We live 23 miles northwest of the city of Scranton, our largest metropolitan area. and the seventh most populous city in Pennsylvania, with close to 78,000 people.  That being said, we moved away from population overload and out to rural American in 1995 and have never looked back.  Now, our small town suburban areas are where we shop and take our dogs for walks and attend events.

It's because of this that I usually seek out small town ambiance for most of my sessions that are not done in studio or on location at a park.  I feel safer with dogs in a less populated environment, where less traffic (both pedestrian and street) make getting the right shot difficult sometimes.

Above is a photo of Billie taken in the historic district of downtown Wyalusing.  I did want to showcase some of the great color schemes of the street, and I was happy with her reflection in the door.  I held my breath hoping her stay was good enough for the duration of the photo, so the fact that she is not looking at the camera is due to the hurried nature of the shot. Still, I am happy with it.

In my past life I worked in the city of Scranton, at The University of Scranton, which is a beautiful urban campus.  I sometimes will take one of our dogs on a walk there in the better weather, and once students have left at the end of the semester.  Such was the case when I took this photo last year.

Animals of Billie's size are often dwarfed by their surroundings in urban settings, so you do have to get closer if your focus is simply the animal.  In this case, I did want a full photo of this beautiful, and relatively new, science center.  However, below I brought this down to perspective for Billie, which brought us a little bit closer.

I used a 24-70mm lens, which accounts for the angle and the distortion you see.  But in this case, I thought it all helped to give a different perspective on the subjects (the building and Billie).

I like the Wyalusing photo much better, showcasing that suburban setting, but it really all depends on what you want and what your eye sees at the time.  Urban can be fun, but I am generally not looking for an urban location, unless a client lives in the city and wants to specifically highlight where they live. 

For more urban settings, the blog circle awaits. Start here with St. Cloud MN dog photographer, Cahlean Klenke of  About A Dog Photography.  Look for the links at the bottom of each blog, which will take you to the next one.

I am off to the Professional Photographers of Pennsylvania INSPIRE Conference this weekend, and I am looking forward to continue to enhance my photographic education!  It's always a fun time with my fellow PA photographer friends! I hope your weekend is full of urban conquests!  Enjoy!

There is so much that can be said about Portrait Photography, that I am overwhelmed just thinking about it, and how to whittle it down for quick consumption.  Between lighting, metering, composition, posing, portrait lenses, backdrops, etc. etc., your head can explode.

It is advisable to choose a photographer who understands the requirements of good portrait work, whether using natural or studio lighting, because it really isn't just about picking up a camera and taking a shot.  There is a science behind a good portrait photograph, and it has to do with the relationship between all the elements mentioned above.

That being said, I am going to focus on two environmental portraits (lifestyle portraiture) taken in the summer on the same day in two different settings.  The first was taken in outdoor light.

Environmental portraits are the best way to go when kids are involved with pets.  Capturing both in their own, comfortable space more often than not gives better results than staged studio portraits.  This particular photo was taken well after the pup chased the ball about 15 times and the child ran around after the ball, and the dog, until she felt a break was needed.  A reflector was used, camera right and below to get rid of a green reflection from the tree they were sitting under.  The pose was natural and fell from the activity (or lack of it) at the time.

Here's the same child, different animal, inside.

The light here is natural only, coming from a large window, camera left, a window behind the chair, and a window camera right.  The sun was streaming in through the window on the left.  Attention to white balance is important to ensure the deep yellow cast of the room does not fall on the child's skin, unless that is the effect you are looking for.  Again, a natural pose, not staged, in a comfortable environment.

Both portraits give you insight into the life of the child.

I do many dog and cat portraits, some in their natural environments and some in studio.  Because I used two photos I did in the summer above, here is a studio portrait done recently as part of a Loving Memories session for a Dad and his dog.  You can see the dramatic difference in the studio lighting, and the story told by the photo is one of deep love.  I usually hold it together pretty well during Loving Memories sessions, but this one was difficult for me, because the subject let me into his life in a very real way with this particular portrait.

While I specialize in pet photography, I love capturing pets AND their people.  My goal is to provide a lasting portrait memory.  It is the culmination of the years I have put into learning the craft, in a moment of time dedicated to the client, and serving them in the best way possible.

