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. 

Lewis - Comox Photographer

It is just so amazing to feel summer coming back to the Comox Valley. The warmth, the long days, and the sunsets are some of the things I love about this time of year. Recently I went out to Kye Bay to do some sunset shots of Lewis and his family. Lewis is a two year old Chocolate Lab who loves the beach and chasing balls (and ripping them to shreds)! He loves his family too.

I hope you get lots of chances to experience some amazing sunsets with your dog this summer! Thank you Justin for sharing Lewis with me for an evening. He is a fantastic dog!

Urban Look, Rural Setting - Courtenay Photographer

I love finding new locations! I have been wanting to shoot at Headquarters Townsite Park ever since the fall, but alas, the rain, snow and lousy weather kept me away. Now the sun is starting to shine a little more regularly so I rounded up three beautiful young women and headed out there for a photo shoot.

The graffiti provides a totally interesting and colourful background to shoot against. First we did some "modelly" shots and then finished with some fun ones.

You can't do a friends photo shoot without some fun and crazy antics!

There's the Charlie's Angels:

The Ninjas:

And the Jump Shot!:

Thank you Noa, Makayla, and Jess for being good sports! I hope to do another photo shoot here soon...the options are endless.

Here's to many more sunny days to come!

Arsenault Family - Comox Photography

It was the last weekend of Spring Break, so the Arsenault family and I seized the opportunity to do a family session out at Kye Bay (my first outdoor family session of the year!). Jason and Katie are both teachers so I think they were enjoying their last bit of holidays before school started on Monday.

Even though the weather was chilly it was a great excuse to get nice and close together, and in my opinion that is what family photography is all about! Connection is everything.

But, you gotta have some fun too: 

One of my signature shots is the family walking along the beach, chatting among themselves. I always wonder what they are talking about! 

Amazing family, perfect location. Now if the weather would only warm up a little I'll be totally content! Is this your year for a family portrait session? I would love to create some beautiful wall art for you to cherish for years to come. Contact me for details.

Foster Pups - Vancouver Island Pet Photography

My former neighbour Virginia is fostering three sweet little puppies for West Coast Animal Rescue Society here on Vancouver Island, and they were so cute I just had to photograph them! They are three of six in the litter and are only six weeks old. 

It is hilarious that these little ones are all named after "Friends" characters, so their names are: Janice, Emma and Chandler! (Apparently Monica didn't suit any of their personalities, hence the name Emma). Phoebe, Joey and Rachel are being fostered with other families down Island.

Virginia brought along this cute Easter basket so we actually got the puppies to stay still for a split second! As you can imagine, keeping puppies still is not an easy task.

These puppies are totally mixed breeds, and they are tiny. They likely have chihuahua, shih tzu, and a bunch of other breeds. It is amazing how different they all are in their colouring.

Look at those eyes! 

Eventually, the puppies did settle down and have naps, and of course they looked even cuter. My daughter Jessica set this fuzzy blanket on her lap and they curled right up.

I have so many more amazing photos from this shoot but I don't think you could handle any more cuteness for one day so I'll leave it at that. If you would like to see more over the coming weeks, check out my Instagram page, @ssniderdogphotography. And if you are interested in adopting or fostering these or any other dogs from West Coast Animal Rescue Society, check them out on Facebook, or click on their website, http://westcoastanimalrescuesociety.ca

Foxy

Foxy's just the cutest little thing. She is part chihuahua and part pomeranian and was rescued and brought to Courtenay by her owner Terri.  

Foxy was one of the easiest dogs I've worked with in a while.  And look at that face! She actually does look like a fox, especially when she lays down.

I love producing wall art for my clients. I have software that will help you envision what your prints will look like on your wall in different sizes and configurations.

For a complimentary consultation, give me a call at (250) 650-7389. I would love to hear about your pet and style a photo shoot just for them!

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!

How to Photograph a Black Dog - Courtenay Photographer

One thing I hear often from dog owners is how hard it is to get a good photograph of their black dog. And yes, it is tricky, especially if you are using basic equipment like a phone camera. Like most people I love the convenience of my phone for quick snapshots, but it definitely doesn't measure up to my DSLR. For one thing, the ability to manually control the settings makes a big difference in being able to photograph a challenging subject like a black dog. 

Here are a few quick tips that should help you get better results when photographing your black dog, no matter what type of equipment you are using.

