Dogs in Canada Magazine - October Issue

Check out my new ad in the October 2008 issue of Dogs in Canada!

For those of you who don't know the story behind the photo of our dog Maggie used in the ad, here it is again:

Around our house, my kids like to play dress up with our dogs. The dogs are so used to having their photos taken that as soon as we set up the studio they come along and sit in all of the shots. Because we were taking vintage portraits, the costumes were out and so my kids started dressing up the dogs. Although Maggie looks pretty fed up in this photo, all the other photos taken during this session show her happy-go-lucky self. This mid-blink shot made us laugh so much it has become a family favorite. It is our tribute to all the dogs who have ever played dress up with little girls and boys.

SPCA Monteregie Website Design

Although many people are concerned about social responsibility and animal rights, they may not necessarily have the means to donate financially to organizations like the SPCA Monteregie. I believe there are many creative ways people can donate within their means. On the heels of the recent scandal at the Montreal SPCA, I wanted to help my local SPCA. I decided to donate a newly designed website and some photography to the SPCA Monteregie, on Montreal’s south shore. And as a result, I have made some wonderful new friends!

I redirected their marketing strategy towards the fact that these are great pets and that people can do great things by adopting them. I adopted one of my dogs, a pure Labrador Retriever named Charlotte, at the SPCA Monteregie eight years ago and she has been a wonderful dog.

The new website is online at www.spcamonteregie.com and has new and continuously updated information with features such as a direct link to petfinder.com, online donation capability, advertising, a new blog, and more.

The Flower of Flanders Poppy Wins Best in Show

Well you all know by now that I really like Bouvs. Here is an ad I did recently using a shot from one of my photo shoots. The ad was for a fabulous Bouvier des Flandres breeder, and new found friend, in Knowlton, Quebec. It was for a series of dog shows in the Maritimes which included 15 judgings in 3 cities. What made it even more exciting was winning Best in Show with show and judging concurrent with the Maritime Group 7 judging. For a breeder and kennel it does not get better!

Lovable Lily

Here is  Lily the chocolate lab who is obsessed with her Kong toy, and the family pool. When we pitched the kong in the water she jumped in and actually swam down to the bottom to retrieve it. Then she swam around with it in her mouth and brought it back to us to do it again and again. She was so happy it was hysterical. She is too cute! I love them labs!

Back in the Saddle

We are back from Prince Edward Island after an extended stay. Our brakes died on our last day and so we got 3 extra days on the island. Excellent! Brackley Beach on a beautiful sunny day is a great place to wait for a tow truck. Can't complain about that. 

I found myself exercising our dear friend's racehorse in the mornings which was an absolute dream for me! I also played the fiddle on the Montague 8-enders Curling Club float in a parade in Murray River. You can imagine my surprise when I heard my name screamed from the sidelines by our friends Dougal and Annie from Ontario. Hilarious! So of course we had them out to the farm for an afternoon of fun. 

This year we had a total of 31 Oggs which was lots of fun, but made all logistics quite hellish. I have SO MANY photos I cannot possibly post them on my blog. So I am back, and things are crazy busy!

Famille extraordinaire

On their way home from PEI to France, our niece and her lovely family stayed with us and got to visit Montreal. Of course, I couldn't let such a beautiful family leave without photographing them! Merci Jess !

The Pupparazzi Returns

I returned to photograph more of Charlotte and Boaz with their new clips and by the end of the shoot they were exhausted. Do you know how hard it is to exhaust a Bouvier??? A lot! We were very busy playing for hours and I must admit that I the next day I was feeling it! But look at that dog. What a beauty! I feel like a kid when I'm playing with these dogs. I laugh the whole time. What a joy!

Beautiful Bouvier des Flandres Breeder

Last week I was fortunate to get to photograph more Bouviers for a first class breeder. Photographing for a breeeder is different in that our goal is to show off the breed, which wasn't hard to do considering the calibre of dog and how well trained they were. We hooked this working breed up to a cart and it was wonderful seeing a dog so happy at her work. We also had a bunch of fun playing 'hide the cookie in the birdbath' with laughs all around. The great thing about hanging with dog people... is hanging with dog people. They just get you. I am completely hooked on this breed; intelligent, well-behaved and a sense of humour. Great dogs!

Boxer Bailey

Introducing Bailey, Prince Edward Island's latest hell raiser. Kidding! Bailey is the sweetest little love bug you'll ever snuggle. And the puppy smell... umm... puppy smell...

New Macro Nose Lens

I am thrilled with my new Macro (Nose) Lens. Charlotte and Maggie helped me take it for a test run and it's great. My dogs love having their photos taken. It's so funny!

Beautiful Baby Guillaume

Introducing beautiful Baby Guillaume. What a cutie! We took both natural light and studio shots during this session and 3-month old Guillaume was just yummy.

But when this photo of Baby Guillaume appeared in the shape of a heart I was a little freaked out. So although I’d like to say that it was my idea, truth be told it was all Guillaume’s doing.

Love Them Bouvs

Bouviers are incredible dogs! This was my first time interacting with this breed and I'm sold. The very fabulous Charlotte and Boaz looked like huge medieval beasts romping and playing on their farm, but were actually incredibly gentle giants. I was on the ground taking shots while they ran and played. Just when I thought they were going to crash into me at full speed, they'd just tap me enough to make me loose my balance. I laughed so much I was snorting. And I don't normally snort. I'm going back to take more photos and I can't wait to see them again!

More Vintage Portraits

Finally more vintage portraits! I have had this idea for months and finally got around to taking the shots. You may know from past blog entries, that I love all things vintage. These photos will go fabulously with previous vintage shots I took of my other daughter. I now have a set of timeless portraits of my girls to keep for all time and I am thrilled.