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It Looks Like a Golden Day

2/3/2023

February 3rd is National Golden Retriever Day!

Who doesn't love a Golden Retriever?

Early in our dog life as a couple, my husband and I brought home a 3 year old Golden from our local SPCA. Her name was Sandy, and she had already been brought back to the shelter twice. Sandy was of the BIG and RED golden variety. In her prime she was close to 104 lbs. We liked to call her "big-boned." She really did not look overweight at all, but you definitely knew she was solid if she tried to sit on your lap.

Sandy lived a happy life with us and left us when she was 14.5 years old. That started us loving the breed.

Sandy exploring a snow-covered trail.

We have very few photos of Sandy left, thanks to moving twice and losing two computers to hard drive crashes. She was always up for a hike somewhere, and never really left our home base, except for one time when my Aunt Helen found her coming back home from a stroll by the lake we lived near, sauntering up the road like she owned the world. Sandy quickly accepted a ride back to the house when Aunt Helen opened her car door.

Then Came Ollie

When Sandy crossed over the Bridge, we waited a bit before getting another dog. One day, I read an ad in the paper looking to rehome two Golden Retrievers. We decided to contact the advertiser, finding out that he was an over-the-road independent trucker and had two pure bred retrievers who were brothers--Ollie and Oggie. We decided to go see both of them. Since his job was keeping him away for long periods of time, he felt the brothers deserved a home where people were around more.

Someone had already come to look at Oggie, so we decided to take Ollie, who was exactly one-year old when we gave him his second home. He had been living in an elaborate kennel/garage system and not really in a house situation, but it didn't take him long to "get it" and like it. Ollie became the family greeter and caretaker of family canine member additions, and was loved by all. He is another dog that never strayed from our property. He could catch a frisbee like no dog I have ever known. For as big as he was, he was dead on with the catch, and loved the game.

Ollie acting the big brother part for newly-adopted Moe.

Ollie passed over the Bridge much too early, at the age of eight, from hemangiosarcoma of the heart. Cancer in Golden Retrievers is a very real concern.

Love of the Breed

The American Kennel Club (AKC) defines the breed as "outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please." I would have to say ALL of those things were true about the two goldens we owned.

Goldens are great family dogs and our kids grew up around the goldens.

My past history with our Golden Retrievers has been a great foundation for my photography work with the breed, and I am always excited when I receive a call from a Golden owner looking for pictures of their dog.

The Day of the Goldens

Imagine the level that excitement reached when I got the call that an owner was looking to bring not one, not two, but THREE Golden Retrievers for studio portraits!!!

One of her dogs had a recent illness diagnosis at age 13, and she wanted to be sure to have "Loving Memory" photos taken. She decided to bring all three boys at that time.

Meet Tripper, Brew and Tioga (in that order below).

The brothers were a joy to work with. (Click on any photo to make it larger for better viewing.)

Tioga's photo, framed in the lower right hand corner, was part of my first ever entry into International Print Competition, and it not only merited, but received Image Excellence.

These three separate head shot now grace the client's wall as metal prints.

One Final Golden

I would be remiss if I didn't include Golden Retriever puppy Wyatt in this blog. Although puppies do tend to move around a lot, he was a very good boy for his session.

As noted, there is nothing quite like a Golden Retriever, one of the most popular breeds in households today.

Click Into the Circle

Want to see more Goldens, or thoughts about the breed? I am a member of a group of professional pet photographers from all over the planet. To see what others have written on this week's topic, start here with NH Photographer Sandra McCarthy of Sandra McCarthy Photography, as she shares a Cake Smash session for a Golden Retriever named Maple.

Then click the link at the end of each blog post until you find yourself right back here.

Have a great weekend! Enjoy!

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Sometimes Close is Best

1/13/2023

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SCUFI

No, it's not a late night info-mercial about a new mop that picks up pet hair with one stroke.

SCUFI - Shoot Close Up For Impact - is part of a thought process kept in the brain of a photographer about a possible way to photograph a subject. It is also a way to add impact to a photograph.

