Ultra Violet. Beloved Golden Retriever, by a Maine Dog Photographer. Violet's dog Mom.

Violet

  03/08/14 - 01/03/26

Beautiful Violet crossed over the Rainbow Bridge Saturday evening, two months shy of her 12th birthday, surrounded by both her human family and her canine family.  To say Violet was the sweetest, "bestest" girl ever is an understatement.  Nicknamed our "forever puppy", Violet never passed up the opportunity for a game of tug with her own pups and grand pups. Violet is the mother to 11 pups from three small litters, six of her pups are local and a regular part of our lives.  Violet was a good Mama, and an incredible grandmother and was loved by all who had the pleasure to know her. Violet changed the trajectory of her human family in immeasurable ways, for every pup she raised she brought more humans into the Minors extended family. Then came her grand pups, both her daughter Ivy and son Appa had a litter in 2023 and 2025 and Violet made herself at home in the whelping box cleaning and stimulating pups from the onset, and continued to help out until all pups went to their forever homes. Violet loved to lick her human Moms feet too, a trait she and only she displayed. She loved stuffies, bones, treats, mealtime, walks, camping, hiking, swimming, chasing her tail, playing tug with her boys, smiling for photos, wearing props while smiling for photos, licking stinky puppies, and sleeping on her humans bed (they all like that :) ). Violet was predeceased by her Mama Chloe two years ago. Chloe left a huge hole in her families heart, but Violet helped them heal, and for the first time in 16 years they are both no longer with us. If you were one of the lucky ones to know them, don't hesitate to share your thoughts with us here on this post. 💜

Personal thoughts from Mama Joanne. Our family will cherish the memories of these two beautiful girls forever.  My previous blog post was of Chloe's death two years ago. My last statement was that I would post a slideshow of Chloe, which I never did. Time has a habit of marching on and sometimes I don't complete the things I want to complete. I do share on my business Facebook page, so please follow me there if you aren't already doing so.  https://www.facebook.com/minormomentsphotography

Every year at the start of the year I set my goals. Every year I say I want to blog more, for myself and for my friends who aren't on fb. I know what I need to do to work this goal, and this year I'm reprioritizing a few things to try and make it stick :) so with that said, I'm going to be a bit kinder to myself, give myself the proper amount of time I need to put together some beautiful photos and memories of my girls, and plan to share it right here next week.  As you can all imagine, I have so many beautiful photos, and even more beautiful memories, and chances are I am going to shed an enormous amount of tears while pulling this together. Once I successfully complete my next post, I may play a little catch up over the past couple of years and post some fun stuff too!! Overall I live a very blessed and positive life and want to share some of these blessings with you, right here!! Thank you for being here with me.

 

 

Minor Moments Pawtography. A Maine Dog Photographer

 Back in the summer of 2019, during the 4th of July weekend, I walked around Pemaquid Point Campground with my camera asking folks if I could photograph their dogs...after all...I had found my calling and it was time I shared my talents with the world...or at least with the folks staying at the campground that weekend...

I walked around the small campground with my friend Kathy who was carrying a pen and notebook to write down the dogs name and age, what breed they were, owners name and any other info the owners wanted to share about their furry love.  

When I returned home the usual everyday life responsibilities took priority...and my personal project took a ride in the back seat.  I've continued to document dogs at campgrounds and local events, I've continued to share my contact info...but unfortunately I've also continued to push off my personal projects...they are no longer in the back seat but honestly more like stuffed into the trunk.  I never forget about them completely but I must admit that if they are out of my sight they are usually out of my mind too.

A couple of months ago someone reached out to me via my business facebook page Minor Moments Photography.  This was the message:  "you took pictures of our dog at pemaquid point campground during July 4th week in 2019 I believe .. I never saw them posted and we lost Mosi this passed summer and I was just wondering if you ever did anything with those pictures?"

Well...there you have it. This note written to me two and a half years later was exactly what I needed to receive to know that I had made an impression. Yes, I should have know...and in actuality I do know...because I wouldn't have ventured out in the first place and asked total strangers to photograph their dogs if I didn't think there'd come a day that they would cherish the moments I captured for them...

So, a flicker of light is now a brightly shining beacon of hope that I will proceed on my personal dog photo projects that are so near and dear to my heart. I have photographed many dogs over the years and I'm prioritizing them to share with you in the coming months. I also have a brand new project, that has been in the front of my brain for the past ten years to honor the dogs that have crossed over the rainbow bridge, and I'm diving into that project also and hope to share with you all very soon!

Yes I did reach out to Mosi's "person" to share my condolences and my photos, and I thanked her for reminding me to share the photos of the very special fur babies in our lives that I have captured over the past few years. So without any further delay, here are the Pemaquid Point campground dogs I photographed over fourth of July in 2019. All info was documented in July of 2019, and by all means if you recognize someone's dog here please share it with them!!

Brud: 14 wks old, a lab mix from Booth Bay Rescue, proud parents Frank & Jeff

Cowboy:  boxer 6.5 yrs old and weighing in at 100 lbs

Sam Juan (Sammy):  One and a half year old terrier mix.  Depending on how accurate my notes are, both Cowboy and Sammy are from Waterville ME and live with Steve & Lauren.

Currituck:  12 years old.  This is my dear friend Kathy's dog, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 14.  I camped many times with Curri over the years and watched her grow up, this one is very personal, and the reason I do what I do.

Mosi (Tatupu):  9 yrs old, black lab/sheep dog, proud parents Michele & Steve, and the inspiration behind this post.  Thank you Michele for reaching out to me so I could share these photos with you and with all the other folks whos loves I photographed that weekend.

