Jul 14, 2015
Posh Pets clients are truly dedicated to getting beautiful images. I think
Afarin’s first words to me were, “I’d really like to have a photography session amongst the cherry blossoms in High Park.” At least those were the first words I completely processed and, with them, two things crossed my mind: One, the trees were already in full bloom which meant we had a total of about 48 hours to still catch them at their peak. And, two, the park is completely crawling with people that time of year because they too, want to see the blooms at peak. So, getting images without hordes of people in the background can be a formidable challenge.
I took a deep breath and asked her if she was serious. Yes. Yes, she was.
So, we went into super-hero mode and planned the entire session right at that moment (a 7-month old Chow puppy and a 7-year old toy Pomeranian), ensured that we could both move a few prior commitments around and agreed to meet at 6:45 a.m. the following morning. Starting a session at that time of the morning sounds a bit crazy, but it meant that there were less people (although surprisingly, there were quite a few). And, the light was gorgeous.
That morning I met Bijou and Yoshi and fell in love instantly. Don’t let the size of a toy pomeranian fool you – Bijou is quite firmly the ‘girl boss’ of this duo. Yoshi may be 10 times her size and full of drooling, puppy silliness, but Bijou was always waiting patiently for him to realize that photography sessions are serious business. She came dressed in pearls and there was no way she was going home without beautiful images. I’m very happy to say that that is exactly what Bijou got. Here’s a sampling of the some of the images we created that morning…
We got a family portrait (or two or three)…
No trip to High Park is complete without photograph by the Magnolia tree. With the little princess herself, of course.
High Park has tons of locations to explore, but this was special to Afarin. That amazing golden morning light is only available to those who wake up early.
A couple of formal portraits of the babies themselves.
And together:
We were literally stopped everywhere we went because of this good-looking brother and sister pair…
And finally, we ended up in front of one of the most iconic skylines in the world.
I loved this session and how it came together! And Afarin was thrilled (you can read her review here).
A custom-designed session is what Posh Pets is all about. Taking the time to plan means creating images that are meaningful to you and truly capture the memories of you and your pets. If you are interested in having your own session, I’d love to hear from you.
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 ensure you select 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.
Jul 6, 2015
Well, Posh Pets is baaaack! It has been such a long time since I have been to TAS – they were closed for renovations and all of the furry faces had to be housed at other locations. However, it was definitely worth it. The staff and dogs and cats all of have air conditioning now! Given how hot it was today, they are certainly happy to have a new HVAC system in place. And, so am I.
In other ways, it’s almost like I never left. Lots of fresh, smiling faces looking for a forever home and waiting to jump into your heart. I had quite a few of these boys and girls refuse my treats in favour of climbing up to shower me with kisses. It never ceases to amaze me how animals can be so forgiving of humans – even if they have been treated horribly or abandoned.
If you see someone you would like to meet, please contact Toronto Animal Services – North Shelter directly. They’ll be happy to arrange an introduction.
Jun 9, 2015
If you have been wondering why things have been a little quiet around Posh Pets lately, it is because I have been travelling in Eastern Europe! Bulgaria, to be exact. Now, it might seem a little off the beaten path, but the country is surprising accessible by major airlines. It also boasts membership in the European Union, but has not adopted the Euro, so travel is fairly safe, easy and inexpensive.
Our first stop was in the south, almost at the Greek border. We took a drive up to Kovachevitsa in the Pirin Mountains which was a breathtaking route.
The tiny village of Kovachevitsa is a place where time seems to have stood still. So much so, that I am told that the village is used as a backdrop for movies when they need a authentic balkan experience.
Tons of tiny streets and alleyways to explore…
But, you know my first love are the animals and I had the pleasure of meeting lots! Almost immediately, this sweetheart greeted us.
And not far off was this little one, peeking at me from under a car.
This beautiful boy commanded my attention! He thought I was quite a curiosity with my camera and strange noises. And when he had figured me out, he walked off gracefully…
A friendly little kitty followed us around while we explored the winding paths and ‘streets’ of the village.
However, this beautiful, BIG boy was the most outgoing of them all. He really was quite large – he easily matched me in weight and size. And he was a ‘leaner’ too. If you reached down to pat him, he nearly pushed you over with his big furry self. Just wanted to lovins’.
