Emerald Isle Beach Sessions

I'm so excited to announce beach session availability in the Emerald Isle/Morehead City area this coming May 1st-4th! No travel fees will apply! I only have 2 spots available so please book ASAP if you are interested. I'm picturing beaches, boardwalks, sand dunes, boats, and quaint seafront towns! Eeeek! Because of the unpredictability of Mother Nature, I would like to book the sessions on the 1st or 2nd and use the 3rd and 4th for back-up days if needed.

Please email me at sarah@mcgrawphotography.com if you want more info or are ready to book!

Trails for Tails 2012

Yesterday marked a special day in history! Yesterday was the first annual Trails for Tails event benefitting Road To Home Canine Refuge and Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love. All the funds raised help with the costs associated for the care of rescued dogs while looking for loving homes. Everyone came out bright and early to participate in a 5K trail run and 1-mile Dog Walk at the US National Whitewater Center. It was a little chilly but everyone, including the dogs, had smiles on their faces!

Before I go into the details of the day, I want to thank each and every one of the participants, their pups, the volunteers, sponsors and vendors. Wow! You all really made this first-time event very special. Thank you for all you have done to support animal rescue.

Participants started registering for the 5K and Dog Walk at 7am. They got all kinds of cool swag including a t-shirt and goody bag.As people and pups started to arrive, I got to meet some of the 4-legged participants! :)Race time!!! I absolutely love the US National Whitewater Center and it is one of the things I'm really proud of in Charlotte. Their trail system is awesome for both running and mountain biking.These girls were ready to run and had fun with their outfits...Even Scooby Doo did some pre-race warm-ups!And they're off! As the 5K trail run was finishing up, the dogs got started on their 1-mile walk around the USNWC. So many dogs showed up and they had a blast circling the water at the venue.After the walk, everyone relaxed, waited for the race results to come in, and checked out all the wonderful vendor booths. Naturally, I hung out with more pups!Mecklenburg County Animal Care and Control announced a new program they are starting for their adoptable dogs. It's a running program that allows volunteers to take one of the adoptable dogs out on runs with them. The pups will wear an "adopt me" vest and the volunteers will be given cards with the dog's info. It's a win-win for everyone! The volunteers get to train and give back to the community while the dogs get exercise and exposure in the public. I love it!!! Missy (I really hope I'm remembering her name correctly) is one of the pups on the new running program. Don't you want to take her on a run...or, better yet, adopt her?The 5K race results are in!They had the cutest medals to give to the winners of the 5K and pet contests...

Thanks again to everyone that came out Saturday morning! If you don't see your pup here, check out the entire gallery in the events section of my website: http://mcgrawphotography.zenfolio.com. Pictures will be up shortly! :)

Bark For Life - Charlotte

Wow! Sunday's crowd was HUGE for the first Bark For Life walk held in NoDa! The Dog Bar was kind enough to host the event and even fenced in their parking lot so the dogs could roam off-leash. The crowds literally lined the street to get in to this doggy hotspot and to do what they could to aid in the fight against cancer. Despite the midday sun and the steamy temperatures, the participants rallied and raised almost $22,000! Woohoo! Before the walk, the pups got to hang out, go swimming, visit vendor booths and meet other 4-legged walkers. And, of course, pose for the camera!Any public place is cool in my book if a dog can be found in Superman pose on the floor!The walkers rest-up right before the 1-mile stroll...This year's Bark For Life walk was lead by Natalie, a 5-year-old Great Dane available for adoption from the Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love.And tons of cute pooches followed!Doggy contests followed the walk including the newest addition to the lineup...a pie licking contest!Whose face was licked cleanest?!?After a wonderful day in the sun, there's nothing like soaking your feet in the pool!If your pup isn’t featured here, it’s not because he isn’t photogenic! Find more adorable 4-leggers here: http://mcgrawphotography.zenfolio.com. A portion of the proceeds from sales of prints will go to the American Cancer Society.

Thank you to everyone that came out to support the fight against cancer! I can't wait to see you again next year!

RayLen - Drinks and Dogs Event

Saturday afternoon was a gorgeous day to just lay back, enjoy the sun, listen to some music, and have some fabulous wine. Oh, and of course, hang out with your dog! That's exactly what Raylen Vineyards and Winery had in mind when they organized their first Drinks and Dogs event! In my opinion, it was a great success and I am so glad I was invited to document the day! Only a short 30-40 minute drive from the Lake Norman area, I will definitely be back...when I'm not working! ;)

The dogs were so well-behaved and were totally diggin' the relaxed atmosphere.This pretty lady is battling cancer but spent the day bright-eyed and happy to be hanging out with her family...So, uh, whatcha got up on that table?These wrinkles are just too cute! I would love to have a photo shoot with a cutie pie like this!Sunbathing...Thank you so much for inviting me out to this event. I can't wait to come back and see how gorgeous everything is when the vines have filled in! I have my fingers crossed that I can schedule a photo shoot at this location...I bet the evening light on this hilltop is stunning!For more pictures from the event, click on the gallery at this link: www.mcgrawphotography.com/proofing

Bark For Life - Lake Norman

I'm not going to lie. When I got home Saturday after Bark For Life, I cried. I cried for the dogs, I cried for their parents, I cried for the survivors, I cried for the unlucky ones, I cried for anyone having to deal with Cancer. Hearing the stories of loss, struggle, and survival really hit me hard when I walked in my door and was welcomed home by my two dogs, Eva and Sadie. I couldn't help but look at them and think to myself, "What if those stories were my story? What if one of my dogs got Cancer?" I was scared, sad, frustrated, and heartbroken. After about a minute, those feelings turned around. I thought about what each Bark For Life event accomplishes and what each event stands for. A wonderful team of volunteers, survivors, and good samaritans organize and attend these events around the country to raise money to fight the "C" word we have all grown to hate. Maybe we can all take hold of the Hope that's in Pandora's Box? Hope that very soon there will be better medicines. Hope that there will be a cure. Hope that Cancer will no longer exist. Hope that no one - 4-legged or human - has to deal with the effects of Cancer.

