Our pets each have their most favorite games to play and their most favorite treats…add them together and fun will be had by all.
Just some of the things my dogs enjoy doing through the course of the day…every day. They never get bored…too bad we cannot be more like our furry friends! If you have not gotten any wonderful photographs of your pets doing the things they enjoy most…..do. It is easy if your patient….have camera in hand, make sure your settings are for action and proper lighting ISO set 400 or higher (my images were shot at 1600 on a very overcast day).  Then throw some toys….I was kneeling down so that I was more on their level.

If you are not getting the results that you would like know that there are Professional Pet Photographers that will come have some fun with you and your pets….if in the Atlanta area do contact Paw Prints Studio.

Remember, this will make a wonderful Holiday Gift….Gift certificates also available.

***Please note…Carnations, although lovely are poisonous to our pets. In the original he is holding a stick….this is a digitally manipulated image.

Fall has arrived here in the Atlanta area….the temperature has cooled down, especially at night. Dry, cool days….lovely. The down side for us is that while we may enjoy the dry weather….we are in such a severe drought that rain would truly be a blessing. State wide ban on all outside watering.

The other day the pups and I went for a little adventure and sadly there were no lovely fall blooms to be photographed
A trip to the local florist was needed to bring some lovely Fall Colors into our lives, if only for a short while. While it did spruce up the place…I also managed a few photographs to share….enjoy the Fall colors! This is the start of my Close Up Photography series.

A dear friend is spending a few days with us. I met Sammy many years ago when I worked for a Boarding facility….my job was to implement a training program for them, train a few other trainers. During my stay there one of the dogs that was boarded there for two weeks was also a Board and Train. I remember going to get little Sammy out of his run….he was curled up in ball…shaking and just not wanting to be there. He so looked forward to my daily visits….we would walk, train. I always brought my female Golden Jas to work with me….after training I would give him some play time with Jas….they too became fast friends. When I left the facility his Mama kept in touch with me and each year Sammy comes to visit. He and Jas so enjoyed one another….at the time I had a six pack and while he could be around the two females….the males he could do without. Over the years a few of the older dogs had gotten ill and died.
I remember the first time he came after Jas had died….he pined for her. While he could be around the males…..running, chasing one another was not to be. Slowly each year my pack got smaller and smaller….then two more females joined the pack….now Sammy’s visits are a bit more enjoyable. They LOVE to chase and tease him. .I love to sit and watch there crazy play sessions…Nik and Gemma get the best of him each and every time. All are quiet and resting for the time being….time for me to get some work done for they will soon be ready for another round. Notice the Roc missing in action….they presently do not like one another….in time I have no doubt that they will learn to get along.

Last few weeks I have been very busy. Running your own business is not an easy task….at least it has not been for me. In this small company of mine I wear many hats….trying to do it all and keep your creative juices flowing is a balancing act. Add to it that while many often wishes they could work from home….one must have the ability to put all things on the side and actually work from home. I try to balance this out by working several hours in the morning…..get to my chores and dogs then back to work. …this I have found to be the most difficult challenges of all. A struggle to keep it all going….a schedule. Add to that there will be those times when outside help with certain tasks will have to occur. Then….of course while your busy doing all of these things that must get done…..you are not doing the work that will earn you an income….which of course leads me to say support you local artists

Feeding the creative side of the brain…..now here is the most interesting part of it all…..one must “nurture” their creativity. I must look, see, feel….I must make the time to do those things that truly awaken….inspire me. If I get too bogged down with all of the other aspects of business, which happens often enough….I feel a very slight panic as I sit trying to sketch, paint or even look through my view finder. Imagine the feeling of nothing……the pencil hits paper and all of a sudden I cannot come up with a sketch….I am seeing “nothing” through the viewfinder. Yes, scary indeed that feeling of nothing. So…time to feed the creative side of the brain is so important….in other words….one must take the time to smell the roses so to speak.

So, this morning finds me putting it all on hold. The web site date with which it should be up and running has come and gone….little frustrations here and there and oh my…..I just have no creativity left in me this morning….so…the sun is shinning….cool autumn morning… the dogs and I will go exploring a bit and I have no doubt that I will return feeling a bit more like me.

Clearly I am not the only one that gets this panic feeling of nothing….or am I??????

(more…)

Yes, it is true….another move. Still with word-press but now our very own space in the vast Internet.

I did my best to bring everything together to make it easy for my dear friends and clients to look around at what we offer, easy to purchase paintings, photography sessions….coming soon our very own forum…..a place for photography students to go….classes can also be given online. I am still working on adding the store and putting together the site, so have any suggestions…..feel free in telling us about them.

In all of the years, all of the dogs that I have shared my life with, never have I had such a lazy pack. Like you and I, our furry friends need daily exercise. I do my best to make sure that this pack gets what they need….each dog has their own fun little games they enjoy playing (even if only for short durations). Gemma….loves to chase the dogs, if forced to….a Frisbee will do but only a couple of throws. She gets bored easily along with the fact she does not like the heat. Niki….LOVES kick ball. Rocky….he will chase a tennis ball….stick….gets bored easily so for all of them they get several play times a day….pretty darn spoiled Now that the cooler weather is here I have started making use of the agility equipment. We will do this several times a week….great exercise for the dog and great team work and training for both you and dog. Niki loves the weave poles, even when she was in her big wheels I had her do some agility….now although still a bit wobbly in the back end we do it and I must say she is the fastest out of the three….yep, the disabled dog does the weaves the best!

It sounds like alot of time and work…nope, just a half an hour to hour throughout the day is all that is needed. Walks are another way to bond and spend some quality time with your furry friends. So….if it has been a while since spending some time with your furry friend….go for a nice walk, take an agility class or obedience class if not yet trained). Their lives are so short….make every second count and keep them as healthy as you can by doing something with your dog on a daily basis. This is my pack after some exercise & fun…

Oct. is right around the corner, this months special (good through the 14th of Oct.) is Body Parts $150.00 for one pet, one location photo session (1 hr.) 11×14, 1 8×10 2 5×7’s Luster Paper (each additonal pet is extra) . Makes a Great Holiday Gift!

I get several e-mails a day from individuals inquiring how to capture images of pets. It really is pretty easy….the number one ingredient of course is knowing how to use your camera….photographing during the right time of day…..which usually is morning, late afternoon. Having a squeak toy or two….a few very tasty treats and then hanging out with your favorite furry friend and just having some fun. Pay attention to your lighting….and never be afraid to get down to your pets level. I have been known to crawl around when need be. Make your images fun by trying new and fun things….try not to always place your pet in the center of the image….get close…think body parts….paws, nose, eyes. , tail.