Yvonne Jansen- Member Spotlight
Nov 04, 2025
My photography name is BlissfulTails because every rescued animal has a Tail (tale) to tell. In the end, I thought I rescued my animals but in fact they rescued me. I try to capture in my photos, their personality, sweetness, goofiness and most of all enjoying being outdoors surrounded by the best creatures on this planet, animals.
Tell us a bit about you?
Many years ago, I got my first dog that someone left on my property. It didn’t remain with one, I love animals and apparently they found me, coming from rescue shelters, organisations, rehoming etc. Suddenly, donkeys and horses came to join my family!
It created a new path for me. I contacted a photographer to capture my five dogs. We went to the dog park where they ran around and he took lovely images. I liked it so much and thought I can do that and I had already a professional camera that I bought years ago. My first attempt wasn’t great. After uploading the images my dogs didn’t have legs. It wasn’t as easy as I thought. That was the beginning of a new chapter, a new road. I taught myself camera settings through online video’s, books and all I could find that helped me to understand photography. In 2022, I attended a workshop and that opened my eyes. I bought a new camera, lenses and signed up with Unleashed Education.
I worked with The International Committee of the Red Cross on missions and was away most of the time. I couldn’t practice much but kept learning the technical, theory part plus editing. The year after the workshop I was home for couple of months and became more serious as a pet photographer. I had time to practice and that made a huge difference. Last year, I finished a 6-months course ‘Embark’. That was the best investment ever, the difference in images quality were day and night.
I have 7 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses and 12 donkeys. I'm retired and mainly photograph because I like it so much, I did some client shoots but it's difficult to get clients. I help rescue organisations to get dogs adopted. I love photograph action and when there is an agility event that 2 dogs of mine attend, I always take my camera. I also love horses and did some shoots at riding school and stables and of course my own. Recently, I visited one of the neighbors who rescue owls, I won't go without my camera
Why did you start photographing pets?
The dogs came first when I asked a pet photographer to do a shoot with my dogs. I liked it so much that I picked up my camera and start with my dogs.
What camera and lenses do you most often use?
Camera: Nikon Z6iii
Lenses:
Nikkor S 70-200mm f2.8
Nikkor S Z 24-70 f2.8
Sigma 135 f1.8
Nikkor MC 50 f2.8
Nikon teleconverter 2.0x
The Nikkor 70-200mm is my to go lens, definitely the lens I use the most
What’s one thing in your camera bag you can’t live without?
Extra fully charged battery
Wipe cloth to clean the lens if necessary when shooting in dirt
A little squeaker to get attention.
Most important elbow protection, especially when lying on gravel, it's sore on the elbows
What’s the best thing about being a pet photographer?
I love to be in nature and surrounded by animals. It's great to meet people and their (mainly) dogs, I won't forget the animals I photographed. Afterwards, I edit a lot and try to create some art and create ideas
How would you describe your style?
Photos turn out more to the dark side but not so moody. I find it difficult to describe my style. I feel I'm still at the foot of this journey and didn't find exactly what specific style I look for. I still go with the flow and love the journey to learn, to create art. Currently, I nearly finish Emerge and I start with mastery lighting to learn studio. I grap everything I can to learn and grow
What is your proudest achievement as a pet photographer?
When I look at photo's from 2 years ago when I thought then "this is pretty good", what was I thinking? When I finished Embark my images changing was day and night. My goal was to become a more serious pet photographer, that I already achieved but want to be better and better. Last year, I received bronze and bronze distinction at the IPPA and also this year I got 2 bronze with distinction and 1 bronze
What are your photography goals for the future?
Difficult to answer. As I said before, I still go with the flow. Of course I want to be an award winner but we will see where this road leads me to
What do you do to cultivate and nurture your creativity?
Currently, I follow Emerge. I wanted to continue after Embark where I was so challenged to get out of my comfort zone and thinking out of the box. Last week, I enrolled in Mastery lighting, where I get inspired by using different backgrounds, learning setting up lights and all about studio
What specific skills have improved since being an Unleashed Education member?
Where do I start. It's been such a learning curve from shooting skills, get lower, choosing background and work with natural light and that I learned most from the RealShoots complete course, The Pathways but Embark was a game changer. I have learned the most is from the video feedback in Embark and now Emerge to understand better the choose of background, to work with natural lighting
What's your favourite thing about being an Unleashed Education member?
There is so much material, I can't keep up with everything. The tutorials are amazing, clear and easy to understand. It's the best investment I did to be where I am now. Learning from fellow participants, questions and suggestions by the community is fantastic
Have you ever had something funny happen during a shoot?
I had to create an image for city slicker. I live in South Africa and going in town with an expensive camera isn't a good idea let alone with a dog. I took my dog Sam to Cowboy Town, a lovely place with a typical cowboy style environment. At the entrance is a guard, dressed like a sheriff. I was alone and placed Sam on a log and as predicted he jumped off many times and came to me, I had to place him back and told him to stay. Suddenly, out of the blue the guard/sheriff stood next to me saying, "Stay Sam, Sam stay" and he did and I got my shot. It was so funny. When I left, the guard asked me, when is Sam coming back?
My Amber, taken for Emerge silhouette
My Luca, taken for Embark glow up. I got bronze distinction at IPPA 2025
Noery, my sister's dog and this image means a lot to me
My Luca, taken for Embark head tilt and got bronze distinction at the IPPA 2025
Sadie, I took this for Emerge undercover but didn't submit. This is my friend's dog and just love her
My Ivy. Image was awarded bronze at the IPPA 2024
I like taken action shots at agility
I took this image at an equine workshop
Regularly, I photograph at stables at one of my neighbors. This image was awarded bronze distinction at IPPA 2024
Kimi, best model ever
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