This is ‘his’ tavern (the translation of the word MEXAHA) and I could believe it when he was willing to pose beside the sign.
Sometimes, though, you have to look down and see the wee ones of the world. This tiny snail actually lifted his head and struck a pose for my camera – I guess he thought this was his moment of fame!
There’s much more to show and tell from our trip! I’ll keep sharing as I manage to process some of the photographs (I’m writing this post from an airport right now), so stay tuned…
May 6, 2015
This post is going to be HUGE. It is the third, and final, instalment of the Pampered Pooches festival and all of us at Posh Pets were thrilled to meet all of you! If you missed them, you can find Part 1 and Part 2 here.
With this many dogs, names are hard to remember. If you would like me to mention your dog’s name, please let me know in the comments below and I will update the post.
So, with without further ado, here are the rest of the cuties we met…
The sun came out in the afternoon and the dogs loved basking in the sun.
So many soulful, sweet faces!
A gorgeous greyhound!
This little girl was eager to please.
This duo were getting lots of attention wherever they went.
Nothing like a little white dog!
And a sweet poodle girl.
A little terrier with bows in her hair.
Everytime I look at this face, I smile. Samson, you are one cute pooch!
A little scruff nut came to visit.
As did a gorgeous malmute.
A happy Boston!
Tongues were out and smiles were big.
What a cutie!
A little more serious pose. I think he was worried that I might not hand the treat over 🙂
Such soft, clean hair. Not easy when you are white!
This little poodle had the most beautiful coloured coat.
Another dachshund…
Then the puppies came along…this frenchie was sooooo cute.
A beagle with soulful eyes…
A happy beagle boy!
Such a mournful look. Don’t worry…there are more treats.
Even in the chaos, you can still get a head tilt.
This little guy was just happy to be here.
Another frenchie puppy with the most awesome colouring…
Busy figuring out what else was coming…
There were lots of Bostons that came out.
Okay lady, take my picture.
I tell really good jokes 🙂
This fluffy GSD puppy named Dino came to visit us. Those little tufts of hair are just wonderful!
A sleepy customer…
Puppy. What more can I say?
And a wrinkled little brow. Just makes you want to cuddle them, doesn’t it?
Someone looks like they just got groomed for the event! One regal looking schnauzer…
A little shih tzu named Oreo who also looks like he had just gone to the salon…
Well, this guy let me know what he thought of everything!
Whew! I think I got everyone! Again, THANK YOU for coming out and helping to make Pampered Pooches a great success!
May 4, 2015
Welcome to Part 2 of the Posh Pets Pampered Pooches wrap up which happened on Saturday! If you missed it, you can find Part 1 here.
Again, I am unsure of many of the names, so if you know these doggies, please leave a comment below and let me know their details (of course, let me know which picture you are talking about). I’ll be monitoring the comments and will definitely edit the post with names as I receive them.
As anyone knows, wherever there are large crowds of people gathered it is important to have good security. Well, Pampered Pooches had some of the cutest security around for the day. His name is Sneakers and he belongs to Kristen of TheDen Toronto. (They have some of the coolest workshops around – design and make your own wedding rings, anyone?) Here you can see Sneakers ‘on patrol’, checking out the booths as we were setting up in the morning.
He also came to the Posh Pets booth to ensure our water and treats were good. I am happy to say we got a ‘Pass‘!
I’m thinking of renaming this post to “dogs-in-arms”, simply because there were a lot of furry faces being carried around. Finding yourself in a sea of legs can be overwhelming when your little. But, when you have an awesome human who is willing to scoop you up, it is oh-so-good.
This one could be a model – she has the gaze just right!
Happiness written all over this girls face!
This little one is Penny and she is a gorgeous Cavalier King Charles puppy. If I could have distracted her human long enough, I would have tucked her in my bag…
A frenchie puppy is always a good thing.
A little senior chihuahua – love the grizzled faces!
Could I be any happier?
Look at those ears!
At first glance, Zona appears to be big enough to walk on her own four feet.
But, given half the chance, she too is happy to be picked up and cuddled. She even shows her appreciation by showering you with kisses! Here she sneaks in a few with her dog walker Katherine, who runs the awesome Katie & Co. If you live in the Toronto area and need a dog walker, check out her website for more info.
