Dec 11, 2014
I’ve been saving this post for some time. It actually took place earlier this year as we were in the depths of last Winter, but as I went through scheduling posts, I wasn’t sure anyone would want to see pictures of snow in the middle of July! Especially given that Summer never really started here in Toronto this year. Washburn was just too special to not have him appropriately introduced to you all.
Washburn is important to me because he shows the results of some of my volunteer work. I first met him when he was a wide-eyed adoptable at Toronto Animal Services and I photographed him in the hopes of him finding a really wonderful family to call his own. I’m so happy to now know that he did! Sarah, his ‘mom’ reached out to me when she found his original adoptable image on this blog and an e-mail conversation ensued. She told me all about how Washburn was now doing and sent me wonderful updated pictures of him. You can only imagine how thrilled I was to learn that I would have the opportunity to meet Washburn again because Sarah booked a Posh Pets Boutique Session! Arrangements were made, a date was set and we got to spend a couple of hours together on a sunny, yet crisp, winter morning in Toronto, capturing Washburn’s lovely personality and happy home with his new family.
We started our session with a majestic pose that showed off his stylish collar and harness – Washburn is a very fashionable gentleman,you know. I love looking at this image and all of that golden morning light behind him.
It was important to get some portraits of Washburn with his new forever family. Washburn’s life is wonderful and he is a far cry from being a little adoptable at the shelter. Truthfully, he has changed his Mom and Dad’s lives as much as they have changed his. And just look at his little raised paw!
No Posh Pets Session would be complete without some running and being silly! That stick was bigger and heavier than Washburn, but he insisted on bringing it with us the entire way. It made navigating narrow spaces a little more difficult, but no less fun.
Of course, if you have snow, you need to dance! Washburn was happy to show off some of his signature ‘moves’…
We finished the morning with some other locations and were able to capture this beautiful portrait of the little man.
Washburn, I wish you so much love and happiness in your new life – you deserve it. Your Mom and Dad love you so much and will take the best care of you. And I know you will keep them laughing and smiling every day. Live life well, my dear boy.
Looking for a winter session of your own for your furry face or as a gift for someone you know? Your first step is here.
Nov 26, 2014
Phew! It has been a rather busy Fall in Posh Pets land – so many cute, wiggly, furry dog faces to meet and photograph. And we had some of the most beautiful scenery to create portraits in with what was a gorgeous Autumn in Toronto. I cannot wait to share all of these sessions with you! (Hopefully, the imagery will keep us positive as we face another winter in Southern Ontario.)
In the midst of all of this, I also had a couple of days to catch my breath and spend some time with the amazing Barbara Breitsameter of Poppyblue Photography. If you are not familiar with Barb’s work, you should definitely go right now and check it out! Barb is a Certified Professional Photographer, a Platinum Photographer of the Year for both 2013 and 2014, and a platform speaker for Imaging USA (National Convention). However, even with all of those accolades, she is an amazing, warm, down-to-earth, humble person who is more than happy to share her knowledge with those willing to learn. I felt so privileged to have the opportunity to mentor with her. Barb, thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart!
So, you are probably wondering what did we do? Well, I have good news! I have finally finished editing some of the images we created together and am ready to share them here on the Posh Pets blog.
First of all, here is one of Barb’s own dogs, Fern. Fern is a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy…gorgeous from head to toe. She had been at the vet for a small procedure just the day before I met her, so I expected a quiet, dopey puppy. Nothing could be further from the truth! Fern wagged her tail and strained to greet me. By the second day, she was my awesome model.
The great thing about a mentoring session is the opportunity to go beyond your comfort level and try new things. In this case, I wanted to master studio photography. Knowing that Barb has won awards for her studio work, I was keen to get inside her brain and learn everything I could. Barb lined up some amazing models for me to photograph and guided me in the lighting. It was a great chance to experiment with so many pieces of equipment. Of course, I spent a good amount of time simply snuggling with the models 🙂
Two of the most perfect, roly-poly, frenchies (french bulldogs) I have ever laid eyes on! I literally squealed with delight when they walked up to the studio!
And then we had four of the most gorgeous basset hounds to photograph! They arrived in their very own, professionally wrapped vehicle…these guys are celebrities on the show circuit!
