Tag Archives: Kingston

Karlee & Victor!

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I was suspicious today that something was up! It has since been confirmed that Karlee and Victor are MARRIED as of Friday, February 1st, their 4th anniversary. Again I say, Awwwwww.

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If you don’t know Karlee, well, you should! Karlee works at the Gig Harbor Mud Bay store, and is truly delightful from the inside out. She oozes joy (did I get that right, Dad?) and is a spectacular human being. She is also the daughter of one Lisa Ridens, dog trainer extraordinaire at Affordable Dog Training, and another great lady you really should meet. Victor I met for the first time when I photographed them for their holiday card, but I know him to be a hard worker and a soccer player, and based on his winning Karlee’s heart of gold, he has to be quite remarkable as well. Karlee and Victor reside in Bremerton with their two adorable Chihuahuas. Congratulations and best wishes to you both!

Lucky Number 7!

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My family has had the EXTREME good fortune of living virtually next door to this family of smart, funny, loyal, caring and thoughtful and real people since before I picked up my first DSLR – if ANYONE should be creating the next generation it is these two (and they’ve not let me down, there are now 5 kiddos in the fold). She’s watched my kids, I’ve watched hers, he’s helped us fix and install things that are beyond us, our boys have been friends as long as they can remember, and our 5 years olds have birthdays 5 weeks a apart. If you’ve been following the blog for a while you will recognize the little bean from her 6 month and 1 year photos. This fall, however, I had the opportunity to photograph all seven of them (that’s 14 feet, if anyone is counting!) for the first time, and I think you will agree they are, beyond their many virtues, just flat out good lookin‘.

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It is my fervent wish that with these family photographs I have helped to document their story in a meaningful way. Love you guys!

Some Favorites from 2012!

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Thanks so much for the great year – I so enjoyed meeting such fantastic people and photographing your gorgeous pets! It has been a truly wonderful year for Four Foot Photography, and I look forward to 2013 being full of growth, learning, challenges and an ever-widening circle of people and pets I am lucky to know. I feel abundantly blessed as Kitsap County’s most passionate pet photographer and am seriously jazzed about capturing memories and creating personalized art for your homes, as well as helping adoptable dogs and cats find their forever homes through pet portraiture and social media. Oh, and I have some crazy-fun ideas and beautiful new products to introduce as well… Happy, Happy New Year!

-Mary Eklund
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Jackie & Jermaine

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Jackie and Jermaine were married July 28, 2012 at Gold Mountain Golf Course. It was a beautiful ceremony celebrating the love they share and the SIX children they have between them. I was truly blessed to be present, and believe me when I tell you it was a powerful thing to be trusted with capturing the powerful moments of the day – that’s a lot of pressure, people! It is my fervent wish that as they look at these images over the years they will be able to remember those intense emotions and be present in their love and appreciation for one another. Truly, my best wishes to two people who found their perfect match in each other.

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Aren’t they beautiful?

 

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!

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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I’m IN!

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One of the things at the top of my list when I started my business was to give back in some way. There has been no shortage of opportunity there, but I am very excited that I had my first session photographing adoptable animals at the Kitsap Humane Society today. Most of today’s talent today were of the feline variety, but this little guy caught my eye in the lobby, and I made puppy-dog eyes at the staff until I was allowed to photograph him (also he was due for a potty break, but I suspect they were humoring me). Is he not just the cutest little dude? Most likely 1/2 Corgi and 1/2 Jack Russell Terrier, he was just a big bundle of cute in a tiny little package. Those floppy ears! Seriously. I want the first one I saw…epic fail! Let’s get this little guy adopted, quick! Meet Max:

Second Chance Care Fund Carnival

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This doll baby is Barley. He is a Second Chance dog – arguably the poster boy. Isn’t he gorgeous? I had the good fortune of sharing my awning with him and his folks when it got too sunny for such a well insulated dude. LOVES!

This is the bite prevention talk given by Bethel Animal Hospital’s behaviorist, Jackie Kahler. Good information, people, and she is willing to present it to schools, clubs, etc! So in the top photo, which dog is more likely to bite, the cute little doxie in the man’s arms, or the gorgeously  intimidating Dobie? Yup, the little dog being held is far more likely to bite. In the bottom photos the kids are demonstrating two bite prevention strategies – “Be a tree” and “Be a log”

The pet costume contest entrants, clockwise from the top….Wonder Dog, Double Stuffed Oreo,  Seagull, Rich Lady. Bwahahahaha! So cute! The winner was Double Stuffed Oreo, but they were all worthy.

When was the last time you saw a dunk tank? Too much fun! Dr. Wempe got wet – some of the littler kids had a little help from some of the bigger kids…

More shenanigans from the good natured staff. It’s all to help the animals, right?

So we had to do a little comparison…medium brown in color, long white fluffy tails, four legs…who is bigger?

And my booth for the event. Thanks so much! I had a great time and met so many wonderful animal lovers. *Soon* there will be a colorful photographic display of Second Chance animals in Bethel’s lobby – please check it out! I am donating 10% of proceeds from sessions booked via the Bethel Animal Hospital back to the Second Chance Care Fund, to support their terrific work treating animals whose people can no longer care for them.  You can read more of their stories at http://www.bethelanimalhospital.net/second-chance-care-fund.html

A Grand Old Dame with a New Lease on Life?

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So a couple of weeks ago I was grabbing my gear, preparing for a shoot with a dog who is deaf (pictures coming soon!). In a moment of insight, I picked up a toy I sometimes use when photographing cats – and it caught the attention of my 19 year old Jasmine, whose kidneys are failing and most strenuous activity for the last year has been ambling to her dish, jumping into the window sill for a little snooze, or complaining loudly if her dinner is a little later than expected (she’d fit right in with the Senior Early Bird Special – get it?).

If you have, or have had an old cat, you might be able to fathom how I stopped everything I was doing, picked up the toy in one hand and my camera in the other and played with her for the next half hour, until my wrist was burning and she looked a little winded. I was more than a little kerflempt, thinking about how she’s lived with me longer than anyone, and how much I count on her being there.

It’s been a complicated relationship, but I adore that little furry body sleeping on my feet at night, even though she’s shedding like nobody’s business, and hacks up a hairball more often than I like to think about. I love you, Missy. 

“The bird is mine.”