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Self Care Includes Your Dog

3/10/2023

If you are a dog owner, I know that you know the very next piece of information I'm going to give you.

YOU MAY LIVE LONGER.

You read that right. YOU MAY LIVE LONGER.

A study published three years ago by Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association, suggests "owning a dog is linked with living longer." The data reviewed studies published between 1950 and May 2019 that evaluated dog ownership and its association to mortality. The research included 10 studies that yielded data from more than 3 million participants. (~Source: USA Today)

CONCLUSION: Dog owners were likely to live longer than those who didn’t have dogs.

BOOM!

Dog owners had a 24% risk reduction for death from ANY CAUSE, according to the study. For people with heart problems, living with a dog had an even greater benefit.

Dog and girl taking a break on a woodland path

Fresh air and a walk or hike can be great for heart health.

Walking Your Way to a Longer Life

It's no secret that dog owners are more active, no matter their age or the age of their dogs. Walking a dog 20-30 minutes a day, follow the guidelines put out by the American Heart Association--moderate physical activity for 150 hours per week.

Dog ownership has also been linked to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and a better sense of well-being.

The companionship offered by owning a dog, or any pet for that matter, promotes positive physical and psychological health in humans.

Man sitting on bench petting dog outdoors

My husband and our dog Danny enjoying a crisp pre-winter day.

The simple act of petting an animal leads to reduced stress and relaxation. Both owner and pet release oxytocin, promoting a sense of calmness.

Working Dog Parents

If you are a working dog parent or parents, you don't have to do it all on your own. Sometimes people feel they can't devote enough time to a dog because of the daily grind, but a typical work day is 8 hours and there are still 16 hours left.

There are a growing number of services available for dog parents. Dog walkers, pet sitters, doggie daycares, groomers and mobile vets are all at your disposal – do your homework to ensure you get people who will care for your dog like their own.

And there are plenty of non-puppy types looking for a home at your local shelter or through a reputable rescue. An older, more sedate dog is totally willing to put up with your 8 hour shift, as long as they get to be a part of your life.

An owner and her dog enjoying lap time at the park.

Dogs and Yoga

I discovered a group that dedicates its mission to helping rescues through Yoga. Doggy Noses & Yoga Poses is known as a socially-conscious fundraising organization that raises money and awareness for animal rescue groups by coordinating unique and incredibly fun yoga events with local businesses and studios. You can learn more about them by clicking on their name above. (~Source: DNYP website)

I am hoping to get one of our Yoga studios, locally, to organize an event with DNYP. Just think how much fun THAT would be!

Self-care takes on many aspects, and can be different things to different people. To me, a day in the woods with a dog, or a nice park walk on a beautiful afternoon, recharges my spirit and adds value to my life. Apparently, it also lengthens it.

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 (self-care), start here with Syracuse photographer Nancy of Nancy Kieffer Photography, as she shares 5 tips to recharge your spirit, while spending time with your dog.

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 weekend!

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Family Photo Sessions With Pets

2/24/2023

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I am always excited when families tell me they are going to bring their pet along to a family photo session! My first thought is: "Oh, they think just like I do"...that pets are definitely a part of the whole family experience.

Sometimes that's a big decision for families. They might feel their pet would not behave or act right in their photos, or that it might be an added burden to manage a pet while also managing the family for a photo session.

I am always happy to have a discussion with a client about the fear of including a pet in their photo experience. There are so MANY reasons to include vs not include them.

Easing the "My Dog Won't" Fears

I find we tend to worry more than necessary about things that probably won't ever happen. We build these little scenarios in our heads and then laugh at ourselves after the fact, because we knew--and actually heard ourselves telling ourselves--that things probably would not be as bad as we predicted.

Here are some of things I hear on a regular basis:

my dog won't sit
my dog won't stay
my dog jumps
my dog drools
my dog might pee on something
my kids get my dog too excited
my dog isn't good off leash
(fill in the blank)

Please remember that not only do I have six dogs of my own, who exhibit most of these behaviors from time to time, but I have quite a large number of years of experience working with pets of all types and all energy levels.

So:

I need three solid seconds for a clear shot of your dog
I have methods and tricks to keep your dog's attention
Your dog can jump on me...I won't be wearing my Sunday best...I get down on the ground a lot
Yeah....drool...it's a fact of life...I have towels
Clean up tools are available for any accidents
Your dog is never going to be off leash. (Check out the photos above and below. Can you find the leash?)

What You Need To Know

If your kids grow up with their pet, you will want to include that pet in your memories for sure!

Did you know: Kids are more relaxed when their pet is present for a photo session? Kids smile more and smile more authentically when they share posing time with their pet? Yep. I've seen it time and time again.

