Happy birthday to me!

Today is my birthday! This year it was overshadowed by Hurricane Sandy (to those of you in the eastern U.S., I hope you are recovering!) and every year it is overshadowed by Halloween, which I've always been ok with because as a kid (ok, and grown-up) you can't really go wrong with presents one day and candy the next. This year, as a treat to myself, I ordered a 20x30 canvas of me and my golden girl Chloe to hang in our home office. I love it.

This image also makes me want to repaint my house. This blue-grey wall colour looks great in person, but does not translate well in photos!

Happy Tuesday all!

Wags,
Stacey

gallery wrap canvas | ontario pet photographer

In my previous What Got Buried post I shared a quick look at a couple of canvases that I have hanging in the Burlington, Ont., location of the Bark and Fitz pet boutique. The shop owners were kind enough to give me space right behind the cash register, and it is a great opportunity to showcase not only my photography, but one of my favourite products that I offer clients: gallery wrap canvases. I thought I would share a closer look at these canvases because I think they are pretty awesome.

I posted before about going as big as you can when it comes to wall art, and I think 20x30 is the minimum size to get. It's a nice size — it's big enough to be displayed on many different wall shapes and sizes, and can still be used in a grouping if you want. These canvases are both 20x30.

I love canvases because they are really durable and come ready to hang — it's really the easiest way to get art up on your walls. I work with an amazing professional lab that works exclusively with photographers. I am in love with their canvases ... or perhaps more accurately, in lurrrvvee! The colours are always spot on and the finishing is top-notch, right down to the neatly folded corners.

None of the detail is lost — it's amazing. Don't you feel like you could reach out and pet Buckeye?

Although Chloe doesn't get what all the fuss is about — why I would ever order any art that has a dog on it other than her?

Don't worry Chloe, you'll be up on our walls soon enough. My birthday is coming up and as a little gift to myself I ordered a canvas of Chloe and I for our office. I'll share it soon!

On a more personal note, seeing my work on a product like this makes me feel like more than someone who takes photographs — it makes me feel like a bona fide photographer ... even, an artist. Sometimes I get caught up in worry and doubt, and comparing myself to other photographers, and my confidence gets low. Can I really call myself a professional? Why does everyone else seem so successful and have everything together? But then I open up a delivery like this and say in wonder to my husband, "Wow, this looks like real art." His response is a pretty consistent, "Umm, yeah. D'uh." There is nothing more satisfying than seeing my work like this. It just plain makes me happy.

Wags,
Stacey

And the winner is ...

You know those photos of cute, cheerful dogs that you've seen drawing a name out of a hat to announce the winner of a contest ... well, that isn't Chloe! I wanted some cute photos of her choosing the winner of the ARFmazing Race $50 Happy Tails Pet Photography gift certificate. Instead I got this:

Sometimes I swear she must be part basset hound with those droopy eyes! She seemed mildly interested when I mentioned there might be a cookie involved. Ultimately I picked the entry with the most Chloe drool on it as the winner — very scientific.

Deep down I am sure Chloe is over the moon that Sarah Lynn Saari is the winner! Woot!

I will be in touch with you soon about your prize — congratulations!

Wags,
Stacey

chloe on canvas

Have you met Chloe yet? She's top dog at our house, although our bossypants cat would probably protest this (Kitty thinks she is top cat AND top dog). We adopted Chloe at age four and despite her insane tennis ball obsession, she is just amazing. We love her. Here is Chloe at her birthday last year when she turned six.

And now I get to look at that moment every day because here is Chloe on canvas!

I ordered this 15x30 canvas a while ago, but didn't get around to sharing it until now. I love it! It's a gallery wrap canvas with a nice chunky profile — I offer this product through the Happy Tails collection.

Here's an even closer look at the thickness. This canvas is one-inch thick, but you can also order these at two-inches thick.

 These canvases are hand-stretched and come laminated for durability. The quality is really stunning. I swear it looks like Chloe is going to pop right off my wall!

Here's the back, which is neatly finished. It comes ready to hang too, with a wire hanger or metal brackets (these are not recommended for bigger sizes).

I think this is a great example of how to approach art and professional photography in general. Before your session, try to have a good idea of how you are going to display your images, so your photographer can help meet your needs. And don't keep your finished photos languishing on disc or print off a dinky 4x6. You are investing in art, so treat your images as such!

This canvas was ordered through one of my trusted professional labs — the quality of ordering through a true pro lab that caters to photographers is undeniable. Please don't snap up a WagJag deal or go to your local Walmart. You have made the investment in professional photography — don't ruin it on poor-quality printing.

And when it comes to choosing images, don't feel compelled to pick the ones that are the best technically. This image of Chloe isn't the best work I've ever done — I had half a second to capture it before she gobbled up that cookie and some of the highlights are blown out. But it makes me smile every single day. Images that elicit an emotional reaction are the ones you will get the most enjoyment from day in and day out.

