used this pic as my new header.

These are the other four pics I submitted.

Winners of the photo competition will be announced at the Puppies in the Park event on Sunday 27 February from 8am-11am in Christison Park, Vaucluse. [Facebook event invite is here.] We’ll be there with both our stands so come and say hi!

Rogette - Ruth, the self-portrait of you and Chopper is gorgeous!! Good Luck!

Nik - LOVE this selfie, Ruth!!!!!

Charlotte - Haha love it Ruth, bit quirky but so totally you (and Chopper).

Carly - Oh my heck! I LOVE the look on Chopper’s face!
Your work is always wonderful, and continually inspires me!

Linda Kitson - just love it Ruth

Vanessa Ryan - Ruth its a GREAT portrait! xx

Simon - Brilliant shot!

Ruthless Leather Update #12

Here’s a quick update for anyone that might have missed all these tidbits on our Facebook page.

Every time Dave makes a design in a different colour combination I photograph it for the gallery on our website. [Which I updated recently, so if you sent us a photo of your dog it's probably there now!] Here are some recent favourites:

If the customer lives nearby I’ll sometimes deliver the order in person just so I can take a photo of the dog in their new bling! Here’s Flynn the Kelpie in his regular brown and antique brass Lone Ranger. Lots more photos of Flynn can be seen here!

Zeus the Amstaff in his wide brown and brass Rocknrolla with a nameplate. [Collar pictured above, top left.]

Charlie the Amstaff in the prize he won at the Sydney University Pet Fair. A wide brown, brass and amber Nightowl. Don’t we have the best looking clients?!

Some dates for your diary:
Ruthless Photos and Ruthless Leather are going to be at Mosman Pet’s Day Out on Sunday 24 October. If you’re on Facebook you can RSVP to the event here. We’ll also be at the Dogs NSW Spring Fair in Erskine Park on Saturday 20 November. You can RSVP to that here.

Please also note that the cut-off point for Ruthless Leather Christmas present orders is Friday 12 November. We’ll continue to take orders after those dates but Christmas delivery won’t be guaranteed. Remember that we also sell gift vouchers. They’re delivered by email, so they can be purchased at any time.

Kristin - These collars are so gorgeous!

Ruth[less] - Thanks Kristin!

Neglected and dejected

No, Chopper’s not neglected or dejected, he’s just refusing to look at the camera because he knew there was no food or toy in it for him. He’s quite the diva sometimes!

What I was actually referring to was my blog. I haven’t posted for ages. For those that don’t know, Ruthless Things isn’t just Ruthless Photos and Ruthless Leather. There’s also Ruthless Design. I’m a freelance typesetter and creative artworker and this is my really busy time of year. The majority of my work is typesetting long documents such as annual reports and prospectuses, so for several weeks I’ve been up to my eyeballs with big mounds of paper and financial tables. Regular blogging will resume shortly, I promise!

Here are some things I quickly wanted to share:

– Congratulations to Mark Lindsay and his dog Charlie for winning a custom-made Ruthless Leather collar at the Pet Fair in Sydney University. One wide Nightowl in brown, brass and amber coming right up!

– The raffle to help pay for Sam‘s medical bills raised over $970. Thank you so much to everyone that bought a ticket and congratulations to the winners whose names have been posted here. Sam has since been adopted and he’s settling into his new home really well.

– Ruthless Photos and Ruthless Leather have both been nominated for MDBA Dog Owners Choice Awards. Go us! Nominations are open until the end of the year, so if you want to you can still nominate us here.

– Ruthless Photos and Ruthless Leather are going to be at Mosman Pet’s Day Out on Sunday 24 October. It will be Ruthless Photos first event so if you’re in the area make sure you come by and say hello. There’s bound to be a giveaway of some sort! If you’re on Facebook you can RSVP to the event here and/or here! We’ll also be at the Dogs NSW Spring Fair in Erskine Park on Saturday 20 November. You can RSVP to that here and here!

– Speaking of Facebook. I’ve added an events tab to both pages, so you can keep an eye on it to find out if we have any upcoming events. I’ve also added a reviews tab to the leather page. There have been some really nice comments left if you want to read them, it’s here. [I may add one to the photos page eventually, but currently most of my clients aren't on FB so it seemed a little pointless.]

– I’m very excited to have secured three more places to display my photography. I’ll wait until the work has been hung to reveal the locations though.

– I now have samples of all the products that Ruthless Photos offers. I hope to photograph them over the coming weeks and share them here. They’re a bit special.

