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!

Sammy and Lilly - Kitty Pics

Cats are like Lays potato chips...you can't have just one. My client was extremely sick when the doctor suggested that she get a pet to keep her spirits up. She heard about a woman who was giving away some kittens so she made the trip to go meet them. She immediately bonded with Lilly as they sat on the couch and cuddled. It was a done deal. Well, that was until Sammy jumped up on the back of the couch and laid down on my client's shoulder. It wasn't just a done deal...it was a package deal.

That was seven years ago and now these cats have the life of a king and queen. They have the biggest toy collection I have ever seen, they have awesome beds next to their favorite windows, and they lounge on their third-floor balcony where they can watch the birds and the neighbor dogs.

Sammy is super outgoing and seriously just wanted to be in front of the camera. Lilly was a little more timid but she is equally as photogenic. I hope this feline family enjoys their sneak peek!

I don't know why but I just want to eat this picture up...I think Sammy got a hold of the "kitty crack"!

LKN Currents Pet Issue

October is one of my favorite months because the annual Pet Issue of Lake Norman Currents Magazine goes on stands! This year I had the pleasure of photographing Ozzy, a Boxer/Pit mix, for the cover. I felt a special connection with Ozzy as he and Sadie (my black Lab/Pit mix) have very similar pasts. They both were living at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter and both were found at an adoption event at the local Petco just a short time before they were to be euthanized. Ozzy's mom adopted him just 2 weeks prior to him winning the Currents Commodore Cover Dog Contest which landed his headshot on the cover!

And some more of the adorable Ozzy. Who said shelter dogs couldn't be supermodels?

If you pick up an issue, don't miss the "Pets and the Owners who Love Them" story on page 28. If you follow this blog, you'll find some familiar faces gracing the pages of the magazine. I'm so proud of my clients! They all look awesome!

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.

Grahm and Rimmy

I recently had the pleasure of working with Jena from Jena's Place for Paws to get some fresh, fun artwork for the walls of her new doggy day care. To keep things personal, we used her fur babies as models. Rimmy, the Min Pin, and Grahm, the Boxer, were happy to work it for us on this HOT afternoon! They totally rocked it and showed off their skills in front of the beautiful green landscape in Jetton Park. I hope the clients of Jena's Place for Paws enjoy the fabulous new images as they walk in the door!

Fred - A Hero to a Hero

Post-traumatic stress disorder isn't something to take lightly, especially when it is the result of the war in the Middle East. Jon, a member of the Army 27th Airborne, has been suffering with the effects of PTSD since his service overseas and also must now walk with the assistance of a cane. In an effort to get his mind and life back to normal, Jon contacted Hounds 4 Heroes, a non-profit organization that seeks to alleviate the psychological suffering of our veterans by providing companion animals free of charge. Hounds 4 Heroes introduced him to Fred and it was an instant match! Since adopting Fred, Jon's symptoms have slowly gotten better and he is becoming more and more social. He still has a long road to recovery but he now has a loving companion to aid in his rehabilitation. This was the 36th match for Hounds 4 Heroes. Thank you, Fred, for being a hero to our hero.

Mugsy and Moose - Studio Time

Last month, I had the pleasure of photographing Pepper, Mugsy, and Moose hanging out in their neighborhood (see their session here). They loved the camera so much that they went out, got an agent, and demanded some studio time to practice their modeling skills. Ok, maybe not. But that would have been funny. Mugsy and Moose made the trip to my studio and totally worked it. They earned those treats! Pepper stayed at home and rested as she still isn't at 100% health.

We started out and Mugsy and Moose were all about dancing...Ok. Posing time. Then they decided to go all Playgirl on me...I'll finish with an outtake. Because you KNOW dogs don't just stay there! Hehe!

Eva - Emerald Isle

I love going to the beach with my dogs because they can just let loose, obsess over Sandpipers, dig holes in the sand, and be extremely tired by the end of the day. I made sure I got some images of Eva doing just these things on our last trip to Emerald Isle. Enjoy! Eva's ostrich impression. Yes, she dug the hole this deep by herself. Silly girl.

Emerald Isle on Dwellable