What Exactly Is SCUFI?

Shooting close restricts the field of view of the photo. It also makes the subject larger, and is often tightly cropped. It shouldn't be confused with Macro photography, as the magnification ratio for Macro is different.

Using the close up of a Monarch butterfly below (we actually raise Monarchs from June through October here), at a Macro level you would be able to see every wing scale. but with a 105mm lens, simply walking up as close as the focal length (and the butterfly) will allow for a clear picture, takes focus off the entire field of view and brings it right down to the butterfly. I like the 105mm for close ups because it does give you great detail, like the water droplets on the flower.

The Monarch caterpillar was taken with a 50mm pressed up against the habitat container. (Click on the images to view them larger.)

Sometimes Close is Best

When you have a small subject it might be a good idea to get as close as you can to focus more on the subject and limit the field of view. It often gives the subject MORE IMPACT!

The third photo above, Mr. Toad, is a regular summer-to-fall visitor and loves to try and hide from me either in the patio flower pots or old, fallen leaves. I think he has gotten pretty good at posing. He stays very still when I approach to make me think he is a leaf.

He's a small subject, and without moving up close you might not see him camouflaging himself in this colorful surrounding.

How Does it Work for Pets?

Sometimes older dogs will have infirmities that their owners might not want to appear in photographs. Or if a dog has just had surgery and the hair around the surgical site has not yet fully grown back to normal, then taking a close up might be a way to highlight what is special about the dog without including these things.

Sure, we can use photoshop or post processing to fill in the gaps, but there is nothing like capturing the "real" subject. I will often discuss things with an owner, finding out exactly what they'd like shown (and not shown) in a photo, if a dog has any issues. Same with kitties.

Our dog, Danny, for instance, has Degenerative Myelopathy, and his back legs, hips, and tail have atrophied quite a bit. He loves laying in the grass and has great, light brown eyes, so I will often get in close and limit the view of him--filling the frame with what is special about him.

This past week, knowing the upcoming blog topic, I enlisted two of our cats to participate in the up close photo task.

That's Luna on the left and our crazy cat Matty on the right. I let them just hang out in their usual haunts and they were pretty cooperative. Luna loves to lay on this old bench in the entranceway and Matty is always skulking around the kitchen lobbying for Temptations treats. Again, you can click on the photos to see them larger.

So that's it for this week's jaunt into getting up close and personal. Let's see what the rest of the circle has to say about the topic, starting here with Angela of Big White Dog Photography in Spokane, Washington, going back to basics with dog portrait sessions.

Enjoy your weekend! Spring is right around the corner and down the hill.

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The Walk Your Dog Month

1/6/2023

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Did you know that JANUARY is NATIONAL WALK YOUR DOG MONTH?

I am pretty sure someone who lives in Florida and has an odd sense of humor made this decision. Not to mention that coming up in February (the worst winter month of the year in Pennsylvania) on the 22nd is...........

NATIONAL WALK YOUR DOG DAY!!!!!!

The weather does not look like this in January.

There are several reasons WHY I think the coldest months (at least for us in the Endless Mountains and Northern Tier) received the National designations.

We needed to go back to our Viking heritage of laughing at the cold.
Getting up off the couch and unwrapped from throw blankets sets us apart from BEARS--who hibernate.
Retailers required someone buy the multitudes of lined boots and long underwear left over from holiday sales.

Okay, okay. I realize I am just venting with these ideas.

Why Winter Walking is a Good Thing

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but winter walking is actually really good for you, and your dog, as long as you think about a few things. Every January 1, regardless of the weather, I take one of our dogs for a walk, maybe even two or more of them if it's above 20 degrees, and I can repeat the process without a deep thaw being required in between each one.

First, I take into consideration the following things for safety.

Wind Chill : Outside Temperature Ratio
Salt and Ice Melt treatment practices where I walk
Age and health of the dog

I can always add things to the equation to combat the elements, like doggy boots (to keep snow and ice build up off foot pads) and a good doggy coat; and honestly, it seems the dogs really do enjoy the snow and cold more than I do.

