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Tag: ‘cats’

Rockwell & Stonewall! (San Diego Cat Photographer)

Tuesday, March 15th, 2016

Today, I have the joy of introducing you to two gorgeous cats! Rockwell & Stonewall, a domestic longhair and a domestic shorthair cat, live with their dad in Santee. They’re fascinating creatures, as all cats are, but these two seem to have extra personality somehow! Stonewall, the grey DSH, is the “dog” of the family: he’s outgoing, playful, and incredibly cheerful! He was quick to snuggle up to me (and my camera bags) and was pretty much a cat photographer’s dream to work with… not to mention, he had an interesting hunter’s instinct too (which I witnessed firsthand when his dad brought out a squeaking toy), and to see that instinct mix with his desire to play and snuggle was simply adorable! Rockwell, on the other hand, is definitely the “cat” of the family – he’s a bit less outgoing (but still a sweetheart!) and made me work a little harder to photograph him. And thanks to an accident with a toy from a few years ago, he saw us playing with Stonewall and decided he’d better hide in his kitty condo! Poor thing! So it took some coaxing to help him come out & open up again, but I’m so glad we did – he’s a beautiful cat and I absolutely loved having him in front of my lens! Both of these cats have a regal aspect to their personalities, but Rockwell simply has the looks to match, too. Such a joy to work with!

This is Stonewall, and one of the first frames I took when I unpacked my camera! Just a little warm-up stretch, haha!

Stonewall’s eyes are the most gorgeous shade of green… combine them with his grey coat, and I can’t get enough of his unique coloring!

This is Rockwell, enjoying a nice brushing/massage from his dad!

I know their dad is excited to see their close-up portraits… and Rockwell definitely doesn’t disappoint. What a handsome guy.

Chris, thank you so much for introducing me to your gorgeous cats! I’m looking forward to seeing all of you again soon! :)

Tags: cats, pet photography, pets, photography, San Diego, San Diego pet photography
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Best of 2015 – San Diego Pet Photography

Sunday, January 24th, 2016

Are you ready for this? I cannot WAIT to share these images with you! :) :)

2015 was an incredible year for my business: I met incredible people, fantastic dogs, and had a BLAST doing what I absolutely love to do! I’ll always be able to look back on 2015 with a big smile on my face, because although it had its ups and downs (just like any year), I have to admit that there were way more “ups” and happy times than anything else. So of course I couldn’t properly say goodbye to one of the most amazing years of my life without a “Best of” blog post – because I want to share a tiny fraction of how GREAT this year was with you! So I really feel like this blog post contains a piece of my heart… not to wax poetic, but the people and dogs in these photos really do mean the world to me, and I’ll always be grateful that we crossed paths in 2015. Did all these sessions go 100% smoothly? Nope! (Hello rain delays!) Did all these dogs really love being in front of the camera? Definitely not! (Some adored being the center of attention, and some definitely took some warming up!) But I think we still ended up with spectacular results from each & every session, and to me, that’s the most important thing, because then my clients can walk away happy. And I think they all did! :)

So here are all the pets I photographed in full-length photo sessions in 2015. I picked out my 3 favorite images from each session – not the easiest thing to do!! – and for the sake of simplicity, I refrained from sharing the details of each pet’s story here, but you can always search the blog for details on any pet if you’re curious.

3ee the Belgian Malinois, from San Diego

Aberdeen the service dog (golden retriever/labrador mix), from San Diego

Aberdeen came back for a second session this year! Yay- I LOVED seeing this dog twice as often! :)

Albert the Scottie, from San Diego

Sadly, Albert is no longer with us today. He is deeply missed.

