We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tiffany Amalfi-Speck, LMSW, Pet Photographer, a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I think the beauty of pet, rescue and shelter photography is that every animal is so different. Honestly, they are what keeps my creativity going. I also have A LOT of props and backdrops for variety. Whether they are the flower crown, bandana, bow tie, angel wings or just a good ole’ fashion tennis ball type- all props are on deck and ready to go hand in hand their personality. Since every dog, cat, goat, horse or any other animal that I photograph is so different- physically, mentally and emotionally- the creativity part comes easy. It’s the stress of the rescue world, abandonment, overwhelming conditions and human error that make the rest of it challenging. Meeting and loving these animals is the easy part.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Yes, I was born and raised in Rochester, NY in a loving large Italian-American family. I received my Bachelor of Science degree at Syracuse University and my Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania. I have been married to my wonderful supportive husband, Dave for almost four years. We have three big boys (all canine) Lucius, 12, Maximus, 10 and Bo, 9. In the mix of our three, we also foster failed and adored our seniors, Lima and Luca; both of who have since crossed the rainbow bridge. Luca was the namesake behind Lucabear and Friend’s Pet Photography. He was a beautiful senior husky mix. In 2020, I had offered to transport him from his current home for a local rescue, Brindle Posse Rescue and Senior Sanctuary. My husband and I agreed to let him temporarily stay at our place until a space opened up for him at the rescue but we quickly fell in love with our “Lucabear” and he ended up being our second foster fail. Luca had COPD, Cushing’s Disease and eventually, nasal cancer. He was overweight and not well conditioned upon his arrival to our home. On the day I picked him up, he looked like a grizzly bear and quickly earned his nick name, Lucabear. We knew his time was limited and since I have always loved photos, I did my best to get him as many professional photos done of him as I could. To be honest, I didn’t love the products I was receiving so I started to take my own photos of him. My parents had bought me a “real” camera a few years prior and I decided that it was time for me to give it a whirl. I reached out to a few rescue friends to see if I could take photos of their rescue dogs and cats in need of a home, for practice, at no cost to them. The photos quickly became popular, more animals were being adopted and almost overnight Lucabear and Friends Pet Photography became a reality! I will be celebrating our 3 year anniversary in May 2024. My first year I photographed 200 animals- 128 of them were in need of a home and 55 were adopted. It was a very proud moment for me and I had no idea I could do more but my second year, I photographed 902 animals in total- 410 animals in need of a home and of those, 367 were adopted. This year, I have photographed well over 1000 animals between those that need homes, private shoots and events. I have lost track of the amount of adoptions this year but I am confident it is not a small number. I also joined the photography team at our local shelter and believe that my art is making a difference in our community; all because of one beautiful pup who changed my life and the lives of so many after him.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think self-preservation, determination and perseverance are so important in the world of rescue photography. I have always had a soft spot for the homeless- both homeless animals and homeless humans. My background is in social work and those with a lack of resources have always been a priority to me. I think it is so important to try and help those that have less and need more. In the rescue sector of photography, self-care is so important. It is not for the meek or the weak. Sadly, our country is in crisis when it comes to over population in shelters, back yard breeding, lack of knowledge when taking in a new family member, animal abuse and full (wonderful) rescues. Euthanasia for space are at an all-time high in our country and there is nothing more heartbreaking than photographing a pup you have created a rapport with, even for just a few minutes, and then hearing they were put down due to overcrowding. It’s an awful helpless feeling. I am grateful that I have a husband that grounds me and reminds me that it is okay to take a break, to slow down, to decompress and to say no when it’s too much. I am still working these as they are all hard concepts, at times; especially when you know animals are waiting for homes.
I honestly didn’t have an artistic background before starting Lucabear. I am self taught and I am still learning every day. I joke that squeaks and treats are what earns me smiles and attention to the camera. I was determined to learn the art of pet photography as well as the editing process. Determination and perseverance are a must in this realm.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Any 501c3 rescue, foster home, boarding facility or shelter. I am always open to collaborating and meeting new furry models and people in the rescue world that have the same mission that I do; to help as many animals find good quality furever homes as possible. Currently, I collaborate with over 30 rescues in our community but I am always eager to help and do more. If you are reading this and live in Upstate NY, please reach out to me! My travel is donated, my time is donated and my services are donated. I think people are skeptical about this. “Nothing is free” is a common misconception in our current world. Well, my photos and services are free and I love that I can do this for those that need a home. I have a wonderful full-time job that pays my bills and allows me to give back. I also use my events and private shoots to fund my mission. It is a pretty sweet deal and I know how lucky I am to be able to do what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: lucabearandfriends.com
- Instagram: lucabearandfriends
- Facebook: Lucabear and Friends Pet Photography
Image Credits
Family photos taken by Melissa Danko, edits made by Lucabear and Friends Pet Photography.