– I know it’s a bit early to be talking about Christmas, but so it doesn’t come as a shock to anyone, please note that the cut-off point for Ruthless Leather Christmas present orders will be Friday 12 November. Bookings with Ruthless Photos will need to be made and shot before the end of October. We’ll continue taking bookings and orders after those dates, but Christmas delivery won’t be guaranteed. Remember that we also sell gift vouchers. They’re delivered by email, so they can be purchased at any time.

– I still have a Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM ultra wide angle lens with a lens hood which I’m selling for $750 +p&p [or free pickup from Eastern Suburbs of Sydney]. It’s as new and comes with box, manual, etc. Email info@ruthlessphotos.com if you’re interested.

Sydney University Pet Fair 2010

On Saturday we took our Ruthless Leather stand to the University of Sydney’s Pet Fair. We were decked out in our new shirts – which took almost an entire day to source and get printed and cost more than one of our collars – and I brought my camera and treat bag as well, just in case! Lots of people turned out and some even came especially to see us. It was a beautiful sunny day and even though it made for difficult shooting conditions I managed to get a few snaps worth sharing with you. [Click on the thumbnails to open full size pics.]

We had a great day and met loads of awesome people and their pets. If you signed up to our mailing list on the day and this is your first installment – welcome! We’ll announce the results of the draw on our Facebook page on Saturday 11 September and the winner will be notified by email. [The album of photos is posted there too and there are heaps of comments if you want to go and check them out.]

I’m selling off some of my photography gear as I simply never use these pieces. I have a Canon 50D body which I’m selling for $850 +p&p* and a Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM ultra wide angle lens with a lens hood which I’m selling for $750 +p&p*. Both are as new and come with boxes, manuals, etc. Email info@ruthlessphotos.com if you’re interested.

* Or free pickup from Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.

Mel S - Great shots Ruth. Especially love the one of the English BT. Slip and I would’ve come in to see you and strut our RL collar ’round the joint except that I was in Goulburn at a horse hoof trimming workshop.
Smiles…

Janet Palmer - oh look at those gorgeous faces!!

Ruth[less] - I know. I wish we could do a pet fair every weekend!!

Tatelina - I love going through your blog…favourite photo is the tri coloured Bull Terrier!

Amstaff Specialty – Apr 2010 | Sydney Dog Photographer

Saturday was a double whammy for us at the American Staffordshire Terrier Club of NSW’s specialty. We had our second outing with our Ruthless Leather stall and it was also my first event as the official club photographer! It was held at Erskine Park which is in the West of Sydney. Every time I’ve been there it’s been stupidly hot and Saturday was no exception. Hence all the panting in the photos! I took over 1250 photos, but the majority are ringside so I won’t post them here.

This is Chato wearing a wide black and antique brass Rocknrolla with a matching lead. I love how it looks on him. It’s strong and masculine without being too macho.

Buster’s owners arranged to have some headshots taken during the lunch-break. Isn’t he stunning? I love his mask. To the right is his “sister”, Missy the Stafford, jumping around in a regular burgundy and silver Asteroid Belt collar with a matching narrow lead. She’s a bit of a clown!!

Of course I made a beeline for every puppy that I saw…

…even if they weren’t Amstaffs!

Hera from Skylarulz also asked me for some headshots of her two boys. On the left is Hemi and Troy is on the right. Apparently he’s always smiling so I didn’t even try to avoid getting tongue shots!

At the end of the day Dutch’s owner asked me to take some stacked shots. When I was finished the leash came off and they had some crazy time. Myself and Dave were laughing our hearts out for about fifteen minutes while they played. They have a great bond and even though they play rough, Dutch knew who was the boss. What a lovely social and well rounded boy he is. A great ambassador for the breed.

I saved the biggest tongue shot of all for last!!

Cazzie - OMG Ruth awesum pics as always hun … LOVE LOVE LOVE the smiling puppy and the frenchie bubs ♥

Lisa - GREAT SHOTS Ruth! I am envious… An Amstaff convention!!!!
*L

Ty - AH! I love the forth one! That smile is great!

Kelly Taylor - What a wonderful job you did!!!

It is great to see someone who truly has a PASSION for what they do, but most of all LOVES their dogs…Or anyone’s dogs for that matter!!!

Ruth you are fantastic and we deserving of the awards you have received. We look forward to you being the ASTC of NSW’s official club photographer for all our shows!!!

Ruth[less] - Thanks Kelly :)

Ian Jeffery - HAPPY STAFFIES EVERYWHERE!!! I love the grey pup with her eyse closed!