Archie & Leo, the Greater Swiss Mountain dog mix and the bearded collie/Old English sheepdog mix, from San Diego

Azula & Apollo, cats from San Diego

Beatrice & Bruno, the min pin & chihuahua, from San Diego

Berkeley, the Dutch shepherd, from San Diego

Bimmer, Laila & Leo, the golden retrievers & labrador, from San Diego

Brandi & Colt, the yorkie/shih tzu mix and beagle, from Vista

Briley & Gunner, the weimaraner & German shepherd, from Encinitas

Buster, Fae, Leland & Nyx, mixed breed dogs and cat, from San Diego

Cherry the German shepherd, from San Diego

Colin the mixed breed dog, from San Diego

Cooper & Sophie, mixed breed dogs, from San Diego

Daisy, the beagle/bulldog mix, from San Diego

Daisy the boxer, from San Diego

Dippy, Lulu & Bentley, mixed-breed dogs & cockapoo, from San Diego

Duke the mixed-breed dog, from San Diego

Unfortunately, Duke passed away soon after his session took place. He was such a good boy…

Emerson, Russell & Bells, the labrador and cattle dog & labrador mixed breed dog, from Ramona

Gaston the French bulldog, from San Diego

Gracie the St. Bernard, from San Diego

Howie & Bernie, boxers, from San Marcos

Indy & Molly, the golden retriever & Great Pyrenees mix, from San Diego

Karma & Kody, the pit bull & Australian shepherd, from San Diego

Keiko the dachshund, from San Diego

Lexie, Gunther, Chase & Aurora, German shepherds & Belgian Malinois dog, from San Diego

Louisa & Brutus, standard poodles, from San Diego

Chia & Lucy, sphynx cats, from San Diego & Temecula

Madison the labrador/shepherd mix, from San Diego

Marina the pit bull/husky mix, from San Diego

Mariposa, Benny & Sprocket, the papillon & papillon mixes, from San Diego

Marlow, Cielow & Darla, the German short-haired pointer, husky, and pointer mix, from San Diego

Marlow had a pretty serious health scare just before our session, but thankfully, he’s healthy & happy today!

Mindy the Yorkie, from El Cajon

Mr. Higgins the labrador, from La Jolla

Mr. Smith the miniature poodle, from San Diego

Myers & Morgan, maltipoos, from San Diego

Oliver the Jack Russell terrier, from San Diego

Oscar the soft-coated Wheaten terrier, from Rancho Bernardo

Oscar & Bruce, labradors, from La Jolla

Pele & Alaska, service dogs (labrador/golden retriever mixes), from Escondido

Penny the rat terrier, from San Diego

Porkchop & Applesauce, domestic longhair and domestic shorthair cats from San Diego

Ridley & Samus, chihuahua & chihuahua/terrier mix, from San Diego

Riley the border collie/husky mix, from San Diego

Rita the mixed breed dog, from San Diego

Roo the mixed breed dog, from San Diego

Ruby & Gladstone, English bulldogs, from San Diego

Sadie, Belle & Roscoe, the golden retriever, Australian shepherd & bichon frise, from Encinitas

Lucas & James Woods, the Australian cattle dog mix & pit bull, from San Diego

Savannah the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, from San Diego

Shayna, the mixed breed service dog, from San Diego

Sid, the French mastiff/Catahoula leopard dog mix, from San Marcos

Stiller, Violet & Charlotte, smooth fox terriers & mini schnauzer, from Carlsbad

Tate & Skyler, mixed breed dogs, from Encinitas

Taylor the schnauzer, from Oceanside

Teddy the chow chow, from Coronado

Tex the Chinook sled dog, from Santee

Tito & Fizgig, the pug & exotic shorthair cat, from San Diego

Trea (full name: Mister Bailey’s Treasure) & Bailey, American quarter horse & German shepherd mix, from Rancho Santa Fe

Sir Truffle the Scottie, from San Diego

Rebel, Sparky, Liberty, Diva & Rocky, Yorkies, from Carlsbad

Yuma the mixed breed dog, from San Diego

Whew! What a year! :)

Of course, if you’d like to see your pet’s photos in the “Best of 2016” post that I’m sure I’ll be working on a year from now, please get in touch via the contact form on my website.

