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December 1, 2008 |
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Created and Maintained by: The Photoimaging Information Council |
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Combining his love for the three P’s (people, pets and photography), Chris Ameruoso has devoted himself to photographing pets and their owners – specifically Hollywood celebrities – for the past three years. His success in this quest has been nothing short of astounding.
 Pets & their Celebrities - Available Now! Chris Ameruoso You might imagine Chris Ameruoso to be a seasoned professional with a string of photo credits extending for decades. Although Ameruoso has enjoyed taking pictures for several years, this is his first attempt at a comprehensive photo “project.” He fundamentally is a guy with a camera, a unique idea, and the drive to make it happen.
So, how does a person with no formal training and no professional credentials end up photographing nearly a hundred celebrities and getting a book deal? “I would see famous people walking their pets, and I simply would ask if I could take their picture,” said Ameruoso. Pets have a special gift for breaking down the barriers between people. Even stars thought to be aloof or difficult often change dramatically when they are with their pets, according to Ameruoso. Most were pleasant from the start and were receptive to Chris’s book idea. If you have a pet, you’ve probably had a great deal of fun trying to get pictures that portray the animal’s personality. Certainly you have done the same with the people in your life. It’s when you combine these ingredients that you discover a recipe for really great pictures. The pet relaxes the person and vice versa, and both often end up revealing glimpses of character and emotion that normally may not shine through. When you capture any such personal nuance on film, you will have a photo memory to be treasured.  Photo: Chris Ameruoso Janeane & Dew Actress Janeane Garofalo was Ameruoso’s first pet/celebrity subject. Her dog, a mixed-breed named Dew, happens to be a “rescued” animal adopted from a city shelter. Thus the idea of a pet book to benefit an abuse prevention organization held particular appeal to Garofalo. See the article “John Isaac: Using Photography to Support a Cause” for more ideas of this nature. SEE LINK BELOW
Ameruoso spent about fifteen minutes photographing Garofalo and Dew with his Olympus IS-20 camera. He believes that shooting fast is essential when dealing with pets, and even more so when those pets are owned by celebrities – you don’t want to try the patience of either. Once he started to develop a small portfolio of celebrity/pet photos, Ameruoso was able to parlay them. By offering to show his collection of photos, he was progressively less likely to be dismissed out of hand by the luminaries he approached. In fact, by the end of the project, some celebs were contacting Chris. Like a true Hollywood story, Ameruoso ended up getting his pictures, his book and several spin-off projects, including the use of his photos in a General Mills 2002 premium calendar to promote animal care. Click here to get an exclusive peek at some of Chris Ameruoso’s photos from “Pets and their Celebrities,” with tips for taking your own great pet pictures.  Photo: Chris Ameruoso
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