Robin Schwartz was looking to do something with her young daughter, Amelia. “I wasn’t that comfortable being a mom,” she recalled. “It was scary. I know cats and dogs. But I had no idea it would be this hard.” Imagine how the gibbon felt. Or the capuchin, tiger and kangaroo. And for that matter the two-faced cat. Ms. Schwartz has photographed all these animals with Amelia over the past few years, compiling a series of color portraits that are by turns funny, tender, edgy and warm. At their best, they can capture a fleeting moment between the two, revealing an ease and intimacy that is surprising.
“I’m looking for a relationship between Amelia and the animal, it’s like creating a fairy tale. I’m looking for this magical connection that may or may not be there. I want the animal in the picture to be as important as Amelia. To be an equal. To have some kind of rapport.”