Welcome to Cathy Dee Photographer, where I capture moments of sheer fabulousness in both your pets and and your portraits!

I'm Cathy, a professional photographer with a degree in "Doing stupid stunts to make you laugh out loud in order to capture that natural shot.”
I trained in photography in New York in the late 1980s when NY was cool - and there was a good chance of being shot on my way in to school.

On my return to New Zealand, film company Agfa spotted my work and sponsored me in to joining the NZIPP (NZ Professional Photographers Institute), Normally you had to be apprenticed to a photographer for 2 years first.
That year, 1993, I won the Best Portrait photographer award which kick started my career. I was the youngest person to win such an award.

After a 30 year break I’m back and it’s been a fabulous learning curve going from the days of medium format film cameras, printing my own black and white images to the digital era. I spent a year upskilling with a UK based photography course which I thoroughly enjoyed,

I am owned by three cats who think I am a useful idiot to be supervised at all times, (example pictured) three horses who are smug in their certainty that I am some sort of deity of the type that not only removes their poop, but also provides a range of delightful culinary fusions twice a day, every day.

I also have a large planted aviary filled with Canaries and Zebra finches; something the cats are pretty sure I constructed especially for their amusement.

Recently I acquired a puppy called Stirling Moss.
You can read all about her hilarious antics on my blog.
I haven’t had a dog for a few years so it’s been wonderful to have one in my life again.

I do have the uncanny ability to convince even the most unobliging cat - or dog to strike a pose; I specialize in turning fleeting moments into timeless treasures (or at least into that one wall piece your in-laws will awkwardly stare at during family gatherings).

When I’m not behind the camera, you can find me perfecting my "squeaky toy" impression, persuading (one of ) my horses to try a new dressage move or trying (and failing) to outsmart and amuse my cat Bjork, who has a PhD in being totally unimpressed.

Whether it's furry friends or fabulously posed humans, my mission is to immortalize the joy, anarchy, the love and the occasional eye rolls (usually from the cat) that come with being owned by a pet.

So grab your favorite hairy or furry pal (or less furry friend…or child) and let’s create some memories—because let’s face it, your pet deserves their moment in the spotlight just as much as you do (if not more!).

Welcome to my world of Fine Art Paawtrait Photography!