Some photo shoots come together quickly without much planning and run smoothly the entire time.  My shoot with Captain Morgan was just this kind of session.  We met up in Squantum and spent the next two hours digging in the sand, running on the beach, playing in the jeep and exploring the tall grasses of the marsh.

Captain, a giant black Labrador Retriever, is lucky enough to have all of this right on his own property.  The ocean surrounds his lush green lawn and the beach is literally two gallops away.   It’s the perfect place for a breed of dog that lives to swim and fetch.

Dogs have a way of helping you forget all the things that run over and over in your head keeping you up nights.  When a dog like Captain comes along, you’re offered an escape from the trivial or mundane and you must seize the opportunity to become childlike again.  Thanks Captain for reminding me that the simple pleasures are what replenishes body, mind and spirit.  I truly enjoyed spending time with you and your smile.

This little sweetheart is Abigail a.k.a. Abby.  Abby and her foster mom met up with me at Houghton’s Pond in the Blue Hills, one of my favorite places to shoot.  I like the Blue Hills almost as much as my subjects do because there is so much to see, smell and do.

Abby is a 4 year old Pit Bull available for adoption through Scituate Animal Shelter.  What we already knew about Abby at the time of the shoot is that she is good with little dogs but shy around bigger dogs.  She’s is already house trained, likes to sleep in and loves, loves, loves a good belly rub.  She’s accomplished “sit” and “down” but needs a little work with “stay” because the only thing she really wants to do is be close to her humans.

I picked up Abby and her foster mom and on our way to the Blue Hills, was asked to use the child lock on the windows and doors because Abby is one smart little cookie and has learned how to open both windows and doors.

What we didn’t know about Abby and found out after our shoot when we made a stop to my parent’s house, is that she is really good with people she hasn’t met.  Both my mom and dad are elderly and if you’ve been following along with my blog for a while, you’ll know that Mom is in a wheelchair and Dad uses a cane.  Both of these things can be unnerving for a dog when they first experience the contraptions yet neither fazed Abby.  She was perfectly polite with my dad’s cane and calmly allowed him the space he needed to navigate around her.  When I brought my mom and her wheelchair around the corner and Abby first caught sight of it, she had no averse reaction to it or my mom.  Again, I saw nothing but polite curiosity from this little charmer.  I think she could pass the therapy dog evaluation with flying colors.  She was even good with my mom’s Conure (a form of parrot) though I don’t think I’d leave them in a room alone together just yet.

Abby is active but not high strung, curious about everything but never in your face (unless of course she’s giving kisses) and would fit into almost any household I could imagine.  If you’re looking for a versatile companion then I highly recommend you give Scituate Animal Shelter a call to arrange a time to visit with Abby. You will not regret it.

Louie and Charlie win the award for “most adorable”.  Both are so sweet and loving.  Full of spirit, it was almost hard to keep up with them while they explored the Arnold Arboretum on yet another gorgeous day.  I’ve been to the Arboretum before but it was so long ago that I’d forgotten just how beautiful of a place it really is.  Flowers were just beginning to bloom and the trees, some very old, are amazing.  Entrance to the Arboretum is free and if you are a nature lover whose never been, you should go.  There is such a diverse plant population there that you could spend days exploring and still not see everything the park has to offer.

Louie, a 12 1/2 year old Maltese was tentative at first but overcame his doubts and quickly showed his true nature; a deep, down to his core, gentle soul.

Charlie, also a Maltese, is just a baby at four.  A big dog in a little body, his exuberance for life is contagious.  Unlike Louie whose happy stopping to sniff every flower, Charlie skips over a lot to get to the next big scent.

Louie and Charlie accentuate each other’s personalities perfectly.  Charlie encourages Louie to lose himself and run like the wind….

…..and Louie teaches Charlie to slow down sometimes to smell ALL the flowers….

It was a pleasure strolling along the winding pathways of the Arnold Arboretum with these two.  We even got a little bit lost (it’s bigger than it looks upon arrival) but thanks to the mapping skills of Deehana, found our way out.

Thank you little ones for a laid back, enjoyable experience and Linda, you couldn’t have chosen a better backdrop for the shoot.  I’ll be going back regularly with my own kids now.

I met up with Guinness and her mom this past Saturday morning.  I couldn’t have designed a more beautiful day if I was Mother Nature herself. This time of year is my favorite because nature experiences a rebirth.  Colors are more vibrant, birds who have flown north for the winter return and everything just feels fresher.

