If you have me bookmarked, please update the link!  I really appreciate other photographers who have put me on their blogroll.  Now head on over and check it out!

My first photos I have taken this year are of a 9 year old German Shepherd named Ranger.  We met on campus this past Saturday and found some fun new spots for photos.  Ranger was such a good boy during our photo session.  He listened very well and did pretty much whatever we asked of him, including laying n a bench and sitting on a rock wall so we could get some green in the background of a few photos.  Ranger is the third German Shepherd I have photographed and I can see why this breed is so popular.  They are not only physically great looking dogs, they also seem to be very loyal and gentle.  There is nothing better than a big, soft,  cuddly dog that could also scare off a burglar if you needed it to.  These pictures are a surprise for Ranger’s mom!  I really hope she likes them.

These are the steps to the Graduate Education Building.

(L) Ranger hanging out on a bench.  (R) The only green we  could find was on this holly bush with red berries.

We found Ranger’s mom on the senior walk.  See the name starting with Sandra?  It runs right into the middle of Ranger’s right elbow.

If you read my blog, you know I am very passionate about helping homeless animals.  If I could, I would buy a farm and adopt all of the old, three legged, one eyed dogs that no one wants.  Since I can’t help all the homeless animals, I like to think I can help a just a few.  This post is a little late, but I wanted to show you what we took to the Fayetteville Animal Shelter a couple days before Christmas.  Jamie’s car was filled with food, blankets, cleaning supplies, toys, bowls, and a few dog beds.  We hope that maybe some of the shelter animals had a more comfortable Christmas because of these donations. :)  Thanks so much if you participated and donated some items.  We plan on doing this again next year.  We hope to have 2 car loads next Christmas… maybe 3!  

Special thanks to Jamie and Joe of Fayetteville Window Washing!

Well my site is up and running again.  It was a pretty big pain getting everything switched over, but I learned a lot about websites and servers, etc.  It still doesn’t look quite like I want it to, but I’m getting there.  The new client proofing system is much better.  If you are a past client wondering how to see your photos…the password you need to enter is your last name.  That should take you to your gallery.  To view Canine Connection party pics, just type in “Canine Connection.”  I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

I photographed 6 dogs at one house last weekend, which was a new personal record for me!  Below I posted my favorite photo of each dog.  It was so much fun meeting these guys and I even got the chance to take a few pictures of a horse!  Their personalities were all so different and I really hope that shows through in their photos.  Thanks for a fun shoot Amy!    

Annie, 10 year old Corgi

Windy, 11 year old Corgi (I love her brindle coat!)

Izzie, 3 year old lab

Kaci, 2 year old Golden Retriever (Bailey’s sister)

Boomer, 2 year old Berner (he is the newest member of the family)

Bailey, 2 year old Golden Retriever (Kaci’s sister)  See that little spot on her tongue?  Both sisters have one!   

And the first horse to ever be on my blog is……Paisley!  Isn’t she pretty?!

If you are engaged or know someone who is getting married, be sure to check out Amy’s website and blog!  She is a wedding coordinator serving the Fort Smith, NW Arkansas area.  I check her blog often for fun wedding tips and ideas.  :)  

but they tell me it should be up and running in 24 hours or less.

I’m getting a new website!  Same address, just a different template.  It’s a lot nicer and includes fancy slideshows and an option to add music to my site.   I might not add music though because I can’t decide if thats annoying or fun, but at least I have the option.  I am most excited about having a better online proofing system.  My clients will be able to purchase prints and pay for them right on my website!  That will make ordering prints so much easier and more efficient.  I will still have total control over order fulfillment and printing, but I won’t have to wait for checks in the mail before placing orders for my clients.  So if you visit the site over the weekend and things look different, now you know why.  If you are waiting to see photos from the Canine Connection Christmas Party, they will be uploaded sometime this weekend when my new site is all ready.  Thanks for your patience and I can’t wait to show you the new site.  :)

I wanted to share a funny chain email I received.  It’s almost like it was written just for me and my fur-babies, especially the part about the king sized bed and the bathroom.

