So how does one persuade an energetic baby animal to pause long enough for their photo to be taken? Sharon Montrose, critter photographer extraordinaire, says she doesn’t even try. Instead of cajoling her subjects into being unnaturally still, Montrose explains, “I prefer to let them direct me. They come in, get in front of my camera, and they dictate what’s going to happen.” To handle wild subjects in her Los Angeles studio, Montrose works with various animal trainers. “I have a lot of connections through my commercial work photographing animals for ad agencies and design firms.”
A self-taught artist who has been working in photography since she was a teenager, Montrose explains, “It was a natural progression for me to bring my love of photography and animals together. For this series, my goal was to feature the animals outside of their environments… and to get back to a project that was totally for me,” rather than for a client. Montrose says the experience has been magical. “I get to be really close to these creatures… sometimes hold them. I’m incredibly lucky to have this experience.”
To see more of the artist’s sought-after work, which includes numerous animal-portrait books, videos, and animal prints for sale, visit theanimalprintshop.com.
Sharon Montrose
PHOTOGRAPHER
