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Archive: ‘pet photography’



Marley and Millie – Pit Bull Mixes from University Heights

Thursday, September 26th, 2019

All of my photo sessions are special to me, but I have to be honest, this one was extra special… because I actually photographed Marley back in 2014!! I feel absolutely honored to have the opportunity to catch up with clients and be invited back to take more photos years later. Plus, since the last time I saw Marley and her mom, they’ve added a new addition to their family: Millie!

Marley is a calm, happy dog who takes pretty much everything in stride. Millie is also a brindle pit bull mix, like her sister, but is quite the opposite when it comes to personality! And even though we met at the pre-session consultation, she was still nervous and on edge when I arrived at their house on the day of the photo session. But after a bit of coaxing & patience, she eventually warmed up to me (allowing us to get some amazing portraits) and towards the end of the photo session she was following me around, asking for more treats & attention! It just goes to show that even with dogs that have “stranger danger” tendencies, we can still have a great photo session together. :)

And after an unfortunate overcast-sky-delay, the second half of our photo session was at La Jolla beach where we had a great time! Marley’s MO was just to meet other people & dogs, walk around and sniff everything. She was a happy girl just doing her thing. Millie, on the other hand, found it necessary to be playing fetch with the ball out into the water. And sprinting around the beach like a madwoman! That girl seriously loves the waves! I know you’ll enjoy this sneak peek of photos from their session – and their moms have plenty more images to see very soon!

Sweet Marley. Gettin’ scratches.


Millie is a puppy compared to Marley – and has the energy level to prove it, haha!


They would be great guard dogs if they weren’t so darn sweet.


What good pups you two are. Gah, those faces!


Sarah & Trish, I’m excited to see you again soon! Give your girls a hug for me in the meantime! :)

Gretzky, the Mixed Breed Rescue Dog

Thursday, August 1st, 2019

Say hello to Gretzky! :) I’ve actually known his parents for a while now, and have photographed their family and a couple of their dogs in the past who unfortunately aren’t with us anymore. This family has a special place in their heart for older dogs; I think they adopted their girl Bullet when she was more than 10 years old – which, for a pittie mix, is getting up there. So imagine my surprise (and probably theirs too) when they recently went to the Humane Society to adopt another senior dog and left with a 4-month-old puppy instead! Haha! I’m so glad they decided to add this spunky little dude to the mix!

They aren’t too sure what mix of breeds Gretzky is, but they’ll be finding out soon via a DNA test. Possibly part pit bull, part Great Dane? (Great Dane is definitely in question!) The mystery is definitely part of the fun of adopting a rescue dog. Either way, he is just adorable and surprisingly calm for a pup his age! He loves treats and my backdrop sparked his curiosity. We were even able to capture a few photos of him with his older siblings, Dozer and Bullet. He clearly adores them and the feeling is mutual… some of the time. ;)

This was his “Puppy Plan” session #1! I’ve been looking forward to it since his mom called me with the announcement of adopting a new puppy. And what a fun way to kick off my first official photo session since coming back from maternity leave! It was a great reintroduction back into the studio, working with past clients on a fresh new project – and I can’t wait to watch Gretzky as he grows up alongside my baby girl! :)

That face!! I might have come back from maternity leave even earlier if I knew Gretzky’s big brown eyes were waiting for me…

rescue dog photo

 

Gretzky would like to take this time to remind you that he’s 100% puppy.

rescue dog portrait


Welcome to the “Puppy Plan” family, Gretzky! I bet you’re going to be a big boy (especially if the Great Dane part is true!) and I can’t wait to see how much you’ve grown in a few months from now…

Molly, the Rescue Puppy from Olivenhain!

Tuesday, March 26th, 2019

I’m so excited to introduce you to Molly! Not only because she’s one of the most adorable pups around, but she is also one of my first official “Puppy Plan” participants! Molly is a 2 month old Great Pyrenees, labrador, and (supposedly) Bassett hound mix who gives the cutest little head tilts for the camera. She is definitely in the puppy phase where everything needs to go in her mouth. Toys, food, leashes, collars, pant legs, shoes, my camera bag… nothing is safe from those puppy teeth!

We held her photo session at her parents’ gorgeous home in the Olivenhain neighborhood of Encinitas/Rancho Santa Fe. Her mom and dad have a beautiful setup in their backyard where we were able to get amazing portraits with plenty of natural light coming through the trees. A photographer’s dream! Molly had a lot of energy, so I think she had a pretty great time playing and posing for me. And get this: whenever she needed to take a break from all of her running around, she decided to quench her thirst by drinking the dew off of the grass! She reminded me of a little lawnmower as she cruised around, head down & searching out the wettest blades of grass, haha! She was too cute!

