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Tag: ‘beach’



Photos with Swayze, the Mixed-Breed Senior Dog

Monday, May 15th, 2023
     

True to her namesake (yes, she is a girl), Swayze is a bundle of sweet, spunky energy! All that personality fits in a petite little package, and if it weren’t for the white fur on her face, you’d never guess that she’s a senior pup. Her mom, Nicky, asked me to photograph Swayze after having spent the last year or so in & out of veterinarians’ offices, battling various medical issues including cancer. So it was a bit bittersweet, but this session was also thoroughly FUN thanks to Swayze’s unstoppable spirit!

     


Nicky and I go way back: she’s one of the amazing people who run Shelter to Soldier, a wonderful nonprofit that rescues shelter dogs and pairs them with prior-military personnel who need service dogs. The trainers at Shelter to Solider need to be firm with their dogs in training, and their dogs turn out to be model service dogs, ridiculously good at their jobs. Since I’ve worked with StS for several projects, I wasn’t sure if I should expect the same kind of focused, intense energy I’ve seen with most service dogs in Swayze too – she’s not a service dog, but given who her mom is, I was curious what I’d find.

Well…Swayze was focused (on playing) and was intense (in her attitude). But that’s where the similarities end!

     


Not only is Swayze completely different than a service dog (even her service dog siblings!), I couldn’t help but laugh at her playfulness and attitude. She has clear opinions on when her toy should be thrown for her to fetch (NOW, and as often as possible.) Nothing about her personality reflects the fact that she’s of advanced age and has had far too many medical issues. Swayze literally bounced as she ran along the beach in her happiness, and we all loved watching her play. What a fun photo session! (Plus, it was a nice change of pace to be working with Nicky while at the same time photographing a non-service dog for once!) The truth is, it doesn’t matter whether dogs are extremely well-behaved or independently-minded in a photo session. The trick is to let dogs just be their happy, wonderful selves, and the rest is magic.

     

We were able to visit the military side of Coronado Dog Beach, which is more private and less crowded than the main beach. It was perfect for Swayze to just be… Swayze. :)

     
senior dog on beach
     
senior dog
     
silhouette dog on beach
     

Nicky, I’ll see you soon – I can’t wait to share the rest of our images with you!

Farley the Bernese Mountain Dog

Tuesday, March 8th, 2022

Farley is the tale of the photo session that almost never was. We were actually scheduled to meet a year ago, but just about any issue under the sun that could possibly postpone a photo session (medical issues, scheduling conflicts, inclement weather) happened. So with a saga like that leading up to the day of our photo session, I was practically pinching myself that I finally got to photograph this handsome boy! (He actually visited my studio a year ago to say “hello”, and although I remembered him I’m not sure he remembered me at the photo session… but that’s okay because we were quickly able to get acquainted again!)

Farley is the sweetest 4-year-old Bernese mountain dog. Strangers stop him & his family on the street to take his picture, so I consider myself a very lucky photographer to have him all to myself for an hour and a half straight, haha! He did a phenomenal job and I couldn’t get over his handsome smile. His obedience is wonderful, and I found it very sweet how attentive he was to his parents. At one point his dad went back over to their car to get something, and all Farley wanted to do was watch him as he walked away. He even went to stand right by his mom (as if to not lose her too?!) while waiting for dad to return from that veryyyy long, 15-second walk to the car and back. :) It was so cute the way he kept such rapt focus on his parents. They even told me that once they are in a new place for a while, he eventually decides that that spot is his new home… and then he will bark at other people for entering into his family’s new territory! It was easy to see how much he’s dedicated to his mom and dad, and vice versa. It made capturing their connection as a family practically effortless!

We started our photo session at San Dieguito County Park, and it was beautiful as always. One of the many reasons why it’s a favorite location of mine is because this park was relatively crowded that day – and yet we were able to find a huge area all to ourselves. Even if it’s “packed” we can make it work! Farley was able to have some space to run around and have fun. He also found lots to eat, including grass, dirt, snacks from other people’s picnics, more grass, and treats that we brought. I would say that he enjoyed himself…!

After our time at the park, we headed to the beach. Farley is not used to beaches with waves, since he usually goes to Fiesta Island, which is a beach inside of a bay. So he would get a little nervous and then a little brave and then a little nervous again as the waves came. But he got comfortable eventually – which I know for a fact since he almost laid down in the waves at one point! He’s definitely a water dog, so I think it’s safe to say that we had a successful photo session – and a ton of fun!