A very snowy Moe.

Some Really Good Reasons for Winter Walks

Boost Physical Activity - I don't know about you, but in the winter, binge watching Netflix, Hulu, BBC and Paramount Plus is one of my main activities. My dogs love it because they get to lay around and get occasional popcorn, or whatever snack I am having. But, getting outside gets the body moving, more caloric burn (34% more) in cold weather, and increases heart and lung health for both you and your canine friend.
Better Sleep - You know that old adage: a good dog is a tired dog? Well, in the winter, cold air invigorates our senses and causes our body to work a little harder. Walking or snowshoeing through snow (for us) or leaping through mounds of the white fluff (our dogs), makes for better and longer restful periods when we return back inside.
Strengthen Bones & Improve Muscle Endurance - Some would argue that this benefit is just as likely in good weather, but in winter--and especially when there is snow--the resistance pressure from working through snow, coupled with the cold, makes for stronger bones and muscles.

We have owned many dogs (17) over the years, and only TWO actually hated the snow. It is safe to say most dogs love to romp and play in it, and unlike their human counterparts, hardly ever complain about it.

So get off that couch and get out there with your pooch. Winter is waiting!

Maverick, our neighbor's dog, oblivious to the snow and cold.

Click Into the Circle

I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet. To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic, start here with Atlanta pet photographer Courtney Bryson, who is currently searching for perfect canine candidates, as she discusses the next round of "Unleashed Challenges - Emerge," which contains 12 brand new challenges.

Then find the link at the end of each blog to click on to the next photographer, until ou find yourself back here. Enjoy! Have a great winter walking weekend!

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Another Year of Loving My Job

12/30/2022

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People, Pets, Places...Perfect!

The year 2022 only strengthened the LOVE WHAT YOU DO, DO WHAT YOU LOVE conviction for me. Meeting new people--whether seniors, families, or pets with their people, makes my job fun!

As I wave goodbye to 2022, here are just a few of the things accomplished.

A Look Back

Normally, now is the time I will sit and go back through my archives to view the year I saw through my camera. But this year, my main (but older) desktop computer gave up the ghost right as the year was coming to a close. Yes, I panicked.

Thankfully, I do have things saved in the cloud for client purposes, and will have all of the files back from that desktop in a few weeks, although the computer itself is going to hear "Taps" playing in the background. I did manage to make some collages from just a bit of the work I can access at the moment.

This year my clients consisted of almost an equal number of pets and people. I am thankful to have met everyone, and to have been trusted to capture their memories in photographs.

Sharing My Craft

This past year I was asked to speak at two events, highlighting my photography work with animals, as well as sharing my workflow, lessons I have learned (sometimes the hard way), and giving an overview of my studio and the equipment I use.

It was a chance to share what I love to do, meet new photographers, and travel to a part of New York state I had not been to before.

I enjoyed every minute of it! Who doesn't love talking about photography and animals?

Print Competition

Once again I entered various print competitions through Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and their affiliates. I am pleased to say I have had a very good year, and right now I am only two images away from obtaining my Master Photographer degree through PPA.

I became a Bronze Medalist in International Print Competition (IPC) this year, having all four of my images merit. One of the entered IPC images also became a Showcase image. I wrote a blog in October covering the IPC competition. You can read up on it more and see the images HERE.

Personal Accomplishment

This year, our deaf dog Talley and I took time to attend various levels of obedience and games training. In September, we actually went to a local fair and demonstrated some of the things she learned. She got a chance to meet and greet many visitors, and solidified the fact that she is a great people-pup.

Talley achieved her Canine Good Citizen classification in September, is now registered under the AKC PAL program, and will move forward to obtain her Therapy Dog designation (our new goal) in 2023.

I am ever grateful for the year we've had, for friends and family, for good health, good neighbors, and the chance to create and pursue a craft that keeps me motivated every day!

Happy New Year to all! That's a wrap.

Click Into the Circle

I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet. To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic, start here with Houston Pet Photographer, Kelly J. Russo, as she takes a look back at 2022 and shares some of her favorite highlights and outtakes.

