My Little Men – Memorial Day

If you’ve talked to me, you have probably heard at least one story about my little men, my first babies. Jake, my only puppy ever, and how he was my heart, or Faux (pronounced “Fox” – we were really into “The X-Files” and I thought it was a good joke since he was a hound and not at all a fox to spell it “Faux” – not so funny when you are waiting at the vet and they call, “Fo….Fo…”), and all his crazy Beagle antics. Although he was 10 when we adopted him from the Cowlitz County Humane Society (“Tired old boy, needs a place to live out his twilight years…yeah, right! He was a wild man, and rocked our world for the next 8 years), and had been scraped up off the highway after tangling with a car, we still had all sorts of puppy behavior to work out. These two got me through…well, they got me through. They hung in there for me waaaay past what was reasonable, and it was still agony to lose them (in 2006, but I’m still tearing up). I wish I had decent photographs of them, but one thing we always did was a “family Christmas card” – oh, my husband is a good sport! Yesterday my mom and Sandee stopped by – having recently moved, my mom often brings me “treasure” – and in the stack was a holiday card from around 2000 – my BOYS! This image is scanned off the old card – I have the photos somewhere…but what a find!

Eklund Family, 2000

Eklund Family, 2000

Squishy, Shiny and New

Look who came to see me?! How great is it to have repeat clients? Great, great, GREAT! Especially when they produce such magnificent subject matter. EVAN could not be a more perfect baby, AND his parents brought me coffee. Jus’ sayin’.

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Just look at those sparkly eyes, squishy toes, fuzzy hair. Argh. So. Stinkin. Cute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Pictures, Lifestyle Photography, Four Foot Photography, Kitsap County Photographer, Mary Eklund, Pierce County Photographer, Family Photos, Newborn, Port Orchard Photographer, Key Peninsula, Gig Harbor Photographer, 2013

Juicy little baby…

Introducing Micah, sweet juicy little nugget. Micah was born in January, and we spent a lovely hour or two together, which I am fairly certain I enjoyed more than he did! He joins big brother Levi and spectacular parents Nathan and Jennifer.

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Spectacular Seniors…Hayden!

When we talked about scheduling a senior session for her son, Kris was very matter of fact in telling me he really didn’t want any taken, and only agreed to it for her. No worries, I’m in! I don’t know what I was subconciously expecting – attitude, snarkiness, subterfuge – but Hayden was the exact opposite. Sweet, funny, charming, polite, even in the face of my goofiness – I could have photographed him all day (except it was mercilessly cold!).  Now I’m trying to convince Kris and her husband to raise my little beans – I should be so lucky that they would turn out to be such fine individuals! Graduating in South Kitsap High School’s class of 2013, Hayden plays lacrosse and is headed to EWU in the fall. Love him!

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Casey Girl!

I was so thrilled to receive a call from Casey’s parents, inquiring about a birthday photography session for their girl, about to turn 4. I always get excited about an upcoming session (and a doggie birthday party? Yes, please!), but this was a relief as well, since Casey’s mum had called Four Foot Photography the year before, I called back and left a message, and then did not hear from them again. This happens every once in a while, and I know that sometimes people change their minds, etc, but it always leaves me wondering if I did/said something wrong (artist-types can be a little sensitive!). Turns out, they had taken Casey to a studio for her 3rd birthday portrait – they have her portrait made on her birthday every year, isn’t THAT awesome – but we had met at PAWS of Bainbridge Wagfest, and they wanted a pet photographer for birthday #4, so it was my turn! Casey’s birthday is February 10, and I arrived at their beautiful Bainbridge Island home, balloons in hand, to meet the dog of the hour. A cake had been procured from a doggie bakery on the other side of the water, where Casey goes to swim therapy once a week, since having surgery as a young pup. Now my clients, bar none, are people who genuinely love their pets and value their place in the family. Casey’s parents impressed me even further, with the planning, care, training and spectacular life they are giving her. She is, as Standard Poodles are, VERY smart, and they keep her intellectually stimulated, as well as exercised, socialized and loved. So without further ado, I give you, Casey’s Fourth Birthday:

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I had such a great time, I know I am being greedy, but I hope they call me next year! Your parents love you, Casey Girl, and so do I.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Foot Photography, Mary Eklund, Kitsap County Pet Photographer, Doggie Birthday Party, Dog Photos, Standard Poodle, Bainbridge Island, Pet Photography, Kitsap County, 2013

He’s Here!

We’ve ALL been waiting, and I got word over the weekend that Baby R was on the way! After my birthday session with Casey, the spectacular Standard Poodle, I headed from Bainbridge Island to Tacoma to meet Little Mr! He is stunningly perfect, and his momma and daddy couldn’t be more proud. Here’s a little sneak, no name yet – we’ll be doing a newborn session soon!

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It was quite an honor to be invited to the hospital to meet the baby and hear his birth story. Thank you Rob and Pattie for considering me for “weird auntie” status. Love you guys!

Newborn Pictures, Lifestyle Photography, Mary Eklund, Kitsap County Photographer, Pierce County Photographer, Key Peninsula, Gig Harbor Photographer, Family Photos, 2013

Alexis & Peyton

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Seriously, could they be any more adorable? I think not! I had the opportunity to photograph Alexis and her sweet boy, Peyton last summer. They were so gorgeous I almost couldn’t stop – I love, love what I do! Here are a few of my favorite images from their session:

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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!

My Days Do Not Always Go The Way I Have Planned…

 

So for sure I should be working on my sales taxes/website/organization/laundry today, but I HAPPENED to have the opportunity to photograph a beautiful girl, and am so pleased to introduce Bear! Bear goes into the backstory a bit – she was rescued by Larry and Michelle Ransom, and their boys Jake & Jordan when she was just a pup, found by the side of the road with her momma, when Larry was coaching at Pilchuk Veterinary Hospital. The year I started by business Bear was the 3rd spoke in a pretty tight pack – Jake and his girls, Bear and Jessie, a gorgeous yellow lab. Jake is a pretty phenomenal kid, and happens to be my nephew. It was my plan to do a shoot with the three of them – so adorable. Sweet Jessie, however, was discovered to have cancer and died suddenly at the age of 7, which was a terrible shock. Of course I felt terrible that I hadn’t yet taken the images I could (and still can) so clearly see in my head. Regrets are the worst! This went down a matter of months after my niece, Rachel had lost her beautiful 2 year old pup. The two events in 2 connected families so close together really solidified for me the desire to photograph pets with the people who love them, to record and tell their stories visually, and honor their place in our lives. We all know we have such a short time with our four footed companions, but the truth is, we really don’t know how short that time can be. My own dogs prior to the current furry little monster lived to 19, 18 and 14 1/2 years, but I can tell you, it didn’t seem long enough. So the chance to snap a few of Bear today, who is young and healthy and a sweet, darling soul, lifted my spirits. She rocked her shoot – isn’t she delish?

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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!