Bart – Posh Pets Heritage™ Session | Cat Photographer in Toronto

Bart – Posh Pets Heritage™ Session | Cat Photographer in Toronto

Oct 5, 2015

Celebrating the life, love and legacy of your pet.™

As a pet photographer, I get quite a number of requests for sessions with cats. I love our kitty friends – their quiet and calm demeanor, the grace with which they carry themselves and the nuances of their individual personalities. My sessions with them are always a joy.

I met Bart on a quiet summer afternoon in August. Those perfect days when it is not too hot, the sun is shining and no one is running tools to disturb the quiet peace of the neighbourhood. Bart was a 15 1/2 year old black beauty with a kind and gentle nature. He had been adopted by his humans when already full grown (I love it when people fall in love with the adult adoptables!) and had lived a wonderful life with his feline brother, Toby, and his human family.

When his mom first contacted me, she told me worriedly that Bart was a black cat and very difficult to photograph. He was exclusively an indoor cat, so he needed to be photographed inside. Additionally, he had recently been diagnosed with cancer and she really wanted some beautiful images that would highlight his gorgeous eyes and ensure that they had tangible, physical memories to hold onto when the time came to say good-bye.

We spent a couple of hours that afternoon photographing Bart in all of his favourite spots in the home. He was quite happy and was engaged for his photo session. I am always amazed by pets who ‘seem to know’ and therefore muster up the energy to give their families this last gift of photographs. As I was leaving his home, I gave him one quiet cuddle and told him to be a brave boy and let his family know when the time came.

Four weeks later, Bart said his final good-bye at home, surrounded by his loving family.

As I delivered Bart’s final artwork, we talked about what a great life he had, how hard the past couple of weeks had been on everyone, but how right the decision had been to have him photographed professionally. As always, I left the meeting with tears in my eyes.

“Bart, you have left a huge hole in the hearts and lives of those who loved you. I was privileged to have met you and to photograph you. I will remember you with fondness, always.”

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.
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Simon | Toronto Cat Photographer

Simon | Toronto Cat Photographer

Oct 16, 2014

At Posh Pets, we see our share of unforgettable four-footed clients. Today, I would like to introduce you to Simon, a furry face who will stay with me a long time.

brown tabby cat looking up

Simon is a cat. A lovely, big, brown tabby cat to be precise. With gorgeous eyes that you could look at forever. Simon loves his people and enjoys playing with them. He is mischievous. He loves his treats and the opportunity to jump and run around the house. (If you can combine all of those things together, he is one happy cat. Actually, combine anything with treats and he is content.)

Simon, however, has also battled cancer.

It was June when I got a call from Simon’s human Mom asking if I had any availability on short notice. She wanted me to come to their house and take some portraits of her beautiful boy. Simon had recently been diagnosed with ocular cancer and the decision had been made to remove one of his gorgeous eyes – a very difficult decision for the family, but one that was made with the realization that it would save Simon’s life. The surgery date had been set which is why time was now of the essence. His Mom wanted images to forever preserve the memory of him in his prime.

I moved a few appointments around and headed over to meet Simon and his honest-to-goodness, real kitty mom, Jackie. If Simon knew he had cancer, he was not about to let me know about it. We spent a lovely afternoon playing, running, hunting, jumping and yes, getting treats in order to capture his good looks and beautiful personality. And, his Mom and I talked about his life. We laughed. We cried. We hugged. When it came time to finally say good-bye, I held Simon close and told him to be a good, brave boy and return home even stronger. Simon let me give him that snuggle and then went off to play.

I waited for news of his surgery…which was an awesome success! Although the first night of his recovery was difficult, it has all been positive news since then. In fact, it would now appear though that the loss of his eye was something far worse for his people to contemplate than the reality Simon lives. During the Ordering Session, Simon was already up and about, curiously interested in what we were doing. And by the time I delivered his final art prints, he demonstrated for me his ability to stalk, chase and yes, jump much like he did before. Simon may have lost an eye, but he certainly has not lost himself.

Today, Simon’s larger-than-life art work sits above the mantle in his home. His folio box and matted art prints are loved and cherished by the family. And dear, happy, healthy Simon seems content with it all.

brown tabby cat sitting on dressercat reaching for a treatbrown tabby cat on stairsbrown tabby cat on coffee tabletwo cats eating