See Posh Pets in Country Living Magazine | Commercial Pet Photographer

See Posh Pets in Country Living Magazine | Commercial Pet Photographer

Everyone likes to receive nice mail. As in, printed material delivered by the post office. In this digital age, I think there is still something about holding print and paper in your hand.

So, I was very excited to finally receive the latest issue of Country Living. And I would be lying if I didn’t admit that part of the reason was because Posh Pets‘ very own Baxter was featured in it. Yep, he’s a published model now, earning his keep! So, go ahead, purchase a copy and look on page 66 – you can tell all your friends that you knew him first. (Thankfully, Baxter hasn’t let it go to his head – he still such a cuddly sweetheart.)

Country Living magazinecountry living magazine featuring Posh Pets Photography

Adoptable Cats – Toronto Animal Services | Ontario Pet Photography

Adoptable Cats – Toronto Animal Services | Ontario Pet Photography

With Labour Day, this week was a short one! Which meant the shelter was super busy on Tuesday when I went in to meet the furry faces. Given how busy the staff were, I focussed on the gorgeous kitties and here are the results. Every one of them would make an awesome family pet – all friendly and cuddly, most wanting belly rubs.

If you are interested in meeting one of these beautiful felines, please contact Toronto Animal Services – North directly.

black and white cat laying on tilecat headshotbrown and white tabby cat laying in cat housesitting grey long haired kittenposing tortie kitten two paws

Adoptables – Toronto Animal Services | Toronto Cat Photographer

Adoptables – Toronto Animal Services | Toronto Cat Photographer

This week’s visit to Toronto Animal Services included photographing a whole clowder of kitties (and a couple of cute doggies)! I have missed photographing the felines because of the on-going youth camp taking place at the shelter – they take up the usual bubble area where I set up the Posh Pets‘ camera. But, there is a little outside enclosure where quite a number of them were enjoying the summer weather.

If you are interested in bringing one of these gorgeous furry faces into your home and life, please contact Toronto Animal Services – North!

tortie cat looking through chain link fencegrey and white cat lying on benchblack schnauzer dog lying in grassgrey tabby kitten looking at cameragrey and white kitten playingbrown tabby lying in cagebrown tabby posing in sitting positionbrown tabby relaxingblack and white cat lounging on scratching postblack and white kitten looking up at camerablack cat laying on scratching postblack cat lying on groundblack cat lounging with scratching postsmiling beagle dog in woodchips and grass

Project 52 – Body Parts | Toronto Pet Photographer

Project 52 – Body Parts | Toronto Pet Photographer

Well, here we are back at Project 52 again! This week’s theme was ‘body parts’ – all the fun little details that make up our furry friends.

I have chosen this photograph of Baxter’s awesome paws. I’ve always loved those little paws…even when he uses them to wake me up by pushing against my nose in the morning! The pads are black and his legs are oh-so-long, so Baxter can just about reach anything he wants to. He uses them constantly to explore and play and communicate. But, when they are at rest, they are just the cutest little paws!

What’s the favourite body part of your pet?

Next in the blog circle is Pet Photographer, Stacey Gammon, serving Bergen County, New Jersey. Please go see her and all of the other pet photographers images for this week!

One Year Later… | Pet Photographer in Canada

One Year Later… | Pet Photographer in Canada

Today marks a sad anniversary – it was exactly one year ago that we said good-bye to our Ripley. It was a bright, sunny spring morning, much like this one. But for Dean and I, it was the end of an era.

It seems like yesterday that the three of us made that last car ride together. In fact, we still tear up when we think about him, as the pain is yet just below the surface. But, in reality, a whole year has passed and I realize that so much has changed since then.

For one thing, there is no doubt that the sharp pain has eased for all of us. We no longer come through the front door expecting to have Ripley greet us, nor do I wake up in the night looking for the feel of his soft weight against my legs. Lady Jane, too, finally stopped grieving for her brother and began to be her old self again. And, as I always secretly knew, we were in time, ready for the biggest change of all. We welcomed 2 year old Baxter into our home and into our hearts. (One the unexpected results was that, as a result of the new playmate and the increased physical activity, Lady Jane has lost some weight. She now runs and just a few weeks ago, managed to jump on the dresser in our bedroom – a place she has not been up on in over 10 years. Talk about a change!)