The photo shoot took place on the pier with a gorgeous view of the Boston skyline and then we strolled to the Bunker Hill Monument.  Tourists were out but not nearly as common a sighting as they will be in a few more weeks.

Megan, Guinness’ mom, drove 4 hours from Ohio to Virginia to rescue her when she came across an ad in PetFinder reading “URGENT – LAST CHANCE”.   She said it was the best decision she’s ever made and considers herself lucky to have Guinness in her life.  Their special relationship is very evident in the way they interact with each other.  Being a witness to this kind of friendship is something I never tire of.

Guinness is a mixed breed with mostly Australian Shepherd genes.  There could also be a little Rottie in her but I swear, there are some photographs that I took where she mostly resembles a black bear; even close to a grizzly.

Megan, here’s wishing you a very Happy Belated Birthday.   It was a pleasure meeting all of you and I hope you enjoy your upcoming gallery of images.  Thank you for such a wonderful morning.

Not only am I pretty excited about the Spring like temperatures we’re having, Georgia’s pretty happy too.  Enjoy your weekends.

Every animal I photograph is special in their own unique way.  Pogi is a big dog in a little dog body.  My favorite kind of little dog; sturdy, steadfast, strong, funny and active in a lovable package that would certainly fit in my knapsack.  If you can resist this rough and tumble face then I’m sorry, you are just not human.

I met up with Pogi, a three year old Bichon, Maltese, Pomeranian mix in Brookline this past Saturday.  He greeted me like he does everything…in a big way.  There was a lot of chit chat in the form of barking with a few jumps and twirls.  He leaped, ricocheted off my thigh came down, turned around and only then did he smell the homemade bits of chicken in my pocket.  It’s always a game changer.  He went from feeling like he had to protect his home and family to putty in my hands in all of ten seconds.  It wasn’t long before he deemed me acceptable and we became friends.

Our first stop was the local dog park so that Pogi could burn off some of his energy (ha! yeah, right!).  He ran, chased sticks, ran again and while I began huffing and puffing, Pogi was only getting started.  From there, we headed to the Boston Public Gardens (one of my favorite places to shoot in Spring and Fall).  I was afraid there might not be enough color but was pleasantly surprised to see the Weeping Willows draping their brilliantly yellow branches over serene waterways filled with ducks and geese.  Our day had a chill in the air and was a little on the cloudy side but the imagery remained gorgeous just the same.

At the end of our shoot, we returned home where my little friend, such a character, crashed hard on the couch.  Pogi’s Dad made us, what I think were the perfect grilled cheese sandwiches and we ate and talked about animal welfare while Pogi, slept like a baby.

Lenny and Stephanie, thank you so much for letting me into your home and for your hospitality.  I absolutely ADORE Pogi and wish all three of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Here’s a little taste of our day and a teaser of your gallery.

Akin to Pip of Dicken’s Great Expectations, Coffee and Cocoa found themselves taken from a life of poverty and brought into a world where they would want for nothing.  Coffee and Cocoa were found roaming the streets of Puerto Rico by SATO and brought to the states where they no longer had to live in fear or fight for their next meal.  Soon after, they were both adopted by the Taylors who, with great patience, taught them how to let go of most of their fears in an environment filled with nothing but love.

These sweetie pies took very little time to warm up to me and my camera.  We spent much time in and around their home where the light allowed for lots of creativity.

After we spent sometime out in the sun it was off to Coffee and Coca’s second home…..the boat.  I have to say, I’m kind of jealous.  Lucky pups.

Tara, it’s stories like yours that give me hope for the future of other dogs just like Coffee and Cocoa.  Thank you for opening your heart and home to two of the most wonderful dogs.  Photographing them was not only a pleasure but an honor.

During a photo shoot, I always find myself drawn to my subjects by something that is uniquely them.  Each one is special in their own way but every now and then, I meet an animal that touches me on a retrospective level; one that makes me examine my own life.  Todo is one of those animals.

Todo is a Yorkshire Terrier, adopted through Buddy Dog Humane Society 15 years ago.  At the time, he was only a year old.  That makes this little one 16 years old.

