Tag Archives: FourFootPhotography

The pet photographer for Kitsap County, Mary Eklund takes lifestyle images of pets in Port Orchard, Bremerton, Belfair, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Kingston, Bainbridge Island, Gig Harbor.

Dexter and Tucci

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If you’ve been wanting photos but have been put off by the weather, here’s proof that you don’t have to wait until summer to schedule your photoshoot! Last weekend I had the immense pleasure of a session with Dexter and Tucci at their gorgeous Seabeck home.  I met their mom at PAWS Wagfest on Bainbridge Island in September (and she kept my card! and called me! thank you!). If anything, I think these images are even more personal and relevant, as they reflect Dexter and Tucci’s daily surroundings, as well as Karyn and Robert’s style.

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While Dexter and Tucci have very different personalities – Dexter is very shy and was pretty sure I was trying to do him in with that gizmo and Tucci is half Tigger and really, really wanted to chew up my ugly green camera bag – it smells SOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD – they also have a lot in common. They are both rescues, both 4+ years old, and both are loved beyond their wildest dreams. Remember that commercial, “I’m a lucky dog”? Well, I couldn’t get it out of my head as I headed for home. These two sweethearts are both loved and loving, blessed and a blessing, goofy and well, goofy.  You guys rock.

Custom Holiday Cards!

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Oh my! It’s time for holiday cards! You can laugh if you want to, but I LOVE to send and receive Christmas cards! Social media is fantastic for keeping in touch, but I just can’t wait to hear what friends and family are up to, and if they include a picture, Oh Joy!!! My mom sent out picture cards of me and my sister every year, one year it included Honey, the family dog – perhaps an early lightbulb for me? Several years ago someone mailed my dad their collection of our holiday cards that they had saved over the years! What a gift to have that record. I try to make sure I save one of mine each year for this reason.  From the first year we were married, my sweet, tolerant husband put up with me setting up the “family” Christmas card – that first one I sat with a Sharpie and colored in the glowing eyes of Jake, my Cocker Spaniel, and Jasmine, our tabby cat (she’s still around, but was exempted started the year we added a toddler).  Over the years, we staged a Hawaiian theme – I bought toddler sized Hawaiian shirts for Jake and his Beagley brother), a sports theme (Rugby shirts!), the classic Fleece Family, Cougar Nation – well, you get the general idea! Is it any wonder I’m a pet photographer? It was not easy to try to get us all in, and DH has long since declared our family card should picture only the children, “Why would I want a record of myself getting older, balder and fatter?” Hmmm, Grinchy! So sometimes I used the timer on the camera, and sometimes we pressed others into service – I will forever hoot when I think of my dad rolling around the floor, going all Annie Leibovitz with the point and shoot. Love you, Dad. This year I am offering custom holiday cards from your Four Foot Photography photo session – let me know which images you would like to include, what you would like to say, colors, size, etc and I will create Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year, Happy Holidays, Kwanzaa or Festivus cards just for you! Prices are approximately $2 per card, depending on one or two sided flat or folded card, the paper you select, etc. Cutout shapes are available – in the samples below I left the cutline to show the shape. There is a pearlized cardstock I adore, but my friend Julie accuses me of wanting to print my images on Human Skin (ie it costs more than glossy photo paper)! There is no profit margin for these cards, but I really, really love for you to have and send them, so Happy Holidays! Here are some samples, recognize anyone you know?

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Mike & Duke

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I received a call late this summer (last summer already? Ack!) from Mike, who had seen my display at Woodside Animal Hospital and was interested in getting some photographs of Duke, his black lab and especially an image of the two of them together for a holiday card. I met them out at the public pier on the Port Orchard side of Sinclair Inlet, which was a really fun spot to shoot. There were folks fishing and crabbing and the sun was really sparkling off the water. Poor Duke – sooooo many wonderful, fishy smells! It turns out Duke hails from Kelso, my old stomping grounds! He is one lucky dog – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love love my clients – people who value the companionship their four-footed friends provide. In return, Duke lives the life of Riley! 

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When I first saw Mike’s lovely home (with all that clean, juicy wallspace!), I will admit I was thinking BIG CANVAS! However, I feel the artwork in your home is so personal (and that’s what I do!), it also has to mesh with your individual style. Mike selected a collection of 8 images in varying sizes, mounted on stainless standouts, for a very clean, modern look. It was also easier to choose 8 images than 1! I’m not going to share the Christmas card in case you are on Mike’s  list, but suffice it to say a Santa hat and reindeer antlers are involved…FABULOUS! Oh, and as we drove away after delivering Mike’s order, my 7 year old said, “That guy is AWESOME!” Right you are, buddy. Thanks, Mike and Duke for your business, for being such good sports, for looking after each other and also for sharing your relationship with me. I look forward to our shoot next year, and seeing you out and about on your bike rides/runs!