Then find the link at the end of each blog to click on to the next photographer, until you find yourself back here. Enjoy! Have a joyous New Year's celebration!

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A Photographer's Christmas

12/23/2022

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The weeks before Christmas are busy, but exciting.

It's often a mix of personal and business activities.
Creating cards for clients
Painting a gift image.
Taking grandkids to meet the Grinch.

In between there are days of weather you just can't work around. This season, we've been hit with the proverbial "wintry mix" more than once which causes all kinds of havoc with client scheduling and trying to get things done in your own household.

As we wind down to the final days of the year, and with Christmas coming this weekend, here's a peek at what gets done at our house.

Decking the Halls

Concolor Fir from Z's Trees

The Tree

We found a new tree farm this year: Z's Trees.

Not only do they have lovely, well pruned fir and evergreen trees, but they are friendly and helpful. Z's is run by a young man who is still in high school and had a vision. We like to encourage young people, so off we went to grab our Concolor Fir. Z's also sells Douglas Fir, Norway Spruce and Blue Spruce trees. They open the first week of December and stay open through December 23rd. Z's is located at 200 Endless View Lane, Mehoopany. Phone: 570-721-3668.

The tree is just perfect, and our cats have not even thought about "adjusting" any ornaments this year. It smells like oranges! (Added benefit!)

If you bookmark this post for next year, CLICK HERE for a rundown of all tree farms in the Endless Mountains.

The Actual Halls

This year, I am trying to clean out my attic. So in between clients and gift shopping and editing and decorating, I am also throwing. Boxes. From the attic.

While doing this I found a few things I haven't seen in a while, and gave them a chance to be a part of Christmas decorations this year.

Attic find: Tartan clothed snowman.

Like this cute little snowman dressed in winter tartan holding his stick. I asked him why he had been hiding these past few years, but he had nothing to say. Snowmen--quiet types.

Lilah, decided she would volunteer to help me showcase the hall stairway.

Lilah acts as tour guide to the festive staircase.

It's kind of eclectic this year, and probably will not look the same next year, but it is always fun trying to figure out what to put on the banisters. We like to fill nooks and crannies with things so the kids find many items to touch and smile at on their journey through the house.

Remembering

Speaking of nooks, we do have some spaces that hold memories of loved ones who have passed on.

Mom's table.

This table belonged to my Mom, and holds some of the things that were passed on to me from her home. The crazy peace lily throws out wild shoots in the winter. It came from her kitchen, and has been blooming since she passed in 2020. In the summer, it loves the patio and fills out with more greenery. I like to make this space a little festive for her.

The little Christmas tree next to the angel sign was made from...wait for it...the protective corners of picture frames. It's a by-product of buying so many frames during the year. Painted and glued together, they make a great project for kids to be a part of the decorating process.

Christmas Wishes

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule or just the festive time of the year, from my family to yours, we wish you the best your season has to offer!

I found this Kindness Calendar early in December and have been trying to follow some of the days when I can. I plan to print it out for next year and start on December 1st to spread some holiday kindness. It's also a good teaching tool for kids.

I think the most important one is the last one: keep acts of kindness going year-round!

I am not a part of the blog circle this week, but will be rejoining for the last post of 2022 next week. Tune in. This blog was created entirely on my phone and laptop, due to a computer crash on my main unit. Luckily, I did have a back up editing set up to finish out my season. You just can't plan enough.

Merry Merry everyone!

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Snow Days Are Back!

12/16/2022

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The evolution of this week's blog is a story.

First, I was lost in a quagmire of days and not knowing really what day of the week it was, or what blog topic I should be writing for the circle group of professional photographers.

I blame my grandkids. They were visiting at odd times due to school days off, when they usually only visit on the weekend. So, naturally, when they went home, it wasn't Wednesday--it was Sunday in my mind.

Once that was straightened out, I noticed the blog topic was about "snow" and we had none. A small clipper system had deposited just a bit of white stuff last week, but it was already trampled and not even looking like snow anymore.

