yorkie on the trails | burlington pet photographer

I met up with three-year-old Aston and his people on the first really warm day of the year. Luckily there are some amazing trails and woods just steps from their house in Burlington, Ontario, so we headed there to find some shade and some water. Aston is not like most Yorkies ... he likes to swim!

I like to call Yorkies "little big" dogs. They are small in stature, but they have the hutzpah, and the vocal chords, of a much bigger dog! Aston is very loved by his people — lots of snuggles for this guy.

Aston likes to go swimming, but on this day he really only wanted to wade at the water's edge. It was a nice break to cool off. Wet dog coming through!

 

We ended off our session back at the house, where this tuckered out Yorkie was happy to see the couch. I will always shoot outside when I can, but I love indoor shots too when there is nice, natural window light. And there's something about the home environment that adds a level of comfort to indoor images.

Thanks for showing me your neck of the woods Aston! Hope you slept well.

Wags,
Stacey

featured on: hair of the dog

I'm so excited to share that I've been featured! Hair of the Dog is a blog for pet photographers that features business tips, interviews and session spotlights of pet photographers from around the world.

I submitted a recent session I had with great pyrenees Charlie and was thrilled when it was accepted! There are some exceptional photographers that have been featured on the blog, so I'm pretty happy.

If you would like to see some fantastic pet photography, head over the the Hair of the Dog blog and check out some of the other session spotlights!

Wags,

Stacey

Balloons and finding balance

Some days just plain get away from me. Those are the days when I feel like the only things I accomplish are getting up in the morning, going to work and going to bed at night. Everything in between is a blur.

I juggle a full-time job, Happy Tails, a toddler, volunteering and all those in-between activities, chores and errands that make up life. It's busy. And it can be overwhelming.

I know I'm not the only one with many balls in the air, and I'm not complaining that my life is full — I wouldn't change a thing. But sometimes I have to remind myself to pause and enjoy the moments. Like when I bring balloons home for my son (he calls them baboos) and I can literally see his face light up — I swear it happens in slow motion. I would spend all the time in the world just watching that happen. He has made me remember the joy of balloons, and how sitting on the floor and swatting them back and forth is time well spent.

I am still trying to find balance — or as close to balance as I can get. I don't want to miss any moments because my focus is somewhere else or because I feel so buried that I can't see them. And I'm still trying to figure out what success means to me, and how I can have the life I want without sacrificing anything too precious.

One thing I do know is that being organized has saved me .... many times. And thankfully, I'm not a procrastinator. When I have a task, I get it done as quickly as possible so it's off my plate and I don't have to think about it. Here are a few things that help me:

1) Make lists. Whether you do this on your iPhone or the old-fashioned way with a pen and paper (yep, that's me), seeing everything I need to do puts things into perspective. And crossing things off is so satisfying! I also swear by my day planner. It has pages for each week and then a monthly overview, so I can see what's coming up immediately and how my entire month is shaping up.

2) Prioritize. If I think of everything that needs to get done at once, I feel paralyzed. That's when I don't get anything accomplished. I like to put things in order, whether by deadline or importance, and then focus on one thing at a time.

3) Just do it! There are tasks that I just don't like to do (picking up dog poop ... anyone?), but having them hanging over my head just drags me down. I prefer to just get those things over with, and then I treat myself with a coffee break (there is usually a doughnut involved too). Or, get someone else to do them. I recently discovered there are businesses that will pick up the poop for you! Is it wierd that I think this would make a great Mother's Day present?

4) Ask for help. I admit, this is hard for me to do. I don't like to think that I can't handle doing something on my own and I don't want to burden anyone else. But I am always so touched and amazed when people come through — and they always do. I'm in the process of organizing my first ever vendor booth (details coming soon), and after submitting my paperwork the scope of what I actually had to do to make it happen started to set in. I emailed friends and family, asking for volunteers and to borrow items. Within 30 minutes I had all the major things covered. It's a great reminder that even when I feel like I'm on my own, I'm not.

I read a quote recently by Diane Ackerman that really resonated with me. She said, "I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well." It's a challenge we all face. I like to think of that quote when I'm feeling caught up in life.

And then I go out and buy some balloons.

Wags,
Stacey

These are the moments I don't want to miss — Sunday morning pj time with the Chloe. Snapped with an iPhone.

maggie | milton ontario pet photographer

It goes without saying that I love animals and I love photography. But as I continue on this journey of pet photography, I'm discovering that another part of my job that I also really love is hearing each client's story — how their pet came into their life, how their life has changed because of it and what they love most about their pet. Each story is special, and each family's bond with their dog or cat is unique. I am truly honoured that I get to capture these stories.

