A CURATED BOOK PROJECT
The Animals We Belong To
Some animals don’t just live beside us. They change the shape of our lives.
A curated portrait book celebrating the animals we make room for - in our homes, our routines, our lives, and our hearts.
From dogs and horses to goats, rabbits, birds, cats, cows, and the smallest creatures with the biggest place in someone’s life.
All proceeds from this project go directly to Heartbeat Haven Sanctuary - A farm animal sanctuary based in Toogoolawah, Qld.
Applications are now open.
This is for the people who have never really lived separate from their animals.
If your dog waits outside the bathroom door like separation is physically unbearable.
If your horse knows your mood before anybody else does.
If your cat has quietly followed you through every home you’ve ever lived in.
If your rabbit, bird, goat, or tiny rescue somehow became part of your identity without you noticing it happen.
If there are photos on your phone that nobody else would understand, but you could never delete.
If your pet has been beside you through grief, change, loneliness, recovery, joy, or simply the ordinary rhythm of your life.
If home has sometimes felt more like a heartbeat, a pawprint, feathers, muddy hooves, or the sound of nails across the floorboards.
If loving them changed you.
This is for you.
They know the version of you the rest of the world never sees.
The version that talks to pets more gently than they talk to themselves.
The version that sits on the kitchen floor after a hard day because a warm body with fur somehow makes life feel manageable again.
The version that built routines, homes, weekends, and entire seasons of life around another living creature without ever questioning it.
Some animals become woven into the structure of a person’s life so completely that imagining the world without them feels impossible.
Not because they are “just pets”.
Because they became part of how you move through the world.
The Animals We Belong To is a curated portrait project celebrating people and the animals that shaped them.
Not perfect stories. Not polished lives.
Just real connection, documented honestly and beautifully.
Your pets already know who you are.
They’ve seen you exhausted. Distracted. Overwhelmed. Grieving. Healing. Laughing so hard you couldn’t breathe.
They’ve seen the version of you with muddy boots, messy hair, tear-stained faces, hay on your clothes, fur on everything you own, and absolutely no energy left to pretend to be polished.
And they stayed.
For this project, I don’t want people feeling like they need to become a different version of themselves before they deserve to be photographed.
You don’t need to look perfect. You don’t need a carefully curated life.
The connection is already enough.
That is the whole point of this project.
Is this for you?
This project is for people whose pets became part of the shape of their life. Not just pets they love, but companions tied to memories, routines, hard seasons, and the feeling of home.
The Animals We Belong To is about documenting that connection honestly, and turning it into artwork that lasts.
This project is for you if:
You have built parts of your life around your pets without even thinking about it
You look at them and see history, comfort, routine, personality, and love
You want more than photos sitting forgotten on a phone
You value printed artwork and the idea of preserving this chapter properly
You are comfortable being photographed honestly, not perfectly
You want to honour the connection you share, whether your pet is a dog, horse, cat, bird, rabbit, goat, cow, or something smaller most people overlook
You understand this project is about connection first, not performance
This probably isn’t for you if:
You only want a quick photoshoot and a few photos
You’re looking for the cheapest option available
You want heavily staged or overly polished portraits that do not feel like you
You’re uncomfortable with the idea of being part of a published book project
What other pet parents have said
Emma
Adam made our whole photography experience easy and feel so natural with us and our pets.
We always put off having something like this done but it just hits different when an actual professional takes the time to build that relationship and understand what you want out of a session and the photos.
Rebecca
From the moment I first reached out to Adam, his communication was excellent and completely transparent.
The photos themselves are beautiful, perfectly capturing our family in such a natural and beautiful way.
Adam is patient, flexible and he seamlessly catered to the needs our elderly dog.
Mel
Having shared over a decade of life with my gentleman “pup” Leo it was REALLY important for me that a photographer could capture his personality and our bond.
Adam patiently listened to me and created a relaxed environment where someone like me (who is generally allergic to photos) could relax and enjoy the whole experience.
