"Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" This was John the Baptist's declaration in John 1:29 upon seeing Jesus for the first time. Our studio buys lambs every year for our Easter/Spring Sessions based upon the worlds found in the Bible.
I've read articles from photographers and people who say.."You should NOT use live animals in photo shoots." I've got to tell you...I AGREE 100% with that. In the following cases...I agree that people that do not have enough sense to house, love and care for animals should NOT have them in photo shoots. I also think these people should not have children most likely either...but hey...My clients know me and they know I speak my mind. Trust me...If my dog and/or cat does NOT like you...I probably am not the photographer for you. We had a lady come in the studio last week that had a running screaming fit when Smut walked by her..she ran out the door screaming. Dain was about to go and talk to her outside when I told him..."Let that one go, I didn't like the way she looked at my cat."
The facts about our lambs and other rescue animals are these: Our tiniest lamb was a twin and the mother rejected him, leaving him to starve because she chose the other lamb over the runt. Since the farmer didn't have time to bottle fed the baby we took him off his hands at just one week old. Our larger baby was on his way to the stockyard to be sold for food. Our cat, Smut, ran in the studio door one night when Aidan McGilberry was walking out the door, so starving that it was choking on the dog food that we had in a bowl for Molley. Our 2nd cat, SC, came in staving because she was Smut's half-sister we think. We have had no mice/rats since those miscreants appeared. So, if the fact that my two lambs are laying in clean, soft hay from Mr. Mack Bradford's loft, in Dain's office, instead of being outside in the pouring rain, or in someone's freezer upsets someone, then here's what to do.... Keep scrolling. Don't sign your child up for a session and don't look at these AMAZING images that we have of these beautiful children as they interact with the creature that is mentioned over 100 times in the bible. But if you DO love the gentleness and sweetness of these images, use this time to take your child in your lap and talk to them about the "LAMB OF GOD," and what that means in their life. They are never to young to learn about Jesus.
And that's how I see it tonight from one of the poorest counties in America. Here are just a couple from our sessions. More will follow, I promise!
PS...for those worried about the lambs AFTER our sessions....They have an amazing home with a lot of beautiful children that are going to love them everyday!
May God richly bless you and keep you, no matter how you fall on animals in pictures.
XO,
Deby