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!
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! :) )
Piper - Courtenay Therapy Dog
Recently I had the pleasure of photographing Piper - a cute Bernese Mountain Dog cross owned by Jan Higham. Piper isn't just an ordinary house pet. He has a job to do! And his job is with the St. John's Ambulance Therapy Dog Program here in the Comox Valley.
Part of Piper's job is to visit seniors' homes in the community and provide comfort and joy to those in need. Jan explained that it is very rewarding to see dementia patients brighten up when Piper visits, presumably stimulating memories from when they had pets of their own.
According to the St. John's Ambulance website, www.sja.ca, "the Therapy Dog Program yields many benefits. Studies have shown that holding or petting an animal helps lower blood pressure, release strains and tension, as well as ease feelings of loneliness and depression. A dog can give comfort that sometimes no words can offer. They provide more than just a warm furry body; many dogs instinctively understand when some needs comfort and offer it unconditionally - without judgment and without obligation".
And of course Piper is just half of this team. Jan has trained Piper from puppyhood to be the easy-going, lovable dog that he is. Not only does Jan volunteer with St. John's Ambulance, she also helps out at the Comox Valley SPCA (in addition to holding down a full-time job!). Thanks for all you do, Jan!
Do you have a dog with a job? Time to celebrate them with a pet portrait! Contact me for availability.
Lily - Comox Valley Photography
My brother-in-law and his family recently welcomed a new addition into their home: a sweet little Havanese cross puppy named Lily. Lily is less than a month old, and has already stolen the heart of everyone who meets her! Not only is she cute as a button, she is as easy-going as they come; a perfect companion to my 8-year-old niece who carries her around like a stuffy!
We chose a perfect summer evening for Lily's photo shoot. I love that evening glow.
One of my favourite shots is a dog running towards me. It's great when they actually look at me while they're running! I love Lily's long eyelashes.
Here's a behind the scenes look! It usually takes help to get the dogs running in the right direction. This is my daughter Jessica getting her exercise for the day.
This next shot might be my favourite, because it's simple, but shows how cuddly this puppy really is. Makes me want to scoop her up onto my lap!
Got a new puppy in the family? It's time for a puppy portrait session! Just like newborns, puppies change so fast. Don't wait, contact me today!
1 Day, 1 Dog, 2 Different Looks
Saturday was such a beautiful day! We took a day trip down to Coombs in the morning, and worked and played in the yard in the afternoon. My main model Maggie was on hand when I spotted one of our "flower beds" in good light. I actually think these blue flowers are weeds, but they sure looked pretty, and the sun on the leaves in the background added a nice touch. Time for a portrait!
In the evening I wanted to take advantage of the clear skies and do a sunset photo shoot at the Comox Goose Spit. This is a public area where lots of families have bonfires in the summer and it is a really nice spot to hang out. Maggie was again a willing participant because she always gets lots of rewards for her modeling. The sun was quickly disappearing but I managed to get this shot and I think it turned out pretty well!
I am available for more sunset shoots with animals and humans this summer. Please contact me if you are interested!
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
TaG Agility Trials - Courtenay Dog Photography
Yesterday afternoon was my chance to do some action photography. This agility trial was hosted by TaG (Team Agility Group) at Springhill Farms in Courtenay. TaG is owned and operated by Glenn Tiede and offers classes, clinics and trials throughout year.
As you would expect, dog agility includes several challenges that test a dog and handler's skill and teamwork. Being that this was my first experience I admit that I didn't have much of a clue how it all operated. But what I did see were lots of dogs and people running around and having loads of fun!
If you would like to know more about TaG, check out their website at: http://tagagility.jigsy.com/.
Here are a few of my favourite shots from the day:
More Adoptable Pets - Courtenay Comox SPCA
Yesterday I was back at our local shelter taking shots of the adorable pets who are waiting to find their forever homes. Even though I didn't make it over the holidays, I can't stay away from the Comox Valley SPCA for long. It is so much fun to play with the animals and take their pictures. I hope you will find one (or more!) that you would like to take home!
Adoptable Animals - Comox Valley SPCA Photography
I was back at the SPCA this week photographing the animals and this week I got to shoot some of my favorite subjects: dogs. Julie from the SPCA staff was a great handler and I found out why: she is a former dog trainer, and that made my job much easier. They have a huge fenced area at the back of the property which gives the dogs lots of room to run around. That made for some great action shots.
Inside I also met some very fat cats who will no doubt be going on a diet before they leave the shelter. They were so funny and expressive though, it was a lot of fun to watch them.
Please have a look through the photos and if you are looking for a new pet to love, contact the Comox Valley SPCA about how you can adopt one of these wonderful dogs or cats.
Austin, Mausi and Pig - Comox Valley Dogs
This weekend I got to do a very energetic photo shoot with Jenn and her three awesome dogs: Austin the Blue Heeler, Mausi the German Shepherd, and Pig the Pug. These dogs were full of energy and had a great time tearing it up on Kye Bay beach. Austin and Mausi were all about chasing the ball while Pig quickly realized that I had treats in my pocket and stayed pretty close to Jenn and I.
I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get a group shot of these three but Jenn is a great handler and was able to get the dogs focused on her (for a few seconds, anyway!). I'm really loving Kye Bay as a portrait location, for the freedom that the dogs have to be themselves as well as the neutral backdrop of the sand. It really helps to make the dogs stand out from the background.
