UNUSUAL PET PROJECT

I started my "Unusual Pet Project" in January 2023 with the purpose of getting ahead of any winter blues that might set in. Since I love animals and I’m curious about the relationships people have with their pets, I started to explore these relationships with photography. I chose to focus on unusual pets in particular when I learned that a photo client of mine had a flying squirrel - I had to know more.

A few peacocks, an emu, a ball python, a hairless elf cat, a bearded dragon, and more creatures later, a central theme emerged: I SEE MYSELF IN YOU. I discovered that owners of rare pets identify with their animals' mystique, distinctiveness, individuality, and eccentricity in a profound and grounding way. Pet parents see themselves in their animals and they too want to be valued and celebrated as independent and rare individuals.

Please see my blog (mollyemiller.com/blog) for more in depth stories about each animal and their families.