I’ll be seeing Molly and her parents again when she’s about 6-7 months old for the next stage of her Puppy Plan. I cannot wait to see how much she has changed by then! I bet she’ll have grown by leaps and bounds (especially if that Great Pyrenees in her heritage has any say in the matter). Which means even then, and for the rest of Molly’s life, these photos from when she’s only 2 months old will be awww-inspiring keepsakes. :)


Don’t be fooled by that cute head tilt. There’s a silly, rambunctious, mischievous puppy behind that innocent face!

rescue puppy


Ohhh that early morning light… I love it! And can you see the dew on Molly’s face that came from drinking the water off the grass?!

rescue puppy photo


Marilyn & Stan, I am so excited to capture Molly’s first year as a puppy with you! I look forward to seeing you again soon! :)

A Trio of Maine Coon Cats from San Diego

Thursday, March 7th, 2019

I’m so excited to introduce you to three of the most stunning Maine Coon cats I’ve ever met! Say hello to Bella, Rockie & Casi! This photo session, quite honestly, was a breeze – especially compared to other photo sessions I’ve done with cats before (sorry kitties, but you don’t always make yourselves the easiest subjects to photograph!). Not only did we have a ridiculous amount of fun, but all 3 cats were b-e-a-utiful! I happen to think all pets are beautiful, quite honestly – but every once in a while those extra-photogenic subjects make my job that much easier. And what’s even more special is that this photo session was generously gifted to this family by their dear friend, Mary. She was even able to join in on the fun with us! Thank you, Mary, for introducing me to this lovely family – and I’m so glad you were able to be there for the big day! (Side note: did you know I offer gift certificates?)

The oldest & wisest of the bunch is Bella. Oh Bella… She really wasn’t into the whole photo session idea at first, and wasn’t afraid to express it. But she slowly warmed up enough to show off her toy, and she eventually became so relaxed as time went on that she started kneading it right there in front of me! That was a big deal for this 13-year-old girl! I was thrilled to see that despite the weird stranger following her around with a big black camera (me), she had gotten that comfortable, which in return allowed for some gorgeous images.

On the other hand, Bella’s two younger siblings had no problem showing their enthusiasm for our photo session! When I arrived to their house, Rockie was literally waiting for me at the door! I felt like a welcomed guest and knew right off the bat that we were going to have a great afternoon. And to my surprise, only minutes after I’d made it into their house, Rockie managed to find the decorative tassel on my camera bag – and he decided that it would look better if it had a few less strings attached to it, haha! (I didn’t even realize it could be considered a toy! That’s what I get for not owning a cat myself, haha!) Let’s just say it made the perfect toy for him. :) I loved his outgoing and playful personality!

Casi, which is short for Cassiopeia (inspired by the star on her nose), is Rockie’s litter mate! She’s very social and her personality is similar to Rockie too. She has also been deemed “the sous chef” by her dad: whenever he’s in the kitchen, she’s right there beside him wondering what he’s cooking up and politely asking if she can taste test! Isn’t that adorable?


Bella is most definitely the queen of the house and lets everyone know it. #lioness

maine coon cat


These confident one year old siblings didn’t hold back on posing for me! Aren’t they gorgeous?! (And just look at alllllllll that fluffy Maine coon fur!)

maine coon cat


Can you see the “star” on Casi’s nose?

maine coon on stairs


As I was packing up my gear, I joked with my clients about how this gallery was going to give them “good problems” – because there are going to be SO many fabulous photos to choose from! As I’m looking through their images, I can confirm my suspicions: we were right! :) Wendy & Tom (and Mary), I cannot wait to meet with you all again soon for your ordering session!

Turbo, the Pomeranian Mix from San Diego

Monday, February 25th, 2019

I’d like to introduce you to Turbo the Pomeranian mix! She may be small in size, but she’s got a BIG personality to make up for it! Trust me: with her energy & personality, she could not have a more perfect name. It’s always a fun challenge keeping up with her while she lives life at lightning speed!

I’ve actually photographed Turbo in my studio several times over the years for my holiday mini sessions – as well as one full-length session in the studio – but this was a first for us to visit the great outdoors together. One of the many things Turbo and her mom love to do is walk through Heritage Park, since it’s right down the street from their house in Mission Hills. And this park turned out to be the perfect spot for our session! I’ve got to say, I loved seeing Turbo in her element letting loose!

It was also a delight to see how her and her mom connect. Marjorie is so patient and sweet with her – even when Turbo gives her “attitude” (let’s just say this dog doesn’t keep her opinions to herself, haha!). Her mom has done an awesome job working with her, and I’ve enjoyed the privilege of seeing their bond deepen over the years. Not just anyone would be willing to adapt their lifestyle to accommodate a rescue dog with this much energy – but I just love witnessing their relationship, and knowing how much work has gone into it leaves me with nothing but respect for this whole family.


This is Turbo – in a rare moment of stillness. Isn’t she adorable?!

pomeranian mix dog


Walking through the park is one of her favorite things to do – in fact, I’d be willing to bet she considers it “her” park!

pomeranian mix puppy


Such. A. Cutie. (Sorry for all the sitting-still & calm photos; they’re the result of lots of effort and patience, so you could say they’re the images I’m most proud of from our session, haha!)

pomeranian mix


Marjorie, thank you for a fun afternoon – and for introducing me to my new favorite park! :)

 

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