To prepare your pet to be included in your family portrait here's all you need do:

groom two days before your session, then bring along a brush to your appointment
bring treats your pet likes (or favorite toy)
use a plain leash (preferably clean and newer) and a nice flat collar (preferably a martingale-type collar)--I wrote a blog about collars. CLICK HERE to read it. You will also find more on collars later in this blog circle.
do not use a harness on your pet, as I will not be able to edit a harness out of your photos
practice sit and stay with a few treats for about three days prior to your session (10 minutes 3x a day should do it) holding each for at least 5 seconds (remember, I need 3 seconds)
exercise your dog on leash prior to arrival to our designated meeting location, and give them a potty break just before we start our session
bring clean up bags to clean up after your dog if needed

It's as simple as that!

My Dog is Afraid of Everything

I totally understand. I have one of these dogs, too. Bringing an already somewhat fearful dog to a location they do not know is probably not going to get you the best photos, but having me come to you at your home or back yard location, where your dog is already at least comfortable with that portion of the exercise, usually results in great photos.

And I always find a spot that will work for your family...even if sometimes it's the back of your couch.

Family portrait with pet in home back of couch

So have I convinced you NOT to leave your pet out of your portrait and lifestyle sessions? I hope so.

You can schedule either a portrait or lifestyle session by heading to the contact tab, under "more..." above, where you will find a form to fill out and send, or by contacting the number posted on this website (also above).

Lifestyle sessions are not as posed as portrait sessions and will usually have us focus on elements of your typical day, like the couple walking their dogs below.

Pets play such a big part in our lives, and we need to have their images intermingled with our own, because as we all know, the only flaw pets have is their lifespan.

Lifestyle Family Portrait with Three English Setter dogs outdoors walking

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 (photographer's choice), start here with Angela Schneider of Big White Dog Photography in Spokane, Washington, with five reasons to take adventures with your dog.

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 weekend!

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Keeping It Simple With Everyday Photos

2/10/2023

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It's not everyday that I pull out my studio camera, choose a lens, and set up lighting to capture something in my daily life. In fact, there are many times that I do not go to my main camera at all in my own day-to-day life.

I can grab my point-and-shoot Fuji digital or use my cell phone for quick snapshots of things that "make my day."

If you remember that old K.I.S.S. rule, keeping it simple will often make it easier for you to have fun taking and making great photos, especially when it comes to the pets in your life!

What To Consider

Not every photo has to be perfect, but photos should have impact.
Your pet's habits, schedule and routine moments, can help you be prepared for the times when photos will showcase daily activities.
Your pet's likes and dislikes should dictate what you use to grab attention, or, in the case of a pet that doesn't like photos, the unassuming tactics you will have to use to catch them in your lens.

Group of dogs and a cat on couch in winter

The above photo was an opportune moment on a snowy night. It is clearly not perfect. But it does capture a routine moment in our dogs' (and one cat's) lives. The habits and routine we know about, are the facts that our dogs gravitate to laying with each other on our large couch in the evening. We never know who will get the first-come-first-served spots, but we know it's going to happen.

In this case, two of the dogs on the couch do not like to be photographed, and had I made a big deal out of it or set something up, they would have left. Not one of them knew I was taking this photo with my cell phone.

Good and Simple Technical Practices

Whether you use a quickie camera or your cell, investigate the settings and be sure to switch to center point focus. Then focus on the eyes.
Crop out anything that gets in the way of the impact of your main subject. The photo below shows the same couch, in the same spot near the large window above. You can see I've cropped out all of the excess, but left in a bit of the table and the flowers on the table.
Use black and white to your advantage. Too many colors take away from the subject. Keep it simple by changing your photo to black and white.

Other Simple Things To Do

Look for ways to frame your subject.
Try different angles for different impacts.
Don't compose every image with your subject in the center.

Simple Things to Capture

In my house the routines and habits give me insight into the types of things I can capture on a daily basis. Things like:

Sleep positions
New toy or new chew celebrations
Cute facial expressions
Dog interactions
Cat/Dog interactions
Cats on the prowl
Window watching activities
Treat time
Couch time
Cuddle time

What are some of the routine things your pets do on a daily basis?

Playtime and Use of Words

I love to capture our dogs at play, or our cats doing odd things, then create small, sometimes humerous blurbs about it. If you visit my Instagram page @igottheshot and check out my Highlight titled "Capture the Day" you can see some of the things I have created there. If you are not already following this page, I encourage you to do so. I announce specials and change of season quick sessions there.

If you are using your cell, two great apps for adding text are Snapseed or Pixlr. Both are free. I have both on my phone and use them for "blurb" purposes, as well as some of the editing tools they provide.

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 (KISS), start here with Nancy of Nancy Kieffer photography shares some tips for taking your own photos of your pet. It's a good week to tune into the circle, as there will be plenty of tips.

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 weekend! Only 37 more days until Spring!

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It Looks Like a Golden Day

2/3/2023

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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

2 Comments

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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Self Care Includes Your Dog

Family Photo Sessions With Pets

Keeping It Simple With Everyday Photos

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

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