Then Mother Nature came to my rescue. Or not.

As I sit here writing this blog, we have 4 inches of snow on the ground, with a two day storm that will last until tomorrow, and drop about 8 inches total.

Talley and I went out to play in the snow late this afternoon.

Talley says: "Yep, that's snow, Mom!"

Dogs And Snow

Depending on the dog, and just like with bodies of water, some dogs either do or they don't like snow. We have had dogs in our life who took great joy in the white stuff, and other dogs who wanted nothing at all to do with it.

For dogs who love snow, it's a fun thing to watch them interact with the white stuff.

But, if your dog is one that does not like winter, there are a few things you can do to make snow a better experience.

Use snow boots for the dog who hates cold/wet paws. This also protects from chapped/cracked paws.
Find a comfortable, warm doggy sweater or coat that your dog will wear at the coldest times to keep the chill out, but to also keep him/her dry and free of snow clumps.
If your dog is prone to ice and snow balls getting stuck to their fur, there's a great tool to easily rid them from the dog: a wire whisk. Yep, you read that right. A wire whisk rubbed briskly back and forth on the fur removes the ice balls in seconds.
Give your dog a small treat when they go out into the frozen tundra. This is a good association and will help you when you say "anyone want to go out?" again and there is a mountain of snow on the ground. A dog that associates snow with a treat, is a good thing.

Talley catching snowflakes on her tongue.

Photographing in Snow

Cameras are strange and wondrous things. They always want to get it right for us, to the point where sometimes they get it wrong. This is why snow photographs can often make the snow look every color but white.

You have to figure, that white stuff is reflecting all over the place, so your light needs may be minimal. The photos you see here were taken around 3:00 p.m. during the cloudy snow storm, but I did not need any type of light to capture the images. They were all taken at ISO 400, f/3.5, 1/500, with a +2 exposure for snow. That extra exposure told my camera: "no, you can't turn the snow gray," which it is want to do in order to "get it right."

I used a 105mm lens, but it was what was on my camera. It's a portrait lens, but not a fast/action lens. Normally I would use a 70-200mm lens to capture the action shots I need, but my studio was ALL THE WAY OVER THERE, and I didn't want to traipse through the snow to get another lens. I do, however, feel it did a nice job on the falling snow in the shots.

Some tips for using your camera in cold weather:

try to keep it dry, unless you know it has weatherproof housing (I sometimes improvise with a Ziploc bag)
keep it warm or against your body if you are going out for long periods in cold weather (I will use a shoulder camera bag if I am going to be out longer than 15 minutes)
take extra batteries (they go quickly in the cold)

Have Fun!

The most important things dogs who enjoy the snow can teach us, is how to have fun in it.

Talley LOVES to run in the snow.

Talley was born in April and came to us at 8 weeks old in June. Her first winter, she quickly showed us that she loved the snow more than anything.

I have videos of her making her own snow tunnels and running endlessly through them.

I do try to keep our dogs from eating too much snow. If the snow is clean, it's fine to eat, but if they eat too much, it can lower their body temperature. We have a number of geriatric dogs in our household, so I will often watch that they are not chowing down on cold snow, and will make sure they do a quick turn-around of out/in if the weather is extremely frigid.

Paws up for snow in our household: Talley, Lilah, Billie
Paws down for snow in our household: Luke, Danny
Undecided: Piper (although he is easy going and it just depends on how his arthritis is doing on any given day).

It's all fun-and-games until somebody gets snow in their eye.

Click Into the Circle

I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet. To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic, up next is Syracuse Dog photographer Nancy Kieffer, who shares some tips for enjoying a snow-day session with your dog.

Then find the link at the end of each blog to click on to the next photographer, until you find yourself back here. Enjoy! Have a great and snowy weekend!

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Tips For a Safe Pet Holiday Season

11/25/2022

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I am happy to report that we made it through Thanksgiving unscathed.

I'd better whisper that just in case.

It is very typical in our household to be sitting in the waiting room at the Emergency Vets, because our dogs or cats seem to choose the holiday season to have their meltdowns.

