Two Dogs and a Cat | Starling, Duke and Kitt

Aug 22, 2023

We had picked the day and time and it was EARLY! Time was of the essence as Mum had let me know that Starling, her black labrador, was not feeling well and she really wanted to capture her first pup in the early morning light.

When we arrived at the location, my heart sank a little. The sky was ‘socked in’ and it was just a blanket of grey, featureless clouds.

There is no way we’re getting a visible sunrise, I thought.

Add to that, the location was over the water because I wanted an unobstructed view of the sky which meant it was windy. And cold.

But it was too late to postpone now – the two dogs and one cat (!) were already on the long drive from home to meet me.

And so I waited, hoping that the sky might clear.

By the time they arrived, the sky was still awful. We had only a few precious minutes to try and get the pets to settle and simply hope for the best when it came to the sky.

By the time we got our first dog in place, the ‘official’ sunrise time had passed. Nothing but grey, mournful sky.

However, above the horizon, I noticed a sliver of clear sky and I thought: What happens when the sun gets there?

Well, we found out.

For less than 2.5 minutes tops, the sky lit up with the most incredible orange-red hues!

We quickly got to work as we needed all three furry siblings in place to create our portraits. As quickly as the colour appeared, it disappeared when the sun went firmly behind the wall of clouds and we were once again enveloped in the grey, windy landscape.

But it was enough. Enough for this. Meet Duke, Starling and Kitt silhouetted against the incredible morning sky.

2 dogs and 1 cat in silhouette at sunrise in Toronto

Professional photographer tip: A portrait like this involving multiple subjects takes some forethought and planning to execute well. This is an outcrop over the water and we simply cannot risk anyone slipping or falling. Thus, the humans are very close by and all of the pets are on leash at the time. The editing and retouching process ensures that the final portraits are perfect.

Photographing Your (Pet) Family

Whenever you have a family involving dogs and cats, the question always arises as to whether we can get a portrait of everyone together. To which I say: we are going to do everything possible to set ourselves up for success.

Much of our approach will depend on the relationships with each other and the temperaments of the furry siblings. In this case, believe it or not, Kitt (the gorgeous cat you see) was the most ‘stable’. (Stable is the word I use to describe the subject most likely to get into and hold a position.) Kitt also loves his canine brother and sister which is a great plus.

The result is that this final portrait was taking in one frame – no compositing!

2 dogs and a cat photographed outside in the Greater Toronto Area. (GTA)

Of course, individual portraits are important too. Here’s Kitt with his gorgeous colouring which matches the early winter tones of the forest.

brown cat photographed in tone on tone forest

Duke is the youngest and the most wiggly. But a head tilt and he got his portrait to match his feline brother.

boxer dog with headtilt photographed in brush

But this session was really for Starling, Mum’s baby. Starling had just recently been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing some treatments. Not knowing how much time they had left together, it was vital we had gorgeous photos of her.

black lab photographed in early winter forest

Celebrating the relationship

Given Starling’s diagnosis, we spent extra time and effort of photographing Starling and her Mum together. First in the early sky.

woman and her dog at sunrise during professional photography session in Toronto

And together again later in the session. These unscripted moments are among the most precious. You can feel the love.

black lab and mum enjoying a quiet moment Toronto

senior dog giving mum kisses during photo sesion

dog mum hugging senior dog during photo session

Of course, we had to get a family portrait of everyone together!

Porfessional photographer tip: No one has to be in photographs during a session with me. But I always encourage someone to come dressed as if they might. It just gives you options during our time together.

family portrait of a couple, 2 dogs and 1 cat

Lastly, we ended up on the beach where again, we took a solo portrait of Starling.

black lab dog portrait on beach in Toronto

As well as Starling with her brother, Duke.

(Note: After I wrote this post and scheduled its publication, I found out from Mum that Starling had said her final goodbye.)

Starling, you have left a huge hole in your family’s lives. Your sweet spirit will be remembered by all who you touched. Run free, my brave girl.

And to Duke and Kitt, thank you for working with me during our session to celebrate Starling. It was like you knew that this was important for you were the most cooperative trio I have ever met. Thank you for giving me the honour. ♥

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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.
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Poppy + Henry | Dog Photographer in Toronto, Ontario

Jun 7, 2023

I’ve photographed this lovely family through the years as dogs changed – it has always been the highlight of my year. The goal is always one beautiful family portrait and we have tried to make each year unique and different from the one before it. We don’t travel to any epic locations, but with a little scouting have always ended up with something that is beautifully framed for the wall.

