Back in the Saddle Again - post-Flu

It's been forever since I've come down with the flu-bug - I had forgotten about the "run over by a truck" feeling and how even your aches can have pains of their own! Well, it's all over but the after-cough and I was able to celebrate with a few cuties on set this past Saturday. Lady Bug is a rescue doggie. She's been living with her favorite family for about 8 years now and keeps her retired dad busy (his job is to provide a lap for her to settle on when she's done being an expert mouser in the yard). She is a TINY thing, with a HUGE personality! Meet Lady Bug: And this is Grace, a show puppy Scottish Terrier who is proving to her mom that she is every bit as adorable as her brother. She has left the awkward stage far behind her now! Last, but far from least, is Grace's brother, Tim. These are two of the happiest, tail-waggingist Scottie pups I've met yet. Little Darlings! It won't be long before they are taking the show rings by storm. This week the Santee studio will be open on Wed, Fri and Sat from 10 am - 4 pm for 15 minute mini-sessions. Valentine's is still the featured theme and I'm looking forward to seeing more beautiful cats and dogs on set this week. And my big news of the week - the main website is back online! It's being tweaked and fixed up, but at least it comes up when the URL is entered once again - YIPPEE!

Another great week of Valentine's portraits

I've had the pleasure of more great dogs on set this last week, and a handsome kitty too. Pepe is one of the resident kennel cats, and even tho the strobe lights still scare him (I can reliably get one shot off before he changes his mind out the whole idea) HE is the one who comes asking to have me take his photo. He is trying so hard to be a brave kitty! Here he is, with his rugged good looks: Spencer and Tara come to the kennel like clockwork for their baths and grooms - their mom takes great care of them and it shows. Tara (the black) is a retired show Cocker (thank you Eileen, for breeding such a looker - I remember the day/night she was born!) and Spencer (the chocolate) was adopted thru the local Rescue - he's worked his way thru the paces and is now a certified therapy dog. Tucker is certified too - a certified goofball. This loveable lug kept us all on our toes during his session, all in good fun of course. Tucker's Tongue is quite lengendary ... his shelter photo had a similar pose to this one: But he was ready to show his sweet handsome side too, once we explained to him that this was a Valentine shoot. Tucker is a "sprocker" - Springer/Cocker mix. And he knows how to work those Spaniel eyes! I had my first chance to spend time on set with Wire Fox Terriers. What a kick this breed is! No matter what they are doing, they do it with a single-minded vengence. Stunning looks too, as you can see in these three champions. Jay-Jay (CH Whimsicals Whodunit) Lovey (CH Belwood for Love of the Game) Bella (CH Libwyres Belles and Whistles) This week the studio will be open on Wednesday Jan 19 and Fri Jan 21 from 10 - 4, by appointment. Call 858/997-7135 to reserve your 15-minute session (leave a message if no answer). If there is enough demand, I'll have it open on Sunday Jan 23, as well - just let me know! I'm still working on transfering my main web site to a new server, I'll definitely be happy when that is accomplished and behind me. Until then, you can go straight to my photo site at http://dogbreedz.smugmug.com . BLOG SPECIAL OF THE WEEK: PHOTO PUZZLES - reg price $56.45 ... SALE PRICE $46.99 until 1/31/11 Create your own one-of-a-kind jigsaw puzzle from your favorite photo! This large, 252-piece puzzle measures 14 inches by 10 inches and has a glossy finish. It comes in a black box with a 5 x 7 print of the image on top of the box (box measures 5.625" x 7.625" x 1.2"). Makes a great gift for Valentine's Day, too. Safe ordering on-line thru SmugMug for quick delivery. To order, find your favorite photo and above the larger preview on the right side of the screen, click on BUY. Choose PHOTO PACKAGE from the drop down menu and scroll down to Photo Puzzle Special.

Monday Blog Update

It's been a great week - lots of beautiful animals all around! The Valentine's set this year has turned out beautifully. Indie took a moment to show off for me and test out one of the props. What do you think of her final image? The Valentine's set will be featured throughout the month of January in the mobile studio set up at Su-Et's Kennel in Santee, CA. Plain backdrops are available too, if you are looking for a simpler glamour shot. This is Goldie the Yorkie-poo showing an alternate background. What a sweetie! See my previous blog post for details of the January mini-sessions. This week the studio will be open on Friday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, by appointment. You can even call the kennel and have your dog bathed and/or groomed prior to their photo shoot - drop off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon, we'll handle it all (kennel phone 619/448-8760 for grooming appointments). Bennett was ready to show off on set too - as much as he complains about being brushed out, he asks for a good combing when he wants to be photographed. This boy strikes a pose and makes me fall in love with him all over again! Here he is, modeling our newest Valentine Card design: On Saturday my friends at the West Coast Cocker Spaniel Club held their popular agility trial at City of Industry. This venue is on dirt and under cover. However with no electrical lighting, it's a lousy trial for photographing in a traditional way. I like to go, not only to see old friends and to make new ones, but it also gives me a chance to practice my timing for taking the photos. This is Abby, a Beagle who just loved taking the obstacles - she teamed up with her mom Elise Smith. Abby q'd on this run and came in second in her height class. My web host is still MIA, so the main URL of dogbreedz.net is currently not loading - you can go straight to my photo site by clicking on http://dogbreedz.smugmug.com - or you can find me on Facebook at http://facebook.com/DogBreedz. My mini-valentine's are proving to be popular - I've already had a reorder from a dog with lots of friends! Details in my previous blog post. See you next week - hug a dog for me!

A New Year - already?

How in the world did 2010 fly by so fast?! One of my hopes for 2011 is to keep up weekly posts on the blog - I've even set a Monday morning alarm on my iPhone to help me remember ... let's see how it goes! Christmas holidays are behind us and it's time to look forward. For the month of January I'll be featuring my Valentine's set in my mobile studio at Su-Et's Kennel at 10631 Prospect Avenue, Santee, California. This week coming up will be a Wednesday and a Friday shoot, from 10 am - 4 pm. Sitting fees of $30 get you:

15 minutes in front of the camera

a $16 print credit to use toward your photo order

proofs on line in 7-10 days

2 custom designed Valentine's Day cards in your on line gallery (one in 4x8 size and one in 5x7 size - no design charge)

a sheet of custom designed mini-Valentine's in your on line gallery (8 to a sheet - great for therapy dogs to hand out on rounds! - no design charge)

and a custom designed Valentine's Keepsake Ornament (available in my Zazzle store - no design charge). Your print credit can be used towards the Valentine's cards (full-size and mini) but not towards the ornament. Here is a look at one of my Valentine's designs for this year, and the set of minis: You can see the Valentine's Ornaments at my Zazzle store by clicking here. Look in the gallery called Dog Breeds Valentine's Ornaments. Yours will be in a different gallery and will have the year 2011 added to them. The back is blank so you can add whatever you like to it, such as your pet's name, with a marker. Still looking for that perfect 2011 wall calendar? Check out four of mine at my Lulu.com store. BLOG SPECIAL OF THE WEEK: Take a look at the one-page 2011 calendars listed at http://dogbreedz.smugmug.com/Calendar-Prints. Order yours today and save 10% off the original price. Use coupon code 2011Calendar at checkout - valid until 1/10/11.