We try very hard to keep the premises clear of all hazards, but once in a while, someone figures out how to infiltrate the boundaries. Nevertheless, here are some memes I've found which do a good job of giving us all a human safety-net and feeling of security, we can only hope to aspire to achieve.

Keeping Pets Safe - Tips From Others

While Good News for Pets has offered some really good advice in this publication, I know if I gave any one of our dogs a cardboard tube while I was gift wrapping, they would eat it, and we'd probably be sitting in the waiting room at the Emergency Vets. So that's a big NO for us.

With all tips, you have to ultimately do what will work for your pets, as you know them best.

We do keep our Christmas tree in a separate area of the house from where we live continuously with our dogs (our family room). Our cats can access it, and I'm not sure why we trust them more, but to date, only a few ornaments have been dragged through the cat door into the basement by our more mischievous kitties (mostly Matty). We don't use tinsel or tinsel products on our tree, because to me that just screams COSTLY VET BILL.

Here's another tip meme.

Using Henry Schein's guide for pet safety, I am going to have one very bare tree. Just a green thing with needles standing in my front room void of ornaments and lights.

That's precisely why we keep our tree in a different room from our more liveable family center.

I also never drape pets or children with lights in the studio for photographs. The entire thing scares the BeJesus out of me.

Henry's plant notes are right on the money, though, and should be adhered to, especially when cats are involved. We now use very good replicas of poinsettias (YES - FAKE), that can be found at either Home Goods, Michael's, or TJ Maxx stores.

My Tips for Pet Safety
I really only have three and they are easy to remember.

Nothing beats supervision. Nothing. We have six dogs at the moment. At one point in our life, we had 10. We always knew where each dog was located throughout the house, and their habits (sleeping, too quiet = trouble, squirrel watching, bird enthusiast, etc.). The cats are another story, but, generally, we have a good sense of the troublemakers in that group.
Decorate as if an 8 month old child lived with you. Fragile things up high or on shelves, Foods, medications, candy and other items of the like kept out of reach or in secure cabinets.
Train your dog to understand the "leave it" command. This simple two word phrase has taught our dogs what to stay away from year-after-year during the holidays.

Yes, pets have no idea how much trouble they can get themselves into, and that's why, as their guardians, we have to be the ones to make sure the trouble is minimal to begin with.

Enjoy your holiday season, whatever you celebrate, with your furry friends! Stay safe!

Click Into the Circle

I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet. To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic, up next is Northern California pet photographer Kylee Doyle, who shares her top tips for how to enjoy a safe holiday season with your pets.

Then find the link at the end of each blog to click on to the next photographer, until you find yourself back here. Have a great weekend!

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Thankful Kitties

11/18/2022

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It's the season of counting our blessings.

When this week's blog topic came up (Gratitude), I had just finished reading an article about the mystery we call cats. I wondered...

Are cats thankful? I mean, they are so good at hiding their emotions--except maybe when you open a can of their favorite kitty food.

So I did some research, and here is what I found.

The Cat Gratefulness List

There are a few things cats put at the top of their list in terms of being grateful. While they may not be exuberant (like dogs), achieving at least some of these items will keep a cat grateful and happy.

1. A comfy warm spot or two (someplace comfy and cozy to sleep, sleep, sleep)
2. A cat bed (this is wise if you also have dogs and dog beds, as the cat WILL take them over)
3. Toys (cats really do like to play, especially if they are "inside only" kitties)
4. Clean litter boxes
5. Cardboard boxes or paper bags (these are adventure items and make great hide-a-ways for cats)
6. Favorite food (of good nutritional quality) and treats

I have found cats love feather toys and small furry mice toys, and, while I am not sure what they put in Temptations treats, if you open a container of them in our house, you will have cats at your feet in a nanosecond.

We have four cats and each one has their own favorite spots and warm places to snooze. We often know exactly where to find them. Our kitties will also choose a lap to nap on, if we are sitting for a period of time either watching television or working on the computer.

How do you know if your cat is grateful?

I am getting to that.