This is Maggie. She is about 14 years old (she could be as old as 16!) and she is the sweetest little muppet.

Maggie was found lying on the side of the road by a policeman. She had a paralyzed front leg and her hair was so matted and dirty that she looked grey in colour. As fate would have it, she was brought to an emergency vet clinic where Erica was working for the summer. Despite Maggie's appearance, it was love at first sight. When no one claimed the little white stray with the sweet personality, Erica immediately adopted her, even though she was a university student at the time and Maggie's leg had to be amputated.

"I was convinced she was the cutest dog ever and was so shocked when other people didn't immediately feel the same," says Erica. "However, when I look back at early pictures of her — before her hair grew back in and before she had her leg amputated — I can understand their reaction."

That was more than 11 years ago, and Maggie has been Erica's constant companion ever since.

Erica says Maggie has forced her to become more outgoing because everyone they pass while out on their walks will stop her and ask why Maggie only has three legs. This minor detail,  or her senior status, doesn't slow her down one bit!

For this next shot I asked Maggie for a "tough and gritty, urban dog look."

There's a sports complex in the area with big blue letters out front that I've always wanted to incorporate into a shoot. Erica was up for it — I love it when my clients go along with my crazy ideas! 'M' is for Maggie, muffin, muppet, Miss M ... I had only known Maggie for about an hour at this point and I was already coming up with my own nicknames for her.

Erica told me at the beginning of our session that she doesn't like to have her photo taken (I hear this a lot!) but I still managed to get a few shots of her and Maggie together, which I think is so important. I'm so happy that she chose this last one to be printed — it's a great compliment and a decision I don't think she'll ever regret.

Thanks so much Erica for the lovely morning and for introducing me to Maggie, your small dog with big heart.

Wags,

Stacey

The sky blues | southern ontario pet photographer

When I started Happy Tails, I didn't realize I would also be starting a relationship with the Weather Network. Like most relationships, it has its ups and downs, and I don't care to admit how many times my husband has caught me shaking my fist at the television, moaning "Why? Why?" or patting it approvingly and saying "Good job!" like it went outside to do its business for the first time.

Since most of my shoots occur outdoors, I am always checking the weather. Obsessively. Like I have a say in it or something. First there's the long-range forecast, then the short-term and yes, even hourly leading up to a session. I admit that I have a problem.

It doesn't always go my way and many times I have to do some rescheduling — not a big deal, but it's always kind of a let down. Sometimes it's questionable right up until the session time and there are phone calls back and forth with the client: "What does it look like where you are?", "Exactly how dark is the sky?"

A lot of the time I get lucky and the rain holds off like it did with my recent session with Maggie. It was overcast, which is actually pretty great for photography, but as a result the sky was dull and lifeless. There isn't anything I can do from a technical aspect to improve the situation. So, in special circumstances, I fake it. Here is Maggie's before shot.

 And here is Maggie's after shot with a sky that I copied from a different photo.

The key is to use tricks like this subtly — if it looks fake, it's no good. I always try to keep my photos as authentic as possible. I would never make drastic changes to the scene or the subject — it's important that a pet looks like they always do, as their family sees them every day.

Sometimes I just have to give Mother Nature a helping hand.

What is your favourite weather to photograph in? Are you a Weather Network junkie like me? Feel free to comment!

Wags,
Stacey

holly & leila | burlington ontario pet photographer

I met Dana and her two rescue cats, Holly and Leila, in their cosy fourth-floor apartment. Holly is a beautiful black-and-white long-hair, who is quite timid and spent most of our session tucking herself away into impossibly small spaces. Holly is more curious and playful — your textbook feline.

As an on-location photographer, I rarely get to see the spaces I will be photographing in ahead of time. It's always a surprise when I show up, which is really part of the fun. Sometimes I get super lucky with open spaces washed with light. Other times it's more challenging. But it's these tricky spaces that often result in the most interesting images, since I often end up in a room I wouldn't normally consider.

No matter the situation, I always make it work!

Let's start with lovely orange Leila, who was the easier girl to photograph.

Dana's apartment is pretty small and has only a few east-facing windows. To make it even more challenging, shy Holly was most comfortable in the bathroom — her favourite room — with the faucet running of course! The bathroom is tiny and has no natural light, but I didn't want to use my flash, since Holly was already nervous and the comfort of the pet is my priority. So, I spent lots of time laying on Dana's bathroom floor to get the shot. Ah, the glamorous life of a pet photographer!

