Sun Flare Contest Entry

So...I've entered this photo in a contest about Sun Flare.
Here is my son.  We were on a Christmas Tree Farm, searching out the perfect tree...my son was carrying the saw...and couldn't resist the occasional milk weed...

My Kitty Starr

On December 18th I took into my home a 4 month old foster kitty.  I wanted to name her Noel, or Holly...something to celebrate her Christmas arrival...but the family voted on Starr...but in her case, she was so tiny...I insisted we call her Lil Starr.  Poor Kitty...she has sooooo many issues...we have yet to adopt her.  After numerous vet visits...this is what we know about our precious little Starr. 
1.  She has a polyp in her ear...on her eardrum.  She needs extensive surgery and $$$$ to remove it.
2.  She has poop issues.  One extreme to the other.  She's on her fourth or fifth special diet.
3.  She may be allergic to her own teeth!  She has extreme gingivitis...and two sets of teeth...baby and adult.
4.  She is an amazing, gentle, fun and mellow little kitty.

Yup, she's a mess...
But somehow we all love her.
The Animal Refuge League is working closely with me and many different vets to try and improve her quality of life.  I have vowed not to get attached to her...
yup...so much for that....

The Mod Dog Spa in Westbrook ME

Two weekends ago I got to hang out with Rick at his grand opening celebration of his new dog grooming business, The Mod Dog Spa, located in Westbrook Maine. 

Ricks vision turned reality, is pampering at its best...his vision statement  "a relaxing, sophisticated and safe environment for a stress less experience for both pet and parent alike."  You all need to visit his website yourself, but here are his features.

GROOMING SERVICES:
Mod Dog Spa offers 2 primary Spa Packages:
PREMIER SERVICE - A full service spa appointment
HydroSurge® massaging bath using all-natural shampoo and conditioner
Blueberry facial
Warm towel wrap
Ears cleaned and plucked
Nails trimmed and filed
Paws, pads and sanitary area trimmed
Pads moisturized with Swedish herbal shea butter
Full haircut in breed specific or pet parent prefered style
Finishing including cologne and your choice of bandana, bow-tie or bow
REFRESH SERVICE - An ideal treatment between regular full service appointments
HydroSurge® massaging bath using all-natural shampoo and conditioner
Warm towel wrap
Blow dry and brush out
Nails trimmed and filed
Ears cleaned and plucked
Paws, pad and sanitary area trimmed

Does this all sound heavenly?!
Rick has agreed to hang a few of my dog portraits on his walls...and he also invited me to show off some of my work during his open house.  Up until this day I really didn't know anything about Rick or his business, so it was definitely a pleasure to spend a day meeting his family and friends, and some very loyal customers who will follow him anywhere. 
 

When I went home at the end of the day I truly felt like I had photographed a family reunion...a group of people who truly love and support each other, and are overjoyed to be sharing in one of there owns dreams coming true.  Please visit The Mod Dog Spa's website...or better yet, drop by and check it out yourself...I promise it will be a soothing treat for both you and your dog! 

Daisy Doodle Bug

Meet Daisy Doodle Bug...the latest Portland "The Dog Wash" portrait winner.  (I blogged previously about this monthly "contest" here) I met Daisy and her owner Peggy a few Sunday's ago in the Baxter Woods Park here in Portland.  I could have played with Daisy all afternoon...what a fun dog to photograph.  I never once feared Daisy, but while editing her photos I often thought I was glimpsing Bigfoot...I know...silly me...

I had promised Peggy we could do a photo shoot in 15 minutes...it was pretty cold outside too...Sorry Peggy for taking a bit more time...Daisy and I were having way too much fun...thank you for sharing her!  Daisy's portrait is currently being mounted at Artiplaq and should be up on the walls at the Portland Dog Wash soon.  Thank you to all who entered...and...another chance to win is coming right up March 1st!

Beautiful Ani

In so many of my blog post I describe myself as honored to have been a part of the event.  So I sit here trying to think of a different way to describe my feelings...but so many of them still come back to the fact that I am honored to have participated.  So much of what I do can be very personal...whether it be photos of a bride getting ready, a couple exchanging wedding vows, a brand spanking new baby...or definitely a mommy-to-be.  So, back to my feelings of being honored...I truly am...when someone invites me to share in these events, and asks me to capture these "minor" moments forever.  And...with each event I find myself driving home saying the same thing...how I love being a part of all of these special moments.

Let me introduce you to Ani...who's anxiously awaiting the storks visit in March.