We also did some outside photography which is definitely my forte. Again, these two snuggle-bums!
And then Summer…she became our model after a rather serendipitous stop at the local veterinarian. Her Dad was so gracious to give us the opportunity to work with a lovely golden retriever puppy!
Last, but not least, I really have to thank Barb a ton for this last image. It seems appropriate that one of the last photographs a pet photographer from Canada could take was a dog holding a maple leaf. Not only did Barb help me by setting this up, she showed me how she would edit it. The result is simply stunning!
Thanks for following along on this little pet photographer’s adventure. I am always so happy to be able to learn new things and then incorporate them into my business and client sessions. If you are thinking of a Winter or Spring session for your furry face, now would be the time to set this up. In fact, given how busy this Fall was, if you really have your heart set on capturing the colours of next year’s Autumn, contact me and we can get you on the books NOW. Your first step is to contact me here. I so look forward to meeting you and your furry family members!
Oct 28, 2014
Pet photography is alive and well in Toronto these past few weeks! With all of the trees showing their best fall colours, we at Posh Pets have been busy as little beavers meeting lots of furry faces for their sessions. Even with the flurry of activity, we cannot forget about all of the lovely animals waiting for forever homes at Toronto Animal Services. It is such a pleasure each week to hand out treats and nice cuddles and belly rubs to the new dogs and cats I meet.
A lot of the animals in the following images are not quite ready for adoption. There are still some health-checks to be done and sometimes they have to be scheduled for their spay or neuter. But, if you are looking for a new family member, keep a close eye on the TAS website where their photo will be posted as soon as they become available. Rest assured, they are all lovely and would love to meet you just as soon as they can!
One other thing…if you adopted your pet from TAS – North, we would love to hear about it. Head over to the Posh Pets’ Facebook page and send us an update and/or a photo or two. Happy endings are just awesome!
Oct 17, 2014
Fall is always the busiest season at Posh Pets. I love the change of the colours, the crisp autumn air and the lovely furry faces I get to meet (and their humans, of course). But, I still make time for all of the little adoptables at Toronto Animal Services. After all, Fall is also a great time to find a forever home!
So, here is this week’s group of eager boys and girls all waiting to meet you. Contact the North Shelter to get more details and arrange a meeting. And even if you are not currently looking for a new family member, make sure to show these guys some love by sharing their lovely little faces…I am sure that there is a ‘somebody’ out there for each and every one of them!
Oct 1, 2014
Welcome to October! And, if you haven’t heard, October 1st is National Black Dog Day. Why a day celebrating black dogs? Well, it seems that there are those who feel that dark coloured furry faces are not as beautiful or friendly as their light-coloured counterparts. But, we at Posh Pets know nothing could be further from the truth!
It seems appropriate then to share these lovely images of the gorgeous and aptly-named Cinder. She lives in Yellowknife, NWT, so she is an ‘arctic dog’. She also has the head tilt down pat and it does indeed render the humans powerless.
Cinder is a fun-loving girl who wants nothing more to than to run and play with you. She is quite young, so she is still learning all of her manners, but she definitely knows her commands (both verbal and hands) and will win you over with her gorgeous smile.
Throw a stick and Cinder will always bring it back. And look at the beautiful backdrop she has to explore! This is one happy dog!
At the end of it all, Cinder will always be happy to pose for you!
So get out there and enjoy the outdoors with whatever colour your furry face is! And if you know any dark-coloured beauties, give them a hug 🙂
Sep 13, 2014
It’s been a wee bit busy here at Posh Pets, but I have finally had a chance to gather up the rest of the images from the SwissRidge Doodle Romp held on Saturday, August 23, 2014. This is Part II, but if you missed Part I, you can find that here.
A gathering of lots of doodles is quite possibly the best dream a pet photographer can have. I loved meeting all of the beautiful furry faces and getting to know their individual personalities. So, to start with, here is a quiet beauty that I missed posting last time. Such an adorable face!
There were tons of activities for humans and dogs at the Doodle Romp. One of these was a fenced in leash-free area. Talk about unbridled joy as dogs became acquainted with each other and then did what they do best – PLAY!
First you have to learn to figure out which way your friend is going to deke… (hint: the little ones are usually faster!)
