Perfect time for a pic with your puppy

Good boys: Tim Bone and his dog Harry were the first models in the current round of Fury Fotos on offer in the Bridge Mall. Photo: CHIPPY RIVERA

PAMPERED pooches and their people can once again get portraits photographed for posterity by a professional.

Known as Furry Fotos the sessions are being run by the Ballarat International Foto Biennale and Four Foot Fotos and are a continuation of the same event run during last year’s festival of photography.

Photographer Steve Barnes is taking the pics. He specialises in capturing moments between people and their fur kids and draws inspiration from each shoot.

“I love it,” he said. “I love the way that people express themselves with their pets.

“I love the love relationship that you see, the intimacy that’s there, the looks that the dogs give whilst the portraits are happening and the fun that people have.

“They really enjoy the portrait session itself, as well as the artwork that comes later.”

With the 2021 edition of the BIFB still over 12 months away that doesn’t mean artists and event goers can’t think about how they can take part next time round.

“It’s our off year for the festival and we want to keep the momentum going, let people know we are still actively working in our community and getting involved with local businesses,” said Kate O’Hehir, marking spokesperson with the Biennale.

“Last year’s festival was a huge success,” Ms O’Hehir said. “We’re really keen to encourage locals to participate in the festival and come along when we have our exhibitions on. This is just a way of extending that.”

For $50, Furry Foto participants get 20-minute photo session with Barnes. After that you’ll receive three watermarked digital images, from which you can choose one and that’ll subsequently sent to you unwatermarked in 5-inch by 7-inch size and high-resolution for you to do what you want with.

Furry Fotos runs between 9am and 5pm on Friday, 21 and Saturday, 22 February, and then again on the same days on 6 and 7, and 13 and 14 March at Shop 12-14 Bridge Street Mall.

Visit ballaratfoto.org/furry-fotos for more information and bookings, or just turn up.

“We’d love to see you, you’re going to have a stack of fun, and the photos are gorgeous,” Barnes said.