Our Philosophy
There are many portrait studios that will consider photographing an animal. However, they do not always openly welcome your furry family members.
At Heartstrings Animal Photography, animals are our only business. We are dedicated to capturing the love of your special relationship in a lasting heirloom portrait.
With years of experience, and a gentle approach in an unhurried environment, we will preserve your memories in a distinctive piece of photographic art.
Our strong commitment to client satisfaction is showcased by the perfect photograph that captures the personality of the animal and the loving relationship between the animal and owner.
Claudia and Bob opened Heartstrings Animal Photography as an artistic collaboration between husband and wife to share their love of animals and all things beautiful. Their family includes three Border Collies and one Diva Extraordinaire (the cat).
Contact Us
Telephone
1.603.865.7470
1.888.704.1589
Address
Heartstrings Animal Photography
24 W. Main St.
Bradford, NH 03221
Location
The studio is located in quaint downtown Bradford, NH on the first floor of our 1827 colonial.
Hours
Studio
All Sessions are by appointment only
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday:
- Session 1 at 10:00 AM
- Session 2 at 2:00 PM
Other times may be available depending on our personal schedule so please ask! And yes, we do evening sessions by request.
Location
As location sessions rely on factors such as weather, light, schedules, etc. day and times are worked out with you.
We prefer to shoot location in the mornings for the better quality of light.
Staff
Bob St. Hilaire, Photographer
For the past five years, Bob studied photography at the NH Institute of Art while working in the IT industry for a major financial services company.
He also studied in Chicago with renowned portrait and fashion photographers as well as in Rockport Maine at the Maine Media Workshops.
After graduating in 2007, his dream of eventually leaving his 10 year IT career began to come alive and in the fall of 2007 Heartstrings Animal Photography was born and the decision for Bob to leave
the comfort of corporate America was made.
Bob’s photographic interests vary from artistic black and white (shot with film and processed in his darkroom), to fashion, portraiture, travel, and animals. The decision to move into animal photography was made one evening after a children’s shoot when he and his wife Claudia put one of their three border collies in the set. The resulting images captured their hearts and at that instant they knew that animal photography was going to be their future.
Bob’s other interests include cycling, skiing, and web programming (he’s our erstwhile webmaster).
Claudia Oldford, Art Director
Claudia holds a certificate in Interior Decorating, has studied at the NH Institute of Art, and is the owner of Signature Interiors By Claudia. She is an accomplished quilter and floral designer, has taught color theory and selection classes at a local quilt shop, and excels at combining colors and textiles in her creations.
Our Family
Ms. Willow, Queen
We had been thinking about getting a cat for a while but Baner came with the stigma that he didn’t get along with them. Then one day, a friend stopped by with Willow. She was the last of the litter and sitting all alone at the feed store down the street. Over a year later and we don't know how we got along without her! And oh, by the way, Baner and Willow are quite the pair!
| Birthdate: | 8/06 |
| Origin: | Local Feed Store |
| Favorite Toy: | Claudia’s sewing room |
| Hobby: | Teasing and tormenting the dogs |
| Most Enjoyable Trait: | Her occasional snuggliness |
| Most Annoying Trait: | Sitting on sewing projects in progress; |
| Favorite Sport: | Gymnastics |
| Nickname(s): | Missy Willow and CAT |
Baner, Gravity Enforcement Director
Baner earns the above title by his constant placement on his (er - our) bed. There’s no way he’s going to let it float away! He found us at Glenn Highland Farm - Sweet Border Collie Rescue out in NY. We had recently lost one of our first dogs to cancer and needed to balance out the family (and our hearts). He was (and still is) an odd duck - Border Collie through and through but with that slight duh-ness that so many boy dogs seem to have. But in the end, he’s got THE most beautiful eyes we've ever seen!
| Birthdate: | About 8 years ago |
| Origin: | Glen Highland Farm Sweet Border Collie Rescue |
| Favorite Toy: | Betty Blanket (don’t ask) |
| Hobby: | Herding Willow |
| Most Enjoyable Trait: | His tender kisses |
| Most Annoying Trait: | Bark bark bark bark bark bark.... |
| Favorite Sport: | Mountain Biking |
| Nickname(s): | Baner Boo and Baner Bonehead |
Skye, Schedule and Timekeeping Director
We're always grateful for the spring when we get to set the clocks ahead. Skye’s internal dinner clock NEVER changes when we set the clocks back and she starts bugging us an hour early for half a year. Claudia found Skye on the NE Border Collie Rescue web site and promptly fell in love with her. She's all Border Collie but the way we figure it, she must have been the last of the litter and they ran out of black because she's all white with a black ticking. She's very sweet BUT very, very sneaky. Turn your back for a minute and she's pulling something out of the trash or off the counter!
| Birthdate: | About 6 years ago |
| Origin: | New England Border Collie Rescue |
| Favorite Toy: | Anything that squeaks |
| Hobby: | Guarding the street |
| Most Enjoyable Trait: | Her Snuggles and Sniffies |
| Most Annoying Trait: | Peeing her pants when she’s excited |
| Favorite Sport: | Swimming and Diving |
| Nickname(s): | Sky Loo (Loo = Loopy or Looney) and Princess Skye |
Fiona, Activities Director
Fiona is the newest addition to our Border Collie family and a most welcome one at that. She's been playmates with Skye and Baner for several years and when we found out she'd need a new home Bob broke his solemn oath of NEVER having more than two dogs (one for each hand so he says). When she arrived, she went right to the back door to go out and play and that's the way it's been ever since! She has taken to Willow though and has discovered her true border collie self. When she's not chasing the ball or sleeping, it’s always easy to find the cat because Fiona spends much of her free time herding her!
| Birthdate: | Dunno |
| Origin: | A Friend |
| Favorite Toy: | Tennis ball |
| Hobby: | Herding the cat |
| Most Enjoyable Trait: | Dog Talk (a whoo whoo whoo) |
| Most Annoying Trait: | Full time having to play ball |
| Favorite Sport: | Fetch da ball |
| Nickname(s): | Fifi, Fifironi, and Fiona Rona Bona |