1. Even lighting:

Intuitively you might think that to get the best shot of your dog you need really bright light, like the sun. After all, you think, the dog is really dark so that would brighten them right up. That's not actually the best strategy. Soft, even lighting (think clouds or shade), will allow the camera to more accurately record the highlights and shadows, making for a more pleasing image. Too much bright sunlight will cause glare and harsh shadows, which you typically want to avoid. Also try to avoid dappled sunlight on your subject. It's just not very flattering, anytime, anywhere.

2. Have a plain background:

Too much busyness in an image will draw the eye away from your black dog. Also, our eyes tend to be drawn to the brightest part of an image, and that can spell trouble when your subject is dark. So try to keep distractions to a minimum.

If you have a camera that you can adjust the aperture, try opening it up (which means a smaller number), so that you can blur out the background (the image below was taken with an aperture of 2.8). 

3. Fill the frame:

What, all you've got is an automatic setting and you're out in the sunshine? Well, try this: instead of including the environment, fill your camera's frame with your dog as the only subject. What this will do is force your camera to expose for your dog only, instead of a bright scene where there will likely be too much light and throw off the exposure. This will help the camera expose correctly and will help you avoid having your dog end up as a "black blob".

I hope these quick tips help you out the next time you are photographing your black dog! As you can imagine, I love photographing dogs of any colour, so please get in touch if you would like information on a professional portrait session for your pet. My phone number is: (250) 650-7389.

I'll leave you with one of my new favourite images, another black dog, Onyx, who just happens to be my next-door neighbour!

Tran Family - Courtenay Family Photographer

Baby it's cold outside! I'm not complaining, though. After two solid months of rain I'm happy for some sunshine, even if it means bundling up a little. Over the winter I work out of my home studio and recently I had the pleasure of photographing the Tran family of Courtenay.

This active family was lots of fun and (as usual) the kids had lots of energy! Volunteering with children for over 20 years definitely helps with keeping kids engaged. Sometimes giving the parents a "break" in the other room results in great shots like this: 

You can only be formal for so long. There are those times when families just need to let loose! 

Thank you, Remi and Shannon, for a giving me the opportunity to photograph your beautiful family.

Kya and Maisy - Courtenay Photographer

Last week I had two "seniors" in the studio...Kya and Maisy, a couple of older pugs who were so funny. I find pug faces hilarious, and after seeing these portraits I dare you to disagree.

This is Maisy, who is about 11 years old. Maisy was the more cooperative of the two. All I had to do was pop a couple of treats onto the bench and up she went!

This is Kya, who is 10 years old and blind. She was a little more confused about the whole situation but once she got comfortable she posed for me for a few good shots. I love both the dogs' colouring; they looked great against the grey background.

I also wanted to do some Christmas portraits and that little hat was so cute. Maisy wasn't that amused as you can probably see, but she gladly laid up on the chair for quite a while, and even started falling asleep! Doesn't it feel like she is wondering what the heck is going on with this thing on her head?

Kya wasn't as impressed with the Santa hat but I thought the scarf looked great on her!

To end off, here is one last one that I thought was so funny! Oh Maisy, you're awesome.

Thanks to Karen for bringing in her hilarious dogs.

There's still time to get pet portraits done in time for Christmas! I have a limited time offer from now until Dec.22. Pet portrait sessions are only $99! (Prints sold separately, some exceptions apply). Give me a call if you'd like to book: 250-650-7389. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you!

Eunice

Wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, friend, caregiver, volunteer, nurse. These are a few of the words that describe Eunice, a beautiful lady that I had the pleasure of photographing recently. But don't think that this is all there is to this youthful woman. She is also an avid biker rider and world traveler, in fact her motto on Facebook is, "stop doing it in your head....and just do it!".

Thank you Eunice, for your beautiful smiles and wonderful company.

Special thanks to Kayla Rae from Sun Kissed Beauty Bar for the amazing hair and makeup.

3 Different Outfits, 3 Different Looks - Women's Beauty Photography

This week I had lovely Shannon in the studio for a women's beauty portrait shoot. Shannon is one of the first people I had the pleasure of meeting when I moved to the valley a few years ago, and you'd have trouble finding a more sincere and genuine person.

Women's beauty is a new genre I am adding to my photography business this fall. What's it all about? Well, it is an experience that is meant to make you look and feel gorgeous! 

Shannon brought 3 very different outfits to be photographed in. So what I thought I'd do with this post is show how I can work with my client, the backgrounds, and the light to create 3 different looks.