Signs Your Cat is Grateful

Of course this will vary depending on the kitty and level of aloofness they want to project in their day-to-day lives in the fiefdom, but generally, here are some ways cats let you know how much they appreciate things.

Purring (consider yourself hugged)
Kneading bread or "making biscuits" - you know, that paw movement that mimics CPR or a good massage
Bringing you gifts (yes, I just knew you would love this dead mouse I got in the basement)
Blinking slowly at you (I love you- I love you- I love you)
Head bumps or rolling over whenever they see you

I read another really interesting fact about cats while researching this topic. A 2017 study on cats concluded that, among 4 categories of stimuli (human social interaction, food, toys, and scents), cats most preferred interacting with humans.

Even more recently, a 2019 study on cat behavior from Oregon State University reported that cats gravitated more toward people who showed them positive attention than people who ignored them.

Another important fact: Cats recognize and LOVE their people.

I am happy to know that while we are grateful for our cats, they just might be as--if not more--grateful for us!

Click Into the Circle

I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet. To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic, up next is Syracuse pet photographer Nancy of Nancy Kieffer Photography, who is thankful for the gifts her dogs have given her.

Then find the link at the end of each blog to click on to the next photographer, until you find yourself back here. Enjoy and have a very Happy Thanksgiving next week!

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Holiday Photographic Gift Guide 2022

11/11/2022

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How fast did this season drop itself into our laps?

Yep. It's time to figure out what Santa is going to leave for all the people on your list, some of whom you have no idea what to buy for them, because they "don't want anything," or "have everything they need." (How many times have I heard that!)

I have a few ideas that may be helpful in your quest to find the perfect gift.

AND, if you are a past client, you can take advantage of a 20% off past image gallery photo sale, held from now through December 5th, to make it happen. That same discount is applied to gift orders of NEW clients who are visiting for holiday card photos!

Here are three tried and true gifts that never disappoint!

A Beautiful Float Framed Print

You can make an image a one-of-a-kind piece of wall art by adding a handcrafted Float Frame. This can be done with a variety of print surfaces, including Photographic & Fine Art Prints, Metal Prints, and Gallery Wraps.

What is a Float Frame?

A Float Frame offers you some great choices:

Three unique molding styles, each with various color options (the one below is charcoal)
⅛" space between the frame and the print creates a floating illusion
Delivered ready to display with a wire hanger
Sizes: From 5x7 to 30x40
7-10 days to process

I don't know anyone who wouldn't be happy finding this under the tree, especially when featuring favorite pets, people, or a past year memory.

Everyone Loves a Calendar

Since making my own studio calendars for the past several years, I have now begun offering a year's worth of photo joy to clients. Why not revel in your own memories as each month passes?

There are two options:

Option One: A 5x7 Photo Print Calendar

You choose the images you would like included, and the months you would like to see them featured in, and I do the rest. Uniquely designed with your style in mind, there are many page options to select.

Showcase all the fun times of the past year in your upcoming year!

Design work takes 2 days, processing in 7 - 10 days.

Option Two: A 5x10 Magnetic Calendar

There was always a magnetic calendar on the fridge when I was growing up. Whether for your fridge, file cabinet, desk, or work bench, the days of each month are always in front of you.

You can dedicate this calendar to one very special remembrance, or select your favorite photo (or three) from the past year. This makes a great gift for a loved one--grandparents especially love this calendar with a photo of their grandkids, whether skin or fur, or a photo of your whole family.

You can also order more than one at a quantity discount. They take 7-10 days to process.

The Gift of Photos

If you'd rather let the choices up to the person you are buying for, why not choose a gift certificate, which they can use toward product credit, or to cover the cost of a photographic session.

I Got the Shot Gift Certificates are good for 6 months from the date of purchase, offer a unique gift idea, and often are just the surprise welcomed by families and friends who may have been thinking about having photos done, but haven't yet done the research and leg work to make it happen. This might be just the impetus they need!

Don't panic. There's still time.

You will also find more gift ideas as you stroll through the blog circle today, and there are definitely more products to select from available in the studio!

