Feb 27, 2013
I was back at Toronto Animal Services – North on Monday and the weather was definitely milder! Which was a nice change from the previous week. Photographing some other wonderful wagging tails and furry faces is always a highlight of my week.
This little troupe is available from TAS – North, so please contact them directly to inquire about them. As always, there is some information such as ID number and other little details on the Posh Pets’ Facebook page. Enjoy and see you next week!
Feb 22, 2013
Having been away for a week of vacation seemed like a long time. So, I walked into the shelter this week to find that there were a few more dogs than usual to photograph. Not only that, but it was freezing outside, so we had to be quick!
There are some beautiful furry faces this week and I am sharing all of their lovely faces here. If you see someone you like, please contact Toronto Animal Services – North directly. There is an off-site adopt-a-thon this weekend, so it would be good to call ahead and see where the particular dog or cat you are interested in will be. That way, there is no disappointment 🙂
I also have posted a few details about each of these adoptables on the Posh Pets’ facebook page. Check that out here.
So, here we go!
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 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 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 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…!
Dec 26, 2012
This week had quite a variety – 4 dogs, 2 cats, a hamster, a rabbit and a bird! They are all available from Toronto Animal Services (North), so contact them to arrange a meet-and-greet. There is more information on the TAS website as well as the Posh Pets’ Facebook page…so please have a look!
First up was the hamster! Cookie Dough is obviously quite tame and enjoys human interaction.
Then I met the appropriately named Birdie, a little budgie.
Then there was Ginny, a beautiful brown tabby cat.
Pepsi is one curious kitty cat, and loves to climb all over you to get to the treats!
Whitley is great, even though he is in need of a haircut. His eyes practically disappear!
Thoughtful little Plato is here contemplating the secret to happiness in life. And he thinks it probably has to do with having a home of one’s own.
Dorrie is a sweetheart! She is a little timid and shy when you meet her, but warms up within 20 minutes. She plays “fetch” with her balls and hoards her toys in her bed. She needs someone worth of the loyalty and devotion she has to give!
And here is Jingles, looking magnificent against his royal blue background!
Last, but not least is Monroe, the Westie on high-octane gas. This guy likes to go, go, go! During his photo session, there was no getting him to sit for a picture, so we simply let him loose and had him run straight at me!
Dec 14, 2012
This week we were to try and perfect a new technique that would help ourselves and others in their photography. I decided to look at flash photography and to make it simple, I had two requirements: my source of light could only be a speedlight (no studio lights) and the flash had to remain on the camera. There are tons of other techniques using (multiple) studio light and beautiful images are achieved with off-camera flash, but I wanted to see how pleasing a light I could get with just one speedlight on my camera. In other words, something anyone could do!
Truthfully, I have never been a fan of flash photography for pets. Like a lot of people, they don’t enjoy being hit with a bright light and for some, it can really scare them. However, there are times when there simply is not enough quality ambient light and the photographer must supplement it.
For this exercise, I used my favourite boy, Baxter. Given that I was going to use quite a lot of flash I waited until he was napping (you will see in this series that he did not hardly stir during the whole process) and I tried to remain relatively in the same place.
So, here is the first attempt with the flash pointed directly at Baxter. Predictably, using a flash in this manner produces a rather harsh light. Fortunately, Baxter’s eyes are closed, otherwise, I surely would have blinded him. The flash lit up his face and everything else faded to black, creating an almost ‘natural vignette’. I was actually surprised at how much I did not hate this image, but as you can imagine, it would only work in very limited circumstances where you were after a certain ‘look’.
Here, the flash is pointed towards the ceiling. We often hear that we are to bounce the flash from the ceiling as ceilings are often light coloured and it spreads out the light a little more. I actually really did not like this look at all. The light is ‘ugly’ and is coming down on poor Baxter (who is still asleep).
And here is the technique I use the most when I have to employ a flash on camera. It is pointed neither up or down, but is firing directly over my head towards the wall behind me. Granted, if you try this technique in a room with richly coloured walls, you will introduce a colour cast from the light bouncing back onto your subject. But in this case, it lit up the still sleeping Baxter and gave the illusion of the room lights providing the light in the image.
And then I took one more image, just because I love his little black paws. And yes, he is still sleeping. It must be the reason why he is so gorgeous – he certainly gets his beauty sleep!
So, that’s it! As I said, so simple that anyone can do it…
Next in the blog circle is Victoria BC Pet Photographer Melissa McCabe of Unleashed! pet portraits. Please check out what new technique she tried this week and follow the circle all the way around until you come back to Baxter (who undoubtedly will still be asleep).
Dec 3, 2012
Small little group this week…which is a wonderful ‘problem’ to have! So, here are a perfect foursome – 2 cats and 2 dogs. Equal and balanced, and all looking for their forever families. You can meet them all at Toronto Animal Services (North Region) and can also check out their basic stats on the Posh Pets’ Facebook page.
Nov 30, 2012
Play is a wonderful way to spend some time with your pet – it is part of the bonding experience and can be a great de-stresser for you as well. However, it is important to remember that each animal is an individual with differing likes and preferences. But finding out what they enjoy to do is all part of the fun.
Since welcoming Baxter into our home, we have had to make adjustments to accommodate his energy! We had forgotten what it was like to have a 2 year old around and Baxter simply loves to interact and play. We have, however, found his most favourite toy in the whole wide world. As in, please play with me all of the time. Want to know what it is? Well, enjoy this 15 second clip (turn the sound up for full effect 🙂 ) …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4N5xarQAOA&feature=plcp
Yes, the classic game of chase the red dot…Baxter thinks that this is what he was born on earth to chase!
He is a smart little furry face – he has figured out that he needs us to ‘engage’ the little red light. He is lightening fast and would make an excellent hockey player (good little Canadian cat!) because he anticipates where the red light will be, as opposed to where it currently is. What he hasn’t figured out is that he will never, ever catch it.
And, of course, once all of the play is over, it is time for naps…what a life!
If you are planning for a Posh Pets‘ session and your furry face has a favourite toy, bring it! Not only will it help us keep his or her attention, but by incorporating their favourite toy in the images, their personality can shine through!
This is a blog circle, so there are many more images (and toys) to look at! Let’s start with the wonderful Charleston SC dog photographer Dana Cubbage and see what her guys’ favourite toys are!
Nov 29, 2012
This week I was presented with 3 cute kitties! Pumpkin stole my heart with her little chubby body and how she followed me around, but everyone in the TAS “bubble” was just lovely! If you are thinking of adding a furry face, please consider adoption. You can find these 3 at Toronto Animal Services (North) and their vital info is on their site as well as the Posh Pets’ Facebook page.
We’ll see you next week!