These two opted for the stroller and had quite a bit to say about it!
Their sister, on the other hand, likes to be personally carried. She deserves it – after all, she is a bit of a celebrity, and her next star turn I am told, is the role of Toto in the Toronto production of The Wizard of Oz.
Max is 3-year old beautiful boy who has helped so many others with his work as a therapy dog. Unfortunately, he is facing some health issues of his own, so it was easier for him to enjoy the festival from the vantage point of his pram.
This little dude was quite happy to walk, strutting about and showing off his brand new striped harness. He had just received it and boy, did he look good!
And sometimes, even if you don’t need to be picked up, it is just enough to know that your human is near by.
There are still more furry faces to go. Stay tuned here and we’ll be posting Part 3 soon!
May 3, 2015
We had an absolute blast at the Pampered Pooches dog festival yesterday! THANK YOU to all of the lovely furry faces who came and visited the Posh Pets booth and for those who graciously turned on those smiles for my camera. What’s more, we had an absolutely gorgeous day of perfect weather!
We photographed a lot of doggies, so this is Part 1 of the pooches we met. I’ll also be sharing some of these images on the Posh Pets Instagram account. Now…I do not remember the names of all of these charming guys and gals, so if you see someone you recognize, please leave a comment below and let me know their name (of course, let me know which picture you are talking about). I’ll be monitoring the comments and will definitely edit the post with names as I receive them.
One of our first visitors of the morning was a bit of a celebrity. This is Tiffany the pom who is known for her purple hair and her style. She’s also a darling sweetheart.
This little black beauty posed with her front paw raised.
A gorgeous husky with a winning smile!
We were thrilled to have Emily and Bachaesh visit our booth! Emily runs an amazing dog-centric blog called Give a Dog a Bone. If you are looking to find out the latest in all things canine, you should follow her blog!
Those eyes! That smile!
A mini-schnauzer with a perfect pair of blue shoes.
The first of a parade of little white doggies was Jinx, looking dapper in his cute striped shirt. Rescued from an uncertain future, he is now very much loved.
Jinx was with his sister Angel who was sporting a tutu (which you can just barely see). On her back, it reads: rescued and spoiled. I love happy endings.
An intense gaze…on the treat I was holding!
This darling lost her left eye quite recently. But, she hasn’t let it slow her down!
This little guy just made me want to pick him up and give him a cuddle.
This pug was willing to work the camera for food.
A shy little sweetheart.
A curious little fellow.
Some of the little ones preferred to be carried around. These two chihuahuas were more than happy to meet people – and it is much easier when you are raised up off of the ground!
More little white dogs than I could count were walking around all day.
Our first long-dog of the morning…
Dexter, Kimchi and Dudley paid us a visit – so much corgi cuteness in one photograph!
The doxies were out in full-force during the festival!
Harley, the little rottie puppy has got the human-paralyzing head-tilt down pat already.
Nothing like the smile of a golden girl!
Fuzzy and Furby came prepared for the gorgeous weather with their own sun visors. These two have personality to spare!
Thanks again to all of those who came out! Make sure to share this post far and wide so we can ensure that all of the little doggies see their images. And stay tuned to this blog – we’ll be posting Part 2 soon!
Apr 29, 2015
If you haven’t already done so, mark your calendar for this Saturday, May 2, 2015 and make sure to get yourself down to Liberty Village, Toronto. Why? It’s the first annual Pampered Pooches festival, of course! Posh Pets is going to be there along with other awesome vendors featuring everything to make your pooch feel like the pampered one. This is a dog-friendly event. It’s free. And, the weather is forecast to be gorgeous! So, what more are you waiting for?
Please come by the Posh Pets booth where we will have some treats for you and the furry faces – we can’t wait to meet you!
PS: Stay tuned to this blog as we’ll be taking as many photographs of the event as we can…you might find yourself in an image or two 🙂
Mar 18, 2015
I have to be honest, I let out a little squeal after Moses’ mom booked his Posh Pets session. Not only did it sound like he was a superstar, but his mom was more than happy to get up early (and I mean really early) for our session so as to catch the early morning light. On a Sunday, no less. Sometimes, you just know that a session is going to be epic.
