Interview: Robyn Arouty's edgy images of pets... and their people

Robyn Arouty and her fur babe, Apple

Edgy you say? Yes, edgy. Edgy, gritty, over the top, out of the norm, bold,  and in your face. That's Robyn and that's "how she rolls". She takes a shot of reality and mixes it with a splash of fashion and kicks out quality work that's way beyond your average portrait. She pushes the limits and drives an image over into what one can only define as works of fine art. It only takes a glimpse of her work to see that description come to life.

This Houston based wonder didn't start as a career photographer. Robyn's background is actually in psychology. Five years ago she decided to close up her practice and take on something new; something a little more creative. Photography became Robyn's new path.

Composition in her work sets Robyn apart from the average Joe.

Robyn set up a studio in her home and started shooting everything from jewelry to furniture. At that time she took a few images of her own pets, but that was the extent of her four legged photography.

She dubs herself a "mid century modern design fanatic" and says nothing makes her happier than architecture, clothing, and furniture from the 50's and 60's. She's just a vintage kind of gal.

After a couple of years into her photographic career, Robyn decided to do something to give back to the Houston community she lives in. She found herself volunteering at BARC, Houston's animal control shelter.

It wasn't long before she started taking her volunteer work home by fostering animals for the shelter. And it made perfect sense for her to get involved with BARC even further, by assisting in their adoption counseling program.

And how could you not wonder what thoughts are going on here?

As if  she wasn't busy enough, she purchased a DSLR camera, and began photographing shelter animals that were up for adoption. She was able to team up with the Houston Press and feature adoptable animals from BARC on a weekly basis. It's a practice she continues today.

Now how does a person go from a career in psychology to being a photographer of vintage goods and then animals?

Robyn says,

I am fascinated with people. I love faces, expressions, souls, psyches, etc. Also, I'm part dog whisperer...I love the relationships (between animals and their people), the fur, the kisses, the unconditional love.

...and my work with the shelters & rescues is amazingly gratifying. I think it goes without saying that you must give back. Photographing animals so they can find suitable & loving homes is my way of doing that.

Just recently she's "hung out her shingle" and gotten serious about photographing pet's and their people. Her expansion into pet and people portraiture has been a dynamic leap and may prove to be some of her best work of all time.  She may do a wonderful job photographing a chair from 1950 but she does absolute miracles with that same chair when it contains a pooch and it's person.

Most of my recent portrait photography has been with pets & their people. I love the relationships. I love seeing the finished photos & noticing things i hadn't as I was taking the pictures. It's about the way the dog is looking at the person, or guarding the person. The way the person is holding the dog in such a sweet & tender way. I love that pets are always going to be themselves. They're genuine through & through. No poses, no fake smiles. It's an honor to pay tribute to these beautiful creatures.

Her work is not your normal, run-of-the-mill, portraiture either. No boring professional backdrops and props. Her love of vintage buildings, bright colors, and rustic scenes comes out in most all of her work, incorporated into almost all her portraits. Graffiti, a current favorite, has appeared in much of her recent work. Off the chart colors, dramatic scenes, and each file, a work of art and nothing less.

And far beyond the aesthetics of her photographs, the emotion she is able to capture in the faces of her subjects is remarkable. You can see, in every image, the relationship she has discovered and nurtured with each subject in front of her lens. The thought and emotion she draws to the surface and then captures is truly remarkable.

Robyn feels that her background and knowledge of human and pet behavior sets her apart from the average photographer. She may be on to something there as she seems to have that special something that puts her in a category all her own.

You can see Robyn's newly launched website by clicking here, or you can join her fan page on Facebook at Robyn Arouty Photography on Facebook