This is Denver! He's all business in the front and party in the... well, he's also got a party side. Don't believe me, just watch his tail!

​Denver is a therapy dog with too many initials after his name for me to try and remember them all here, but because he has a business side opposite from his fun loving side, he's one of the best in the therapy world.

When Denver poses for the camera he's all business. He has such a handsome face and he works it.

But, when Denver plays, he can't keep the huge grin off his face! 

Even with his friends, it's either all fun and games, 

or "give them your best Bogart, Bogie."

Whatever the situation calls for, work it, Denver. You're beautiful inside and out!

This handsome dog is Jager. What a stud muffin! Look at those ebony ear curls! Did I mention he was handsome?!

Jager is one of those dogs who is lucky enough to be equipped with everything a dog needs to be able to spend time outside in the snow with his humans. A sturdy build, thick fur, and dog parents who don't mind the cold! (You need all three of these if you want to build a snowman.)

Jager is a traveler (with his humans of course) and isn't shy when it comes to the camera. He would make a very handsome leading man in any movie and he doesn't mind sharing the spotlight.

During his snow session this fluffy dog had fun in all the fluffy snow. He was happy to pose when his dog mom asked him to and I know he was thinking, "I wonder what's next!" Once we told him we got the shot his smile was huge curious as to where we were taking him next.

I'm with Jager... Love, laughter and new adventures in new places. It doesn't get better than that.

This dog isn't a die hard fan of snow, but you'd never know it. It's because her love for her dog mom outweighs having cold paws when she could be doing indoor dog sports like barn hunt, scent trial and rally (to name only a few). Raven loves hanging out with her human and she's happy to go anywhere or do anything with her.

She loves to play as much as she loves to work and considers both a big win. But, playing or posing, I think it's obvious, Raven is a gorgeous dog (and, I don't think she even knows it!)!

Dogs and humans are made for each other. They make us laugh, they make us cry and they make us better humans. In return they just want to be with us. Whether its doing dog sports or just hanging out on the couch these two are inseparable. 

I do what I do because I want clients to have images that show without a doubt just how much their dog loves and adores them. That they truly love playing, hunting, working, or just hanging out on the couch with them.

When someone asks how I came up with my pricing I could wrap it up in one sentence...

There are several pricing models that photographers will use depending on their own personal circumstances.

​Some photographers want to schedule as many clients as possible and deliver digital images from an online gallery.  These photographers are usually on the lower price end. The gallery might include every image taken at the session (up to a thousand images for a wedding) including images where people have their eyes closed, or kids doing something other than what you'd want them doing in a portrait for your wall. It's up to the client to weed through and decide what they want.

Higher end photographers photograph only a few clients a year, so they need to make sure that those clients are going to be willing to spend more to make sure that they can still make a living with their craft.  Everything is personalized for the client, sometimes including traveling halfway around the world. They only show the client the best of the best images (And, there is usually champaign and expensive chocolate at the reveals. Love it!)

My business practice is somewhere in the middle. 

First and foremost, when a photographer sells you a print, you're not paying just for the paper that it's printed on.

They're selling you the image that's printed on that paper along with everything that went into creating that image.

A photographer's camera and equipment, schooling, trade seminars, mentors, and online classes all cost money. After this there is:

- The photographer's time (before, during and after a session)
- The costs for a phone line, marketing, and insurance all go into the price of an image as well.
- Monthly subscriptions for websites, editing software, gallery sites, archives for client images
- If the photographer has a studio, then there is rent to pay and employee salaries.

​ After all of the obvious and not so obvious costs are added together, you can then add the cost of printing the products themselves. In the end, a photographer needs to pay their bills just like everyone else so we can't expect them to charge what the big box stores charge.

Lela is a Shichon with a whole lot of spunk and a little bit of princess thrown in. Her name is pronounced Lay-la, but spelled with an e for her human's love of Mexico. (Just wanted you to be able to say it correctly in your head as you read on. You're welcome.) ;O)

Lela goes everywhere dogs are allowed with her dog mom. On days when she goes to work with her she's proven to be a pint sized stress therapy dog for clients. She loves being around people and meeting new ones, and she's a wonderful cuddle bug. 

