My Gallery

 

I have been dragging home animals since I was 4 years old. I have rescued them, nursed them, placed them, raised them, and been owned by them. I earned my childhood nickname "Ellie Mae" and even had the cement pond in the back yard growing up. (Fortunately I did not tie my pants with a rope:-) My current fur family consists of 3 dogs, 4 cats, two ferrets, and a lizard...all are rescues of some sort or another.

  
 
I have been photographing animals seriously for the last decade. Wildlife and pets alike; any will do. I have a photography business (atop my non-photography related full time job), and I write articles as the St. Louis Pet Photography Examiner on Examiner.com
 

Once I found myself with time on my hands and ended up at the local Humane Society. It wasn't long before I was donating my photography skills for their website and petfinder.  Although I had photographed pets for several years, the whole shelter thing was a new ballgame.  The shelter had a system in place that worked well enough for them but as far as giving me any instruction, I was just on my own. No real training provided. No fault to the shelter mind you. They take care of animals, it was up to me to bring out the personality. I go back every chance I get.
 
I plan to do several articles on the process of shooting in shelters and rescues, and hope it will encourage more people to dive into their local shelter and help. If you would ever like to throw some advice my way I am all ears and eyes. You can email me at gilatodd@yahoo.com
 
I am currently working on several programs with area youth in an attempt to get them into the shelters with their cameras and do some good. Who knows, might keep them out of trouble?