Animals Available for Adoption at Jefferson County Animal Shelter 11-22

I'm so glad I went to the JCA Shelter yesterday to volunteer by photographing this weeks animals available for adoption. I couldn't have gone out there this morning since it is snowing here and I'm already stuck in my driveway.

We currently have more adult cats than we have had for a long time at that shelter. This week we have three dogs including Willis, a young Pit Terrier mix puppy. A litter of kittens that had been in foster care was brought in this week. I photographed our three kittens as they were held by Pam, one of our volunteers.
Please give the Jefferson County Animal Shelter at (360) 385-3292 for updates on any of the animals on the adoption poster.

3rd Annual Hair Rock on Catwalk-Sponsored by Posh Hair Salon & Day Spa

This lovely young women, Janell, was one of the models I photographed last Saturday at the Hair Rock on Catwalk held at the Port Townsend American Legion. Posh Hair Salon & Day Salon organized this fund raiser for the Legion's Homeless Shelter. The staff from Posh donated their time and talent to get over perhaps 75 models get ready to walk on the Catwalk. The models were clients of the Port Townsend salon.

I was photographing models in the basement of the Legion and missed the show upstairs. I was having so much fun downstairs photographing some of the large groups and taking candid individual shots. The whole energy level was amazing.  Everyone was having such a great time preparing and practicing for their time on the catwalk. I think I heard that there were over 300 people in attendance and there was a dance held after the fashion show. What a wonderful event, Posh Salon and everyone who helped with the show deserves a great deal of praise for raising money for such a worthy cause. I can't wait to be there again next year.

Please contact me if were one of the models and would like to see of the images I captured. I have them on my website in a password protected folder.

Children Photography in Port Townsend

Bo and his Mom came to the studio last week for Bo's 18 month session.  Bo's Grandma wanted a photograph of Bo similar to the one fellow photographer Frank Ross had taken of his older brother Vance. Frank has relocated to Santa Fe so I was thrilled to be asked to work with Bo to record this special time in his life. I did a series of images with a black backdrop but found the ones with the white background, and more light, gave him more freedom to wonder around the set more and play with his toys and stuffed animal friends.

Mom was very helpful in the studio getting Bo's attention during the session including singing several songs which he loved and reading to him. I'm really looking forward to meeting Vance in a couple weeks for a session with both the boys.

Kodak Moment-Kodak Gallery Commercial (Live Forever)

I'm listening to photographer Dane Sanders from AskDane.com. Tonight he is giving a live presentation podcast from Knoxville. I'm thrilled to be able to watch this as I sit here editing photos for clients and new images to update my website. Tonight's topic is "Finding Your Way" in the photography world.

During his presentation he showed a YouTube Video from Kodak. It was released several years ago and is just as relevant today on why photographs are part of our lives, our whole lives, no matter who we are or what we do. I'm adding the link to the clip, one Kodak Gallery Commercial (Live Forever) long version or the Kodak Gallery Commercial (Live Forever) short version .

If you haven't seen this before it is a really touching video especially for any of us who have lost a loved one and despite their death their memory still survives through photographs. I feel so blessed that I'm a Photographer, I would like to think I do more than just take photos but rather I create memories. Many of my recent family images have reminded me how I have captured a certain time in their lives that they will never have again. It can be a couple celebrating a special anniversary, a family reunion in Port Townsend, pictures of a family gathering where they have came from all the over country to PT  to spread their parents ashes or the joy of an 80th birthday party.  I love what I do and feel I bring something special to my photography business because I understand and value the importance of a photograph.

Wedding Anniversary Portrait Session

It was a joy to have Bob and Phyllis come to my studio on Friday.  They are a lovely couple and Bob brought a whole folder of family photographs to show me including a collection of his favorites of his wife Phyllis smiling. Everyone should be lucky enough to have such an adoring partner. To see two people so much in love with each other after nearly 50 years of marriage brought tears to my eyes. I look forward to photographing them again when we do a more casual pose at their home.

Animals Available for Adoption at Jefferson County Animal Shelter 11-8

These are the cats and dogs currently available out at the Jefferson County Animal Shelter. I only had one dog to photograph this week and poor Baby Foxy was shivering this morning being out in the cold rain. Baby Lola, Chester and Amelia are all new residents. Lots of adoptions this last week inclduing someone coming all the way from Seattle to adopt Dixie.

Thanks BuzzWorthySuccess for Signed Copy of Mark Robert Halper's book, Sunlight & Water

Last week I call into BuzzWorthySuccess to listen to a free teleseminar on A Year in Photography-The Trends & What They Mean For Next Year. Their free teleseminar lets you dial in and listen on your phone while typing questions in and sending by email.

I asked a question about all the sales marketing being done by so many different photographers, it turned out that was exactly the next point Jerry was going to make in the seminar. I sent an email asking if I won anything for such a good question and the lead into the next point. To my surprise they actually said yes, proving that it doesn't hurt to ask. The prize was a gift of the new photography book by Mark Robert Halper called Sunlight and Water. The book is of images of Winemakers of Santa Barbara County. It is a lovely coffee table size book with over 100 black and white images. Thank you Jerry and Sondra for having Mark send me a copy of his book. Thank you Mark for this lovely signed copy of your book

Family Portrait Session

The other night the Hemsley family came to my Port Townsend studio to look over family photographs I had taken before their daughter, Breanna left for West Point. It was fun to see which images they decided to pick from each of the different family poses. I photographed Breanna's Senior portrait last year and really enjoyed working with the entire family in the studio this fall.

Pre-Session Consultation with Bo

What a great visit I had meeting Bo and his Mom, Nicki. Bo is 18 months old and right now loves the word ball, we found balls everywhere in the studio. They came to my Port Townsend studio on Friday. First we checked out the studio and Bo had a chance to sit in front of the constant lights while he played with a set of blocks. I took a couple candid images while he was playing and have posted one of those here. I also sat down with Nicki in the viewing studio to go over pricing, we discussed some of the products I offer in my group packages and talked about Bo's upcoming session.

Bo and I had a great time together reading some of the children's books I have in the studio. Sitting down with him on the floor reminded me how much I enjoyed reading to my students when I was an Elementary Teacher while living in Maine. As they left the studio Bo blew me kisses. I can't wait for Bo's portrait session next week.

Senior Portrait Session with Cali at Fort Worden

Despite gray skies and cool temperatures Cali braved the elements to be photographed out at the Fort for her Senior session last Monday. Cali shared with me she actually loves the kind of weather we had that day. I actually wished I had remembered my hat and gloves. The bunker walls at the Fort offer a great variety of backgrounds from pale limestone to moss covered walls and cool old rusty doors.

Working with Mira to Create Seams to Last Holiday Ad

Michelle Grupe, the owner of Seams To Last hired me to photograph one of her clients modeling two cute outfits she sells in her store. The store is on Water Street in Port Townsend and offers a great selection of unique children's clothing.

Mira and her Mom came to the studio and we photographed Mira in several different outfits from Seams to Last. My favorite was the purple outfit with the leggings. I love the cute purses that complimented each outfit. Mira brought along one of her favorite dresses to model and a favorite friend to pose with.  Mira was a natural at posing and we did a lot of laughing and being silly during the session.

11-1 Animals Avaliable for Adoption at Jefferson County Animal Shelter

We have several new dogs at the JCAnimal Shelter this week. I went to the shelter yesterday to photograph the new dogs and the couple new cats this week. All the kittens we had were adopted in just a couple days. For updates on availability on all these animals call the JCAS directly at (360) 385-3292.