Then begins the chase…
And then the wrestling and playing.
It’s fun when you know that you are out in front. I believe this is Bentley, who can hardly conceal his happiness!
Told you Bentley is one happy dog!
Little George was having a grand old time, and held his own although one of the smallest there!
I’d say everyone had a really good time (even if they needed a bath at the end!).
Please let me know if you know the names of all of these lovely guys and girls – I’d love to update the post.
Sep 10, 2014
Every week, I meet a new group of furry faces looking for homes. I often wonder: how did these little loves end up in a shelter? Abandoned, unwanted, with no place to go. And yet, they have such a forgiving spirit and are usually more than happy to meet me, thankful for the few moments of pets, cuddles and belly rubs. (If you want some free ‘therapy’ when you’re having a blue day, volunteer at a shelter and you could spend an hour doling about belly rubs.)
If you want to visit the following group in particular, please contact TAS – North directly. They’ll be able to give you all of the details!
This week is no exception. These first two are a bonded pair, Molly and Riley. It is always a little more challenging to photograph a pair of dogs, but I think these two did just fine!
For those of you who aren’t sure if there are any puppies in the shelter system, here’s proof that the cute and little are available. This is Bane and, by the time you read this, he is probably already adopted 🙂
And then we have our lovely feline furry faces. This trio are all in the cat pod which means they get along with other kitties and are lovely, cuddly ones. Puchi, Buck and Gerard are all waiting to meet you and purr their way into your heart.
Sep 5, 2014
“Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog.” – Sydney Jeanne Seward
I loved this dog.
It has taken me a while to write this post. A week to be exact. Seven days. Almost 168 hours since we’ve said good-bye. And I still can’t believe that MacLeod is gone. Because he didn’t live with us – he belonged to my family – it is still easy for me to imagine him snoring loudly in his sleep at my sister’s or parent’s place. At 15 years of age, he did do a lot of sleeping. And snoring.
But, it wasn’t always that way. MacLeod and his sister, Anthea, came to our family when they were both wiggly, little shih tzu puppies, both from the same litter. Like any puppy out there, they were both unbelievably cute. And although I loved Anthea and her love of exploration, it was MacLeod that was my favourite.
MacLeod, aka Mackie, Big Mac, Maxster, Mister Magoo, was a character. He was your everyman’s dog. He had no airs about him, took you at your word and had a ‘what-you-see-is-what-you-get’ way about him. He loved people, playing, balls and getting dirty. All the while being gorgeous.
Somehow, over the years, I had become “Auntie Karen” to MacLeod. When he would hear those two words, he would get beside himself with excitement, whining and crying in anticipation. So much so, my family would not tell him I was coming to visit until I was less than 10 minutes away. When I would finally arrive, he would be there, ready to greet me at the door. And then, he would look up at me, turn his mouth up at the corners and give me an honest-to-goodness ‘grin’. After the initial fuss, he would turn his attention to my belongings and go through my bags in hopes of finding a treat, a new ball or something else wonderful that he was sure I had brought for him. And, when I finally settled in a chair to rest, there he would be – climbing on my lap and resting on my leg.
Time, of course, marches on. To see him get older, and less playful was hard. But when he got sick, I was heartbroken. My friend wasn’t the same. Getting up to greet me was difficult – laying back down was harder. There was no more joy in the thought of playing with a ball. And no more grin.
And so last week, my sister made the decision that the time had come to let MacLeod go. And we gathered, as we have for all our family’s pets, to say our good-byes. I had promised him I would be there when the time came, and I made good on that promise by holding his paw gently as he found peace.
While it is still hard to believe he is gone, I am so happy he came into our lives and that he allowed us to share him for a little while. Thank you Mackie. Please know we will miss you always.
I loved this dog. I still do.
Aug 28, 2014
It would appear that this is the week that Summer decided to make its appearance in the land of Posh Pets (Toronto). Up until now, we have had an unseasonably cool summer. But not this week – lots of temperatures in the 30s with humidex levels in the 40s. I think it took some of us by surprise. It’s also a good time to remind everyone – leaving a dog or any pet in a locked car for even ‘a few minutes’ can be deadly. Try waiting for a friend in your car without the doors open or the air-conditioning blowing and you’ll see what I mean. Keep those precious furry faces safe! We did however, have a chance to have the dogs outside at TAS (in the shade) and take some lovely portraits. And the kitties make an appearance this week too – camp is over and we have use of the Cat Pod back where the cats roam and interact with each other. So nice to see you guys again! These guys and girls are all available from Toronto Animal Services – North. If you would like to meet one of them, give TAS a call and they will set up a meet-and-greet for the both of you. Enjoy your last week of summer! 
