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!
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!Tag Archives: Silverdale
Picasso = Art
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!
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!
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:
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
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!
Something smells a little fishy…
OK, not really! I need some help choosing a favorite fish photo! Any opinions, please leave a comment or send me a message! TKS!
Four Foot Photography 