Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! Kitsap County Photographer ~ Four Foot Photography

Wednesday I took my kiddos to help socialize some puppies (optimally puppies should be introduced to 100 people before they are 12 weeks old – this can be hard to do when they also shouldn’t be out in public before they are vaccinated) in foster care that are almost ready to be adopted. It is great to know that these 7 (7!) little fur bundles were not at all fazed by my 2 foots. Yup, I’m all about sacrificing for the good of the animals…Did I mention we got to play with PUPPIES?!

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I love, love to photograph animals of all ages, breeds, colors, temperaments, and also feel strongly about donating my time and abilities to rescue organizations – the opportunity to do both, and with 7 puppies…oh my! (Had I actually been planning to go this nutty cuckoo, yes, I would indeed have brushed my daughter’s hair!) So maybe I just HAPPENED to have my camera along….

 

The puppies are being fostered and are available through K.A.R.E. (Kitsap Animal Rescue and Education). They have been wormed, had their first shots, and have been bathed, handled, loved in a home with exposure to other animals, men, women, children, and even someone in uniform (great idea!). While we were there, they were extremely good about using the piddle pads! One has already been adopted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Foot Photography, Mary Eklund, Kitsap County Pet Photographer, Rescue, K.A.R.E, Puppy Pictures, Silverdale, Dog Photos, 2014, Pet Photographer, Volunteer

Fun with the kiddos Kitsap County Photographer ~ Four Foot Photography

My models work cheap – the two foots for pretzels and the four foots for Zukes! Once again, here they are helping me with this week’s lighting challenge, which was Off Camera Flash Daytime Portrait. I had a hard time choosing just one for posting in the group – luckily, no such constraints here, I can post my top 5 (or so…). Because I appreciate their cooperation and want them to have fun, they have a lot of input into what we do. Today, we started with a stick horse and it went all Lone Ranger from there.

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I have never been a huge fan of flash, but am digging it off camera with the triggers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Foot Photography, Kitsap County Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Port Orchard, Kids and Families, Mary Eklund, Photography Awesomesauce Winter Lighting Challenge, Week 13 Off Camera Flash Daytime Portrait

Old Dog Learns New Trick (New effect, really…but that’s not nearly so catchy!)

Why yes, my subject IS an old dog (and also a wingnut, a tree, and two spazzed out Washington kids who got to play outdoors for 3 hours in January), and I learned something new! My lighting assignment this week involved something I had never attempted, and like so many of the other weekly challenges, I LOVED it, and am looking forward to perfecting the technique (this would be a great wedding shot – anyone?). For these images, I have a flash placed behind the subjects, and trigger it remotely (new gizmos!). It is all kinds of geeky fun up in here…

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Kitsap County Pet Photographer, Backlighting at Night, Awesomesauce, Port Orchard Photographer, Gig Harbor, Bainbridge Island, Wedding Photography, Kids and Family, Mary Eklund

I’m Free….free lensing….

Aw, I couldn’t resist! This week’s challenge involved a technique I have seen, but never tried before (and that is the point of the challenge!). The idea is to disconnect the lens from the camera, resulting in some crazy, wavy, blurred areas (if you are familiar with LensBaby, that is the general idea). I was VERY reluctant to “do that” to my cherished camera body, but some nice ladies talked me down and I gave it a shot (bad photographer pun!) – now I can’t stop thinking of ways to try this again, it is definitely somewhat addicting (but I will probably use the back up camera body when I get it back from repairs/cleaning!). I really like the “film” look it gave the portrait of Gladys. I was unable to free lens Fabio, as every time I got down on the floor to photograph him, Gladys put her shedding self as close to me as possible. I am also including images I took with the lens attached, so you can see the intention. Can’t wait to see what is in store for next week!

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Kitsap County Photographer, Mary Eklund, Gig Harbor to Bainbridge Island, Lifestyle Photography, 2014, Winter Lighting Challenge, Kitsap County Pet Photographer, Port Orchard Portrait Photographer

 

Reflector Light – Winter Lighting Challenge

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The challenge this week was to use a reflector in a portrait, something I rarely attempt when photographing animals (something about the giant, floppy, shiny thing can really freak them out!), and decided it would be preferable to have an assistant or at least a human subject! This week, however, I was helping my friend prepare to put her house on the market – I was running out of light today and neither of us wanted to pause long enough to get presentable, so I took some liberties with the “portrait” part of the assignment. I found these cuties to be willing and cheerful models, and will definitely be breaking out the reflector for future sessions!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kitsap County Photographer, Mary Eklund, 2014, Port Orchard Photographer, Portrait Photography, Gig Harbor to Bainbridge Island, Child and Family Photographer, Real Estate Photography, Pet Photographer, Reflector Light, Winter Lighting Challenge