Tags: backyard, beach, boxer, cats, chihuahua, dachshund, dogs, golden retriever, labrador, pet photography, pets, photography, pit bull, poodle, puppy, San Diego, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography, schnauzer, senior, studio
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10 Things You May Have Wondered About Pet Cemeteries & Crematories, But Were Too Afraid To Ask

Tuesday, August 18th, 2015

Hi everyone! I have an amazing post for you today! It’s written by Natalie Lykins, the Office Manager at Sorrento Valley Pet Cemetery (SVPC). SVPC is San Diego’s oldest and best pet cemetery & crematory, and I couldn’t be prouder to work with the great people there (like Natalie) who help their clients through one of the most difficult times of their lives. Natalie wrote this article exclusively for my blog – which means it’s just for you! – and I think you’ll find it fascinating! Enjoy!

(All photos were taken by & belong to Natalie Lykins and SVPC.)

10 Things You May Have Wondered About Pet Cemeteries & Crematories, But Were Too Afraid To Ask

1) Are pet cemeteries really the way Stephen King described them in the novel, “Pet Sematary”?

Not at all! Most pet cemeteries are very beautiful, peaceful places with elaborate, well-kept landscaping. They are designed to invoke relaxation and allow families/individuals to remember their pets in a pleasant atmosphere. Many live animals make cemeteries their homes as well. At Sorrento Valley Pet Cemetery, several species of birds have taken up residence. We also have many rabbits and raccoons that frequent the grounds.

2) Can pets have large, elaborate funerals, just like some people do?

Of course they can! Our pets are members of our families. Why should they not receive what any human family member would? Pet cemeteries are very adept at accommodating to each individual. SVPC has held very large funerals, consisting of almost 30 people, processions from the chapel to the burial site, various readings, and many other types of ceremonies. We have also held very simple, dignified funerals with only the immediate family present. It is important to us that the family/individual feels that the burial ceremony is appropriate for their specific pet and is in no way a “cookie-cutter” ceremony.

3) Are all pet cremations the same, or are there different types?

There are 3 main types of cremation; communal, individual, and private. Communal cremation is when many pets are cremated at one time with no form of separation between each pet. Individual cremation refers to when a few pets are cremated at once, usually three to four, with some form of barrier between each pet. Rows of bricks are a popular form of barrier. Private cremation is when only one pet is present during the cremation process. SVPC only performs private cremations for the public. If you come through our doors, we can guarantee you that your pet will be cremated by itself.

4) Can working at a pet cemetery ever be kind of, well… gross?

I will not lie. There are some moments that are not pleasant. Just like when a human being passes away, pets lose their bowels after passing. Many people are not prepared for this when their pets pass in their home and bring them into us all wrapped up with their feces and urine. When we unwrap the pet to do a paw print or place the pet in the cremation chamber, we get a nice, poopy surprise. Also, people cannot always get their pets to us right away and therefore have to keep their deceased pet in their home for a day or two. Many of our clients know what to do and either place their pets in their fridge or, if they are too large, pack ice on top of them until they can get them too us. Sometimes people do not do anything, and by the time we receive the pet, decomposition has already begun. The smell is something you do not forget. But no matter what condition a pet is in when it gets to us, it is still a dearly loved family member and deserves the best care possible.

5) Are there companies that make special caskets just for pets, or do you have to build each one?

In these modern times, we are lucky enough to have companies out there that produce caskets that are especially designed for pets. This wasn’t always the case. At one time, pet caskets were not readily available. Infant caskets were the immediate answer for small pets, and child caskets for larger ones. At SVPC we have pet caskets available up to 32″. Anything larger than that we custom make in-house out of cedar. The only downside to the cedar caskets is that they decompose over time. If you want your pet to naturally return to the earth, a wood casket is the way to go. If preservation is your main concern, plastic or fiberglass is the best choice.

6) What is left when a cremation is finished?

