In honor of Mother's Day this Sunday, we wanted to give a "BARK"out to all the dog moms in the world! We forget that pets can be kids too. So whether two-legged or four-legged, Mother's Day should celebrate all the moms who love and support their kids.
The pet loving community turned out on a sunny fall day in Santa Barbara to celebrate their four-legged companions and get those in need of adoption to a loving home. The Wags n' Whiskers event is the largest adoption festival on the central coast and is put on by the amazing non-profit C.A.R.E. 4Paws whose mission is to reduce pet overpopulation and keep animals out of shelters. The event featured vendors with the latest pet products and wellness tips, low cost vaccines with Project PetSafe and animals up for adoption from several shelters — over 31 dogs and cats found their forever homes!
Who says animals can't have alter egos on Halloween? Sometimes even dogs get tired of being dogs. I joined Uma and Finn along with their mama, Molly for a Halloween beachside stroll. The skies and water were stormy but the pups were set for the high seas as a viking and a killer whale. What fun we had!
Here's some photos of my day with these pint sized cuties. Two adorable duos, a pair of pygmy goats and a couple of mini horses on a picturesque ranch in Los Alamos. The sun was shining while a breeze whisked through the tall grass, the perfect setting to capture the essence of these unique companions.
Say hello to Sancho and his rockstar mom, Christi. She owns a local contracting business run entirely by women, called Projects General Construction and he owns her heart. They joined me at my studio to snap some photos of the love they share. This little beagle is as spunky at eight years old as pups half his age. He has the sweetest demeanor and was smiling from ear to ear during our entire photoshoot. Check out this happy pup!
In honor of the American Humane Association's Adopt-a-Cat-Month, here are two FURociously cute felines to inspire you to give a loving home to a cat in need. According to the ASPCA, a staggering 3.4 million cats enter shelters every year in the U.S. This number could be diminished if we all opened our hearts to a cat. They are amazingly easy to give a good home to as they can be happy in small spaces like apartments. So don't get discouraged, we can all adopt. They just need food, water and plenty of LOVE! Might as well adopt two too! Like Kishore who I photographed with his two sweethearts, Moss and Yuri.
Time for some fun, check out the behind-the-scene bloopers from my Mammoth Pet Products shoot! Here is a peek into the wonderfully playful world of dog photography. In other words, a glimpse at the amount of love that gets poured into capturing the shots that become the finished product.
A few months back, I had the amazing opportunity to do a commercial shoot for Mammoth Pet Products, a leading company in the pet product world. The photoshoot was for their redesigned line of toys, ropes and squeekers. The days on set were a whirlwind of fur and fun and it was tough work getting my four-legged models to sit, stay, and smile. However, it was an absolute labor of love. From a Pittie to a Rottweiler and a Frenchie to a Husky— it was blast capturing the diversity of dogs. I have been anticipating the launch of their new look and line, to see the shots as a finished product and am happy to announce it is finally out!
Meet Luke. He loves playtime with his mom and dad. He loves his stuffed animals, which double as chew toys for him to ultimately destroy. He absolutely LOVES giving people kisses on the cheek and of course, getting his picture taken. I got the opportunity to photograph this handsome guy in his natural habitat: His loving home
Peas in a pod, these two. I joined Rhodelle and her favorite pup Chivas for a playdate at their home in Santa Barbara, grabbing some fabulous shots all the while. Chivas, aptly named after their household's favorite drink, is guaranteed to make you laugh and bring a smile to your face. From the backyard to the tennis courts, following this cutie pie around with my camera was a blast and I hope these photos convey the fun we all had!
Milo has a baby brother on the way and his family couldn't be more ecstatic! Even though Milo isn't human, he can sense that something special is happening. You can tell by the smiles on his parents faces that this is a magical time. We took a walk through the Douglas Family Preserve in Santa Barbara right when that golden hour of afternoon light was peeking through the trees. I loved shooting this trio again and can't wait to take more beautiful photos in a few months when they become a quartet!
Over the holidays I had the pleasure of photographing some pups in need of homes for Care-4-Paws, with the hope that their close-ups would lead to their adoption. I am excited to know that one of these sweethearts has now become a jet-setting doggie. With a name like Paris this pitty was born to travel the world, or at least across the United States. This cutie has settled where the buffalo (dogs) roam free, in Montana with her new canine brother and kitty cat sister. Much love to Shadow's Fund for helping Paris get adopted. Shadow's Fund is an amazing organization that rescues senior and "pit bull" type dogs from public shelters, operating a no kill sanctuary in Santa Barbara.
Scenic San Francisco on a crisp fall afternoon, the perfect backdrop for a Christmas card photoshoot. Pete, Siejen, and Milo wanted to shoot at the Palace of Fine Arts, a location that matched their classy and fun personalities. Milo, a Wheaten Terrier adores greeting people and giving face baths, but especially loves his sweet owners. Pete and Siejen were so fun to work with, and clearly love and complement each other well. Anyone who sees these photos can surely tell that this cute little family loves to laugh!
Curly hair, don't care! Take a peek at Japsar, a lovable poodle with a big personality. His tongue was out and his tail was wagging away throughout our entire shoot.
A girl and her dogs! These sweethearts are the light of her life. It was so cool to be able to photograph this trio and their mom in their own backyard. I got to capture them in their happy place at their most comfortable which shows through these sweet images!
On a sunny afternoon in Santa Barbara, Anabelle, her person Holly and yours truly took a walk amongst the live oaks for a photoshoot. These ladies know sure know how smile!
I joined the cutest little terrier Bob and his people on an adventure to a San Francisco park. With plenty of green grass to play on, it was the perfect backdrop for a doggie photoshoot!
I had an absolute blast with Bella the Frenchie. She was all smiles and ready for her close-up during this studio shoot. Indoor photoshoots are the perfect location to let a pooch's personality shine!