The subject this week is Portraits, and my guess is the blog circle will have lovely things for us to see.  So head there right now, starting with Angela Schneider of Noses & Toes Pet Photography in Spokane, WA, and North Idaho.  Have a great weekend!

We are approaching mid-March in Pennsylvania, better known as snow-melting mud month. At this time of year we are just starting to see yellowish/green grass appear from under ice layers in the back yard.  Our dogs have learned which parts of the yard are safe to travel and which offer guarantees of slipping feet and no stability.

It's no surprise, then, that when this week's theme appeared, I immediately thought of and longed for the green grass of spring and summer.

I've spent some time this last week and weekend purging archived files.  I discovered so many I had set aside and not edited.  When I came upon the summer grass photos, my whole mindset perked up, thinking of warmer days, sandals, patio living and sunshine.  It's no surprise that I decided to share that mindset with you this week by editing some unedited photos and sharing them here. 

Nothing is brighter than the grass of Spring.  Photographers know this, as we clean the reflections off the coats of our subjects, to eliminate the green cast grass often adds to the photo.  But right now, that bright green is what I am waiting for.  How about you?

The first photo above is of Tinker, our farrier's dog, who accompanies him on all of his farm trips, and brings mountains of sticks to your feet to be thrown.  The second photo, is our Bethy, who will be 14 years old this year.  Both were taken late day (sunset time frame), surrounded by spring green grass that needed to be mowed.

There's a reason it's called spring, you know.  It brings a spring to your step, encourages you to spring into new projects, and even clean the house.  Okay, let's not get THAT carried away!

To enjoy more of what this week's theme has to offer, remember this is a blog circle, and by clicking on the link at the bottom of each blog, you can see more interpretations of the theme, and meet more professional photographers (both nationally and internationally).  I hope your weekend is Springy!  Start here with Linda Perdue of VP Shoots Photography serving Tampa Bay, Florida.

I love working in my studio.  There I am in control of lighting and objects, the amount of bodies (furry or otherwise) in a scene, and have access to all the tools of the trade.  But there are many times when I suggest other-than-studio settings for photographing pets and people, and there are a number of people I meet who want the most realistic picture of what their pet looked like, or did, in everyday life.

This is when Lifestyle Photography plays an important role. This is when I pack up my goods and go on location, usually at a client's home or to a field where they may be hunting their dog, etc.

Below is a photo of a kitty who spends beautiful summer days on a lovely deck surrounded by flowers and cat grass.  He wears a harness and has learned that he cannot go anywhere, so is happy in his deck garden.  Everyday life.

Lord knows I have countless photos from my own crew lounging around or playing in the yard.  But I took this opportunity to look back through my stock of photos to get an idea of how often I am requested to come on location.

Hunting with a dog is one of the reasons I would be on location.

When people are involved in the photograph, I tend to give some posing instructions, or an objective for the photo.  But when it is just a pet, this is not always an option.  Some direction may be provided by the owner, but in most cases I am waiting and watching to observe behavior and find the best possible shot.

In the case below, the owner had control of the subject, and the objective was planned beforehand.

It seems I do more on location work and lifestyle photography in the better weather times of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which makes sense.  I do love exploring new locations that have a value and meaning to the client, and that help build exactly the type of memory they want.

Above, Sadie takes a break on her favorite dirt spot waiting for the horses to come out on the farm.  When you see a pet do the same thing every day, this could be the fond memory you might want to capture.

There is nothing too mundane or too routine about grabbing the photo of day-to-day life that will spark a memory or make you smile.  For most pets, home-sweet-home is the prime location where they will be the most relaxed and interact with their environment in the easiest way.

I have captured many memories of our own dogs, cats and even chickens, doing their every day things.

The theme this week is No Place Like Home.  To see more interpretations, start with Darlene Woodward of Pant the Town Photography, serving MA and NH.  Find the links at the bottom of each blog entry to travel around the circle.

Daylight saving time begins on March 10th, which isn't that far away, so I look forward to warmer weather and more on-location photo shoots! Have a great weekend!