Bear and Barley

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I met Rob and Pattie at Bethel Animal Hospital’s Second Chance Carnival in Port Orchard, sharing my tent for some shade, as Barley (a Second Chance guy himself) is a Saint Bernard, so it was much too hot for him. They decided they wanted to do a session with Barley and his best buddy, Bear (I swear, I didn’t strong-arm them!). We met at Manchester State Park, and had a spectacular time with those big, furry darlings. Here are some of my favorites:

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Thank you, Rob and Pattie! I look forward to meeting the rest of your crew!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kitsap County Pet Photographer, Port Orchard Photographer, Pet Photography, Four Foot Photography, Mary Eklund, Saint Bernard, Husky, Gig Harbor Pet Photographer, Key Peninsula, Dog Photos, Second Chance Carnival, Bethel Animal Hospital, Rescue

Gotta Love a Working Dog!

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It was quite a summer of events and sessions – I’ll be catching up the blog over the next few weeks – you are in for some juicy, furry, cuteness!

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 I was fortunate to participate in Mason County’s “PAWS  ‘n the Park” fundraiser for the Humane Society of Mason County on Saturday, August 18 at Belfair State Park. While there were lots of super nice people and interesting dogs, the most exciting part of the day for me was the bloodhound demonstration given by Sgt Trevor Severance and Cedar. Sgt. Severance is the Search and Rescue Coordinator and K-9 Unit Supervisor of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Cedar was only 15 months old at the time! We are so fortunate to have such dedicated people and amazing resources in this area – thank you Sgt. Severance and Cedar!

Picasso = Art

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Allow me to introduce Picasso! This handsome dude belongs with Jeremiah, who I met at the Gig Harbor Mud Bay store (if you haven’t been there, you must check it out – they have great products and staff).  Thanks to Hollywood in the 90’s, Rotties have a bit of a reputation as tough guys, but I have yet to meet one that was not a big sweetheart, and Picasso certainly falls well within that category. Like good looking men everywhere, he was more than happy to show off his genetic superiority, and pose away. Thank you Jeremiah and Picasso!

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Heart (and dogs) of gold…

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The winner of this year’s Four Foot Photography PetsWalk contest has become one of my favorite people. Katie, her husband Dave, and baby Casey share their  home and hearts with Mae Mobley and Minnie Mae.  I’ve mentioned before that one of my favorite things about my work is meeting people who care so deeply for the animals that share and enhance their lives. Katie lives that to an extent that puts her in the category of extraordinary.

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Katie works at Kitsap Humane Society in Silverdale several days a week, even though Dave is in the Navy, and she is on her own with the baby and doggehs when he’s deployed. I do love red dogs! Both of these girls are rescues, Mae from KHS, and Minnie came to KHS in Silverdale with a group of little dogs that had run out of time in California shelters – she came home with Katie “for the weekend”, but that was a year ago…Katie is so passionate about her work and rescue that for their anniversary, in lieu of gifts, Dave donates to the shelter. I delivered the products she ordered the other night (all the better to get in one more snuggle with the darling Casey and pet those lovely red-gold girls. Aren’t they just perfectly matched?), and this morning I was preparing to deposit her check – across the top it says, “Adopt your next best friend.” Of COURSE it does.

Mae & Minnie haven’t had an easy go of it – last winter Minnie was attacked by a big dog and nearly killed, and both have been affected by it. So while we were doing our session, things unfolded in such a way that Mae became extremely protective of Minnie when strangers approached, and we shot more than half the session with Katie wrangling the girls and me holding Casey (so good natured!!!) on my hip and shooting one handed, unable to change my settings or zoom the 24-70mm lens I had on the camera, let alone switch lenses! I was not so hopeful about the results, and we made tentative plans to reshoot. I cannot tell you how surprised I was that some of my favorites from the session were shot under those conditions – all that studying and learning, those expensive workshops and training, and these images came out great in spite of many challenges. A great lesson in humility!

You will see Mae and MooMoo again, as we are going to do a “booster” shoot to get some photos of the two girls together, as they are as tight as can be. And also so I can get my hands on that sweet, juicy baby…

I was so excited when I received her float wraps – gorgeous girls!

Kitsap County, consider yourself lucky to count these amazing people among your populace!

Woof-A-Thon!

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Four Foot Photography will be at Chinook Park in Ocean Shores Saturday, August 25, 9:30-3:30 in support of Woof-A-Thon, to raise money for North Beach PAWS to update the dog kennels. We will be offering mini sessions for $25 – for that $25 you will receive an 8×10 print in the mail and the opportunity to order additional prints/product from that shot from our ala carte menu (Christmas cards, canvas, acrylic, metals, float wraps, etc), and a $25 credit off the full session fee, should you choose to book a session at a later date. “Like” our Facebook page to see a gallery of images from the event! Hope to see you there!

What Happens When a Pet Photographer Shoots a Wedding?

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So my great friend got MARRIED a few weeks ago, and was kind enough to ask me to photograph the wedding. It was a glorious day, full of love and fun. These are not the “formals”, but Oh My! what fun. Click on the link to see the slideshow:

http://youtu.be/SUX00IJVgsg