Here is the 2022 version that was taken just steps from the family home:

Dog family photographed on rocks in Toronto, Canada

The Dogs

Poppy is a senior now and she’s moving a little slower than the last time I saw her. But she is still beautiful and still willing to do whatever we ask of her. We had to help her a little to get up on the rock, but once there, she was happy to rest and pose.

senior dog photographer in the GTA, Ontario

Henry is a little older and wiser now than last time – he was a puppy and made us work for the final family photo! He makes us laugh with his ever-changing expressions and easily distracted demeanor. It’s a lot to ask from a dog in a public park to focus his attention on YOU, but we made it work.

adult dog photographed in park in Toronto

Relationships are everthing.

I always tell clients that I will never force anyone to get in photos with their dogs, but that I ask that you come dressed to do so because it gives you options. I truly believe that relationships are what makes our time with dogs so special – they are important parts of our families and our lives. Capturing the essence of that is what I live for.

Poppy is, and always has been, Daddy’s girl. And his care and attention to her needs are such a wonderful joy to observe. A quiet moment together and loving caress…Poppy laps it all up.

Dog dad and senior dog share a quiet moment

As for Henry, some ‘photographer secrets’ will be spilled here…

By the end of our session, Henry had managed to get his paws dirty. Like, really dirty. Called upon to sit with his mum, he managed to transfer the dirt and hair from him to all over her pants and blouse. So…a little retouching was in order. That’s what you get when you hire a professional – a little finesse to achieve an elevated reality and wonderful portraits.

Portrait of dog mom and bearded collie dog.

Want to see what they had to say about their session? –> REVIEWS

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Where it all begins

Pre-session Design Consult that ensures we create images you will be thrilled with.
The result is gorgeous custom artwork 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.

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Marcie | Family Pet Photography in Mississauga, Ontario

May 17, 2023

I’d like to introduce you to Marcie!

When I asked her Mum and Dad – as I often do – what breed is she, I was told that she was a cross between a Husky, Shepherd, Malamute, and Lab. Well, that must be the recipe for cuteness! Add to that her adorable 1-ear-up-1-down, as well as her 1 sparkly blue and 1 brown eye…yep Marcie’s got it all.

She also turned out to be a master poser. I mean, just look at her!

Professional photographer tip: You’ll notice that Marcie has her collar on in her portrait above. To have the collar on in the final images is a personal decision and one that I leave up to my clients. In this case, Marcie’s tag matched the surroundings, was hanging beautifully, and had her name showing. That combination made it an easy yes to keeping it in the final portrait.

Autumn in Southern Ontario

We chose the Fall Colours as our backdrop and waiting for the perfect day. As you may recall, last year’s display was absolutely spectacular! I’m not sure I remember an Autumn as good as 2022 – beautiful weather, vivid colours, and a season that went on and on.

It was on one of these crisp Autumn mornings that we all met to photograph Marcie and the 2 humans she loves the most. My assignment was clear: capture the relationship this family shares together without a lot of perfectly posed shots. I have to say: Those elements all came to gether in this image of them walking through the forest with Marcie looking adoringly at her people. It’s probably my favourite one from our session.

couple walking in fall colours with their rescue dog

And this one! A totally unscripted moment when Marcie came up to her Mum and Dad while we were planning out our next location. It’s capturing images like this that makes my heart sing. It is obvious how much Marcie loves her people and how much they love her. For rescue dogs like Marcie, this is the happy ending we all dream of.

Time to get wet!

Planning a session out is really important because you want everyone – including the dog – to simply think that this is the best day ever. It should be full of treats and praise and doing things they love doing.

In Marcie’s case, she has a LOT of energy. So, we walked and ran and did all kinds of fun things. But she also loves water! So, we could not let the session end without letting her wade in.

The best part of this photograph? That little trail of water hanging from her mouth. It’s all in the details.

Professional photographer tip: This is where good planning is key: Always leave these images to the end of your session because once doggo is wet, there is no coming back from it.

Thank you Marcie for spending the morning with me and introducing me to your lovely Mum and Dad! I had so much fun with you and I hope you all have many wonderful adventures together!