Ranger - Comox Valley Photographer

Could it really be spring? I don’t know about you but this past winter felt a little long. Maybe because we had the coldest February on record. But I guess the upside was that we didn’t have nearly the normal amount of rain that we usually get in the winter. Anyhow, I was so excited this last weekend to get back out to Kye Bay beach I invited Jenn and her little bundle of fluff Ranger to join me.

Jenn is also know as the “Crazy Dog Lady” and she has a very active pet business taking dogs on 2 hour pack hikes every day. She is so much in demand that she isn’t in taking new clients at the moment! Way to go, Jenn! Jenn is also Josie’s dog-sitter so I am always at peace when I go away knowing that she is left in Jenn’s capable hands.

Ranger is just the cutest little dog. At 9 years old, he is still able to keep up with all the big guys in Jenn’s pack. He was just the best little model too (maybe because I spoiled him with treats!).

After taking some traditional portraits we went out onto the sand for a different perspective. The light reflecting in the tide pools created some interesting effects.

And here’s one of Jenn’s behind-the-scenes shots of me trying to get really low without getting my knees soaked. It didn’t work!

Then, you can’t go to the beach without playtime. Although the sun was setting quickly Ranger was happy to run to me and provide me with lots of kisses!

I hope you enjoyed Ranger’s photos! I’ll be available for beach portraits from now until the snow flies again! Please call me at (250) 650-7389 if you would like to find out more about my beach photo shoots for families or pets (or both!).

Otto - Courtenay Pet Photography

I got a call before Christmas from Bob, who asked to have a portrait made of his wife's dog Otto. He wanted to give it to her as a Christmas gift. I said sure, of course, and he brought Otto over that day for his portrait.

Otto was an older dog, a spaniel mix, who still had the sweetness of a puppy. He did a great job at this photo shoot, giving me a mix of those soulful spaniel eyes as well as some fun, happy looks.   

Bob and his wife Margaret came the following week to pick out their portrait, and it was nice to get to know them a little and hear about their life with Otto.

Sadly, I got an email this week from Margaret that Otto had unexpectedly passed away on Christmas morning. Having just grieved the death of my own dog I was so sad to get the news. It is always so hard to lose a friend. 

Life is precious, folks. Enjoy your pets for this short time that you have them. You were a good boy, Otto.

Lovely Lovebirds - Courtenay Pet Photographer

My friend Virginia recently added 2 lovebirds to her family, so I knew I just had to photograph them. I had never done a bird portrait shoot before so I didn't quite know what to expect, but they did great! 

These little fellas are still quite young, but very well-behaved. I love their beautiful colours.

To get them to fly toward me, I had my assistant hold a branch where I wanted them to go. After a bit of coaxing, they started to fly toward the camera. They totally got into a groove and did it over and over again, as if it were a game. It is incredible how fast a bird can flap it's wings. They went from one branch to another in a split second.

My husband recently pruned our fig tree so we had some branches in the back yard. The birds were curious and started pecking at them!

I love this one below because it just looks like they are two friends hanging out having a friendly conversation. They look totally comfortable with each other.

As a reminder, my last pet mini-session event of the fall is coming up next Saturday, November 25th. Click on the bar above if you'd like to get in on the fun!

Bosley's Halloween Photo Shoot

This past Saturday I did a special Halloween-themed photo shoot at Bosley's Pet Food in Courtenay. Here are some of my favourite photos from the day:

Trudy

Oliver and Tripp

Bain and Mia

Jango

Tucker

Ivy

Watch for a Christmas-themed shoot coming up in the next month! Want to get reminded? Join my mailing list here

Hope you all had a safe and happy Halloween!

Pet Mini-Sessions - Courtenay Photographer

Last Saturday I did my first ever pet mini-session event at my home studio here in Courtenay! It was great to meet 5 adorable dogs and their proud owners. 

Here are some of my favourite shots from the day:

Piper

Cosmo

Hayley

Fiona

Angus

I hope to do another mini-session event in the fall so if you would like to get in on the next one please shoot me a message and I'll add you to my mailing list and notify you when the next one is coming up. In the meantime, check out my Instagram account @ssniderdogphotography if you would like to see more shots from these sessions. 

