Little Ladies
A sneak peek of two of my favorite girls!
Tag Archives: Port Orchard
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:
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!A Grand Old Dame with a New Lease on Life?
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.”
Finn…Obedience School Graduate
Here’s Finn, a recent graduate of Shooting Star Service’s obedience class. April Franz is passionate about educating people along with their dogs. A lifelong animal lover, April has a Sheltie, a Belgian Malinois, two cats and a chinchilla (and a very kind husband). In addition to being a Certified Animal Trainer, April works at Woodside Animal Hospital and Pet Town in Port Orchard. 
Poodle-icious!
Some of you may be aware of my 4 year old daughter’s intense, year-and-a-half-long obsession with poodles, which was apparently brought about by eating at “The Poodle Dog” restaurant in Fife. She has been on me relentlessly, “When can we get my poodle dog?” – to the point that ALL she wanted for her birthday was a poodle. Nevermind that the family dog is a rescued Bichon Frise, about the poodley-est non-poodle you can find. As an appeasement, for her birthday we gave him a poodle cut (sorry, buddy!), which made her happy. NOW she’s in heaven, as I’ve been editing my session with not one, but TWO poodles! Ty and Brook are dear souls who reside with Janice in Bremerton. Apricot in color (it’s darker when it’s longer), Ty is a miniature poodle, and Brook is a teacup. They are 5 years old and love playing with their cousin, Oscar Meyer (!), a miniature longhaired dachshund, and gobbling up the delicious treats Janice bakes for them. The admiration, in this group, is definitely mutual.
A Whole Lotta Love…
Friend, Friend, Wonderful Friend! Married – my truly fabulous friend is getting MARRIED! Getting hitched…tying the knot…I almost don’t have the words to explain (but I’ll try!) what it means to me to see my longtime friend so happy and so in love. And then, to have the chance to document a love story in process, well, that is just cool beans. So meet Christy and Kevin, two people who know it isn’t easy, but who make me believe it is worth it. Don’t you love the way he looks at her? And Isn’t. She. Fabulous?
Wonderful World of Westies
As promised, here is a sneak peek of Molly and Angus, two of the luckiest Westies in the world. Molly and Angus live with Chris, who is devoted to them almost beyond measure, and Mufasa, who is…not. While he was singularly unwilling to pose with the dogs, the shot of the fabulous feline Mufasa is one of my very favorites. There is something magical about these little dynamos and the gorgeous yard Chris works so hard on – when you see the one with Molly in front of the bright flowers, you’ll know what I mean!
Four Foot Photography 