Family for Christmas & Amazing Shoots
I spent some time with my tribe over the Christmas holidays in my home state of South Australia and it was so good for my soul. I sit here with happy tears in my eyes as I remember that precious time with family and friends. Although I love my new home and it’s stunning surroundings more than SA, I truly do miss being around my people.
While there, I did 5 shoots of some incredible dogs.
Fintan
The first shoot, a Mini Schnauzer Puppy, Fintan. I have known Fintan’s Mum for many years as she had Denzel, the litter mate brother to my Herman - they were both Standard Schnauzers. So it was bitter sweet to capture this brand new love in her life, while still remembering and honoring the beautiful memories she had with Denzel.
It can be incredibly tough to love a new dog when the pain of losing another is still very real in your heart and soul. But it’s crazy how much joy a new dog brings to your life and helps your home be less empty. Fortunately, I captured many portraits of Denzel and Herman in their many adventures. Little Fintan is the sweetest, happiest little boy and I loved his running shots as he would snuggle into me when he reached me, showering me with kisses and wiggling his body and tail like it was 1999!
Lady
The next shoot was for Lady, a little Spoodle cutie and her Mum, Sandra and Dad, John from the southern beachside suburbs. Little Lady is a fairly new love to Sandra and John, after losing their beloved, loyal Tiger. Lady loves spending a morning down at the beach, chasing her ball and playing with her friends. She is a regular face at the beach, living her best life. Lady has a best friend who is a cat named Nala. She also has family dogs she loves dearly, Dusty, Indy, Ollie and Charlie.
Lady really does have the most incredible life with her family both fur and two legged. Here is Lady enjoying a little snuggle with her Mum while overlooking the inlet on a beautiful, morning with dramatic overcast clouds and stunning filtered light.
Ruby
Next up was Ruby, with her parents Stephen and Mandy. I knew Ruby as a young girl, full of pent up energy and a desire to herd everything. Ruby began with me as a dog training client doing in-home private consultations then classes.
Later, I did some “walk and train” sessions with Ruby. The neighbours had demolished the house next door and were putting up new houses. The noise from site, especially the constant nail gun, was causing Ruby much distress while her pawrents were away at work.
So, Rubes and I would go on adventures together and forget about the worries of the world. She really is the most incredible girl, super smart, super willing to please and very easy to train. We used to have such a great time together.
I also did a shoot for Ruby when I first started in my photography journey. Now days, not a lot has changed. She has a few more greys around her face, but her enthusiasm for life is very much still intact. She is still crazy for her ball and her parents. I adore this girl and the time we have shared together and I’m so happy she remembered me. I got the greeting I used to get, which was so lovely. I was worried she might have forgotten me.
Her parents are incredible people. I am so blessed for the people who have come into my life while running my businesses. I am forever grateful to work in jobs I love.
Millie, Floki, Wagtail, Toby, Mocha
Next on the shoot list was Catherine with her 5 dogs at her new country home. What a pleasure it was for me to do this shoot as I have also known Catherine for many years. She came with her dogs to my dog training classes around 2010. Catherine does incredible things for rescue dogs and has had many steal her heart and live out their days with her, surrounded with love.
Some of these dogs have tough starts to life, but it is so evident when you spend time with Catherine and Pete that these dogs are so very loved and really are living their best days out with them. Especially now they have a “Country Estate” to romp around on.
Millie
The above two images are of Milly. This wonderfully friendly girl loves to paw at her Mum’s legs for attention and loves to run giving us the best zoomies and the best faces. She also loves to do a bit of rolling around, which also provides the best “bullfrog” images. Bulldogs really are the funniest characters to photograph and their “coming through!” runs at full speed are hilarious. Milly’s set of images are so much fun and so character filled. It was hard to cull her images down. We got so many great images.
Floki
Next up is Floki, this wonderful Springer Spaniel came to Catherine and Pete first of all as a temporary care situation. However, after a while, he became a full time resident. This fun guy is full of energy. He loves to rush in for attention and pats, he loves to run and zoom around the yard. He is a sweet kid, whom when running also provides a huge amount of entertainment with his many faces and rogue ears.
Wagtail
Oh Wagtail, this beautiful girl is so sweet, but she is very ill. She has two tumors. One is visible on her leg. She is at the end of her life. She has been nurtured and cherished in her home with Catherine and she has very much known a great love. Spending the latter part of her life with someone like Catherine means she doesn’t have to worry about a thing. All her needs are met and she will pass from this life, knowing she loved and was very much loved. My thoughts are with Catherine as we know the end is near, and I’m sure all of you dog loving people will also hold her in your thoughts as you know the pain that will follow from having to help her go “home”. Wagtail you are the goodest girl.
Toby
Next up is Toby. Tobes came to my dog training classes. I remember him at that time being full of life, full of mischief, but always loving and exuberant. Toby has always done things in Toby’s time. But he really does want to please and is the sweetest kid. Bulldogs tend to use their bodies to push and get what they want. Toby would always push in for a snuggle at any opportunity. He really is the sweetest boy. Toby and Catherine share an incredible bond. While he can’t see as well as he used to be able to, and while he thinks every hand that comes towards his face is treaties and he opens his mouth ready; he’s not too disappointed when it’s “just a pat”. Although he is an old man, his cheeky, young self is still in there. It was fantastic to spend time with this boy again. He was so well behaved for his session I jokingly said to Catherine “anyone would think this kid has been to training!”
Mocha
Last for this shoot was Mocha. This crazy girl was the last one I photographed, so we had to be quick. But what we lacked in time, she made up for in crazy faces. This girl’s images are hilarious as her enthusiastic running face blasted around what I coined “the garden of eden”. I snapped as many as I could before the light faded.
I will share more images from this session in the coming weeks. But when you see a few of this girls’ session you will have a smile on your face for days. Her expressions are just priceless.
Luigi
The last shoot while in SA was Luigi, a stunning Italian Greyhound with a confident attitude and a fun personality. Luigi lives with his pawrents, Frances and Alex and his two skin siblings, twin girls, Florence and Clementine. We started the shoot at their home to get some images of the girls with Luigi and then moved to a stunning park in the CBD.
Luigi started out the perfect poser, then we kicked off with playing with his favourite toy and got some running shots, then we finished off with some gorgeous portraits of his Mum, Frances and him. It was an incredible session. He is such an awesome dog. Something I found super endearing is that he would get very upset and vocalise with howling if his twin sisters started to cry. I can imagine this wouldn’t be so “cute” to his pawrents when they are trying to settle one girl and they all chime in! But a cute little quirk of his nonetheless.
It was a very successful trip to my home state. In terms of filling my cup. I was thrilled I could fit in the shoots I did in that short time.
I loved spending time with each pawrent and of course each of these dogs, getting to know all about their little personalities and having the best time at their shoots. But the best part of the lot, is producing fine art folio boxes or stunning wall art for their homes, that each pawrent can look and smile at each day. There is no better way to honor the individual that is YOUR best furend. Your special furry refuge in an otherwise busy and crazy world.