Moses, a gorgeous border collie, makes his home in Whitby along the water. We decided during his pre-session design consultation that we would photograph him in his favourite park and beach. It took some doing, but we figured out where we had to be and at what time to take advantage of the first rays of the sun above the horizon. And when we got there, as I had been promised, Moses knew how to pose like a star.
We then headed down to Moses’ beach. The early morning sun along with the spectacular colours of fall made for a stunning backdrop.
Border collies are a high-energy breed, so Moses just had to show me he knew how to run.
At the end of the beach, these maple trees were putting on a full display. (This hangs as a large art piece on his mom’s wall now.)
Now, this is where I have to tell you an intersting little story…like a lot of pets in the world, Moses has a nickname. His proper name may be Moses, but over time he has acquired the nickname Momo. The thing is, you may have heard of another, more famous, border collie named Momo. Also known as “the hiding border collie”, he is an internet sensation and the muse of photographer Andrew Knapp who runs a blog called Find Momo that is – you guessed it – filled with awesome images of his Momo. The twist is that Momo is “hiding” in the photographs and it is your job to see if you can spot him. I can say from personal experience, it can sometimes take a great deal of time to find him! Well, here I was with a border collie named Momo on a glorious morning…we couldn’t let the opportunity pass. So here is our own tribute to Moses’ more famous namesake. Can you find him? Hope we make the real Momo proud!
Back in his park, Moses posed for another set of portraits showing off his winning smile!
After getting up early for a full morning of running, posing and fun, that afternoon I was sent a picture of a sleeping Moses. Apparently he passed out soon after getting home – I guess modelling is hard work. But, the images were worth it…
You know, I would love to meet your furry face in the wee hours of the morning! If that sounds like your kind of session, contact me here. Of course, if you would rather sleep in and book an afternoon session, that is fine too 🙂
Mar 11, 2015
What is a Posh Pets Heritage Session, you ask? Simply put, it a unique session where we take whatever time is needed to celebrate the life of a special dog. No one likes to think about it too much, but the reality is that we will often outlive our pets. And when the time comes to say good-bye, photographs can often be the way to forever capture the memories we hold dear.
Magic was a good dog. He had been diagnosed with cancer and his people knew that their time with him was short. In fact, when we initially spoke, they were not sure if we had enough time to schedule a Session. I assured them that I would make it happen. A couple of days later, on a bright Sunday morning, we set out to create incredible memories.
I’m always amazed at how animals just know. In these situations, when I first arrive, I want to take the time to see how the pet is feeling. We want to work at their pace, taking into account their limitations. And yet, each time, the pet always rises to the occasion, as if they want to give this last gift to their people. Magic was no different. We spent time creating images both inside and outside their home and then a final last walk in his favourite park.
As our Session came to a close, I hugged Magic, kissed him and said my good-bye, knowing we would not meet again. He was gone some 24 hours later, surrounded by the people he loved so much.
Of course, our Ordering Session was an emotional one. We cried. We hugged. But, in the end, Magic’s family chose two gorgeous Folio Boxes filled with memories of their special boy, and lovely pieces of Wall Art.
POSH PETS HERITAGE™ SESSIONS
Celebrating the life, love and legacy of your pet.™
- High-priority sessions reserved for pets that become ill or are simply elderly. We make every effort to schedule these on short notice.
- An opportunity to take time out of your busy schedule to spend some quality time togehter, celebrate the life you have shared and create images you will treasure forever.
- 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 Heritage™ Sessions can be found here.
Mar 4, 2015
In case you haven’t heard, let me tell you: it has been COLD in Posh Pets land! For most of this year, I have watched heavily-bundled people and lot of bundled up dogs too, go for their daily walk. You can always tell the dogs who would rather be sitting at home, cuddled up on a couch – the slow gait, combined with the frequent stopping and looking up at their human tell me that they are only going for a walk because they think their people need it. However, they are dogs that simply love the snow and cold and cannot wait to get out and have some fun! And, my furry little client, Chubusz (pronounced Chub-oosh), is such a dog.
During our Pre-Session Consultation, Chubusz’ mom shared with me how much he loved the snow and cooler weather. In fact, Summer, with its accompanying heat, rendered Chubusz and almost exclusively indoor dog. So, it made absolute sense that we plan a Winter session.
