Feb 1, 2013
I love action shots, so this week was fun! Sometimes at the shelter, we just let the dogs loose and they run themselves tired. The great thing about photographing running/action sequences are all of the great expressions that appear.
First of all, there is the “take off”. The eagerness and expectation of it all…
Then comes the “flat out run” face. Such concentration!
Sooner or later, the “crazy” face will appear …
And my personal favourite, the “Oof” face…the sound I believe they make when they land.
This is a blog circle, so please follow it around if you would like to see how all of the other photographers interpreted this week’s theme, starting with Connecticut Pet Photographer, Kathryn Schauer. See you next week!
Jan 29, 2013
Here is a smaller group of beautiful furry faces from this week – all looking for their forever homes! You can meet each and every one of them at Toronto Animal Services – North and, should you wish to arrange an appointment, please contact TAS directly. Looking for some additional details about these guys? Then, please come on over to the Posh Pets’ Facebook page and have a look!
Jan 25, 2013
This week’s challenge was chosen by Posh Pets Photography (me!). I love black and white imagery – there is something so classic about it – and I love to see how a photo changes just by removing the colour. So, this week everyone was to produce a black and white image or an image that featured the colour black and/or white. I cannot wait to see what everyone came up with.
So…if you live in Toronto, you know how cold it has been this past week. I did not want to be outside and when I looked at Baxter, he gave me no indication of him wanting to step foot outside either (Baxter has gotten quite accustomed to the cushy life of an indoor cat in the 10 weeks he has been with us). So, I thought it would be a good week to practice my studio photography skills as well as introduce little Baxter to real studio lights. Which is exactly what we did…hope you enjoy the result!
We have a lot of participants this week’s Project 52, so please follow the blog circle around to see them all. To begin with, take this link to Eastern Iowa Pet Photographer, Mary Beth Arnold and see what beautiful image she came up with this week!
Jan 22, 2013
It was a wee bit cold yesterday when I photographed these guys…not that any of them really noticed it! And the kitties were all warm and cuddly enjoying their day away from the elements.
This week we had 3 dogs and 3 cats to photograph…please take a look and share their beautiful furry faces far and wide! It would be nice to find them all their forever homes. They are all available at Toronto Animal Services – North and you can contact or visit them to meet these wonderful animals. There is also a little more about each guy or girl on the Posh Pets Facebook page (ID numbers and such).
See you next week!
Jan 18, 2013
When Sarah first called me to book a session with her puppy, I had no idea what a special dog I was about to meet. All owners gush about how great their dog is, and it goes without saying that each one is definitely special. But, Ryder is a little different – for he was the fulfillment of a wish Sarah has had since she was a little girl.
You see, a couple of years ago, Sarah was diagnosed with cancer. As she began to undergo treatment and take up the fight against the disease, her mother found a book where, as a little girl, she had written down her dreams for the future. One of those dreams was to have a golden retriever puppy. Truth be told, Sarah had never given up on that dream and now that it seemed that life had thrown her a curve ball, she was ready to make it happen.
And that, in short, is how Ryder joined Sarah and her family. Ryder may not be a puppy anymore, certainly not in the technical definition of the word, but he is definitely Sarah’s “heart-puppy”. RP (short for Ryder Puppy) has been with Sarah through everything and anything, and to witness the bond will give you goosebumps. It is often remarked that the strongest relationships are created through adversity, and I am told that Ryder would simply lie with Sarah as she went through endless treatments, offering the silent comfort that only a loyal dog can. In many ways, as Sarah’s mom says, “he saved us all”.
And so, one crisp autumn Saturday morning in Rouge Park, we all took a walk with Ryder and Sarah to document the relationship of a girl and her dog. Gratefully, Sarah is in remission now and therefore looks forward to many more beautiful walks with her RP, but it was important to her to capture the beauty of the relationship as it is today. We definitely created some gorgeous imagery, but I think you would agree that the most beautiful part of these images is the story that goes with it.
Ryder, thank you for letting me into your life and giving us the privilege of photographing you and your family. Your love, your loyalty, your being…you are a beautiful soul. I wish you many more romps in the park and beautiful walks with Sarah by your side…
There’s nothing like taking the time to make memories with your dog. If you too would like a session like Ryder’s, contact us below:
POSH PETS BOUTIQUE™ SESSIONS
- Pre-session Design Consult that ensures we create images you will be thrilled with.
- The result is gorgeous custom artwork showcasing the life your pet shares with your family.
- A personal Ordering Consultation to guide you in selecting the right images from the gallery.
- Please note: The Creative Fee covers time and talent to photograph a maximum of four (4) subjects, which can be any combination of people and up to two (2) pets who live within the same household. Additional subjects may be photographed for a small additional fee.
- Examples of portraits from Posh Pets Boutique™ Sessions can be found here.
Jan 15, 2013
Here are the results of my weekly visit to Toronto Animal Services – North. We were a little dirtier this week as the snow has all melted and left a field of grass and mud. But the dogs had so much fun!