And the two sisters together. What you don't see are the other two adults jammed in the bathroom with me, and the fact that I was standing on Dana's toilet! I think this is my favourite image from the day though because it really speaks to their personalities. I think this would look great framed and hung, where else, in the bathroom!

Thanks Dana, Leila and Holly for a fun afternoon!

Wags,
Stacey

what got buried | southern ontario pet photographer

Welcome to another edition of What Got Buried! I try to post daily over on the Happy Tails Facebook page, so if you want to have your nose to the ground on all the most up to date news and nonsense, high-tail it over there! It's a fun place and I would love it if you joined the pack.

Here's a quick peek at what's been happening at Happy Tails HQ. What you won't see is all the behind the scenes activity I have going on right now. I have a few special shoots coming up that I'm really excited about and I am mulling over putting together my first ever vendor booth for an upcoming event. It is a lot of work, so I haven't committed ... yet.

Let's kick things off with my Chloe, snoozing on the couch the day after Daylight Savings earlier this month. While the rest of us lost an hour, her marathon napping ability helped her make it through the day with no noticeable side effects. The best bonus about moving the clocks ahead is more time to shoot in the afternoons with the soft, glowing light that I just love! Bring on spring!

I also met sweet Sophie in March. Her furrowed brow just kills me. She might look perpetually worried, but she is a happy little thing.

I think pink is definitely Sophie's colour!

I also spent time photographing adoptable cats at the Burlington Humane Society. It breaks my heart when I have to photograph an animal for a second time like seven-month-old Fernando. He was adopted, declawed (I won't get into my thoughts on this except to say that I don't agree with the practice) and then returned shortly after because he was "misbehaving" likely due to sore paws.

Adopting an animal is a huge commitment! If you know anyone thinking about adding to their family, please share this link to this great article about what to consider before adopting.

I also met Cocoa while I was there. She was happy to be out of her crate and took the opportunity to enjoy some fresh tap water — it's better than bowl water don't you know!

And finally, I dug into the archives to share this photo of scruffy Chloe, a wheaten puppy. The lens I used for this shot gives it a fun look — isn't she adorable?

With the longer days and warmer temperatures, now is the time to book a session if you are considering it! Just drop me an email or give me a call — contact info is available on the Contact tab up at the top there. I would love to meet your furry family member!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Wags,
Stacey

8 tips for great pet photographs | southern ontario pet photographer

I was honored to write a guest column for the inaugural newsletter for Lifestyle Pet Care, a great local pet services business run by my friend Linda. Not only is Linda a huge animal lover (I photographed her rescue dog Nikki and cats Toby and Bear), but she also volunteers as a dog walker at the Burlington Humane Society. I was asked to share my tips for taking great pet photographs, which I am now posting for everyone to read. The article is below — I hope it inspires you to get your camera out and photograph your four-leggers!

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Pets are beloved family members and with their cute faces, just plain fun to photograph. Unlike humans, however, pets don’t understand that you’re trying to take their picture, and don’t always take direction very well. Here are a few easy tips to help you get the best photographs of your pet — regardless of what kind of camera you have. Just remember: be patient and have fun!

Get comfortable

To get natural, candid images, photograph your pet where they feel comfortable and relaxed, whether it’s your yard or a favourite spot in your house. Make sure you choose a time of day when your pet is cooperative — right before dinner or a walk can prove difficult!

Use bribery

Have a few of your dog’s favourite treats in hand or use your cat’s favourite toy to get their attention. Surprising your pet with a noise  — squeaky toys work great — can often result in a cute head tilt.

Focus on the eyes

The eyes are the most expressive part of your pet, so when in doubt, focus on those soulful beauties and try to get them tack sharp.

Get low

Photograph your pet from their level to create images with a connection.

Use natural light

Avoid dark rooms and other low-light situations. Take your pet outside or place them by a window.

 

Show your pet’s character

You know your pet better than anyone, so photograph Fido or Fluffy so their personality really shines. If you have a dog that loves to chase his tail, capture that! If you have a cat that likes to sleep upside-down, be ready with your camera to photograph it.

 

Contain them

If you have an active pet — especially a rambunctious puppy or playful kitten — try containing them. Put them in a box or laundry basket, anything that will keep them in one place long enough to grab a shot.

Increase your shutter speed

Dogs and cats are always on the move. To get them in action and prevent blurry photos increase the shutter speed on your DSLR camera. If you are using a point-and-shoot, use the “action” setting.

If you have any photography-related questions, please ask away in the comment section!

Wags,
Stacey