Penny - Studio Session

Penny is the classic Golden Retriever. She is full of energy, is so sweet and loving, and is always on the move! I think she is shown best doing what she does, which is running, playing, and being energetic. That is the great thing about this week of doggy model sessions. I've seen so many doggy personalities and have to figure out how to show each of their very individual traits with nothing but a plain paper backdrop. I hope these images capture Penny's energy because she is so beautiful... Sometimes the images that aren't technically perfect are some of my favorites...I love Penny's crimped ears!

Thank you Penny for such a fun-filled session! I hope your mom enjoys her sneak peak!

Mya - Studio Session

When I saw Mya's submission to the model search, I just knew I had to pick her. Her markings are gorgeous and her eyes are to die for! I knew she would be perfect for the new grey backdrop I had in mind just for these portfolio-building sessions. I think she looks beautiful on the grey... Aren't her eyes gorgeous?A big thank you Mya and her mom for participating in the model search. Stay beautiful little lady!

Phoebe Buffet - Studio Session

Monday night I was graced with the presence of a true old soul - Phoebe Buffet. This sweet lady is an eleven-and-a-half year young St. Bernard with the most fulfilling life. Her mommy works with the Humane Society of Iredell so Phoebe has spent her life teaching fosters puppies how to become great dogs fit for their forever homes. She has taught countless pups how to be crate-trained, house broken, and well-rounded. On top of her mothering skills, she has grown up playing and swimming in the pond located on her 11+ acre plot of land. I think her important fostering responsibilities and seriously fun hobby have aided in rewarding her with the clean bill of health she has had her whole life. Phoebe Buffet was easy to photograph as she has gotten a little slower with age. I love this dog so much and I only spent a very short time with her. You can see her stories, experiences, and the patience in her eyes...eyes filled with such depth and soul. Hugs and slobbery kisses to her...

Her mommy loves tongue photos and, fortunately, so do I!Phoebe Buffet was sporting the Lion Cut for her photo shoot...

Spanky - Studio Session

Check out this cool little guy! This is Spanky, a unique English Bulldog/Chiauahua mix (yes, DNA testing was done :) ). He was great in the studio and did all of his cool tricks, including his Tigger jump! I got some awesome pics of this little man and I hope his parents are happy. I even got some special shots in just for his daddy! Gotta love the frog legs......and head tilts......and both together...

Bronx - Studio Session

Bronx was the first of the pups to participate in the Model Call Studio Sessions! He is a stunning boy with the most soul-piercing eyes you have ever seen. He did a great job during his shoot and really hammed it up for his bacon and sausage. Many thanks go out to Bronx and his mom for helping me and becoming a part of my portfolio. Here is a sneak peak of what's to come in your gallery. Enjoy!

iPhone Photo of the Day - WANTED!

I'd say someone was busy last night. Hmmmm...forensics tell me the guilty party used a sharp, pin-like weapon multiple times to disassemble the victim. Hair samples found at the scene point to a tortoiseshell-colored suspect...

Bags for Wags Tournament

Saturday might not have been the prettiest day out, but it sure was a great day to raise money for a good cause! Hundreds of people ignored the mist and rain and headed out to the Thirsty Beaver Saloon where the 2nd annual Bags for Wags Corn Hole Tournament was taking place. I don't know exactly how many teams participated - all I know is that you could go cross-eyed reading the ladder! :) All of these dedicated teams participated to help Bags for Wags raise money to support the Coalition to Un-Chain Dogs. Between the tournament, drink specials, BBQ, silent auction, and raffle, over $6,800 was raised!!! This blew away their $3,500 goal! Congratulations!!! Bags for Wags was formed by three guys looking to give back to the Charlotte Community by assisting local animal organizations with their fundraising endeavors and helping educate the public on the need for spay/neuter and improved welfare of animals. Last year they held their first tournament with 30 teams participating and raised over $3,200 for the Humane Society of Charlotte. This year, they focused their efforts on the Coalition to Un-Chain Dogs, a group of animal lovers that has unchained over 500 dogs over the past 4 years at no cost to the animal owners who typically can not afford to build a fence.

I'm so happy to have donated and participated in this great event! Thanks to the sponsors and everyone that came out to help our fellow four-legged friends!

A raffle and silent auction helped raised money while providing some awesomely cool stuff! I was lovin' the hand-painted corn hole boards and the mini PBR fridge! Now on the the "Wags" part of the day! When I first arrived, it began to rain and everyone, including the dogs, piled into the bar for cover. A couple of the dogs made themselves right at home...

Once the rain let up, it was back outside for some socializing and posing. Not too many dogs were hanging out but I tried to photograph as many as I could!

I love the drool!This sweet boy was an unfortunate victim of dog fighting. He is now fighting back in his own way! Although he lost his leg, he has found a loving home and has learned to be a well-balanced, social, and affectionate doggy.

Kitty time at the HSI

I love cats. In fact, I've owned more cats than dogs in my lifetime. Fortunately, my jobs lets me spend time with both! However, cat photography seems to be a bit less popular and the majority of my time is spent in photo shoots with dogs. That being said, I was thrilled to find out that the Humane Society of Iredell had plenty of cats that could go for a good photo shoot. I was happy to oblige. Humane Society of Iredell has a great facility up in Mooresville, NC. The building is clean and is staffed with awesome volunteers that have the animals' best interests in mind. The cats have multi-level cages and have a private room where they can socialize with one another and visit with potential owners. If you ever get the opportunity, check out the facility and spend some time with the wonderful kitties! PS - they have dogs available too! They are all placed in foster homes but can easily have a visit arranged.

I'll start out with an adorable little kitten named Hope. She is just a little 12-week-old bundle of energy! She absolutely was cracking me up as she zoomed from corner to corner in the room. She would flatten her tail along the top of her back and looked like a chipmunk as she ran to and fro. Total cuteness...

Her favorite game must be tug-o-war! Check out these outtakes of her pulling with all of her might. Her chipmunk stance is on the lower right.

This beautiful kitty is Gloria. She is just 11 months old and has the biggest eyes I have seen on a cat in a long time. She loves to cuddle and if you're not careful, those eyes will lure you in to give her treats...

Skye is the next kitty I got to photograph. She is a fluffy 3-4 year-old Persian blend with lovely silver/smoke fur. She will need a peaceful home where she will be free to do her own thing.

If I didn't know better, I would say that this next kitty is Gloria's twin. She shares the same stunning eyes, beautiful markings, and hard-to-ignore personality. This lovely girl is appropriately named Princess... The last girl I visited with was Laverne. This grey kitty is only 8 months old and loves playtime, being held, and lots of kisses and toys. She is a lover...

On a technical note, I used my new 50mm f/1.4 lens for these pics. I would have been out of luck if I didn't have it in my arsenal! This room was very dark with only one fluorescent fixture providing the light. I had my lens wide open and fortunately managed to avoid using any flash. Because the room was so dark, I wasn't able to stop action at all and I still have to practice with the very shallow depth of field. However, this lens rocks and I can see myself using it for all types of situations - low light or in the middle of the day!