This week's blog theme is Gratitude.

I am grateful for many things.  Most of them have to do with my family, home, and waking up every day.  I am grateful for the unseasonable warm weather on any day it happens in November, all of our animals, and parents who placed a premium on education and trying everything at least once.

We have all been going through quite an ordeal in this country, with COVID dominating our news.  My studio was shut down between March and June, and when our state came out of the "yellow" phase and into the "green," I complied with a COVID plan for continuing.

I am so grateful for the clients who called and changed studio appointments to outdoor sessions.  I am thankful for all of my clients in general, but those that went with the flow and still pursued photos of their furkids and families during these difficult times, have a special place in my heart.

I am beyond grateful for the beautiful surroundings we have in Northeastern Pennsylvania, which afford great backdrops for outdoor sessions.

I am grateful for those who know that capturing a memory with their pet, then valuing it enough to place it as artwork on their wall, is a priority--because time marches on.

I am so very thankful to have been graced with the task of capturing those memories.  This weekend, as I finish another batch of holiday cards for a client, I am aware that 2020 is coming to an end.  We are all unsure what 2021 will bring us, and it's been a very long road to get to the end of this year.  But I do know I will be ready, once again, in the New Year, to make sure that beautiful memories of pets and their people are captured by my camera.

Oh, and I am ready for more Border Collies.

To see more things that the blog circle photographers are grateful for, follow the links around the blog until you are once again back here.  Start with Susannah Maynard of Pet Love Photography, serving Greater Cincinnati and the San Francisco Bay Area.  Warmer weather for our weekend here in PA!  Get out there while you can!  Enjoy!

In 2012, when I made a commitment to pursuing photography as my second career, little did I know what an exciting adventure that decision would start.

Recently, my continual hard work, education, and willingness to accept technical criticism in order to improve my craft, culminated in my first-time-ever entering into Professional Photographers of America's International Print Competition (IPC), where one of my images received Merit Collection status, as well as inclusion in the Showcase Book, that is compiled from images that receive a 5-0 merit rating among 5 judges.  Pure Gold did that.

Make no mistake, this type of work and competition is not for the faint of heart.  (Watching print competition, and hearing a discussion over your image is nerve-wracking!) However, it is WELL worth the outcomes--the biggest one being, personal improvement.  Here, you compete against no one but yourself, and I think we know how difficult self-as-competitor can be.  Over 5000 images were submitted this year, with 1706 being selected for the General Merit Collection.

Pure Gold is a simple image, taken of a Golden Retriever named Tioga.  Taken in studio with basic lighting, and processed in PhotoShop Elements, it is an image that needed little post-processing help, because I got it right in camera.  I got it right in camera because I have invested time and money in becoming a professional photographer, understanding my equipment, my lighting, and my subjects (which are primarily pets).  Being able to take a client image and compete with it, then have that image succeed, is a big thumbs up in terms of the quality of work afforded to my clients.

My 8 year journey, to date, has seen personal family setbacks and heartbreaking loss.  Still trying to schedule clients amid that family turmoil and loss, served to hold me back from entering print competitions for a while.  Deciding on what type of certification I would pursue, then finally finding the time to do so, was another huge consideration.  Digging deep for the motivation to continue on some days, when the world was especially gloomy--all played a role in where I find myself today.

This past month I also entered Professional Photographers Association of Pennsylvania's Capture 2020 print competition.  Here I had two images receive merit acceptance, with one receiving the highest print score in the Animal Portrait category, and the other being my first-ever challenge to myself in competing outside my comfort zone in the Illustrative category (hummingbird).

So I have placed my toe in the water in terms of International Print Competition.  My humble goal for next year is to have a few more images merit, and maybe even one Loan, while keeping time devoted to client work still my highest priority.

Yet another adventure!

This is a blog circle, with the theme this week being "adventure."  To see more adventurous photographers, start here with Pawparazzi Pet and Animal Photography presented by Shae Pepper Photography, then look for the link at the end of each blog to move on to the next circle member.  Enjoy!