We started our time together at his gorgeous home where Chubusz showed me all of his favourite ‘spots’. He loves the couch, but where he looks most regal is right here – on the rug in front of the fire place.
After posing like a model (and receiving lots of treats as payment), we all headed outside into the snow! This boy showed me how much he loved to run. And run. And run. Finding a stick to run with, was just the icing on the cake.
We ended up with a snow-covered muzzle and lots of smiles.
Finally, once the humans were cold, we ended up back home where Chubusz settled in for a nice, long sleep…
Chubusz was such a gentleman and an absolute joy to photograph. The weather was perfect, the snow clean and white and the images we created…beautiful! Chubusz’ family now has gorgeous art work to treasure forever.
Are you looking to capture the joy of Winter with your furry face? Contact me here.
Feb 25, 2015
I have a little Posh Pets secret to tell…I love photographing multiple-dog families. There is something about the energy that they bring to a session that is infectious. A dog will always show his or her true self when surrounded by their furry buddies and it is a lovely challenge to capture that for their humans. Family sessions can be high-energy, tiring fun for all involved (I’ve always considered it a successful session when I receive an e-mail or text from the humans indicating that all of the furry faces slept well on the ride back home…), but it creates amazing images!
So, of course, I was thrilled when I found out that I would be meeting Murphy, Parker and Wally. Murphy is a boxer and Parker a boxer puppy. And then there is the awesome Wally, a petit dachshund who, despite the challenges of having much shorter legs, valiantly strives to keep up with his sisters. During our pre-session consultation, we chose a great location full of possibilities and set an early morning date to go have some fun! I am so excited to share some of those images with you today on the Posh Pets blog…
To begin with, here is the image that mom and dad really wanted, but were not sure we could create – all 3 furry faces in a portrait together. It’s safe to say that when they saw the first proofs from their Session, they were so excited to choose this one to enlarge for their wall at home. Once printed BIG, it is truly stunning!
We got some gorgeous single portraits amongst the splendor that is Autumn in Canada. Look at that yummy back-light!
And we played on the beach and in the water, as everyone was up for it. (This is always an option during a Posh Pets Boutique Session. But it is not a requirement. If your dogs don’t enjoy water, we definitely don’t need to go in. It something we discuss during the pre-session consultation.) This results in happy, but dirty doggies!
Finding a stick to share was just a bonus!
And finally, another beautiful family portrait…
In the end, Murphy, Parker and Wally have a beautiful Folio Box full of gorgeous fine art matted prints and stunning wall art to call their own. I have it on good authority, that they are rather pleased. 🙂
Thinking of a session for your furry family? Your first step is to contact me here.
Jan 13, 2015
As a dog photographer, it comes as no surprise to anyone that I love dogs of all shapes and sizes. In case you haven’t noticed, Toronto and the GTA are full of dogs! I see them them everywhere – at dog events, riding in cars, pet stores and on the streets and in the parks. Walking down the street, I am that person who will always stop to ask if I can pet your dog. But given the number of pets in Ontario, I realize that I only get to know a relatively few number. Which is why, I am always so thrilled when someone chooses me to create beautiful images of their furry face. Not only do Posh Pets clients get something they love – custom art work that centres celebrates their pet – but I get to spend time getting all up close and personal with another awesome dog. With my camera, an arsenal of lenses, a few treats and the ability to make ridiculous sounds, we always end up being the best of friends!
I initially met Monty and his mom at a DoodleRomp. I can’t tell you how happy I was when his Mom contacted me and I learned that I was going to have the supreme pleasure of photographing her gorgeous boy. We designed a session that featured images of Monty’s favourite places to hike as well as a few in his backyard. Monty did not disappoint – he showed his skills and enthusiasm for climbing up and down tree logs, over the crest of hills and down into river beds, over bridges and through tree trunks, all the while working the camera with his beautiful smile. His gallery was stunning and made it terribly difficult to choose the final images. But, we did it! Today, these portraits are hanging as framed prints in Monty’s home, where he can be admired by many.
Monty, thank you for inviting me on your hike! It was such a pleasure to get to know you and most importantly, see how much you are loved. Be good, my boy…and try and keep those white paws clean!
