I have been coming into Ariane's for roughly four years. During this time, her work and her…read moregenerosity have blown me away. So, when I saw that her Yelp page has a "two-star" review (keep in mind, I truly expected none to be below a solid "five stars") I was shocked and felt compelled to write something that reflects my past and current experiences.
Ariane first contacted me to offer free photography sessions for my rescue animals. I run a senior dog rescue (which now includes senior cats)- a notoriously difficult population to shoot due to special needs such as deafness, blindness, arthritis, dementia, black fur, or all of the above. Ariane has handled my most difficult of cases (the "all-of-the-above" ones) with grace and patience, and the photo results have always been gorgeous. She never fails to capture the best side of the subject and turn what could be the image of an "old, run down" animal to a "regal, proud" one. Her photos have directly led to the adoptions of many of my animals, a fact that I can never thank her enough for.
Soon after meeting her, I began to bring my own animals in. This included my 19 year old cat, 16 year old black Pomeranian, 4 year old albino rat, and my (emotionally special needs) 5 year old black Poodle. She was gentle with my old, skinny cat, and managed to get some of the best photos I've ever seen of my impossible-to-photograph Pomeranian. The rat was thrilled to explore her props, and she even managed to charm the Poodle (a difficult feat, to say the least). Additionally, she was able to make experienced recommendations as to which method/material would be the best option for prints. Now that my 19 and 16 year olds, as well as the rat, have passed, her photos serve as an invaluable reminder, and are kept on my mantel.
Ariane is talented, and while it may be true that you could go out and find someone willing to give you free digitals and discounted prints, you would truly be missing out on the skills and expertise she offers. I have never met someone more skilled with the camera, and her dedication towards rescue animals makes her even more special.
You get what you pay for, and what Ariane gives you is nothing less than incredible.