Happy Holidays!

I love the holiday season and especially enjoy receiving holiday cards with updates and photos from many friends and family.  As we prepared for this year's card, I had trouble deciding what photo to put on it.  Friday didn't enjoy last year's photo session too much so I thought I would make it easier this year and basically capture her doing what she does best: taking an afternoon snooze. 

In my mind, I thought it would be simple: I'd just wait for her to get tired and then slip the small Santa hat we bought on her (which was an adventure to acquire just on its own - Scott nearly killed me as I dragged him from pet store to craft store searching for a miniture Santa hat).  Yet despite running her around in the park before we took this picture, we get everything set up and of course she was wide awake and alert.  Only after putting on her hat and trying to get her to pose for a few minutes did she finally give up and curl up to sleep for the perfect Christmas photo.  I hope you enjoy the results as much as we do!

We wish you a very joyous holiday and a happy New Year! 


Merry Everything,

Happy Halloween!

Buzz Buzz Buzz!  This year Friday is a Bumblebee.  No tricks, she just wanted treats and in the last photo she is sneaking over to get one. 

Spring is Near... Happy Easter!

Friday does not enjoy when I dress her up very much, but this was much less tedious for both of us than her reindeer antlers from Christmas since they fit a little better.  She does enjoy getting in the spirit of a holiday.  And we are all enjoying 60 degree weather that actually feels like spring this weekend.


 Happy Easter!

Happy Holidays

Overheard as I attempted to take this photo:

Sit.
Sit, Friday!
Please stop moving your head.
Oh, don't look at me like that!
I'll give you a treat if you sit still.
Just ooooooooone more second...
No, sit!
Please?
You actually look pretty cute.
Sit, Friday!
Please stop eating your antlers.
I know it's silly. 
Please hold still.
You're still glaring at me!
I'm sorry, puppy.
I know you're not meant to have antlers.
This is going to look great on Christmas cards.
It's almost over, I promise.
Sit?



Thanks, girl.  Good dog.  :)





Happy Holidays from Scott, Jamie, and Friday the Reindeer!

Summer in the City

... calls for long walks, exploring our new neighborhood, and playing with (happily cone-free) puppy.

I love summer!





 

The Cone of Shame

First off, if you don't get the reference to the "cone of shame" you should immediately go out and rent "Up" - although a Disney cartoon, it is good for adults and one of the sweetest movies you'll ever see.  You will especially enjoy it if you like dogs! 

I haven't posted about Friday lately and several people were asking how she is doing.  In general, the answer is she is doing great.  However, we took Friday to get fixed yesterday.  I hated to do it, but that is part of being a responsible dog owner.  When I went in to pick her up, they told me she can't run, jump, or play and absolutely under no circumstance should she lick the incision.  The kind vet assistant told me, "It shouldn't be a problem today because they're so out of it she'll probably just sleep."  Of course, then when she brought Friday out two seconds later she was wriggling, jumping up my leg, and promptly started licking her wound. 

I brought her home and she was so tired and sore she could only lay around and whimper... and lick her incision!  So to top it all off, I am hanging out all day with a dog in a cone.  I can't help but laugh because it is comical watching her trying to get around.  Still, she is having a regular puppy pity party for herself and doing her best to try to make me feel guilty enough to remove the cone.


Trying to stay strong,

Here she is trying not to fall asleep. Actually, she's probably glaring at me.

Our Girl Friday

We'd been quietly looking for awhile, but not wanting to jinx it, we told no one when we drove out to Apple Valley one overcast Saturday morning to look at a litter of five-week-old puppies. When we arrived, I was immediately overwhelmed by six little furballs who leapt into my lap. Each was cuter than the last and Husband and I looked at each other as if to say How will we ever pick one?

Of course, his solution was to get two. Um, not going to happen! We've barely managed to keep a plant alive; a puppy is a huge step. Two puppies would be insanity.

And then, there was her. When all the little puppies romped and nipped and yipped, she quietly sat there taking it all in. And one by one they all fell into a deep sleep, as puppies tend to do, and she remained. She tentatively sniffed me out and crawled into my lap, and that was pretty much the end of that. Four weeks later, we returned and she was ours.

We named her Friday, after an old movie and a Cure song. And, like a Friday ushers in the weekend and all kinds of fun, she has brought much joy and fun to our lives in the few short weeks she's been with us.



Obviously, my dog needs the right accessories and a monogrammed bag was the perfect place to start. Now if only I could convince Husband to let me get her a little plaid coat and beret...

Kaman: Pet Portrait

Besides having an absolutely adorable baby, Ken and Lauren also have a super cute dog, Kaman. You might remember him from this session awhile back. Anyway, as I was going through images from their baby and family session, I found this gem and couldn't resist sharing.

Ken and Lauren: Maternity Portraits

Lauren and Ken are at a pretty exciting part of their lives; they are expecting their first baby together in January. You may remember them from this post, where she was just beginning to show. Back at that shoot when I was posing them, Ken leaned in and kissed her growing belly and took my breath away as I saw through my lens the beginning of a family.

Getting ready for this new little person is no small task, so I was thrilled when they told me they wanted to make time for a maternity session in the last months of her pregnancy. It is an incredible honor to be invited to help document their journey, to share in these moments of dreaming about who she will look like and marvel at how tiny the clothes are that already hang in her closet.

If that weren't enough, Ken and Lauren are also dear friends and incredibly supportive of my growth as a photographer. They presented me with this gift after our shoot: a fashion photography book! I am constantly looking at other photographers' work, especially fashion photography, as inspiration, so this is a gift I will spend lots of time poring over.

Ken and Lauren, thank you both and I can't wait to meet your baby girl and take baby pictures!

We couldn't resist getting a pictures of the whole family - including their adorable dog and cat (yes, they actually kind of like each other) and of course, the baby belly.

We also did some shots to show off their lovely new home with all the holiday decorations up.