Click Into the Circle

I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet. To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic, up next is Seattle Dog Photographer, Holly Cook, as she shares her Holiday Gift Guide for 2022. Number 1 on her list? A very special offer for the "hard to buy" dog lover in your life.

Then find the link at the end of each blog to click on to the next photographer, until you find yourself back here. Enjoy! Have a great weekend!

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Bark or Treat

10/28/2022

1 Comment

Halloween for Dogs

At least there are no fireworks.

If you live in Cincinnati, Ohio, there is an actual Bark or Treat event being held with Mad Tree Brewing in Oakley. Costume contests, cold brews and pumpkin spice dog lattes. Sounds good to me.

Back here in Northeastern PA, there are many seasonal events that are dog friendly, but if you prefer to dress up as a cat and visit with some cats in celebration of National Cat Day and Halloween, you can attend a celebration at Purrfect Mugs Cat Cafe in Plains on Saturday, the 29th.

The SPCA of Luzerne County is sponsoring this event:

To Costume or Not To Costume - That Is the Question

As far back as I can remember, we have not exactly costumed our pets.

Oh sure, we have had the occasional fun with a grouchy cat and a feather boa, but no real store-bought-on-purpose Halloween-wear.

This is probably because, for many years we had to take three boys trick-or-treating, and were happy that the dogs weren't pestering us to buy or make them into cowboys, spacemen, Star Wars characters, pirates or mummies.

That doesn't mean I haven't thought about it lately.

I have watched a few YouTube videos of Pomeranians running at the camera in some of the funniest gear. There is a particularly cute pup named Mocha, who puts out a lot of videos. This is Mocha's Halloween 2022 video.

I do know that on the few occasions where we MAY have put a hat on one of our dogs, or some type of seasonal head band, we either got a mournful expression or the dog just laid right down on the floor and knocked it off. So, we haven't exactly fallen into the "PERSISTENT" category of Halloween dog-dressing.

Pass the Treats Please

Talley is really, at this point, the BEST dog model we own. Around here it's TRICK for a TREAT, and she has caught on with great gusto. I don't know if it's because she is deaf, but she hones in on exactly what she needs to do to get that treat. In fact, I was worried about her taking the Canine Good Citizen test (which she recently passed) because you can't use treats during the test, and I thought our whole system would collapse.

Lilah is our second best dog model, but she gives you "you have got to be kidding me" expressions most of the time. This Lilah photo was taken in 2015, and you can see her face tells you EXACTLY what she is thinking about the whole deal.

Billie comes in third place, and our other dogs refuse--really--to have anything to do with cameras.

So Talley was my choice for Halloween greetings. Her 2022 Halloween photo is below.

How Was It Done?

Our woods are pretty spooky in early evening, and evening comes quicker at this time of year. It took THREE TREATS for this look. I used a 105mm f2.8 lens and OCF (off camera flash) a bit off center and over my head. The pumpkins are stock that has been composited into the photo, the crow is brushed on. The collar is from Beamer's Bark in Style.

However you celebrate Halloween, give your pups an extra TREAT, but be sure to ask them for a TRICK!

Click Into the Circle

After a two week hiatus, I am happy to be back blogging with this fantastic circle of pet photographers. It's a really small circle this week, however. To read more on this week's topic "Boo," start here with whitewater dog photographer, Jan Bezzo, as she shares ways to keep your dog safe on Halloween.

Then find the link at the end of each blog to click on to the next photographer. Keep going until you find yourself right back here.

Have a great, and spooky, weekend!

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It Looks Like a Golden Day

Sometimes Close is Best

The Walk Your Dog Month

Another Year of Loving My Job

A Photographer's Christmas

Snow Days Are Back!

Tips For a Safe Pet Holiday Season

Thankful Kitties

Holiday Photographic Gift Guide 2022

Bark or Treat

i got the shot

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i got the shot

(c) Copyright I Got the Shot Photography All Rights Reserved

(c) Copyright I Got the Shot Photography
All Rights Reserved