Lela enjoyed her session even though it was cold for such little paws. She ran around and enjoyed the snow, and after a little while she backpacked with her mom through the trees. I think even Lela realized how beautiful it was in those trees. (It truly was one of the most beautiful places on earth that morning.)

I mentioned at the beginning that Lela is a cuddle bug. Well, we didn't have a couch, but we managed to capture that side of her, too. Lela, I hope you and your dog mom have a fun, warm and snuggly rest of your winter. 

I'm excited about this year's Pawsitivity fundraiser sessions! They'll take place on March 4-5, and March 18th.

It was this hoodie that I bought before Christmas from La Casa Blue Creations that inspired the search for a charity this year. I wanted a cause that would resinate with the positivity this shirt aims to pass along.  So we'll be helping to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health with funds going to Fight Like A Ninja.

I've created a little book from a sample session that I did with Dash and his blanket. The software requires an email address, but I've found that it will take fake ones if you don't want to use your actual email. ;O)

This little fireball LOVES the snow so when his humans put him on the snow session list every finger and every paw was crossed for the white stuff. Because Finn's dog mom works during the week and his dog dad is up all hours pushing snow during storms, the timing couldn't have been better for Finn to enjoy the last day of the best snow we've gotten so far.

Let me show you how much fun Finn had... I have never seen so many expressions in one run!

Oh that face! Finn loves dock diving, boating, frisbee & walks, and he goes everywhere with his humans. He's part of the family and he knows it. He's always smiling, very energetic and yet his humans attest he's a big cuddler.  At barely a year old Finn's a rock star, and even has his own Instagram page. 

Tell your dog parents I said, congratulations on their engagement, Finn. You make a lovely family!

Onyx waited over a year for a snow session since we didn't really get any good stuff last year. Because of that, he was first on the list and the wait paid off!

He was able to hang out with his human, enjoy the snow, and even explore places that hadn't been trampled on by big human feet yet!

Before we were through playing in the snow, Onyx's coat proved to be a wonderful collector of snowballs to save for later.

As a side note:
Onyx competes in AKC obedience with his human and loves exercises that have to do with jumping or nose work. Besides being a personal trainer for humans through her business, RaptorFit Personal Training, his dog mom, Hollie teaches AKC Competitive Obedience classes at Paws Pet Resort.
​
If you've ever thought about obedience, agility, nose work, or any other canine sport, I encourage you to try it with your dog. I've seen dogs who come into their own once they "find their sport." I've also seen dogs who (obvious to me) don't really care for the sport, but love pleasing their human. They're like little kids... kids love to be read to, but it's not so much the story as it is spending time with their mom or dad. Maybe this is the year to find something a little different to do together. (But, never EVER stop cuddling on the couch!)

Here's to new adventures in 2023!

This little girl loved her session! Being the sassy pup that she is, I don't think Penny stopped the entire time! I don't think she ever stopped smiling either! (Well, there was this one picture, but I won't embarrass her with that one.) ;O)

Penny's favorite place to be is with her dog mom. She's more companion than pet and it shows when you're around them. She ran and explored throughout her entire session, always making sure mom was right there having fun, too.

It seems that this little girl also has a few tricks up her furry sleeve. Once Penny was sure mom was there, she would strike a pose like she'd been doing this all her life. What a good dog, Penny!

Penny and her dog mom are family. Like camping and marshmallows, or pumpkins and Charlie Brown, they're a perfect fit. Happy Thanksgiving girls!!

This beautiful girl is called Raven. She's crazy about two things... her dog mom and canine sports. Which does she like better? You'll have to ask her, but I think there might only be a thin line that divides the two.

If you want to see Raven in action you'll find her competing and cheering on her friends at dock diving, scent work, barn hunt, fast cat, rally, and she's pretty darn good at frisbee, too! You know those letters after a professional's name? Raven has nine sets of letters after her name and she's still just as friendly and personable as she ever was. ;O)

They say a picture's worth a thousand words... so here's about 7000 of them:

Raven, you got one of the good ones, girl. I wish you tons of fun competing and performing, but most of all lots of love and spirited barking when you're waiting your turn at the events. ;O)