Slice of Nice

Duncan, at rest

I’m sure “Let sleeping dogs lie” has a whole other meaning than what I’m thinking for this post, but you all know that one.  One of my favorite things to do as a dog photographer is to photograph a sleeping dog.  I’m just enthralled with it.  One of my favorite subjects to do this with was Duncan.  And he was good at it, sleeping that is.  But after having the camera inches from his face for a 1/2 hour, he would often open one eye, stare at me and turn his head completely away as if to say, if you haven’t got the perfect shot by now, it ain’t happenin’ lady.

Here’s some dogs, at rest…

Casey and Duncan, Yin and Yang dogs

Dunkie

It's all in the eyes

One of my favs

And the look....'you're done'

As we prepare for our first born child, not a fur kid, I have renewed an interest in doing some books.  When ever we have brought a new puppy into the house it has been so much fun watching them explore their world.  When Emma came along, I thought she was the most mischievous puppy I had ever seen.  As she explored, well, as she tore around her new world, I started writing her story in my head as I pulled my camera out to catch her exploits.  Now, I’ve run across her puppy pictures again and find myself writing that story all over again, only not just with her in mind, but also with Dylan in mind.

So, right now I’m experimenting with taking the actual pictures and making them into something that looks like drawings.  Let me know what you think….these are about the fifth try and so far Gary hasn’t liked them much.  And if I don’t find something that suits the look of drawing, I think I will just go with the pictures themselves.  So, please weigh in on what you really think about the difference between the actual picture and the drawing look.

Quite the look don't you think?

Just layin' around, no wild puppy here

where's the wild child?

So, what do you think?

Happy Easter Y’all!  I finally got out and took some new pictures of the kids and yes, I did torture them by putting ears on them. Hey it’s Easter.  I also learned that being a dog photographer while 25 weeks pregnant is not easy.  You see, I’m used to getting on their level, even laying on the ground and getting trampled if I must.  But you see, when you have this semi big belly that cuts off your air when you squat down to their level, you do one of two things, 1) pass out or 2) learn how to shoot quickly!

The kids must have understood me, because even the youngest sat there very patiently waiting for the big pregnant photographer to get in position.  However I have to say that Armani was so not pleased to be dressed in bunny ears.

Armani the bunny and Finn the Border Collie

Finn has learned how to pose quite nicely

Armani doesn't understand the word "wait" but he stayed long enough, finally

Gable at the February Phoenix Shows in 2010

My husband loves Beagles.  He loves their movement, their expression and the way their tail sticks up straight in the air.  This little Beagle, Gable, was at the last dog show we attended in Phoenix before we left for Longview.  He was very pretty and I fell in love with his expression.

Gable

Who doesn’t like puppies?  Most people love puppies, but especially Golden puppies! (sorry BC friends)  This is part of a photo shoot I did of a friend of mine’s litter of puppies and it was requested that I put them up again because they are just so dang cute!  I really do enjoy “torturing” puppies and the people that help me with these photo shoots!  One of the hardest shots to get when you do puppies is the group shot, so many puppies who have their own agenda and have no idea you want them to look at you.  However, with the patience of my puppy placers, this is the group shot from this litter:

Basket full of puppies!

Turned out pretty good, I think!  Here are a few more favorites from this litter as they grew up:

Wooden Golden meets real Golden!

This is a patented photographer trick - peanut butter behind the nose of the wooden Golden!

Puppy Breath anyone?

I loved this shot not only because the pup is cute, but the puppy breath bottle capped it off!  There is a great debate among puppy lovers - Is puppy breath the best or don’t you care?  Gary, he LOVES puppy breath, me, I could care less.  How about you?  While we are at it, how about a puppy kissing booth, would that make a good fund raising idea?  Would you pay a buck to get puppy breath and kisses?

Jake is ready for love

Priceless no?

How handsome can you get?

Here he is, one of our most handsome Goldens, Mr. Armani.  He is just so fully of personality.  Easily the funniest dog we have ever shared a house with.  He will sit nose to nose with you for a full minute before giving you a kiss on your nose.  He looks like he is stoned, as he relaxes around the house.  He loves is little border collie even though she pulls on his ears and attacks his legs as he rolls on his back.  And he loves the largest woobie you have ever laid your eyes on.  Every morning when I get him out of his crate, I address him ‘Good Morning handsome dog!’ and he just stretches and looks to Finn’s crate to see if she left any food in there.