When you see these adorable San Diego mutts’ faces, you’re going to swear that they’re related – but Dexter & Rocco are brothers by adoption, not blood! These pups are practically clones of each other, but ironically, their personalities couldn’t be more different. Dexter is the old man, slow to get around and always happy to lay down & relax. He’s a total mama’s boy and is rarely more than a few feet from his mom, Paula! Rocco, on the other hand, is a completely independent spirit. He’s energetic, ball-obsessed (seriously: obsessed) and will do anything in the world for a treat. I had a simply wonderful time in their backyard as we played fetch, tested their obedience skills, and relaxed with mom & dad!

 This is Rocco! He’s a relatively small dog, but like I said, he has a huge personality! I think I took this photo a nanosecond before he jumped up & ran over to me, demanding the treat that I’d promised him, haha!

And here’s Dexter… don’t you love that sweet old face?! I can’t get enough of his happy smile! This is a new favorite image for me… and it’s one of the few in which Dexter isn’t velcro’ed to his mom’s side. He is simply devoted to her.

These dogs are nearly identical – in coloring, body structure, practically everything… even down to their paws! (But now you can see how much bigger Dexter is than Rocco; isn’t it incredible how they look so similar despite their different backgrounds?)

Paula & Marc, I had a simply fabulous (and slightly exhausting) time with you both! Thanks for being so much fun – I can’t wait to show you the rest of our photos! :)

I recently photographed a wonderfully relaxed session, with two handsome dogs that have the most adorable names! Goober is a senior golden retriever, and Fozzy (yes, he’s named after Fozzy Bear) is a 1-year-old labradoodle! We played fetch and rolled around in the grass in their backyard for their in-home pet photography session – and boy, have I been spoiled by my clients’ yards lately! I walked down the stairs to their sprawling lawn, complete with lush trees, bushes, flowers & assorted greenery on every side, and I think I almost fainted! I’m convinced there’s not a prettier backyard in all of Rancho Santa Fe, haha… Plus, I think it’s wonderful to have images that are so personal – the ability to document your own family in your own backyard makes in-home pet photography sessions extra special. So suffice to say that with a gorgeous location, happy dogs and a beautiful family, I was in pet photography heaven! Let me introduce you to the stars of the show:

This is Fozzy! He could be the cover dog for all labradoodles, as far as I’m concerned. #waytoocute

And Fozzy’s older brother, Goober! With a name like that, you know this dog has a silly personality! Goober is definitely a goofball, but he loves being with his family more than anything. And by “being with” I really mean “hovering as close as possible and trying not to give them more than two inches of space”… I think his human brother Jack is standing just barely out of the frame in this image!

And together… well, they’re brothers! Of course they’re best friends! (We took several more “posed” photos of the dogs too, but I thought this image was a nice change of pace for their sneak peek – and it really shows their personalities!)

Karen & Glenn, I hope you have a spectacular vacation, and I can’t wait to see you both again once you’re back in town! Thanks for a fun & fabulous session!