When his mom first got in touch with me, she mentioned that Todo no longer looks quite like his former, young self and that he has some cognitive dysfunction, is slow moving and has cataracts.  I wasn’t sure what to expect and honestly, I was a little bit nervous for the first time in the history of my shooting career.  After hearing their story, I sincerely wanted to do right by both of them and hoped I was talented enough to pull it off because I assured her I would be able to capture what she was looking for.

When I arrived I saw them making their way towards me from across the street.  Carmel patiently waiting while Todo sniffed here, then there, then stood, paused to take a breather for a moment before moving a step or two further where he paused again before taking a few more steps.  I hadn’t even officially met him, yet he had endeared himself to me immediately.

I crossed the street and approached them.  Because of Todo’s cataracts, I knew he may not see me so I crouched a few feet in front of him and extended my hand slowly to his nose.  He sniffed, approved, and allowed me to scratch under his chin.  It’s hard to say why, but I found myself holding back tears throughout our entire session.

Maybe it is because he is so matter of fact about his inability to run like he did when he was a mere pup.  Maybe it is because he is the picture of perseverance, unwavering in his attempts to get to where he wants to go with a slow and steady pace.  Maybe it is because Todo is so stoic as an elder, something I truly admire about him.  Maybe it’s because I know that Carmel is struggling with the decision none of us wants to make.

As we ambled our way along the boardwalk of Marina Bay, Todo’s mom and I got to talking and I learned that he has his bad days and his good days.  I learned that he has a bit of arthritis and tends to jump at certain noises (which he did a few times at the sound of my shutter clicking).  I learned that at night, he gets restless right around 8pm and it causes him to cry and whimper before he falls asleep only to wake a few hours later.

I learned that aside from a bit of sagging of his ears and tail (don’t worry Todo, everything sags with age for all of us) and the few other things I mentioned, that Todo is as strong as the summer day is long and has no debilitating illnesses.   Weird for me to be so relieved by this as I’d only known him for a mere two hours but I was….immensely.

The more Todo’s mom and I chatted, the more I found we had in common and the more I admired them both for their strength, their courage and perhaps most of all, their devotion to each other.

Carmel, you have one special little dog there.  Thank you for choosing me to photograph him.  He touched my heart.  Todo, you forced me to slow down and I can’t thank you enough for that.  You showed me that when we rush along, our eyes on the ground or in our smart phones oblivious of our surroundings that  we miss out on so much.  Thank you little one for showing me what it’s like to age with grace and dignity no matter the aches or pains.  You are truly an inspiration.

When the killing frost arrives and the temperatures drop into the 20′s, I could easily become a hermit.  Nights spent on the couch, under the comforter with my man, the menagerie, a good movie and a glass of wine are much preferred to an evening braving the weather for the local hot spot.  I remember being in my 20′s and not only hitting the clubs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night to check out the latest and greatest of live music but actually dressing up…you know…short skirts, high heels, no jacket (because back then, it was all about fashion, not comfort).  Today, I watch the 20 somethings waiting in line, doing the very same thing and I can honestly say that I don’t miss those days.

There are only three things that can get me out into a blistery winter morning….an emergency, a photo shoot or a walk with the dogs.

Pete is a dog that was long waited for.  Kevin’s search for the perfect dog for him took him four years.  In those four years, Jill, his mom, tirelessly took him to shelter after shelter, breeder after breeder and every time she thought he may have come across that special companion, Kevin would say “no, that’s not my dog.”  Twelve years ago, on one particular day, in one particular shelter, Kevin spied Pete, pointed at him and said “that’s my dog”.

Pete, a little brown mix of a dog, is now Jill’s little baby.  Mighty in spirit and personality he is filled with love for his mom.  Pete is one special little boy.

We spent the morning hiking through Horn Pond in Woburn and though it is supposedly past peak this time of year, the colors were off the charts. What was really cool is the way the morning sunlight tip toed through the openings in the trees and reflected the light in such a soft, warm way that my camera just ate it up.

Pete has a touch of arthritis now but I watched him maneuver steep hills, jump foot high logs like they were only inches off the ground and run playfully in the water barely missing a step and I found myself admiring his live in the moment attitude.

There are a lot of things I really liked about Pete but I’d have to say my favorite was his ham-bone attitude with me and the camera.  He would trot directly towards me, and as he got closer he’d speed up a little and then fake me out by swinging right just before making contact all the while tossing his head back in my direction.  Soooo adorable!!

Jill and Yuli, so nice to meet you.  Hope you enjoyed your session as much as I did.