A Celebration of Connection
The Animals We Belong To is more than a portrait session. It’s a curated collection of stories about people and the pets that shaped their lives.
The quiet stories. The life changing ones. The connections that became part of who someone is.
Every portrait and written story will come together in a limited edition curated portrait book and potentially a book launch and exhibition.
A celebration of the pets we made room for and the way they changed us in return.
THE BOOK
A curated portrait book created to be kept.
The Animals We Belong To will become a carefully produced hardcover book featuring portraits and personal stories from the people who take part in this project.
Not polished biographies. Not perfect narratives. Just honest reflections about the pets that became part of someone’s everyday life, identity, routines, memories, and sense of home.
Dogs, horses, cats, birds, rabbits, goats, cows, and the quieter companions that often leave the deepest mark.
Every participant chosen for the project will be represented within the final collection, alongside imagery created specifically for this body of work.
The finished book will exist as both a personal keepsake for the people involved and a lasting document of the connections we build with pets throughout our lives.
THE LAUNCH
A celebration of connection in print.
The Animals We Belong To is being created as a carefully produced curated portrait book featuring portraits and personal stories from the people who take part in the project.
Alongside the book release, the long-term vision for the project includes a future launch event featuring selected printed works from the collection and potentially an exhibition.
A chance for participants to see the stories, portraits, and connections that shaped this project brought together in one space.
Not a polished performance. Not a traditional gallery show. Just an honest celebration of the pets that became part of who we are.
How it works.
Apply
Applications are now open. You’ll complete a simple application sharing a little about yourself, your pet, and why this connection matters to you. I’ll personally read every application and select a small group of participants to be part of The Animals We Belong To.
Consultation
If selected, we’ll plan your session together. We’ll talk about your pet, your story, the feeling you want the images to hold, and where artwork may eventually live in your home. This can happen in person or online depending on location.
Your Session
Your portrait session will take place at a location that best fits you and your pet. You do not need modelling experience or perfectly behaved pets. The session is guided, relaxed, and built around honest connection rather than performance.
Design and Purchasing Appointment
Around two weeks after your session, you’ll see your portraits for the first time. Together, we’ll choose the images that feel most meaningful and design artwork that suits your home, your story, and the way you want to remember this chapter of your life.
The Final Collection
Selected portraits and written stories will become part of the finished fine art book. Participants may also be invited to take part in a future launch event featuring selected printed works from the project. A lasting record of the pets who became part of who we are.
The moment it becomes real.
The session itself is only one part of this project.
We’ll choose a location that suits you and your pets. I’ll guide you through the whole process, and we’ll create portraits that feel honest, calm, and connected.
But the moment it really lands usually comes later.
At your design and purchasing appointment, you’ll see your photos properly for the first time. This is when you’ll choose the products that show the connection that you have with your pet.
Together, we’ll choose the images that feel most meaningful and decide how you want to preserve them.
This is where your story starts becoming something you can live with, hold onto, and see every day.
Not just photographs.
Artwork that belongs in your home, because the pet in them already does.
The photographer behind The Animals We Belong To.
I’m Adam, a pet photographer, animal advocate, and someone who believes strongly that pets deserve to be seen for who they are.
Outside of photography, I spend my life caring for animals on my 40-acre farm animal sanctuary. Dogs, horses, goats, cows, roosters, pigs and turkeys have ended up here for different reasons.
None of them are defined by the word “rescue.”
They are individuals. They have personalities, routines, friendships, fears, preferences, and their own place within the world around them.
That belief shapes the way I photograph pets too.
I am not interested in using animals as props beside a person. I care about the relationship itself. The familiarity. The trust. The way people soften around the pet that knows them best.
Over the years, I’ve met people whose pets carried them through grief, illness, heartbreak, burnout, loneliness, recovery, and major changes in their lives.
Again and again, I saw how deep those relationships really were.
That is what The Animals We Belong To is about.
Artwork that lives in your home, not on your phone.