The first was a casual grey outfit that looked great on a light background. This is a friendly look appropriate as a casual business portrait, Facebook profile, or gift for family and friends. 

The next outfit that Shannon brought was a bright red top and black pants. I knew that the red would look great against a black background. I actually got a couple of different looks here, one more "corporate" (a little more serious) and one fun.

Lastly, it was glamour time! Shannon brought in a beautiful black cocktail dress that I knew would look amazing in the backlight. This was where we really had a lot of fun!

Doesn't she look amazing?!!

If this is an experience that you would like to have for yourself, I have a special promotion until the end of October with a maximum of 5 openings. Your beauty portrait session consists of: professional hair and makeup, portrait session, viewing appointment, and 5 matted 8x10 prints, for only $325! This is half price! 

Please contact me at (250) 650-7389 to book your own beauty portrait session. I would love to hear from you!

Pawsitive Dog Walking - Courtenay Dog Photography

Is there a better name for a dog walking service than "Pawsitive Dog Walking"? Last week I met up with Kelly, who is the pawsitive dog walker herself, and she took me to a few of her favourite not-so-secret walking spots here in the valley. 

The 3 J's, Josie, Jack and Jessie, were along with us. They are Kelly's pets, and you could tell they love getting out in the woods with their human! The trail we took is out by the end of Lake Trail Road, towards Comox Lake. Palm Beach was our final destination but I couldn't help but stop at this old mine shaft for some interesting photos. 

After scanning for profanity (I didn't find any), I had lots of fun roaming around this creepy old site. The Comox Valley used to be home to several coal mines, and I assume this is one of them. Jack's white fur showed up great on the dark background.

Kelly said that Josie is a bit of a squirrel-chaser, so we kept her on the leash for the walk. She sure is cute with those big ears.

I think Jessie was the best poser of the three. She had some great head tilts! Jessie was also good at giving me doggie kisses!

Our final destination was Palm Beach, a beautiful location. I'm sure it's going to get even more scenic as the leaves start to change in the next few weeks. 

A big thank-you to Kelly for showing me around! If you have a dog that needs some exercise during the day, check out Pawsitive's Facebook page:   https://www.facebook.com/Pawsitivedogwalking101/

And don't forget, fall is a great time for portraits! Get in touch if this is your year for a professional pet portrait session!

Canine Conduct - Courtenay Business Portraits

Recently I had the pleasure of photographing Jane Neve, owner of Canine Conduct (and her furry and feathered counterparts!).  She was in need of some new promotional images for her website and social media. It was a great fit because it allowed me to combine two of my specialties, business portraits and pets!

Jane offers dog training services here in the Comox Valley. I met Jane at her property, which is a lush acreage in the Black Creek area. She even has an agility course set up in her yard. Her dogs obviously love it there.

Ella the Conure also posed sweetly for the camera. She seemed totally unfazed by all the commotion. I think she felt safe on Jane's shoulder. 

For more information on Canine Conduct's services, please check out Jane's website: www.canineconduct.ca. 

The Doctor - Comox Pet Photography

This week I had the privilege of photographing "The Doctor", or Doc as he is called for short. He is a young Wheaton Terrier/Poodle mix, owned by Russ and Lori Ball of Courtenay.

Don't you just love his little white beard?

We went down to Brooklyn Creek in Comox for this photo shoot. Not gonna lie, the lighting was a challenge, with the contrast of the deep forest and bright afternoon sun. Doc did not share my lighting concerns. He just wanted to play in the water! Getting to that...

"Why aren't you letting me go in the water?"

Doc came to Russ and Lori all the way from Toronto! Their previous dog had passed away and they were not sure if they wanted to get another canine companion. But their friends showed up at the airport with Doc! I guess they knew that they would be a good fit for each other.

How can you not fall in love with that face?

Once we got the "official" portraits taken, it was time to have some fun. Russ started throwing a stick into the creek for Doc to fetch. He was happy to oblige. 

I love the look of the blanket of water in this one.

The faces dogs make when they're on the move are usually hilarious. It took several takes to get these shots but Doc loved every minute of it!

Thanks for showing me your fetching skills, Doc!

Summer's a great time for pet portraits! For more of my pet photography have a peek at my gallery here. I love dogs and creating memorable images for their owners. 

I hope you have a great summer (if it ever arrives!).