I met Ani when she was in high school...she is a friend of my Maria...(Ani is the one in black) but it wasn't until 2010 that Ani and I were reconnected through various events.

 

Ani helped Maria get ready on her wedding day, and Ani was also a bridesmaid in Jen's wedding, a wedding I photographed last Summer. 

When Ani asked me if I would capture some maternity photos for her, I was both thrilled and "honored".

The photos will speak for themselves, but to overstate the obvious, Ani is total eye candy...and exceptionally easy to photograph.  Thank you Ani and Mike for inviting me into your beautiful home at this very special time in your lives.  Oh...and I can't forget about "Dude" your dog...he's awesome too!!  Best wishes to you both...I look forward to meeting your baby real soon!

My Sister's Birthday

Today is my sister's birthday. 

I'm still pretty new at celebrating it without her.

One thing Carmen and I did without fail every year was put much thought into our birthday presents for each other...mine in December, hers in February.

Now that I can no longer give Carmen a physical present, I have decided on a new tradition of buying a birthday present for myself, on my sister's birthday.  I miss the surprise of what Carmen would have picked out for me...and I miss the shopping of finding the perfect gift for her.

Last year, for Carmen's birthday I gathered with family and friends to put together a photo album celebrating her life. 

When Carmen turned 50 she had started a project she called her Alpha Omega project.  This was the album that would highlight her life, with pictures and stories and accomplishments.  Carmen never did put together the album, but she did leave a very organized selection of photos and scrapbooking supplies labeled and filed in folders for those of us left behind to assemble for her...and that is what we did. 
Other ways I have continued to celebrate Carmen's life...
     I joined a prayer shawl group.  I have never knit anything in my life.  My sister received a prayer shawl during the last months of her life.  She was so touched by this gift, I vowed to myself to make a shawl for someone else needing comfort...some day.  I started my first prayer shawl in October...and realistically...hope to finish it...sometime in 2011.
     I started photographing the Cats at the Animal Refuge League.  Yes I did this mostly for myself, but Carmen Loved Cats!!....so I do feel a special connection with her with this particular labor of love.
     My dog Chloe is named after my sister.  My dog came into the world the day my sister transitioned out of it.  My dog is pure love and joy.  I'm pretty sure Carmen is ok with my little legacy...and I might add...Chloe is such a big sister to my new kitty...just like Carmen was to me.
     And, I'd like to end this post with a quote I read earlier this week...as I wish my big sister a Happy Birthday...Happy Birthday Carmen!

Make fun of death. We are as dead as it gets, and we are fully aware of this joyous experience. We are with you every time you allow it. We are in every singing bird and in every joyful child. We are part of every delicious pulsing in your environment. We are not dead, and neither will you ever be! You will just get up, one day, and get out of the movie.


--- Abraham

Family and friends assembling Carmen's Alpha Omega Album



The present I bought myself for my sister's birthday

My prayer shawl...a slow labor of love!

My love Chloe...and her new baby sister Little Starr

From the Intern's Perspective

Hi everyone, Brittany here. :)  Today's my last day working with Joanne and I just wanted to share a little bit about my experience.  Wanting to do an internship at the last minute (typical college kid, I suppose) I decided to give Joanne a call, honestly not expecting much.  I was pleasantly surprised when she agreed to take me on as an intern.  Right up front she let me know about how she works, where she works, etc., thinking it might not be exactly what I was looking for.  Little did she know that my love for animals would be a perfect match for a lot of the work she does.  Going to the Animal Refuge League and working with the local breeder was a way for me to expand my photography (and have a lot of fun at the same time!).  Not knowing exactly what type of photography I want to get into, this was a wonderful experience for me to try new things.  Another exciting job we had was to photograph little two month old Lexi, which was also new for me.  Never having taken pictures of a baby before, it was wonderful to have Joanne there to watch and give me tips.  It turned out to be so much fun and, probably not having to even mention, Lexi was a doll.

The past four weeks have been a learning experience and have definitely helped me narrow down what I could potentially do as a career.  Working with animals is now officially on my list of possibilities!  Also, working with babies could be a lot of fun, too.  Here are a few samples of the baby pictures I took:

As you can see, we had a lot of different ideas to make the shoot as creative and fun as possible and I think we did just that.  For more samples from the shoot from both mine & Joanne's photographs, check out the slideshow!  So, Joanne, thank you for being extremely flexible and showing me as much as you could...I really appreciate it!  It's been great!