It’s a privilege to be named one of the ten finalists for the prestigious Guild of Photographers Founders Cup. Regardless of the final outcome, I’m proud to have Stella’s panel included alongside such exceptional work.
A few years ago, my life took a completely unexpected turn. While working as a teaching assistant, I spent nine agonising months in and out of the hospital before eventually contracting sepsis. It was a terrifying, exhausting chapter, especially since we were supposed to be getting married abroad and finally welcoming a puppy.
We had originally planned to wait until the school holidays, but then our breeder called with a surprise. A little girl from an earlier litter, one he had originally intended to keep for himself, suddenly needed a home. He asked if we wanted her now or preferred to wait. My husband had been begging for a dog for years, but between work and everyday life, it had never felt like "the right time."
Then, the breeder sent a photo: a tiny puppy with the most striking blue eyes and a white, heart-shaped patch right on her head.
Baby Stella
We couldn't resist. After everything we had been through, we desperately needed a spark of joy.
She instantly shifted the entire energy of our home. Her goofy, playful spirit brought laughter back into a house that hadn't heard it in months, right around the time I was able to begin proper treatment and slowly start feeling like myself again.
Dogs have this amazing way of just sitting beside you, asking for nothing while offering absolute, non-judgmental love. Stella forced me to anchor myself in the present moment; to pause, breathe and find beauty in the middle of recovery.
Wanting to capture every little detail, I spent endless days photographing all the quirks that made her, her
That was the moment I realised my calling. It wasn’t just a pivot; it was a total redirection.
Founder’s Cup Panel of Stella
This panel represents the real purpose behind my work. My goal for every client is to capture those everyday quirks and expressions, creating memories of their dog that they will treasure forever