Initially, my biggest fear was that I would forget about Ripley – his little habits and the stories we shared. I wanted so desperately to emblazon his memory in my mind. Consequently, right after his death, we took a notebook and through our tears, wrote down all of the things that had made him special. Every memory we could come up with, even the small, silly ones. And, as Dean and I would remember additional stories, we would continue to write. It helped in the healing process and allowed us to slowly let go, knowing Ripley’s life story was safe. However, we soon realized that we should do this for all of our kitties, keeping records as we go. So Lady Jane, and now Baxter, have their own special memory books. And we take photographs…so many photographs.

But, for all of the progress we have made, the truth is, I don’t think there will ever come a day when I don’t think about our Orange Boy. He was our very first pet together, and because he came into our lives just 3 months after Dean and I were married, Ripley had been there practically from the beginning. We loved him so much, and he, us. He will always be a part of our story.

Ripley, for all of our brave faces, how we still miss you! But, this I promise you: you will never be forgotten. Afterall, you never forget your first.

Animal Cartoons | Brampton Pet Photographer

Animal Cartoons | Brampton Pet Photographer

I had a bit of surprise this year when I was invited to Brampton to speak to a group of students who were learning to cartoon. My friend, Daniela Easter is an award winning artist as well as a personal friend of mine. Apart from her private commissions, she founded and, for the past 9 years has run, Progressive Art for Progressive Kids in Brampton, an art school that helps young people develop their skills and exposes them to the various mediums and forms of art. For the past few months, they were learning how to cartoon!

Given that I provide some of the images of the animals that are used as a basis for the cartoon, Daniela asked me to come and speak to her students. I have to be honest – it is kind of intimidating to walk into a class room of 8-12 year olds who can draw. Really draw. Especially, if you are someone like me who cannot draw anything recognizable. However, photography is just a different medium and Daniela thought it would be beneficial for the kids to meet another working professional in the arts.

They were such a great group of students who were eager to know my process to create beautiful photographs of animals. Equally intriguing to them was the work I do with shelters and rescues. But, I think the highlight for everyone was when I taught them how to howl like a dog! (Yes, making a fool of oneself is an occupational hazard.)

So, it is my complete pleasure to showcase some of the artwork that was produced by this group of young artists!

We’ll start with the photo. This is the original image of an oh-so-cute puppy! (There were lots of awwwwwws when this little face popped up on the screen.)

And the cartoon renditions by Nicholas

Grace (who signed her artwork – good girl!)…

…and Avi (who also signed his name).

They then moved onto a playful, little kitten!  (This image received an equal amount of awwwwws.)

And the cartoon renditions by Nicholas

Prerna

…and Jessica!

I told you these kids are good!

Should you have a budding artist in your life, please go and check out the curriculum for Progressive Art for Progressive Kids. It changes regularly and covers a lot of ground, so you can nurture that creative spirit!

And, for recent updates and other cute images of furry faces, come on over to the Posh Pets Blog and see what we are up to!

Project 52 – Texture | Ontario Pet Photographer

Project 52 – Texture | Ontario Pet Photographer

This week’s challenge was to show off some texture.

One thing that I love about Baxter (among other things) is his amazing fur! It is so unbelievably soft, and along with his wonderful personality he is one gorgeous snuggle bum. For a challenge involving texture, what better subject than my beautiful boy!

And so, here is Baxter showing off his silvery, shimmery self – just look at the texture in that coat!

Next in the blog circle is Denver Pet Photographer, Deanna Hurt at StinkDog Photos. Please take a look at her texture theme for this week.

Adoptables – Toronto Animal Services | Photographer in Toronto

Adoptables – Toronto Animal Services | Photographer in Toronto

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!)…

2012 Posh Pets Photography Recap | Toronto, Ontario

2012 Posh Pets Photography Recap | Toronto, Ontario

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 PoochDeadmau5 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…!

Project 52 – New Technique | Pet Photographers in Toronto

Project 52 – New Technique | Pet Photographers in Toronto

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).

Project 52 – Favourite Toy | Pet Photographers in Toronto

Project 52 – Favourite Toy | Pet Photographers in Toronto

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!