Maddie, one of my favorite clients, at Home Fur the Holidays 2011

It’s hard to believe that the 4th Home Fur the Holidays event is coming up. There are a number of you who have started a tradition of having an annual portrait made of your dogs and I can’t express how excited I am about seeing you year after year. Thank you.

When: Saturday, December 8 from 10-4 (early bird portrait sessions are available at 9 and 9:30).
Where: Play Dog Play on Pine Street in BurlingtonWho: You, your pups, and a whole bunch of cool local animal businesses! A portion of the day’s sales will benefit HSCC.

I highly recommend signing up now for a portrait session. Last year I was only able to accept a few walk-ins. Plan to bring a favorite toy, scarf, etc. as this year I want to include playful portraits!

Sign up HERE!

Give A Gift, the Easy Way

"Stretches" - Available at Phoenix Books

Although I’m booked for regular portrait sessions until the end of the year there is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a unique gift. I’m offering a limited number of 10 special portrait packages that can be used between January 2 and April 30, 2013.

For only $500 you’ll be able to give:

• An on-location portrait session for up to 3 animals within the Burlington-Middlebury area. (More animals and/or travel are additional)
• Either an 11×14″ gallery wrapped canvas OR an 11×14″ custom framed print
• A Digital Display set of five medium resolution files

This gift is valued at $650, but to the recipient it’s priceless. Your gift will include a customized certificate and will be ready for you to personalize with your own handwritten message. Of course, you can opt to give yourself a gift as well!

Gifts can be purchased HERE.

Phoenix Books Gallery

Thank you to everyone who came out to Phoenix Books in Essex this past Sunday evening! It was so fun to chat with you and sign some calendars. If you missed the opening reception, fear not! My display of  portraits from HSCC will be hanging well into the new year. All pieces are for sale and will benefit HSCC, Phoenix Books, and myself. So stop in to their Essex store (across from Essex Cinemas), have a cup of tea and a scone, and browse some of my favorite portraits.

"Isla" - Available at Phoenix Books

- Custom product photography that fits your design needs and branding.

- Custom and stock image licensing for use on your website, printed marketing materials, and other advertising.

- Large scale projects such as calendars and books.

JB and Her New BAM’N Coat! :: Vermont Commercial Animal Photographer

I’m doing this in reverse order. I haven’t even created a blog post for Brandy and Michael’s sessionView full post »

- As a volunteer for Humane Society of Chittenden County. My husband, Ian, and I travel to HSCC weekly to photograph adoptable animals and work on special projects for them. Check out HSCC’s blog post about us, including video!

- As a volunteer for Ivana Iguana Wisdom and Rescue. I love working with JoAnn’s adoptable reptiles!

- As a Founding Member of HeARTs Speak, a worldwide group of artists dedicated to promoting adoption through our art. I regularly donate images and time for special projects.

- As a Smile for a Cure photographer. In 2011 I was honored as the SFAC Photographer of the Year. The program connects animal photographers around the nation to donate session fees to the National Canine Cancer Foundation. I support NCCF as it not only looks for a cure for cancer, but also for less invasive treatments. NCCF did a sweet blog post about my work, too.

- By offering pro bono portrait sessions for “less adoptable” animals to help find homes for them.

- By offering gift sessions and prints to local non-profit groups and schools during fundraisers.

Below are links to some of my Caring work.

Vermont Smile For A Cure Photographer!

I’m excited! Recently I joined a number of other pet photographers involved with the Smile For A Cure petView full post »

Hogan’s Calendar Shoot :: Vermont Dog Photographer

I’ve been waiting to write this blog post for a while. Early this spring I found out about The Unexpected Pit BullView full post »

Purrfect Kitty Stretches :: Vermont Cat Photographer

Our model today is Nikki, a soon-to-be-adopted kitty from Humane Society of Chittenden County. She was kind enough toView full post »

Goofy Eddie :: Vermont Cat Photographer

Just one collage today of a very silly cat named Eddie who is waiting for adoption at Humane Society of ChittendenView full post »

Marco’s Magic :: Vermont Dog Photographer

If Marco’s story doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, I don’t know what will. He was hit by a car inView full post »

Photographs of Paintings of Photographs

A little while back I was approached by Ms. Divoll-Painter, an art teacher at South Burlington High School, aboutView full post »

Older Kitties Need Homes Too!

Many cats and dogs have been finding new homes lately at HSCC. Ian and I are so happy to not see familiar faces eachView full post »

Summer Scales :: Vermont Reptile Photographer

I recently had another opportunity to photograph some of the new adoptables at Ivana Iguana Wisdom and Rescue and IView full post »

Ivana Iguana Wisdom and Rescue

Part of being a well-rounded animal photographer is learning to work with many different species. Today I worked withView full post »

But, you probably want to see the images from this weekend, right? Ok, here they are!

"Catch Me If You Can" scored 78 points, a red ribbon. This image also scored 81 points, a blue ribbon, at a previous competition. Featured is Maggie, who lives at the Charlotte Berry Farm. The image was flipped horizontally for competition, so you may already be familiar with the original version.

"The Tipping Point" illustrates that competitions can be unpredictable. It scored a very high 89 points and won the VPP mini print competition a few months back. This weekend it failed to impress most of the judges as much as I had hoped and scored 79 points, a red ribbon. One of the judges was quite enamored though and presented it with her Judge's Award. The model here is Spiderman, a kitten from HSCC that I photographed last summer.