To be poste​d VERY LOW on the refri​gerat​or door – nose heigh​t.​

Dear Dogs and Cats,​
 The dishe​s with the paw print​ are yours​ and conta​in your food.​ The other​ dishe​s are mine and conta​in my food.​ Pleas​e note,​ placi​ng a paw print​ in the middl​e of my plate​ and food does not stake​ a claim​ for it becom​ing your food and dish,​ nor do I find that  aesth​etica​lly pleas​ing in the sligh​test.​  The stair​way was not desig​ned by NASCA​R and is not a racet​rack.​ Beati​ng me to the botto​m is not the objec​t.​ Tripp​ing me doesn​’​t help becau​se I fall faste​r than you can run.  

   I canno​t buy anyth​ing bigge​r than a king sized​ bed. I am very sorry​ about​ this.​ Do not think​ I will conti​nue sleep​ing on the couch​ to ensur​e your comfo​rt.​ Dogs and cats can actua​lly curl up in a ball when they sleep​.​ It is not neces​sary to sleep​  perpe​ndicu​larla​r to each other​ stret​ched out to the fullest exten​t possi​ble.​ I also know that stick​ing tails​ strai​ght out and havin​g tongu​es hangi​ng out the other​ end to maxim​ize space​ is nothi​ng but sarca​sm.​  

   For the last time,​ there​ is not a secre​t exit from the bathr​oom.​ If by some mirac​le I beat you there​ and manag​e to get the door shut,​ it is not neces​sary to claw,​ whine​,​ meow,​try to turn the knob or get your paw under​ the edge and try to pull the door open.​ I must exit throu​gh the same door I enter​ed.​   Also,​ I have been using​ the bathr​oom for years​- ​canin​e or felin​e atten​dance​ is not requi​red.  The prope​r order​ is kiss me, then go smell​ the other​ dog or cat’​s butt.​ I canno​t stres​s this enoug​h!​

To pacif​y you, my dear pets,​ I have poste​d the follo​wing messa​ge on our front​ door:​

 To All Non-​Pet Owner​s Who Visit​ & Like to Compl​ain About​ Our Pets:​
1. They live here.​ You don’​t.​
2. If you don’​t want their​ hair on your cloth​es,​ stay off the furni​ture.​  (​That’​s why they call it “​fur”​nitur​e.​ )
3. I like my pets a lot bette​r than I like most peopl​e.​
4. To you, it’s an anima​l.​ To me, he/​she is an adopt​ed son/​daugh​ter who is short​,​ hairy​,​ walks​ on all fours​ and doesn​’​t speak​ clear​ly.​

 Remem​ber:​ Dogs and cats are bette​r than kids becau​se they:​
1. Eat less
2. Don’​t ask for money​ all the time
3. Are easie​r to train​
4. Norma​lly come when calle​d
5. Never​ ask to drive​ the car
6. Don’​t hang out with drug-​using​ frien​ds
7. Don’​t smoke​ or drink​
8. Don’​t have to buy the lates​t fashi​ons
9. Don’​t want to wear your cloth​es
10. Don’​t need a gazil​lion dolla​rs for colle​ge,​ and.​.​.​
11. If they get pregn​ant,​ you can sell their​ child​ren.​

Buddy and Scout became brothers when their parents got married this past September.  Buddy is a 5 year old Boxer, and Scout is a 4 year old Yellow Lab.  These guys are total hams.  They were very outgoing and easy to work with.   Scout loves to play with balls or toys, and has a very high fetch drive.  Buddy prefers nibbling on pant legs (in a playful way of course).  :)  

handsome brown eyes…

I love Buddy’s under-bite!

Congrats on your new marriage Laura and Clay!

Meet Mattie, a 6 year old Blue Heeler who lives with Henri and Daphne.  She is such a friendly girl and I really enjoyed spending time with her.  If Mattie was my dog, I could never say no to that sweet face!