Golden Hour – Gorgeous Light

If you have booked a photography session with me, most likely we have talked about the Golden Hour – the yummy, warm, golden light that occurs the hour or so before the sun sets. I usually spend more time obsessing about this perfect window during the summer, when we have actual sun to set here in the somewhat grey Northwest (!). However, the Winter Lighting Challenge I have been participating in brought the Golden Hour to the forefront this week, with a Golden Hour Portrait as the assignment. I had a fantastic idea for a styled shoot, which… I will have to complete in the future. Today is the final day to post my submission, so it needed to happen on the family trip to Zoolights, which was tonight, the last night – oooh, a procrastination trend! I am literally down to the final hour, so I will be adding the Zoolights images to the post as I get through them.

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Kitsap County Photographer, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Zoolights, 2014, Photography Awesomesauce Winter Challenge, Mary Eklund, Portrait Photographer, Pet Photographer, Child Photographer, Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Silverdale, Poulsbo, Kingston, Bainbridge Island, Senior Photos, 2014

Mason ~ South Kitsap High School Senior – Kitsap County Photographer ~ Four Foot Photography

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I LOVE photographing High School Seniors! There is just something about the place where childhood meets adulthood that is nothing short of magical, and gets me all verklempt. Sweet, childlike vulnerability lingers just under the surface of this confidant, exuberant, full-of-life and filled-with-possibilities-and-promise honest to goodness grown-up. The air around them feels tinged with excitement, their parents’ pride at a job well {if not nearly} done is palpable. It is my great honor to document this time for both senior and family. It makes me happy. That is all.

Mason, South Kitsap High School Class of 2013. I know Mason’s parents to be hard working, tireless and giving, and their children are the ultimate beneficiaries of lives well and thoughtfully lived. Mason is very accomplished at audio/visual work, and as you will see from his attire, has firmly chosen the next step on his life path! It will be a treat to see what this young man brings to the world.

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Mary Eklund, Kitsap County Photographer, Senior Pictures, South Kitsap Senior High School, Class of 2014, Custom Portraits, Port Orchard, Manchester State Park, Four Foot Photography

 

 

Painting with Light

Ooh, this week’s lighting challenge was a fun one! Way to fire up the creativity – I enlisted the help of my 8-year-old, and we have great plans to do this again! He had some great ideas – moustache! octopus! stick figure! and enjoyed getting to trigger the shutter for once. I know this post is heavy on the psychedelic lightsaber battle, but they had trouble choosing a favorite. The 6-year-old liked having Princess Leia hair…

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Four Foot Photography, Kitsap County Photographer, Winter Lighting Challenge, Painting with Light, Week 7, Gig Harbor to Bainbridge Island Photographer, Child Photographer

Pictures with Santa! Kitsap County Photographer ~ Four Foot Photography

I was fortunate to meet Beth Rivard at the Mason County Humane Society‘s Pets in the Park event this summer, and then again at Gig Harbor Midday Rotary Club’s Harbor Hounds in September. Beth works with the Prison Pet Partnership, and wondered if I would be interested in photographing their Pets & Santa fundraiser…WOULD I?! Yes!

Saturday, December 7th was the date chosen, and what a great time I had! The pavillion at Sehmel Homestead Park was a great, HEATED venue {hint, hint…I would L-O-V-E to photograph a wedding there!}, and there was terrific volunteer and board member support, Santa was at his best! Thanks so much to Prison Pet Partnership, their grooming and boarding clients, and some special Four Foot Photography clients, it was a successful first for the Prison Pet Partnership and Four Foot Photography. ALL proceeds benefit the Prison Pet Partnership. My supportive friends at Mud Bay Gig Harbor provided $5 coupons for participants, and print product pickup will be at their amazing retail location, 4816 Point Fosdick Drive NW Suite 102, Gig Harbor. Already I am looking forward to next year!

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Gig Harbor Pet Photographer, Kitsap County Photographer, Child and Family Photographer, Pet Photography, Santa Pictures, Pierce County, Sehmel Homestead Park, 2013, Four Foot Photography

Backlighting at night

This was not what I had planned for “backlighting at night”, but we lost our power not one, but two nights this week, so this was the perfect opportunity! Kiddos and I built a fort and luckily one of the lanterns held up – we are apparently without much in the way of flashlights (which may be largely due to having a six and an eight year old in the house). While the shots aren’t technically good, I love the emotion. Hopefully I will get a chance to create the image that came to mind with the assignment!

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Kitsap County Photographer, Kids and Families, Pet Photographer, Port Orchard, Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Silverdale, Poulsbo, Kingston, Bainbridge Island, Winter Lighting Challenge