I will have this piece of art to enjoy long after Chloe is gone. It's a sad fact that our canine companions leave us much sooner than they should. It gives me comfort knowing that I'll always have a visual moment to cherish of my most favourite four-legger.

Wags!
~ Stacey

happy holidays! | milton, ontario, pet photographer

Christmas has come and gone, but I wanted to post a quick note to thank all my family, friends, clients and supporters who have encouraged me on this journey of photography. You all keep me motivated to pursue my dream and never give up - here's to a fantastic 2012! Paws up to all of you!

This is what our Christmas morning looked like:

What did your four-leggers get from Santa? I hope your holidays were filled with lots of good cheer!

cottage life | muskoka, ontario, pet photographer

One of our favourite ways to vacation in the summer is to rent a cottage in the beautiful Muskoka region of Ontario. It is so relaxing to have morning coffee on the dock, and spend the afternoon with a book and a drink, listening to the birds and crickets (check out my earlier post to see how Chloe likes to spend her vacation!). It's also fun to explore, and that's how we stumbled upon a gorgeous field down a dirt road while walking the dogs. Of course I had my camera. And of course I took photos. Here's Chloe and her friend Lucy enjoying some off-leash time.

And the best way to wrap up a spontaneous photo shoot? Basking in some sunshine with your feet hanging off the dock of course!

chloe swims!

We took last week off for a cottage vacation in the beautiful Muskoka region of Ontario. The change of scenery and tranquility were refreshing, but unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate. The chilly temperatures prevented us from taking full advantage of the lake and kept us out of the water ... well, almost all of us.

Chloe's obsession with water rivals her passion for ball ... she was in the lake constantly and we had to deal with seven days of wet dog smell! She loves to splash the water and bite at it — she could do this for HOURS.



By the time we left, the beautiful natural shoreline wasn't so beautiful ... Chloe left no lily pad untouched!

post-processing: now you see it, now you don't

Ah, custom photography. You love the final product but wonder why the price seems so much higher than if you just took a few shots yourself and developed them at the local Wal-Mart. I once wondered that myself until I got into the actual business of photography. After advertising and marketing, booking clients, scheduling photo shoots (and rescheduling due to weather), travelling to the location, and actually taking the photos, my job is only half done. Yep. Still lots of work to do.

Here's an example of what comes next, during the post-processing phase. You might remember this photo I took of Chloe during our evening walk. The one on the left is straight out of camera with nary a tweak — I actually feel kind of naked showing it! The one on the right is after post-processing.

I use a combination of Lightroom and Photoshop to edit my photos. Sometimes it's just a matter of removing some eye gunk or doing some light retouching. Sometimes it can be quite meticulous and time consuming to get the exact look that I'm after. I'm pretty nit-picky, so I generally spend quite a bit of time on each photo.

The original photo of Chloe had several things going for it. I liked the composition with the tall grass on the left and the path down low fading off to the right. I liked that she's making eye contact with me and isn't sporting a goofy expression (this is pretty rare for Chloe!). And the direction of that warm evening light was quite lovely — you can see it softly hitting her left side. The photo just needed some "zing," so I brightened it up, added some warmth and contrast, and removed the leash, which she had so thoughtfully dragged through a mud puddle only moments before. I left her slimy tennis ball in the final image because it speaks to her personality — she doesn't go anywhere without it. Can you spot it?

Hopefully that explains some of the reasoning behind the price of custom photography and the work that goes into it behind the scenes. It really is an investment. But a worthwhile one I think. What are your thoughts?

chloe's big day

Yesterday was Chloe's birthday - she turned six! I've had a few people ask how she celebrated. Well, she received lots of pets, an extra-long after dinner walk and a special treat. But mostly she celebrated the day away doing this:

Yep, she snoozed on the couch. Being a new mom to a nine-month-old, I can totally see how this would be appealing. I might celebrate my next birthday napping!

Even a fancy birthday treat didn't rouse her from her slumber.

After sleeping beauty got her required eight hours of daytime sleep, we tried giving her the dog cookie again. This time there was a little more interest!

happy birthday chloe!

Today Chloe turns six (although she doesn't act a day over two!). It feels like she's been in our lives forever, but she only became part of our family two years ago when we adopted her from a family that could no longer care for her. We still can't believe how lucky we are. We are actually her third family – it's hard to imagine, but she has been given up twice. Once as a puppy, then again when she came to us at the age of four. We are NEVER giving this monkey up. She is the sweetest, most loyal and exuberant creature, and she truly makes our house a home. Plus, she's super cute.

Chloe is obsessed with tennis balls. So, yesterday we went out for a walk with her trusty "Wilson." It was early evening and I was hoping to get some photos of my Golden during "golden hour" — that time in the evening when the light is warm and magical. But the clouds rolled in making the skies a little overcast. Parts of the path were still pretty though.