Aug 26, 2014
What did you do this weekend? Us? So glad you asked! Our weekend at Posh Pets was pretty awesome! We had the chance to attend SwissRidge Kennels 2nd Annual Doodle Romp in Schomberg, Ontario and it was a blast! Each year, the SwissRidge Kennels family gets together and raises money for a worthy cause – this year it was to help two young boys raise funds for a service dog. You can read all about Ciaran and Shay here.
The skies threatened rain, but these events happen rain or shine! So, although the day started out overcast, neither the dogs or humans seemed to mind. There was lots of meet and greets at what is essentially, a large family reunion. Here’s the first part of our summary…!
To start off, let me introduce Blizzard (on the left) and Zolo (on the right). Zolo is a former client of mine and these two dogs are the furry kids of the hard-working event organizer, Karley Gitten of Gitten Creative. I loved seeing them again!
More guests arriving for the start of Doodle Romp. The grounds here are spectacular and the event was designed for fun for both human and dog. There was a treasure hunt, contests, food and awesome vendors.
I’m afraid I have forgotten the name of this little one – but you sure were cute! (Update: This is Finn! Finn’s mum reached out to me and let me know the name of her gorgeous boy!)
This is Motley and he reminded me of how much our world has changed. You see, I have never met Motley in person, but I already knew quite a bit about him. Such are the results of the social media world we live in. It was great to finally shake paws.
It’s hard to resist the allure of a puppy and Jax certainly delivered. All 12 weeks of him!
George was such a character and came all the way from New Jersey to attend the event. He’s young and still learning, but he it’s obvious he knows how to work the camera!
Cash was a gentleman and looks like a miniature golden retriever. He really is a labradoodle (and a good-looking one too!), and I absolutely adore his look!
This is Blizzard, Zolo’s brother. I photographed Zolo before Blizzard arrived, so this was our first meeting. Blizzard certainly had LOTS of fun and, although no longer freshly groomed, was a stunning boy!
Another one of Jax. Just because… 🙂
Here’s another beauty whose name escapes me! Such a clean, white coat! (Edit: I am told that this lovely furry face is Bailey. How DO you keep your coat sooo clean?)
And this is Ollie. This boy is training to be a service dog. Given his lovely personality, I have no doubt he will be a hero!
So, there you have it! Some of the furry faces I met on Saturday. Share the images and if anyone can identify the dogs I missed the names of, please let me know! And…stay tuned for Part II!
Aug 22, 2014
This week, it was just Posh Pets at the shelter. The TAS campers have gone home this week – it is the end of summer after all – but the shelter seems full of dogs of all shapes and sizes. And such sweet, sweet faces. If you are looking to add a furry someone to your home, you can definitely do well at a shelter! Contrary to some opinions, shelter pets these are not all ‘damaged’ dogs with behaviour problems, health issues or restrictions with who they can live. For the most part, they are happy, bouncy, full-of-love furry faces just looking for a special person or family to spend their years with. (Of course, if those types of issues do exist, the staff will be the first to let you know.)
So, here is this week’s group. Contact TAS – North Shelter directly for more info!
Aug 16, 2014
The Posh Pets‘ week always starts right by a visit to Toronto Animal Services to photograph the adoptable furry faces available for adoption. But, let’s start your weekend right and have a look at some the lovelies we met!
Monday was probably the nicest day we had this past week (in terms of weather). The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the dogs were enjoying their time outside playing and learning from a whole new group of campers who are currently learning to care for dogs at TAS. I love meeting the kids who are eager to show me how they can get a dog to ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ on command…although we do sometimes have some laughs when things don’t go exactly as planned. But, not to fear – there is always a camp counsellor or TAS staff member nearby to lend a hand!
So, there you have it! Enjoy this week’s of adorable, adoptable faces! (And feel free to share them around too!)