Onyx - Comox Valley Photographer

Labs are among my favourite breeds of dogs. There's just something about their personality that makes me love them so much. We used to have a yellow lab named Jake and he was our baby before babies. So when I got a chance to photograph Onyx I took it! With his sleek coat and some studio lighting I knew I could make some amazing portraits of him.

Look at those eyes! 

I wanted to give Onyx a very regal look so I went with dark backgrounds. I really wanted to highlight his dark coat.

But it couldn't be all serious. His owner Barb also brought over his "pet" elephant so I got some shots of them cuddling.

You made your owners happy, Onyx! Your portraits look great as wall art!

Miley and Skyler - Courtenay Pet Photography

This past weekend I had the pleasure of photographing 2 Siamese cats, Miley and Skyler, owned by the Perry family of Courtenay. I had always thought of Siamese cats as aloof and disinterested (101 Dalmations comes to mind), but these two were friendly and ready to interact with me.

These cats have amazing blue eyes! 

Although we weren't successful in getting them to pose together (didn't want to start a cat fight!), these two kitties were great models. It isn't always easy to photograph dark faces on animals. My lighting setup gives me the ability to capture detail without the harshness of flashes.

Remember, Valentine's pet photo sessions are coming up on Feb. 13th! Contact me for details.

I'll leave you with this "outtake" of one of Skyler's tricks. I've entitled it, "White Cats CAN Jump":

Halloween Pet Portrait Sessions!

Does your dog have the cutest costume in the neighbourhood? Or would you just like some quality portraits that you can enjoy for years to come? On October 31st, bring them to my home studio for a fun 20 minute Halloween Photo Session!  (Costumes are optional).

The session fee is $50 and must be paid prior to Oct. 31 to confirm your time (non-refundable). Print prices start at $40, packages start at $95, and canvas gallery wraps are 20% off! You will get to choose from 5-8 adorable photos of your pet, and with any photos purchased you will also receive a complimentary web-ready digital file.

Want to get your session for free? Refer 3 friends who confirm their bookings and you will pay no session fee!

Spaces are limited so call (250) 650-7389 to book your spot!

Kiki - Courtenay Pet Photographer

Kiki is such a cute little pup. She came all the way from Mexico! Kiki's owner Jenny and her parents rescued her when they were holidaying down south. 

Because she is a rescue, we don't know her exact breed, but Jenny thinks that Kiki could be part whippet and part lab. It doesn't really matter, though. She is adorable no matter what.

I love it when one ear flops over!

I recently donated a pet portrait session to the "Paw Prints Fundraiser" put on by the Taking the Lead program in Courtenay. Proceeds from the raffle will support Van Isle Vet Clinic's fund to help spay and neuter pets of low-income families in the Comox Valley.  For more information on the raffle and the Taking the Lead program, click here. 

Come back and visit anytime, Kiki! (you too, Jenny! :) )

Princess - Comox Pet Photography

Princess is an 11 year old Jack Russell cross with a heart of gold. Always eager for attention, Princess often would come over and put her head on my lap waiting for a scratch. Living out in the country, Princess has had some dangerous encounters with coyotes. But, she has pulled through and continues to thrive and remain a loyal companion to her owners Jeff and Kathy.

Gotta love a dog that smiles for the camera!

7 Puppies, 1 Cat and a Lovely Lady and her Dog - Courtenay Photographer

Who can resist a puppy, let alone 7? This week at the Comox Valley SPCA there were 7 cuddly 6-week-old puppies! They are definitely of the Heinz 57 variety: husky, rottie, lab, shepherd and probably more! These little guys and girls were timid around the camera, so I tried to keep their "mini sessions" short and sweet. It really doesn't take long to get good photos of such cute little animals. 

If you are more of a cat person there are several cats available for adoption as well. Here is a beautiful orange kitty who is looking for a home:

And, I didn't want to leave Kath out! Kath is one of the staffers at the shelter who has made me feel right at home. Kath had brought her dog Mac to work with her that day so I was able to snap a few pictures of them together. However, Mac was more interested in the rabbits nearby than getting his picture taken! 

Please feel free to share this post with anyone you know looking to adopt a new member of the family! And remember I can help preserve memories through professional portraits. Contact me for details.

Until next time, 

Sharon