Of course, there were lots of things to explore along the way. There were bugs to sniff ...

And grass to eat.

Occasionally she would stop for a few seconds to let me take a picture.

We love you Chloe — happy birthday! Stay tuned to see how Chloe spent her big day!

treat time

Because Chloe is so good and super cute, she gets lots of treats. We can't help it — we're suckers for those "poor me" eyes. She recently got a bone to chew on, and she loves a good bone! Taking the bone away is the tricky part. She growls and bares her hamster teeth (she has terrible teeth, probably due to all the tennis balls she likes to chew on). She tries to look scary, but she can't fool us.

three amigos

Last weekend Chloe and I met up with some friends for a hike. The trails were a muddy mess, which meant the dogs had a fantastic time — Chloe definitely lived up to her "dirtiest dog" title! I wanted to grab a quick doggie group shot at the end of the hike. Of course it was the photographer's dog that kept messing up the photo! Here is attempt number one of (from left) Chloe the wheaten, my Chloe, and Jackson the wheaten (sporting a new summer haircut!):

Yep, way to lick your lips Chloe. And here is attempt number two:

Could she have timed that shake any better? I love how Jackson is totally focused on posing for the camera! And finally, attempt number three:

Sure, it might be a little overexposed, but I'm glad I finally got a shot of these three goofballs after their awesome day on the trails!

inside a dog's mind

This is Chloe last weekend. Isn't she happy? This was the only day of sunshine we've had in about two weeks - the weather has been just awful lately. If you're wondering what she could be smiling so big about, it's pretty basic. Nope, it's not a treat or the prospect of a belly rub. It's her slimy green tennis ball. Well, one of three or four that are usually scattered around our front yard. People in our neighbourhood may very well think they're living next to Andy Roddick.

I'm pretty sure if you could read Chloe's mind, it would go something like this: Are we going to play ball? Are we now? How about now? Are you going to throw it? How about now? Now? C'mon throw it! Do you have my ball? Where's my ball? Ball, ball, ball ...

dirty dog

It's official. We own the dirtiest dog in the neighbourhood according to the folks at Mutt Life! Chloe won the grand prize in the shop's Dirtiest Dog Photo Contest and gets free baths for a year! I'm not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed. We're actually really tickled that Chloe won — tails have been wagging at Happy Tails headquarters since we heard the news. And even though I think she could also win for cutest dog in the world, best pet on the planet or the smooshiest furbaby mcgoo ever, I had a feeling she had a good shot at taking top prize when we submitted this photo:

Yep, that's my girl. This was taken during one of our off-leash hikes in the fall. Chloe ran ahead and disappeared from view for a few moments. When we called her back she returned looking like a black lab from the neck down! She had found a bog. And not just any bog. The mud was like sticky tar and did it ever stink! Doesn't she look pleased with herself though? Chloe's already great day was elevated to Best. Day. Ever.

For the rest of our trek, hikers we passed would chuckle and gave us looks of pity. We hosed her down in the backyard as soon as we got home.

It's hard chasing a muddy dog with a hose though, and now we won't have to for a whole year! It's mess-free tub baths for our dirty pooch for the next 12 months.

Now Chloe will be the cleanest, best smelling dog in the neighbourhood! Thanks Mutt Life!

fun fact

Did you know that each dog nose is unique? They are similar to our human fingerprints - no two dog noses are exactly alike. In fact, the Canadian Kennel Club has accepted nose prints as proof of identification since 1938.

 Happy weekend!

mutt strutt

Happy Tails Pet Photography, along with top dog Chloe, will be participating in the Milton Mutt Strutt in May to help raise funds for the local Oakville and Milton Humane Society. Last year's event raised more than $17,000 for homeless, abused and neglected animals in the region. Since Chloe is adopted, this cause has a special place in our hearts.

We'll be doing the 5-km route. This won't be the first charitable event Chloe has taken part in. Each year she enthusiastically paw-ticipates in the Terry Fox Run to raise money for cancer research.

We're looking forward to strutting with all the dogs and their people! For more information about the event, visit the Oakville and Milton Humane Society's website.

Rub a dub dub

The snow has melted and spring is in the air! Of course, that also means lots of mud and lots of puddles. And Chloe loves mud and puddles! After several days of ball chasing, rolling and walking through it all, she was starting to be a little stinky. Okay, a lot stinky! So we took her to the local Mutt Life store, which has DIY dog baths. They also provide organic shampoo, fresh towels and aprons so you don't get wet. Chloe did really well in the big tub.

There was a selection of shampoos – we decided on peppermint, which our noses really appreciated.

Next it was time to towel off and blow dry.

  To finish off, we gave her a good brush.

Everyone was super friendly – we'll be back the next time we need to give Chloe a good scrub!

And it didn't hurt that it tuckered our pup out. She needed a nap to recover from all the excitement. Our spring cleaning— for the pets at least— is done for now!