These furry faces will soon be available for adoption, but you might not find them on the TAS site (yet!). If there is someone you would like to make an appointment to meet, please contact TAS directly. All of their ID numbers and stats are also on the Posh Pets’ Facebook page. See you next week!
Jan 11, 2013
Here is Posh Pets’ first edition of Project 52 for 2013, named Seasonal Fun!
Depending on where you live, you are in the throws of Winter or Summer. Or, maybe you enjoy something more temperate all year round. But, for those of us who enjoy seasons, I find that each one has its own, unique beauty. In Toronto, we have finally received a respectable amount of snow and I was determined to get out there and photograph it for this week’s theme!
While Posh Pets‘ has its wonderful private and commercial clients, I like to “give back” by volunteering to photograph adoptable dogs and cats at the local shelter each week. This is a work that I enjoy immensely! When it comes to the dogs at the shelter, I photograph them almost exclusively outside, no matter the weather! This is because, not only is natural light beautiful, but it gives the dogs an opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and feel the snow or grass between their paws. Those few minutes of attention, treats and the great outdoors often translate into moments of unbridled joy. And, there is always one dog who seems to love it more than any other.
This week, that dog was Rocky. He is a lovely 6 year old german shepherd who is available for adoption from Toronto Animal Services – North. The pent up energy created in the shelter environment means that walking him initially can be a bit of a challenge. He likes to pull a bit in anticipation of getting somewhere awesome. But, after a few minutes of exercise and love, he is a different dog – our return walk to the shelter had Rocky walking beautifully like a proper gentleman. If you are looking for a loyal companion, then please consider an older boy like Rocky – there are many ‘Rockies’ just waiting in shelters around the country, the continent and the world.
But, for now, please enjoy Rocky’s ‘mini-session’ highlighting all of fun of winter!
Here is Rocky when we first made it outside. At the sight of the snow, Rocky began to rub and roll in the snow in sheer delight! This was such a joy to watch!
Then, the running began. Dogs love to feel the wind in their fur and I love the look of the snow flying behind him and the look of happiness on Rocky’s face!
A little tired from his romp, Rocky stopped to listen and enjoy the world around him. Isn’t he gorgeous? This boy should be in pictures!
And, after some more rolling in the snow, a graceful portrait. I love his snow-covered muzzle in this one!
And finally, Rocky’s adoption photo which will help him find his forever home!
And there you have it – the beauty of winter through the eyes of a dog! Now, please continue through the blog circle to see what the other photographers in the group came up with. To start with, please check out Melbourne Dog Photographer, Ragamuffin Pet Photography and see what Caitlin has for seasonal fun in Australia!
Jan 9, 2013
Here are the beautiful furry faces from this week – all looking for their forever homes! You can meet each and every one of them at Toronto Animal Services – North and, should you wish to arrange an appointment, please contact TAS directly. Looking for some additional details about these guys? Then, please come on over to the Posh Pets’ Facebook page and have a look!
Jan 7, 2013
I don’t often post non-pet related images on this blog – it is the Posh Pets Blog after all! But, I am a photographer and therefore create images that do not always include a furry face. Recently, I came across the suggestion to take a look at your body of work for the previous year and decide which photograph was your favourite. I went into this exercise thinking that I would need to choose my favourite image from each client session and from those, choose a winner. Of course, that initial strategy completely disregarded the fact that my other passion is traveling and I always travel with camera in hand.
As I went through my images, I realized that my favourite would be coming from a place I had visited. Thankfully, this project was limited to places we had travelled to in 2012 – otherwise, I would have had quite an overwhelming project on my hands! This year alone, we visited Jordan, Israel, Egypt, The Netherlands, and various cities in The United States. And while they all had their amazing sights and experiences, The Netherlands stood out to me.
We hadn’t consciously decided to visit The Netherlands. While looking for tickets to Israel, we came across a flight on KLM which, of course, took us through Amsterdam. We had never been there, and so in about 2 minutes we decided to take 4 days to explore the country. And wow, I was so happy we did!
I was not prepared in any way for what greeted us. The Netherlands has this amazing vibe to it. I love how the green space appears to be intact, the architecture phenomenal, the roads wider, the air cleaner – which is most likely a bi-product of the fact that it would appear that every Netherlander uses a bicycle! Needless to say, we loved it!
While in Rotterdam, we had the opportunity to sail up the river to the Unesco World Heritage Site of Kinderdjik. Kinderdjik boasts 19 windmills which date from 1740 and is the largest concentration of windmills in The Netherlands. As one can imagine, these also the most photographed windmills in The Netherlands, if not the world.
When we arrived, the light was perfect. The day was beautiful and the windmills stood in all their glory. And, so here is my version of a famous scene…my favourite image from 2012!
And, once more in black and white. I love the mood in this one.
Jan 2, 2013
It was the last day of 2012 when I photographed this lovely bunch of furry faces! There are 6 dogs and 5 cats, all looking for their forever homes. If you would like to meet someone, please contact Toronto Animal Services – North Region directly and let them know who you are interested in. Identification numbers can be found on the Posh Pets’ facebook page!