     

What a handsome smile. Farley is basically a supermodel.

bernese mountain dog
     

Action photos? Say no more, Farley is always ready to run.

bernese mountain dog running
     

We lucked out with gorgeous, soft colors in the sky at the beach. It was simply a beautiful day!

bernese mountain dog sitting at the beach
     

Stefan & Leanne, thank you so much for introducing me to Farley – and letting me photograph him a year later! 😉 I’m excited to share the rest of our images with you very soon!

     

Fae, Nyx, Quinzel & Slade – and the joy of repeat clients!

Friday, September 17th, 2021

I always love working with my clients, but I have to say – there’s something so special about photographing repeat clients! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Scott & Patrisha’s pack before, so I was THRILLED when they contacted me recently to update their portraits! The first session we ever did included Buster, a wonderful dog who’s unfortunately no longer here. I thought of him during this recent photo session… but somehow this session was SO different than the ones we’ve done before! I got to photograph a mix of the “old” and “new” pack: Fae, Quinzel, and Nyx are the dogs I have photographed at least once in the past. It was so much fun to see how much they’d grown since their original photo sessions back in 2015 and 2016. Quinn and Nyx were just tiny puppies when I first met each of them, and it was so fun to see how much they’ve changed! The newest member of the pack is Slade, who brings an entirely new dynamic to the family. One of my favorite things about being in this business for so long is definitely being able to see families grow over the years. This family has certainly changed since we first met 6 years ago, and I couldn’t be more proud to have documented a few small slices of their lives!

     

Let me start with introducing Fae. She’s a total sweetheart and mama’s girl! Always happy and up for an adventure, I think she might take the title of “most adorable in the pack”. She also is the eldest now, but you wouldn’t know it: she isn’t bossy, just a sweet, happy-go-lucky girl! (And yes, her fur is just as cotton-candy-soft as it looks.)

repeat clients dog
     

Quinzel, who is named after Harley Quinn, takes “being part of the pack” to a new level. She is head over heels in love with her parents and siblings! She never wants to be without them; anytime she senses the pack might be leaving the house without her, she lets her opinion be known that that’s not acceptable. Ideally she’s literally touching someone at all times, haha! Quinn is a beautiful girl (with two different-colored eyes) and her brindle fur is gorgeous too.

repeat dog clients
     

This is Nyx: the guard dog! She has proudly stepped into the role of protector of the family. She takes her job seriously and – might I add – is very good at it! She warned us when other dogs were walking across another part of the park… so what would we have done without her?! She loves her family fiercely and is happy to be out exploring new places, but she never forgets her primary job which is to defend her pack. Fun fact: Nyx is pretty skeptical of you, until you walk her on the leash. Once you do that, her demeanor changes and she realizes that you must be okay after all!

repeat client dog
     

Last but not least, I get to introduce you to Slade! He is the puppy of the group with those goofy puppy ears to boot. He’s a handsome boy with beautiful, warm brindle coloring – and he has huge paws! Slade is just a total class clown, although you can really tell he looks up to his elder siblings. One of his favorite things to do is play fetch and run around like crazy! While he loves being a goofball, he is always down to snuggle too, especially with his dad. I’m so glad he found his way into this family… he really hit the jackpot!

new puppy
     

We had a great time during our photo session. I’m glad we had the chance to visit Fiesta Island, because we got to let the dogs run free and off-leash! It was wonderful to see them let loose and have a great time. And even more than that, it was nice to connect with them all again, and have the opportunity to celebrate what their family looks like today!

4 dogs on the beach
     

I’m looking forward to meeting their biggest dog, Lucca, later this month! (Just kidding… he’s a horse! I’m going out to the stables to photograph him and I can’t wait!) Patrisha and Scott, you two are wonderful, devoted parents to all your pups, and I am so honored to have been able to work with you again. See you soon at the studio very soon!

     

Iver, the Silly & Sweet Sheltie Puppy

Thursday, August 26th, 2021

I recently got to photograph the cutest little 5-month-old Sheltie named Iver! I just about fell in love with him during our photo session, and I think you will too. One of my favorite parts about Iver is his backstory, and how his parents came to find him. They knew that they wanted a dog for a long, long time. They looked everywhere in San Diego to find the right fit – but despite how dog-friendly our city is, they realized that it’s actually pretty difficult to find a place in the rental housing market that allows dogs, especially dogs over 25 pounds. (Which I can personally relate to! My Bailey is not a small dog!) So after searching at shelter after shelter, Iver’s parents simply weren’t able to find the right pup. But you know what? I really believe that the right dog will find its way to the right family. And after months of uncertainty, they finally heard from a Sheltie breeder out of the blue – and what do you know, it was finally time for them to meet their dog. Iver and his parents go together like a glove. They’re all so sweet, and they love spending time together! (Which meant that I really loved spending time with them, too!)