Jessica's Grad Photo Shoot - Courtenay Photographer

For those of you who don't know me well, Jessica is my firstborn and one and only daughter. She has had a love of horses since grade 4 and I have taken many (countless!) photographs of her riding over the years. This photo shoot, however, was extra special. She is graduating from high school next week!

Maverick is her horse and has been a great companion to her since we moved from Chilliwack two years ago. When she was lonely and missing her friends, he was there with unconditional love.

But there is a lot more to Jessica than her love of horses. She is a talented musician, trusted friend and dedicated student. She finished her high school courses early so that she could work and enroll in a dual-credit psychology course at North Island College. Working at Woofy's Pet Foods in Courtenay and Comox has allowed her to save up enough money to take a trip to Brazil this summer to visit friends she met last year. As her mother I'm naturally a little nervous about this but I know that her friends will take great care of her while she learns a new culture and way of life.

I'll leave you with a few more of the portraits I took of Jess and Maverick this week, and one more from one of her first riding lessons, way back in 2008!  Congratulations on your graduation, Jess! Your dad and I are very proud of you!

Goose Spit Sunset Portraits - Courtenay Photographer

Since I am almost half-way through my sunset dog portrait promotion I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite shots of the wonderful dogs I've met over the last month.

Charlie arrived early for his session so we had some fun running on the beach!

You wouldn't know it from this photo, but the night I photographed Tyson the wind almost blew us away! He was so focused and patient though. Good boy, Tyson.

Every night I go out the sunset is completely different. It's amazing. Roca kept a keen eye on her owner, Jules. I don't think she was as excited about the sunset as I was.

Yoshi is adorable and has lots of personality. He did stop long enough for a few shots but mostly had fun running in the sand. I like it when the tide's out so we have lots of room to spread out.

And here's one last one that I love. Even though the dogs didn't look all that enthused to be cuddling, Jules is obviously enjoying the experience!

There's still time to get in on my sunset portrait promotion, which goes until June 30. Click here to get in touch!

Limited Edition Sunset Portraits for Dogs!

For the months of May and June I have a special offer! Book a sunset portrait session for your dog at Goose Spit for only $95! (prints sold separately).

These portraits are unique and a great way to get some beautiful wall art for your home. Makes a great gift idea!

This offer is limited to only 8 sessions so don't delay. Call 250-650-7389 to book today!

Happy Birthday Sash and Pia! - Courtenay Pet Photography

Sisters Sash and Pia recently celebrated their 7th birthdays! So owners and friends Corae and Christine thought it would be a great idea to honor them with a "doggie cake smash" portrait session!

The girls did so well to wait for their doggie cupcakes!

This was a bittersweet birthday as Sash was recently diagnosed with cancer and had to have a leg amputated. Christine doesn't know how many birthdays Sash has left so she wanted to make this one extra special.

Time to dig in!

Corae found the recipe for doggie cupcakes online, and they were a smash hit!

All that's left are the candles!

We did a couple of "takes" with the cupcakes just to make sure I got lots of shots. The dogs didn't mind one bit.

At the end we also did some group shots of everyone together, and of course the dogs got to have some fun playing at the beach.

Pia, Christine, Corae, and Sash

Do you have a dog you'd like to celebrate? Contact me to schedule your pet portrait session today!

The Johnson Sisters - Comox Valley Photographer

Jennifer Johnson was the winner of a complementary session I donated to the YANA gala fundraiser this year. If you haven't heard of YANA, it is a great organization that provides families with financial support when a child is receiving medical treatment over in Vancouver. 

Originally this was going to be a family session, but the Johnson's are moving to Ontario very soon and unfortunately Jennifer's husband has to go for work earlier than expected. So, it became a sisters and dogs session instead!

We went to my favourite location, Kye Bay. For April, we have been having some pretty amazing weather. There were people suntanning and playing in the water while we were there. 

The two dogs, Buddy and Max, were happy to be at the beach but I think they had other things in mind than posing for pictures! They were quite happy walking up and down the beach with the girls.

At the end of the session it was time to play! Buddy looked like a puppy as he splashed in the water. Sadly, Jennifer informed me this week that Buddy passed away from cancer shortly after our session. He will be missed terribly by the family and will remain forever in their hearts. Jennifer said that the timing was just right for their session, and that now they will have some great portraits to remember Buddy and the time they spent in the Comox Valley. All the best to you in Ottawa, Johnson family!