Story of a guinea pig

Check www.miepstheguineapig.com or instagram.com/miepstheguineapig for more photos.

[miepstheguineapig]

Staring at the moon ⭐

[miepstheguineapig]

I'm always way too excited to share new work with you, so here's something I've been working on all day last Saturday. 📷

This photoshoot with Lies was so much fun to create. I recently went through some of my older photos and found the ones of Mies, Lies, and Wies sitting in suitcases. The concept is just so cute, and I really wanted to recreate it.

Originally, I wanted to do the photoshoot in my backyard, but it was a bit too warm today and my garden isn't fully enclosed at the moment. That just wasn't a risk I was willing to take.

So I started thinking: what other cute backgrounds do I have in my house that would work for a suitcase photoshoot? Then I remembered the large wooden wardrobe in my attic. It turned out to be the perfect backdrop, and since all the suitcases were already stored inside it, that was a huge bonus. 🤭

I set everything up, played around with the composition and my camera settings, and once I was happy, I brought in Lies. She modeled for about 9 minutes, while editing the final images took me around 4 hours. ✨️

[miepstheguineapig]

Took some magical photos in my backyard ✨

It has finally cooled down here in the Netherlands. I was *so* done with the heatwave. Thankfully, the piggies didn't seem to be bothered by it too much. The temperature in my house rose very gradually, so I think that helped them adjust to the heat. On the hottest days, I simply left them alone as much as possible and spoiled them with some extra snacks. ❤️

I was a little sad that I wasn't able to take photos over the past few weeks, but the guinea pigs' well-being always comes first. Tonight, it finally cooled down enough for me to take Mies outside for a little photoshoot.

I'm so happy the hydrangeas were still blooming beautifully. I was afraid they would have suffered from the heat, but thankfully they were still in great shape.

Photos like these aren't possible with Lies, though. She would immediately try to nibble on the flowers, and since hydrangeas are toxic, that's simply not worth the risk.

A helping hand would have been nice during this photoshoot, but I managed on my own by setting my camera on a tripod and using my phone as a remote shutter. That way I could stay close to Mies the entire time. 💛

I always find photographing outdoors a little nerve-racking because there are lots of cats in my neighbourhood, and there's always the possibility of birds flying overhead.

My garden is fully enclosed. So if Mies would have gotten spooked, she would not be able to escape.

[miepstheguineapig]

Here is an update about Lies! She’s doing very well, all things considered. Her wound is healing nicely, and she’s off the antibiotics since Thursday, which is great news!

She’s also gained around 50 grams this week, so it really looks like she’s recovering well. ♥

[miepstheguineapig]

Not the kind of photo you usually see on my page, but I wanted to give a little update on Lies.

She’s recovering well, and I’m honestly surprised at how quickly she started eating on her own (the second we got home lol) and moving around.

For now, I’ve separated her from Mies because I’m a bit worried they might accidentally reopen the wound. I’ll probably put them back together in about a week. Lies is currently in my “unwell” cage, and I’ve put her on fleece to help prevent the wound from getting irritated by sawdust.

I won’t share any photos of her wound or scar without a trigger warning, so no need to worry about a jumpscare. 🙂

The surgery went very well. They were able to remove two very large cysts - one about the size of a mandarin and the other like an egg. I completely understand now why Lies was feeling so unwell. Her ovaries were also removed to help prevent cysts from developing again in the future.

Hopefully, she’ll continue to recover this well. I'll keep an close eye on her and spoil her with all kinds of treats and yummy veggies. 💛

[miepstheguineapig]

Decided to take a quick photo of Mies and Lies together. Lies is unwell and needs surgery, and you never really know how things will go with surgery. ✨

It’s always so hard to decide what to do. You’ll probably always wonder “what if,” especially if things don’t go according to plan.

I’m really hoping Lies wakes up from her surgery and makes a speedy recovery. Until then: lots of snuggles, all her favourite snacks, and of course the right medication to keep her comfortable. 🥰

For now, enjoy this photo of my duo. They're just so cute. ❤

[miepstheguineapig]

It's just a spark, but it's enough to keep me going. - Paramore

[miepstheguineapig]

Had some fun building a new prop a few weeks ago. 📷

I saw a video online of an outlet cover shaped like a tiny wooden door, and the idea of peeking through that door and seeing guinea pigs doing little things immediately popped into my head.

There are still a few things I’d like to tweak. I’m not 100% happy with the wallpaper yet, and one of the picture frames kept falling down. To make the door blend in more with the “wall,” I might add some baseboards, so that’s something to fix before the next photoshoot.

But this was such a fun concept to photograph! You really have to play with perspective and hope your piggy cooperates. Thankfully, Mies is quite a calm guinea pig and usually doesn’t mind sitting still for a bit. 😊

[miepstheguineapig]

Working on this image was such a joy. Getting the colours just right was a bit tricky, but it was so worth it for this fun project. 🩷📷

[miepstheguineapig]

It's been a long time since I have seen this much snow in the Netherlands. ☃️

It looks so magical! ✨️

Did it snow where you live? 👇🏻

[miepstheguineapig]

Did a photoshoot with Mies and Lies. I dragged my classic bokeh lights setup down from the attic for this. 🥰

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Also, this is something I've had in my  notes for a few days. I feel it kind of fits this post:

In this festive season, don’t forget to take photos.

Of the small moments, the big ones, and everyone gathered around the table.

Because you never know who might not be there next year. For whom this might be their last Christmas.

Take one more moment to enjoy the twinkling lights, the shared meals, the laughter and that quiet glow of joy and contentment.

You only truly know what you have once it’s gone.

So enjoy it. The warmth. And the people around you. 🤍

[miepstheguineapig]

Here are a few of the piggy photos I've taken in 2025 so far. ♥

I'm slowly finding back my love for photography and that makes me so happy.

[miepstheguineapig]

Here are all the piggy photos I've taken in 2025 so far! Still two months left, so we'll see what photos I will come up with. ♥

[miepstheguineapig]

Did another cosy photoshoot, this time with my guinea pig, Lies. 💛 She nibbled on the books (as I totally expected she would). Lies always destroys my props, so I tend not to use my best ones anymore.

I'm a little sad that my tiny books are now a bit damaged, but I hope they were super tasty lol. 🤭 And yes, they’re real books! The red one is a German pocket dictionary, and the others are in French - so I have no idea what they’re about, but they look cute. 📚

I also love taking a few “still life” shots of the setup and props to make it feel more like a little photo story. Although I don't always remember to do this.

[miepstheguineapig]

Happy Halloween! 🎃

[miepstheguineapig]

I wanted to capture the feeling of October, of autumn, of that beautifully moody shift between seasons. 🍁 And honestly I'm so pleased with how these photos turned out. Exactly as I imagined them.Do you like autumn? 👇🏻

[miepstheguineapig]

Just in time, my September photo! 📷

This month I went for a spooky theme, since October is right around the corner. 👻 Originally, I had a super cosy idea in mind: a window scene with Mies and Lies all snuggled up (maybe even with a tiny scarf?). But I’m saving that photo idea for another time.

The spooky setup was actually pretty simple: all you need is a black background and a paper bat. Pro tip: bribe your piggy with a snack to make them look up! ✨ Take separate photos of the bat (without moving your camera) so you can place it anywhere you like later during editing.

The whole shoot took me about 15 minutes (one with Mies, one with Lies, plus the paper bat in different positions), and editing took around an hour. 🦇

Anyway, here is the end result, I hope you like it. 😊