“The one absolutely unselfish friend that humans can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts them, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is their dog.”
George Graham Vest, Senator of Missouri, 1855
I was considered lucky to be able to grow up with a dog. However, my first pet was a hamster named Bernie. He was the greatest little creature but he has never met the love I have for my dog Missy. We first got Missy when I was in 5th grade. She was 5 weeks old when we picked her out from the litter of puppies and took her home with us. Missy is now a little over 13 years old and in my eyes, has been the greatest dog. Growing up she was always by my side. She has always slept at the foot of the bed and kept my feet nice and warm :) As an only child, it was always nice to have someone there. Just to be there, nothing else. I feel like she has always known her purpose as probably most dogs do. Dogs know their owners and feel a sense of loyalty to them. Missy has been nothing short of a faithful companion, and has always been a fun and loving dog. She is currently very sick and will probably not be with us much longer. It is a fact that I’m learning to accept but I know that when the time comes it won’t be easy. She is truly a part of our family.
They say that the history of humans and dogs coexisting goes as far back as 15,000 years. Studies have shown that the co-evolution of dogs with humans created a set of cognitive abilities between the two that makes the bond between humans and dogs unique. Our connection with them is special and that is probably why they are the most common pet in the world. We take them into our homes and they naturally become part of the family. Many clients ask us if we are willing to photograph their dogs. Of course! After all, they are a part of the family! Their lives our much shorter than ours and so capturing them in photos is a great way to remember them. Unfortunately, I just met with a client of ours that recently had to put her beloved pet to sleep. It was completely unexpected. The dog’s health rapidly started to decline right after their photo shoot. But guess what? Both of their dogs were at the shoot that day. Ironically, they had decided to have photos taken just 2 weeks prior. As sad as it was to show her the photos, I was glad that we could capture their four legged best friend with the whole family. This is what makes photographing so rewarding, to help people remember their loved ones, including their dogs.
147 days until Christmas or the we look at it 147 days until you’re holiday cards need to go out! (well a few days less than that since you have to take into account mailing time). If you know that you would like to send out holiday cards this season, give us a call so we can put you on the calendar. The earlier you schedule the better. Many of our clients love to use outdoor photos from either their summer or fall shoots. To be honest, I don’t blame them. Who wouldn’t want to receive a beautiful, clear sky, outdoor family portrait taken in Cleveland while snow falls and ice covers the streets in December? It’s just a sweet reminder of what we had not too long ago and will be waiting a long time to see again. So, although we have had nice weather for the last week, don’t count on it staying that way for much longer. Take advantage of the few short months we have. It doesn’t hurt just to pick a date because just in case it rains we can always push back the shoot to another (possibly rain-free) day. And just to get your wheels turning, below are a few examples of the various custom designed photo holiday cards we have designed…
Father’s Day is just around the corner! June 20th to be exact. And what could be better than giving your dad or grandpa a family photo or a portrait of his kids or grandkids on Father’s Day??? Whether you had a shoot recently or had one a while back, a photo for that special man in your life is a great gift idea that will last a lifetime! We also offer specialty items such as cufflinks and keychains! Call us today so that we can make sure you get your order in time!
Happy Father’s Day!
For the fourth year, I got the treat of spending an afternoon taking outdoor family photos with Mr. R and Miss E (and their parents, of course)! These kids are definitely some of my favorite people around! They are so cute, and so sweet– and always excited to play and take pictures! Taking advantage of the extraordinary beauty of the autumn leaves, we explored areas of Chagrin were every turn provided a new picturesque backdrop! You just need to watch out for Mr. Water Snake, right guys?!?
So much fun playing in the leaves!
Miss E treated me to an original song she composed for me. I think it should be #1!!!
Here is a sample of the new and improved video slideshows we’re presenting your photos with…! This video is from a outdoor location session that was part Bar Mitzvah photos, part family photos, and part child portraits. These videos have been a huge hit in the studio– so many people have wanted to take them home with them, give them as gifts to grandparents, or even post them to Facebook, that we’ve added them to our product line!
Check it out!