Reo:  3.5 year old Shepherd above and Dixie, 8.5 years old Australian Shepard below.  Both from Sanford ME my notes are a bit jumbled...proud parents Christine & John...  :)

If I have photographed your dog and you want more info from me or you wish to share some info with me please do not hesitate to reach out to me.  I love photographing dogs and will continue to do so...and am going to work toward sharing with you all much more too!  The following photograph was taken at the lighthouse, in the parking lot at sunrise, July 7th, 2019.  :) no further info available.

A Pine Point Summer Solstice Tradition. A Maine Photographer.

There is a group of individuals who exercise regularly in the early hours of the morning. For some of these people, the only thing they have in common is that one hour a day, for how many days of the week they choose to go. Friendships form. Traditions are created. Friday night at Pine Point, the week of Summer Solstice, now having occurred three times within this group classifies it as a tradition. You don't need an invitation. You show up and are guaranteed to be amongst friends...afterall...it takes a special person to get up at the crack of dawn to exercise with a group of people...people who even though you may have very little in common with...people who become your friends.

Living within a half hour from the beach is by far one of the single most things I am grateful for.  I am also painfully aware that I do not take advantage of this blessing anywhere near as much as I should...for solace, for reflection, for gratitude, and for practicing and improving my photography skills.  Summer Solstice at Pine Point, for me, is an opportunity for all of the above.

My solace, my reflection, my gratitude, my practice.  Summer Solstice 2016.

 That famous line in Lethal Weapon...do we go on 3...or do we go on go?  Barb?

Meet 9 wk old Brewer.  I will ask any puppy owner if I may photograph their puppy.  It is who I am :)

Limited Edition Golden Retriever Puppy Goes Home. A Maine Photographer Who Loves Photographing Heads and Tails.

When Chloe's heat began back in October 2014 I knew immediately that the timing was ripe for a Christmas litter of golden retrievers.
...or so I thought.
OK...ok...
then factor in Chloe's history.
At the age of three, she did not get pregnant on the first attempt.  In fact she showed very little interest in her chosen suitor.
At the age of four she was artificially inseminated which did result in a small litter of three beautiful golden retriever puppies.  (Please visit my blog again next week because those three puppies are having a birthday and I will have an update on how they are doing now)
So, at the age of five we sent Chloe off to the breeder Snowypaws and wait to hear if she is playing with her chosen mate or giving him the cold shoulder.  We do get word that she has "tied" successfully...at least once...but the studs interest in her quickly diminishes and no further frolicking ensues.
About a week later Chloe returns home and we keep in mind the possibility that she could be pregnant, however, as the weeks progress none of the telltale signs of pregnancy are visible and we begin to assume that the one tie Chloe did successfully achieve was not enough to fill her belly up with a Christmas litter.
We begin to make plans to drive to Florida for Christmas.  We are very fortunate to have some relatives that we like living there, and they have welcomed us all, including the dogs for our Christmas vacation.  Although we have made several trips to Florida with Chloe before, this will be our first with both Chloe and her daughter Violet.  We make some reservations to put both dogs in a doggy daycare facility for a day so that we can visit a Disney park while we are in Florida.  The daycare facility requires proof of a kennel cough vaccine, so I begin to make vet appointments to get this taken care of.  I might add, all of these plans are very last minute for us, less then a week away from departure date...and something tells me to take a closer look at Chloebutt...sure enough...some of those telltale signs have now begun to show up...could Chloebutt be carrying around a few jingle bells in that little belly of hers?  My husband makes a guess.  He guesses that Chloe has one puppy in her belly...just enough to show some signs of pregnancy.
Again, let me reiterate.  All this is happening just days before our 28 hour drive to Naples Florida.  Rushell, our breeder secures a vet visit for Chloe within hours, and yes it is confirmed...Chloe has one single, soon-to-be giant jingle bell in her belly.
Let's get something out on the table first of all.  Chloe does not like to ride in a vehicle.  Not one single bit...so although we all agree we will miss her being with us over the Christmas holiday...we also agree that we will not miss her constant 28 hour panting on each end of the trip.

While we are gone we are in constant contact with Rushell.  No Christmas puppy...and according to the vet he thinks it's more likely to be a New Years baby.  We return from Florida in time for me to receive a message that Chloe has been taken to the vet where she will deliver her puppy by C-section. We get word that she has been in labor most of the night and nothing is progressing.  We know that there is great possibility that the only way for this puppy to survive is to be born by C-section.  All goes very well.
Mom Chloe does great and we have a New Year's Eve baby! :)

Aside from being a Mom and a wife, I love being a photographer.
With the blessings of Rushell and Snowypaw I was able to photograph Chloe and her puppy every week during their time together.  In addition to photographing dogs...Rushell has a house full of beautiful children...a photographers playground really...

There is one question left.  Many of you have asked me if we will breed Chloe again.  Technically our "obligation" to Snowypaw has been fulfilled and we can retire our beautiful Chloe if we wish...funny thing is...Chloe's puppies are truly wonderful, one-of-a-kind little miracles...and when I say they are "limited editions" that really is no understatement.  Chloe has given birth to only four little ones...and she is a role model of a mother.
At this time I am not sure what her future holds.

The following photos are in the order that they were taken, beginning within hours of the puppy being born, ending with him going home with Marty and Becky, his forever family.  Last I knew they planned to name him Cooper, but once they met him, other names were coming to mind.  He is one very special love bug that is for sure, and he definitely made an impression on Rushell's young family and on me...his grandma :)