There is a very common misconception that what you get after a cremation are “ashes”. This is not true at all. When a pet’s body breaks down in the cremation chamber, everything burns away, only leaving the bones. When we open the door after a cremation is finished, all that is left are very brittle, bright white bones, NOT ashes. The bones are then brushed out of the cremation chamber and placed into a processor. The processor is really a big blender that spins the bones really fast, banging them against each other until they become a fine powder. This powder is what people tend to think are “ashes”.

7) Where are pets kept while they are waiting to be buried or cremated?

This is a very common question clients have when they come into the cemetery. They are very concerned that their pets are going to be tossed into a freezer and frozen until it is their turn. This could not be further from the truth. I cannot speak for all pet cemeteries and crematories, but at SVPC we do not freeze pets. We have a very large walk in refrigerator. Inside, there are many racks for the pets to rest on. Each pet is either in a bed (small pets/cats/small dogs) or wrapped in blankets with a pillow under their head (large dogs/farm animals). All of the pets rest comfortably until they are set to be buried or cremated.

8) Do clients ever make strange requests?

I do not consider any request “strange”. Whatever the request may be, it means something to the individual client. Many people ask for specific things to be cremated with their pet, such as a special toy, a favorite treat, or a blanket. This is a pretty normal and common request. Every once in a while however, we do get requests that are a little outside the norm. A past client did request one of his dog’s canines be removed so he could make it into a necklace. Unfortunately, I would not do this, because it would require quite a bit of force, and possibly breaking his dog’s jaw. I personally felt like I would be disrespecting the dog if I treated his body in that way. Instead, we offered to pick out a canine after the cremation and put it in a vial that he could wear on a necklace. It was a happy medium for both of us.

9) Do people visit their buried pets often?

At the SVPC cemetery, we have many clients who visit on a weekly basis. Sometimes they even come multiple times in a week. One particular family brings lawn chairs and spends over an hour at their pet’s plot, talking to him and filling him in on their life. We actually become very close with many of our burial clients. They usually stop in to say hi when they visit and to thank us for changing the water in their flower vases. Our burial clients have become their own small community. It is really a lovely thing to see and experience.

10) Isn’t working at a pet cemetery incredibly depressing?

Once again, I cannot lie. Working at a pet cemetery can be very difficult at times. My job is to take on the pain of other people and sympathize with what they are going through. In a way, this makes me re-live losing my own pets over and over again. There are some days that are extremely difficult. I own a pug, so whenever someone comes in with a pug, it is especially hard. When you love and care for animals the way I and the rest of the staff at SVPC do, seeing them deceased day after day can definitely have an effect on you. The animals are not the only difficult part of the job, however. Everyone deals with grief differently. My job is to help my client and their pet, no matter what state of mind they are in. Sometimes, people can barely make out words between their tears. Other people get angry over simple things to mask how they are really feeling. This can be taxing over time. But through all of the sadness and depressing moments, there is one thing I always remember. I am giving this pet the respectful, dignified end it deserves. Then I get to give this pet back to it’s family. That is what means the most to me personally. I know I speak for the entire staff when I say that it is so incredibly rewarding to return a pet to the family that misses it so much. That is what keeps us doing what we do.

Thank you for such an in-depth & honest look behind the scenes at SVPC, Natalie!

Questions for Natalie? You can contact her via SVPC’s website, by phone at 619-276-3361, or on Facebook here.

Tags: cats, dogs, pets, San Diego
Posted in housekeeping/fyi, just for fun | No Comments »

Sphynx Cats Chia & Lucy

Tuesday, July 28th, 2015

I am so excited to share this blog post with you! I recently had the pleasure of being introduced to a breed of cat that I’d never worked with before – and the images we created together could not be more distinctive! Chia & Lucy are sphynx cats!