The portraits created for this project are designed to become part of your everyday life, not disappear into a camera roll.
You don’t need to commit to anything until you see your photos.
During your design and purchasing appointment, we’ll sit down together and choose the images that feel most meaningful to you. From there, we’ll design artwork that suits your home, your style, and the way you want this chapter remembered.
Most participants choose individual wart art pieces or wall art collections that can be looked upon for years to come.
Every piece is professionally produced using archival materials and crafted to last for generations.
Because these photographs are not just about how your pet looked.
They are about who they were to you.
What it costs
Registration Fee
$150
The session fee secures your place in the project and includes your consultation, portrait session, and design and purchasing appointment. Your $150 is fully returned as artwork credit at your ordering appointment.
Artwork Investment
Artwork and digital collections are purchased separately at your design and purchasing appointment, once you’ve seen your photos for the first time.
Most participants invest in custom wall art in mediums such as canvas, glassless frames, metal and wood or digital collections designed around the way they want to remember this chapter of their lives.
Individual wall art pieces begin at $950, wall art collections begin at $1,890 and digital collections begin at $750 with most participants investing between $1,200 and $2,890 in their finished artwork and photographs.
Payment plans are available and you only purchase what you love.
How to apply.
Applications for The Animals We Belong To are now open.
I’ll ask you about yourself, your pets, and the connection you share. You do not need to write perfectly or tell the “right” story.
Just answer honestly and in your own words.
I personally read every application and select a small group of participants whose stories will become part of the project.
Participants will be notified within two weeks of applications closing.
Around 20 to 25 people will be selected. Once all places are filled, applications will close.
Frequently asked questions
What if I’m not comfortable being photographed?
Most people who take part in a project like this feel nervous before their session. You do not need to know how to pose or “perform” for the camera. My role is to guide you through the process and create portraits that feel natural, relaxed, and honest. The focus is not on looking perfect. It is on the connection you share with your pet.
What if I want the photos to focus more on my pet than me?
That’s completely fine.
Some participants choose to be photographed closely with their pets, while others prefer the focus to stay mostly on the animal itself. We can photograph your pet on their own, include you more subtly, or find a balance that feels comfortable for you. We’ll talk through all of this during your consultation.
What if my story doesn’t feel important enough?
You do not need to have experienced something dramatic for your story to matter. This project is about the relationships people build with their pets and the role those connections play in everyday life, grief, change, comfort, healing, companionship, and home. Sometimes the quieter stories are the ones people connect with most.
What if my pet is older, unwell, or nearing the end of their life?
If your pet is still with you, they can absolutely be part of this project. I have photographed many older and unwell pets over the years, and those portraits often become some of the most meaningful images people own. If your pet’s health is declining, please mention it in your application so I can prioritise scheduling.
What if my pet is anxious, reactive, or won’t sit still?
Most dogs don’t sit still for long and most horses move around a lot and this is ok.
I have extensive experience working with anxious, reactive, high-energy, and sensitive pets. Sessions are adapted around your pet’s personality and comfort level rather than forcing them into unnatural situations. The goal is not perfect behaviour. The goal is honest photographs.
Do I have control over what is shared about me and my story?
Yes. You will have approval over the written story and photographs that are included in the project. Nothing will be published in the book or shared publicly without your permission.
What happens after I apply?
Applications remain open until all places are filled. I personally read every application and will contact all applicants once selections have been finalised. If selected, we’ll organise your consultation and begin planning your session.
Will I automatically be included in the final book if I apply?
No. Applying does not guarantee selection. I’ll be selecting the participants whose stories and connections align with the vision for The Animals We Belong To. If selected and photographed for the project, your portraits and story will become part of the final collection.
The pets who shape our lives deserve to be remembered.
If your pet has been part of the hardest, happiest, or most important parts of your life, this project is an opportunity to honour that connection in a lasting way.
In your home. In print. As part of The Animals We Belong To.
Applications are now open.