{"id":3338,"date":"2023-12-04T09:20:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T23:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theveterinarian.com.au\/?p=3338"},"modified":"2023-11-24T12:29:56","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T02:29:56","slug":"a-day-in-the-life-with-keefe-tay-veterinarian-and-pet-photographer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theveterinarian.com.au\/?p=3338","title":{"rendered":"A DAY IN THE LIFE WITH KEEFE TAY: VETERINARIAN AND PET PHOTOGRAPHER"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the festive season fast approaching, The Veterinarian<\/em> has found someone to introduce you to via our regular Day in the Life feature whose services might just end up on your Christmas List. Veterinarian Keefe Tay was kind enough to take us through how a typical day unfolds for him when he is not working as a locum in various clinics across Sydney, seeking out the best flat white in the city or relishing Japanese cuisine. Tay is the owner of Furry Munchkins Pet Photography and loves nothing more than capturing cherished moments of dogs, cats and their families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy roots trace back to Singapore, but Sydney has been my haven since completing my veterinary studies,\u201d Tay said. \u201cI pursued my education at the University of Sydney and graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the end of 2016.\u201d Since then, he has divided his time between locum veterinary work, which involves hectic days filled with all the usual clinic consultations and surgeries most vets are more than familiar with, and pet photography. Tay founded Furry Munchkins Pet Photography in 2017 \u2013 the same year he underwent open heart surgery for a second time and got married to fellow veterinarian, Charlotte. Not surprisingly, Tay appears to have a passion for what he does, and a genuine appreciation that every moment in life is precious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the world of pet photography, my mornings are dedicated to managing emails, communicating with clients, editing photos and handling marketing tasks,\u201d Tay explained. \u201cThe remainder of the day is devoted to sales sessions, where I showcase photos to clients, design artwork, and prepare orders for them.\u201d Generally speaking, he reserves Saturdays for photo shoots with dogs and cats. The dog photo shoots are usually outdoors and frequently take place in parks or at beaches, while the cat photo shoots are most likely to be at clients\u2019 homes. On weekdays, in addition to his veterinary clinical work, Tay works on commercial pet photography shoots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since starting Furry Munchkins Pet Photography, Tay has found he relishes spending extended time with clients and their pets. Pet photo shoots provide the perfect opportunity for him to make prolonged connections with clients and their furry companions, with results that are literally worth hanging on the wall. \u201cSince not every cat or dog is accustomed to new faces, establishing trust often requires a significant amount of time,\u201d he pointed out. \u201cThe particularly intimate nature of a cat photo shoot at a client\u2019s home, for example, enhances my understanding of the families I have the privilege to photograph \u2013 including their pets.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tay credits his veterinary training with giving him an advantage while conducting pet photography shoots, particularly in relation to his understanding of canine and feline behaviour. \u201cMy training enables me to recognise early signs of anxiety in animals, prompting us to take breaks and avoiding any pressure to \u2018perform\u2019 in front of the camera,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve found that the most captivating photos and artwork emerge when animals, and even their owners, are enjoying themselves and are at ease.\u201d  Even so, Tay is grateful when clients recognise his skilful handling of their animals and their pets\u2019 feelings, particularly when he is photographing felines. \u201cI really appreciate it when clients express surprise at how at ease their cats were around me during the photo shoot,\u201d he said, \u201cespecially when they initially anticipated their feline companions to remain hidden under the bed the entire time!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a vet not only allows Tay to gauge animals\u2019 responses better during photography sessions, but also enhances his ability to understand his human clients\u2019 needs. One special service Tay provides draws directly on his veterinary experiences, having faced the challenging responsibilities of diagnosing and euthanising seriously ill animals many times. \u201cI\u2019ve incorporated a unique service into my business: \u2018Celebration of Life\u2019 pet photo shoots for animals nearing the end of their lives,\u201d he explained. \u201cThis experience has instilled in me a deep sense of empathy for clients in both veterinary and pet photography realms, underscoring the profound bond my clients share with their cherished pets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While photographing a pet nearing the end of their life can be emotionally challenging for all involved, the thing Tay finds more difficult in his pet photography work is discussing pricing of his products and services with clients. \u201cIt mirrors the challenge faced in veterinary consultations when discussing financial matters,\u201d he said. \u201cCommunicating value while understanding varied client reactions remains a delicate balance, but I am motivated by the opportunity to wow people with stunning pet photography.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, Tay started a \u201cCats are Family\u201d campaign on his Instagram page (which you can find at @furrymunchkinsphotography), which was followed in 2022 by his Cats are Family Sydney<\/em> book, a compilation of photographs and stories about various Sydney dwelling cats and their human families. Both projects are aimed at encouraging humans to see cats as part of the family, because Tay believes if they do, fewer cats will be out on the streets. Tay\u2019s own adopted felines \u2013 he describes himself as \u201cproud cat dad\u201d to Chai, Thyme and Evan \u2013 feature in the coffee table style volume, and he contributes a proportion of funds generated by book sales to the Cat Protection Society of NSW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clearly, pet photography brings Tay great joy \u2013 so much so that a couple of years ago, he quit his full-time veterinary job to better balance his veterinary and photographic workloads. He has also expanded the business to take on additional pet photographers and an office manager, but still loves being behind the camera himself. \u201cThere is nothing like capturing a moment in time and elevating it into a piece of enduring wall art,\u201d he said. \u201cExperiencing the delight on clients\u2019 faces as they behold moments with their pets captured as tangible memories in our photos is truly fulfilling.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now, to conclude our Day in the Life,<\/em> Keefe Tay answers our famously cheesy Creature Questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you currently have any pets?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absolutely! Chai, Thyme, and Evan, our cats are integral members of our family, and you can read about them in our latest book Cats are Family Sydney<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your favourite animal?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s a tough choice\u2026 while I’ve always loved dogs growing up, my love for cats has grown exponentially since we adopted our cats. I cherish them both equally, though perhaps a majestic lion holds a special place in my heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you could transform into any animal, what would you be and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A domestic shorthaired cat! The serene moments of my cats lounging or basking in the sun on hectic days make me yearn for that simplicity \u2013 although the family you end up with would play a crucial role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JAI HUMEL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pet Photography Services & Vet Clinic Photo Shoots:<\/strong> Furry Munchkins Pet Photography is offering readers of The Veterinarian<\/em> a 10 per cent discount on pet photography and vet clinic photo shoots. Contact Keefe before this offer ends on December 31, 2023, and once initial contact has been made photo shoots can be booked for any time in 2024. As Keefe does venture beyond Sydney for photo shoots, please reach out to him on 0404 628 424 or via keefe@furrymunchkins.com.au<\/a> to see if he is coming to your state or territory soon to take advantage of special offer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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