Sphynx cats make up for their lack of fur with tons of personality! :) As soon as Chia stepped foot into the studio, she was immediately exploring every nook & cranny that she could find… in my desk, behind my printer, on the windowsill behind the drapes, amidst the books I keep on hand… everywhere! These cats are experts at climbing, balancing & getting into small spaces. They also love attention, and being close to their humans. They dig & nestle into any surface they possibly can – so if you’re resting peacefully in bed, don’t be surprised when your sphynx cat burrows down into the covers with you! After all, they have to keep warm somehow! :)

I’m always impressed by cats that visit the studio – since most cats don’t travel well – so I was thrilled that these expressive kitties were so outgoing & willing to play! I really enjoyed photographing these unique subjects, and bringing out the beauty in their hairless little bodies. Some people prefer the furry, cuddly looks of most cat breeds, and that’s fine – but working with Chia & Lucy was a dream come true for me! :) Here are just a few photos from our in-studio photo session.

This is Lucy! (Short for Lucille Ball!)

And this is Chia. Isn’t she striking?!

Oh – and Lucy brought her canine sister along, too! This is Delilah! :)

Thanks for a great session, Lisa & Nicole! I’m looking forward to seeing you both again soon!

Tags: cats, pet photography, pets, photography, San Diego, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography, studio
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Smooshy-Faced Pets Tito & Fizgig

Thursday, April 9th, 2015

In the contact form on my website, I ask my prospective clients to describe their pet(s) in 3 words. I think it’s a fun way to get to know my clients right from the start, and I usually receive sweet adjectives like “loving”, “adorable” and “perfect”… but this time, the first word that Tito & Fizgig’s mom used was “smooshy-faced”! Haha! I knew from the start this would be a fun session, and little did I know how accurate that adjective really was! Tito is a smooshy-faced pug, an adorable little guy with an irresistible urge to pee on nearly everything, and Fizgig is an exotic shorthair cat with a total lack of a side profile because his face is so very smooshed! Haha – these two pets are totally outgoing and attention-seeking, so they were an absolute blast to work with!

But I have to be honest with you: this session posed a unique challenge for me, because it took place at Sorrento Valley Pet Cemetery. Tito & Fizgig’s mom Natalie works in the front office, and somewhat surprisingly, the quiet grounds with gorgeous green grass & foliage turned out to be a beautiful setting for photos… and it was actually my very first time stepping foot into a pet cemetery. Having the career that I have, and knowing what I know about the relationships people have with their pets, let’s be real: I pretty much started to cry as soon as I saw the first gravesite. I read a few gravestones, took in the memorials that owners had left for their pets (whose photos were often engraved on the stones) and nearly broke down crying right there before we even started the session… gah! It was a really emotional place to be. But instead of thinking about what all these pets meant to their owners, I just had to concentrate on the fluffy ball of life right in front of my eyes, Tito! Luckily, he was running around and acting like a little goofball (as pugs are so talented at doing) so our session began right after I wiped my eyes… and you know what? Even though we were in a sad place, where so many people had to say goodbye to their 4-legged family members, I’d like to think that photographing Tito & his infectious, happy spirit as he ran around the cemetery was a celebration of life. And no matter how long or short our lives may be, it was a lovely afternoon celebrating the relationship Tito & Fizgig have with their mom, which is just as meaningful as the past relationships the peacefully-buried pets in the cemetery once had with their owners, too. It was really an interesting day, and it gave me a bit of new perspective.

Anyways! Whew! On to the photos! This adorable little mug is Tito!

He even posed with the flowers for us… although admittedly, it took a bit of convincing. :)

And this is Tito’s brother, Fizgig! He’s one of the most outgoing, active cats I’ve ever met – and look at that smooshy face!!

Natalie, thank you for an entirely unique photo session. I can’t wait to show you the rest of our photos soon! :)

Tags: backyard, cats, dogs, pet photography, pets, photography, San Diego, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography
Posted in pet photography | No Comments »

Tag: ‘cats’

Rockwell & Stonewall! (San Diego Cat Photographer)

Best of 2015 – San Diego Pet Photography

10 Things You May Have Wondered About Pet Cemeteries & Crematories, But Were Too Afraid To Ask

10 Things You May Have Wondered About Pet Cemeteries & Crematories, But Were Too Afraid To Ask

Sphynx Cats Chia & Lucy

Smooshy-Faced Pets Tito & Fizgig

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