Chi Chi, Lola, and Ramesses II

I know that Forrest Gump said that life was like a box of chocolates...you never know what your gonna get. But for this session, I wonder if he should have said that dogs are like a box of chocolates? Upon booking her session, my client warned me that one of my subjects, Chi Chi, was known to be feisty and has a bite history. Knowing this, I certainly took my time allowing her to get familiar with me and the camera. Of course she barked at me at first. However, when I pulled out the treats and she got a little taste, it was only a matter of minutes before she was licking my hand. She didn't even respond to the camera so I knew we were golden!

I never like going into a session with a preconceived notion about a dog. Of course I want to know about their behaviors, personalities, habits, bite history, etc. But like Forrest said, you never know what your gonna get!

Here is Chi Chi workin' it for the camera just minutes after we met... Lola, on the other hand, is also a barker but warms up to strangers easily. She loves treats and showed off her best beg.I love the way Chi Chi sits. Haha! It cracks me up (so does Lola's look in her sweater)! This picture pretty much is the visualization of my tagline, "Modern images for posh pets." Those are definitely some posh shawls!Surprise! Not only did I photograph Chi-Chi and Lola. I also had the honor of spending some time with Ramesses II! And, wow! He is a looker!

This gorgeous boy was previously a race horse but has been off the track for 3 years. He was adopted by my client just a couple months ago and he has made their family complete.Ramesses' mom has been riding for 17 years and is so ecstatic to finally have a horse to call her own. I love the way they look at him...These two are just too gorgeous!

I want to give a special thanks to Perky Ears, LLC  - you gals know who you are! Hahahaha! I hope this gorgeous family enjoys their sneak peek! :)

Triple Play Farm

I recently had a photo shoot with Lake Norman Currents Magazine for a story on horse therapy. I made the short trip over to Triple Play Farm in Davidson, NC to photograph a couple sessions in action for them to use. Wow! It was so amazing watching those sessions, learning about the different exercises, and understanding how they mentally and physically can help people get over eating disorders, emotional issues, social problems, and much more. Their work is amazing and I can never get over how important the role of animals is in our lives. These horses have now been added to my mental list of selfless animals that live their lives to help people. Included in that list are seeing-eye dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and dogs that aid the disabled - all amazing animals. After the therapy sessions, I got to spend some private time with the horses as they went to pasture. I was lucky enough to grab a couple pictures for myself and I took advantage of the gorgeous light. I think it is very fitting for how special these horses are.

This is Leo, a one-year-old Ardennes horse.

And Clyde, a Norwegian Fjord with a killer mohawk!And Moose, a mini-horse.I love that Moose is a male but still rocks the braid! Plus his eyes are 2 different colors. Awesome!Of course I had to photograph the barn cat. She was just too pretty not to...

Monark and Kasper (both Norwegian Fjords) aren't seen here but they will be in next month's issue of Currents Magazine. Check it out in November if you want to learn more about the world of horse therapy.

Friday, Dally, and Mopsey

What do you get when you combine a gorgeous evening with a beautiful horse farm...oh, and throw some awesome dogs and a horse in the mix? How about an unforgettable pet session with Friday, Dally and Mopsey! I had the pleasure of traveling to Glennair Farm in Lugoff, SC for a wonderful birthday present session for my client's best friend. The BF was a little suspicious when she was kicked out of her own home for a couple hours and drilled my client when she got back to the farm. My client caved in and told her about the photo shoot :) I don't blame her! Especially after seeing how these ladies all acted like professional models!

This is Dally. I couldn't believe how she would model for me. She sat in the most beautiful locations as if she was trying to tell me where to visit around the property.And this is Friday.These two seriously have the best life on this farm. They get to roam and play free without a care in the world. But you know what? With all that freedom, guess where they want to be?

Right by their owner's side.

Love.Next up is Mopsey. Mopsey is a gorgeous 3-month-old horse with her own spunky personality. She is so much like a puppy...just a WHOLE lot bigger.

She's a stunner... Ahhhh! That beard and those ears!And both!!!! Love her!Bye for now...

There is no better way to capture the entire session than in your own coffee table album. A little sneak peek ;)

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From the Sea to the Mountains

I know, I know. I have my blog title backward. But that's the direction I traveled the last few weeks! Last week I spent several days relaxing on the beaches of Emerald Isle, NC and this weekend, I hung out in a cabin in the mountains of West Jefferson, NC. Here is a little sneak peek of the blog posts from each of my adventures. Stay tuned...