This year, the Bark For Life event in Lake Norman/Birkdale raised nearly $25,000! The large crowd enjoyed beautiful weather, a relaxing walk, great vendors, and fun raffles and contests. I got to meet some incredible dogs and dedicated parents who are all ready to keep Hope alive! I want to give a huge THANK YOU to all that attended, volunteered, and supported this event. Thanks to you, hopefully I will never have to look at Eva and Sadie again and wonder, "What if?"

Mrs. Lake Norman and the *awesome* Chair of the event get things started!The large crowd gets ready for the walk and they are lead by Jax, the event's Canine Ambassador. This sweet man is available for adoption through Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love...And the walk begins!!!Some pups need a helping hand or a quick break in the cool grass.Sometimes, they just can't do it all on their own. Isn't that what this event is really about?After the walk, everyone gathered around to select Best Trick (being frisked by a real cop!) and Best Kiss...slurp!Many thanks to all of the lovable dogs (and people) that came out for such a great cause. You are all rock stars and heroes!

If your pup isn't featured here, it's not because he isn't photogenic! Find more adorable 4-leggers here: http://mcgrawphotography.zenfolio.com. A portion of the proceeds from sales of prints will go to the American Cancer Society.

Did you miss Lake Norman's Bark For Life event or would you like to participate in another walk? The American Cancer Society is holding a Charlotte Bark For Life event this Sunday April 28th at the Dog Bar in NoDa. For more information, visit the website: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=41705. Thank you again to everyone associated with these wonderful events!

Dolce and Louis - Happy B-day!

Ok. So I'm a bad doggy mom. I get my dogs a toy for their birthdays. That doesn't sound too bad does it? Well wait til you see how Dolce and Louis celebrated their first birthdays. With names like that, you know they had to do it up in style. I really have to step it up next year! :)

Dolce (the black poodle) and Louis (the grey poodle) celebrated their big 1 at Dogwood Kennel and Cattery in Catawba, NC. They were the talk of party in their oh-so-fancy attire...

The party got started right with a frisbee demonstration and flyball game by the great people at Jump 4 Discs.After all that hard work and playing, it was time to refuel with a little snack!Don't worry the people had refreshments too. I loved the dog-themed drink selection...Dolce and Louis had quite the spread. The centerpiece was a yummy (judging by the dogs' reactions) cake from Three Dog Bakery in Asheville.Dolce and Louis wasted no time digging into the yummy goodness.They even shared with their furry friends!I don't think Finn thinks they shared enough. Lol!Do I have anything on my face?Dolce and Louis got the HOOK UP with the presents! Thats the way to celebrate your first birthday!One of the favorite gifts was a pair of matching sailer shirts from their neighbor and best-dog-friend, Finn. These are just for those special occasions when they hang out on their peoples' boat. And of course Dolce and Louis had to show them off for a few minutes!Dolce and Louis pass on many thanks to the furry guests that attended. Doesn't every event have one that parties just a little too hard?Louis and his mom watch the doggy madness around them :)I did get to sneak away with the birthday boys for a few minutes to get a couple portraits.Happy, happy birthday, Dolce and Louis! I can't wait to watch you grow up!

Bark for Life - Charlotte

Saturday marked a beautiful day for Bark for Life - Charlotte! The sun was shining and it beckoned hundreds of dogs and their people to come out and walk to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer. 39 teams and over 300 participants joined together to raise over $43,300! Congratulations to everyone involved! Check out the huge crowd that gathered at the WFNZ Dog House...

The Carolina Panthers stadium went to the dogs as walkers enjoyed a 1.5-mile loop around the landmark.And what is a doggy event without pictures of dogs?I've said this before and I will say it again...I absolutely love participating in any American Cancer Society event. Not only is the organization wonderful to work with, everyone that participates is equally warm, loving, and open-hearted. Many, many thanks go out to all of the people and their canine companions that came out to this wonderful event.

If you would like more information about the event or would like to make a donation, please check out the event website HERE.

For more photos from the event, click HERE. Enjoy! All of the images will be up by Tuesday, April 12th at 8pm.

Bark for Life - Lake Norman

Saturday morning marked a first for the American Cancer Society. It was their first Bark for Life event held at Birkdale Village in Huntersville, NC. The morning was cold and gloomy but spirits were high as a large group of dogs and their people came out to walk in support of the battle against human and animal cancers. The one mile walk began in Birkdale, circled through the adjoining neighborhood and finished along the wetlands behind the Village. The rain held off long enough to finish the walk and even include some Just for Fun contests. Many thanks to all of the participants that braved the cool weather and came out to support a good cause. I always enjoy events put on by the American Cancer Society and this was certainly no exception. I enjoyed everyone's laughs, smiling faces, and most importantly, their pups.

I'll start off the parade of dogs with the 2011 Canine Ambassador. This is Peyton, a playful 10-year-young Lab who was diagnosed with a Grade II myxofibrosarcoma that was removed from his ribs in late 2010 and is now cancer free. Isn't he handsome...This little fellow wrapped up the end of the pack. He wasn't too keen on walking very far... This was a shoe-in for best kisser!

For more photos from the event, click HERE. Enjoy! All of the images will be up by Tuesday, March 29th at 5pm.

If you missed Bark for Life - Lake Norman, don't fear! ACS is hosting another Bark for Life event in uptown Charlotte on Saturday, April 9th at the WFNZ Dog House. I invite you to come out and walk for a cause!

Thanks again to all of the great participants!!!