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!

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.

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.

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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.

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!!

Not only did Dave put in lots of late nights getting all the collars and leads ready in time, he also built this display stand. Isn’t he a good boy?

These were our neighbours [and new business managers!], the lovely ladies from Little Originals and their dog Anoushka. They’re both art teachers and so creative. Their website isn’t up and running yet, but as soon as it is I’ll let you know. You’ll want to check it out!

I hope you like Dobermanns [Dobermen?] cause I took a motherload of photos! I didn’t get this guy’s name. I was so in awe of his beauty that I got into a bit of a fluster. All I know is that he was imported from the US and he looked stunning in our wide black and brass Stud Muffin collar! [ETA: Thanks to Jan for letting me know that this is Aussie [Am. Ch. Aquarius Raindancin At Walamara, WAC]

Here’s a couple of cute puppies getting the once-over and taking it all in their stride!

Below is Valour [Aust. Ch. Fireax Twice The Valour ET WAC] wearing a regular chestnut and silver Lone Ranger collar [too high and tight, woops!] and Thunder [Aust. Ch. Fireax Thunder Storm ET] wearing a wide black and silver Lone Ranger collar. Thunder was Best of Breed at the Sydney Royal in 2006 and he also won Best Competitive Veteran in Show on Sunday.

A few of my friends were showing so they asked me to take some headshots of their dogs for them. The light was beautiful on Sunday afternoon and combined with nice models, it was an easy half hour’s work! Below on the left is Rumour [Aust. Ch. Fireax Flamin Rumour] and on the right is Buffy [Fireax Enticing Envy] who won Best Opposite Junior in Show on Saturday.

This is Valour again. He’s Divani‘s litter brother. He’s won multiple Best in Groups and he was also Best of Breed at the Sydney Royal Easter Show last year. Such a handsome boy… even more so after I’ve photoshopped out the long strings of drool

We’ll be doing it all over again at the American Staffordshire Terrier Club of NSW Specialty Show next Saturday at Erskine Park, so come and say “hi” if you’re in the area!