First, are the kitties…
Next, are the doggies (who enjoyed the snow!)…
Jan 1, 2013
I love “beginnings”… so much promise and excitement! It is fun to imagine where life might take you and what might be accomplished. However,”might” is not a great business plan for it really is no plan at all. So, for the past few weeks I have been brainstorming and planning goals for 2013. I thought I would share them here so that I can stay focussed on them (accountability and all that) as well as let you all in on some exciting news.
1. There will be some changes to the look and feel of the Posh Pets Photography brand in 2013. There really isn’t anything else I can share right now as we are right at the beginning of this project. But, I am very excited to be working with such talented people on this and I will share things as soon as I can!
2. I am going to continue to submit my work for publication and features. There is nothing like seeing your work published. That means that my clients can look forward to not only having their images shared with Posh Pets’ fans who follow the blog, but with a far wider international audience…we are going to create some stars!
3. Posh Pets Photography is currently working on a special project with Pawsh Magazine that is to be launched in early 2013! If you haven’t seen the work of Laura L. Benn and/or Pawsh Magazine, well get on over and check it out! I came across her magazine and saw the gorgeous imagery, I knew I wanted to work with her. Then, the name (Pawsh – Posh, get it?) coupled with the fact that she divides her time between Ottawa and Toronto…well, I was hooked. A few months of corresponding and we’ve come up with a collaboration that is going to be awesome!
4. I am going to continue to reach out and foster strong relationships with other local businesses who work with the same clients that I do. There are a few things percolating here as well…stay tuned!
5. I made a promise to myself when I started Posh Pets Photography – I would invest in my education by attending a workshop/mentoring/conference each year. To me, it is crucial that I do so so that I can create the best imagery possible for my clients. I’ve kept that promise each year and I promise you, 2013 will be no different.
6. I will seriously start shooting on film. I have a camera, film and even shot a frame or two! But, 2013 will be the year that I shoot film for personal projects and really hone my skills. I would love to integrate film into my business, but for now I will keep it just personal.
7. I will continue to work with shelter and rescue organizations to help their adoptables find their forever homes. This work is especially rewarding to me and I invite anyone who has adopted an animal from one of my images to please reach out and let me know. I love hearing and featuring the happy endings!
So, now you know some of things I have planned around here. I hope you will continue to follow along and I would love to meet some of you in person this year! This is just the beginning…let’s see where this path takes us…!
Dec 31, 2012
Hard to believe that this is indeed the last day of 2012! As such, it is always fun to sit down and celebrate the successes that Posh Pets Photography enjoyed this year and to look forward to the excitement in store for 2013. So first, the recap…
1. This little blog is now 2 years old! And, it is a very well-behaved 2 year old to boot! I checked the statistics and there have been 163 posts (including this one) … quite astounding to me as I remember thinking when I started that I would not have much to write about. I’ve loved sharing all the news and wonderful sessions along the way.
2. Posh Pets Photography definitely grew this year and I had the privilege of working with some amazing clients, photographing their beautiful furry faces. Nothing makes me more happy to hear that I have created images that they love (and often have a hard time deciding upon)! Thank you so much to each and every one of you!
3. This year was the first year I got to work with some amazing companies and artists on commercial projects that featured animals. They included Canada Pooch, Deadmau5 and the City of Toronto. I have so enjoyed this work!
4. I appeared on Animal House Calls with Ann Rohmer! That was a nerve-racking experience, but we seemed to have survived, and it was wonderful to highlight the available animals at TAS.
5. As you may remember, Posh Pets joined the Beautiful Beasties Project 52 in March 2011 and we continued the Friday posts throughout 2012. The little group seems to be constantly growing as others have heard about it and I know that I look forward to the new themes and seeing how each of us interpret it. If you have not been following along, visit this blog every Friday and see what all of the fuss is about!
6. I got published this year! Posh Pets Photography was featured on the Hair of the Dog, and The Daily Dog Tag blogs.
7. I spent the year photographing the adoptables at Toronto Animal Services – North Region. In all, there were 359 furry faces photographed – lots of dogs, even more cats, as well as a couple of birds, 2 guinea pigs, a pair of bunnies and a hamster. Looking back, it makes me smile to see that we started the year photographing Maestro (a brown tabby) and ended with and image of Ginny (also a brown tabby) – symmetry is good. I am also so happy to say that 343 of those guys have found their homes. As always, if you are thinking of getting a pet, please consider adoption!
8. Sadly, we said good-bye to our boy Ripley in May of 2012. I will never forget him and his photos still make me cry for our loss. But, I knew deep-down that we would not be a one-cat-home forever. And, so it was. In November, Dean, myself and Lady Jane added Baxter Huntington to our family, who has turned out to be the most wonderful kitty we could ever ask for. He will never replace Ripley, but I think Ripley would approve.
So, those are the highlights of 2012! Were there some things you missed? Then, join us and sign up for free e-mail updates in the box below!
For 2013, we have some exciting things planned…and tomorrow, I am going to tell you all about them. In the meantime, go out and enjoy that snow that has finally made it to Toronto…!