We went to Old Poway Park for the first part of Iver’s session, and everything was going great. But this park has a stream running through the middle of it, and on the day we visited, the stream bed was damp with just a little bit of water. Iver, however, took one look and decided he was going to pretend that there was still water in it! He jumped face-first into the mud! It certainly gave us all a scare! It was a big drop, but thankfully he was completely fine (and ready to do it again two minutes later, the little stinker!). But with a long-haired dog like him, a little mud goes a long way. So we paused the photo session, reassessed, and decided to get together for the second half of our session on another day. So I can happily promise that no dogs were harmed in the making of this photo session… but not for lack of trying! Thanks, Iver! ;)

So a few days later, we headed down to the beach in La Jolla, right near where his mom works. He loved running around on the sand – in fact, Iver preferred to stay dry the whole time! (Apparently rivers & streams are interesting, but the ocean? Not to be trusted.) He was not a fan of the water other than dipping his toes in – and that’s totally okay. In fact, it helped us get some great portraits of his beautiful (dry) fur!

I don’t know how Iver’s personality is going to develop as he grows up, since he has so much growing left to do – but I do know that his parents are the perfect fit for him. I’m so glad they all found each other. And I love when people come to me with a puppy, because it’s just the beginning! It’s a true honor each time, because I get a front-row seat to the beginning of an amazing story. I couldn’t be more excited for this sweet family of three!

     

Did I mention that Iver is a gorgeous dog?!

     

He also had a BLAST running around at the beach!

     

But he’s always happiest when he’s with his parents. Sweet boy.

     
     

Kate & Erick, thank you so much for introducing me to your wonderful pup! I’m excited to see you again soon! :)

Ace, the Happy Golden Retriever

Tuesday, July 27th, 2021

Ace is a golden retriever who is simply a wonderful, happy senior boy! He’s 13 years old and an absolute delight. His mom describes him as “a ball of sunshine” and I couldn’t agree more! He’s a friend to everyone and was not shy at all – not even for a second – when we first met at our pre-session consultation. He made a comfy spot right in my lap and I instantly knew we were going to be best friends. And since he’s very social, I had a hunch that he was going to be easy to photograph… turns out, my instincts were right and Ace did not disappoint!

Did I mention that he’s obsessed with his mom? Because it’s true, and it’s completely adorable! They have such a strong bond, if not one of the strongest bonds between a pet and person that I’ve ever seen. They were pretty much attached at the hip! She gushes over him and he reciprocates the best way a dog can, with his body language. Which means that while he does love meeting new people, he makes it clear that mom is his favorite. :)

His mom’s “must have” location spot was the beach – since it’s Ace’s happy place! Now that it’s July we’re finally getting out of that “June gloom” season here in San Diego, thankfully, and it wound up being a beautiful day in Del Mar. Sadly, Ace & his mom are actually about to move out-of-state, so it couldn’t have been more fitting to do a photo session at the beach before they go. I also suggested that we mix it up a bit by going to the park for a bit of variety, and his mom was up for the adventure. We didn’t spend a ton of time at San Dieguito County Park, but Ace loved it there and we ended up with some really unique portraits (that wouldn’t be possible to create at a beach)!

Unfortunately, Ace has not been without his fair share of challenges in his life. He was diagnosed with spinal cancer, and it was quite serious for a while – but he’s now in remission, yay! Cancer is devastating for many golden retrievers and their families… but I’m SO happy that Ace’s story isn’t over. He has many more adventures to come! This happy-go-lucky, fun-seeking, joyful boy made my job easy, and we really enjoyed ourselves during his photo session.

     

There’s something special about golden sunlight shining on a golden retriever. I can barely handle it.

golden retriever
     

He brought his whole bandana wardrobe to our photo session… naturally!

golden retriever dog
     

Fluffy sand, fluffy dog… I want to jump into this photo, snuggle up and never leave! Haha!

golden retriever at the beach
     

I know he’ll miss the beach, and his mom will too. But he’ll definitely have fun exploring the rivers around their new house!

golden retriever in del mar
     

Thank you, Shannon and Ace, for spending your evening with me! I can’t wait for you to see all the finished portraits very soon!

     
 

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