"Hello, Spot!" scored 80 points, a blue ribbon. Each photographer hopes for a score of at least 80 points because that is the point at which an image may merit at the international level, getting us closer to a degree. I love this portrait of Jack Maroo, a Smile For A Cure client from last summer. This image has also been flipped horizontally for competition. I still love the original, but I also like to see how various changes to composition can affect a score.

"The Soul of the Panther" scored 81 points, another blue ribbon. This is Maximus, a very suave HSCC kitty from last summer. I adore this cat.

One more image, which I can’t show until the official release of the 2013 HSCC calendar, is “No Strings Attached!” and scored 82 points, a blue ribbon. I guess you’ll just have to order a copy and check out the October theme!

"Evening Slumber" scored 85 points. This is the highest scoring image at the state level that I have received. This portrait of Bella, my grandparent's dog, won the Certified Professional Photographer Award for the highest scoring print by a CPP, a Court of Honor Award, and the Best In Show Black and White Award. Wow. My knees were a little weak and my heart was beating so fast when I walked up to accept 3 awards for this portrait. My grandparents have this print hanging in their home and they absolutely cherish it.

The next step in the competition process for this year is to select 4 images to move on to the international level. There is no national level because the Professional Photographers of America is a worldwide association and people compete from all over the globe. Last year was my first year competing and 3 out of 4 images received a merit. Not bad for a first go.

Peace, Purrs, and Tail Wags,

~Kelly

Choosing your custom cards is easy to do:

1) What’s your style? Basic Flat Cards come in 4.5×5 and 5×7 sizes and start at $80 for the first set. Basic Folded Cards also come in 4.5×5 and 5×7 sizes and start at $99 for the first set. Boutique Cards come in 5×5 and 5×7 sizes and also start at $99 for the first set. Any design can be applied to any card shape. These prices are good until November 15.

NEW Boutique Card shapes for this year!

2) Add color. Green Garland, Rustic Snowflakes, Howlidays, or choose no design and I’ll fit your images to fill the card’s entire face. If you have multiple critters don’t worry, all designs can fit as many images as you need.

Rustic Snowflakes

Green Garland

Howlidays

Let the image fill the frame when you choose "No Style".

3) Get your creative juices flowing. Add text to any design to complete your holiday greeting. I’ve seen a lot of great variety here, from a simple wish for peace to a poem depicting the year’s major events.

4) Don’t forget the paper! Semi-gloss is the standard greeting card paper we’re all familiar with. Watercolor is my very favorite because it adds beautiful texture to make your friends and family want to hold on to your card. Art Recycled is a flat matte card made from recycled paper but is still lovely. Pearl adds a little shimmer and warmth to your cards.

Ready to order? Send me an email at Kelly@MountainDogPhotography.net to make sure your gallery is ready to view. Then proceed to “The Store” section of my shop at www.MountainDogPhotography.net/store and click on “Holiday Cards”. You’ll find detailed instructions for ordering when you click on the card of your choice.

I always have fun designing cards for my clients because no two are ever alike. I’m looking forward to helping you this year!

Peace and Tail Wags,

~Kelly

]]> http://mountaindogphotography.net/archives/1043/feed 1 http://mountaindogphotography.net/archives/1024 http://mountaindogphotography.net/archives/1024#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:55:17 +0000 alphadog http://mountaindogphotography.net/blog/?p=1024 I first met Galley at last year’s Home Fur the Holidays when her mom brought her in for holiday portraits. As you might imagine, many heads turned to see the 150 pound mastiff/great dane mix excitedly make her way through the crowd. Galley was a fantastic, wonderfully expressive girl despite the onlookers and noise. When her mom expressed interest in a full session at her home to include her other dog, kitties, and chickens I made a note in my “future sessions” book and thought about how fun that spring session would be. Unfortunately, Galley’s best dog bud, Ursa, passed away in late winter. As heartbreaking as that is, I am glad that her family has many portraits of their own to remember her by.

A few months later we scheduled a lovely early summer’s evening for Galley, her kitty brothers Draco and Hercules, and a beautiful flock of free ranging hens. Everyone made their mom and dad proud, as you can see below…

We started the session with Galley, in the stream behind their house. She looooves water!

Galley was not particularly impressed with my squeaky toy. She much preferred to see it tossed in the air. I ended up making a slight miscalculation (holding a camera steady in one hand and tossing a ball in the other is tricky business). The ball ended up in the stream and floated away... but this portrait was totally worth it

Did I mention that Galley loooves water?

We headed back inside for some indoor portraits... being a big dog can be exhausting!

Once Galley had a bit of a rest and thoroughly dried herself off on the couch she showed me another of her favorite spots in her cool log cabin.

Draco (pictured above) and his brother Hercules started out their portrait session as typical cats... completely unimpressed, didn't want to stay put, and definitely had better things to do. They must have mustered up a year's worth of "give a damn" though because they were incredible models. I am thrilled that these elderly gentlemen opened up for me and the camera. I know their mom and dad adore these portraits.

Draco, rockin' out to his invisible piano

Handsome Hercules! He really tried the hardest to be unimpressed.

"Hey Draco, do you think there are extra treats for us?" "There better be. I'm only here for the sunshine though. This is SO humiliating"

Fortunately for the cats we lost the good light in the house. Outside though it was just getting to that delicious golden hour and the hens were still foraging and enjoying the warmth. These girls were very easy to work with as they were inquisitive and worked for bread crumbs

Thank you to April and Tony for having me out to photograph your pup, pride, and flock. They’re all so photogenic!

I’ve seen April and Galley at a number of dog events this summer and April gave me the BEST compliment I’ve ever received “I need more animals so I have a good excuse to have you back!”

Peace, Tail Wags, Catnip, and Bread Crumbs,

~Kelly