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!
Tag Archives: Mary Eklund
Heart (and dogs) of gold…
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.
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!
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?
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:
Little Ladies
A sneak peek of two of my favorite girls!
I’m IN!
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:
Aaaaand the winner is…
Well I couldn’t talk my little Vanna White into drawing the winner for the $100+ Gift Basket from Mud Bay, but I needed the drawing to be fair and square. What’s more fair than a 7 year old? That’s right – TWO 7 year olds. Thanks, guys!
Thanks again to everyone who stopped by my booth, and those who entered the drawing, and those who liked my Facebook page! Oh, you wanted to know who the winner is?
Congratulations to Lesli Loop-Smith! Please email me at info@fourfootphotography or call 360.551.2923 and we’ll arrange to get you this juicy basket.
Mary
Second Chance Care Fund Carnival
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
Not furry? No problem!
In case you were thinking you were out of luck if you don’t have four feet and a furry face, meet Amy, an aspiring actress who works for Ruth King at Mud Bay (ok, so she does have a pet connection…). I did some work for Ruth last year, and she has been most gracious about passing along my contact information (and the Gig Harbor store has a small display where you can pick up a business card. They have GREAT products if you haven’t been there, GO!). Amy needed head shots for a casting director she is working with. She hopes to work on television, and is about the cutest thing you ever saw. After some dynamic weather, we met in downtown Tacoma and here are a few of the shots she will be sending out for parts she would like, and also a few of my personal favorites. It was super fun, and we were fortunate enough to meet a kind security guard who found us a place with electricity so Amy could straighten her naturally curly hair for a different look. I got back to my car maybe a minute before it started to rain. Perfect!
Piaf
Beautiful Piaf!
Through Second Chance, Piaf found her forever home with Crystal! Here are a few of my favorites from her recent session. See if you can find the bee in the middle photo – Piaf could!
Four Foot Photography 