Dog Tails

This is one of those shots that I wish I could say I had brewing in my head for awhile but that would be a lie. It was really just a spontaneous moment with a somewhat-well-behaved dog.

As soon as I saw the diving board I knew instantly that I wanted to use it I just wasn't sure how.

The diving board is in Bo's back yard, so in his mind it is to be used solely as a launching pad. The first time I asked him on to get on the board he did (for approximately 2 seconds) and then took a flying leap into the water.

We waited for him to swim back around to the beach, shake his body, grab the stick, and prepare to do it all over again.

With no plan in place he did what any labrador retriever would do: He self-launched again.

The next time he came around onto the dock his Mom and I had to body check him at the gate and make him wait.

She grabbed the stick in her hand and we slowly coaxed him out onto the board saying "Bo wait. Bo stay. Bo wait. Stay, Stay, Stay. Good boy."

At that point I knew I wanted both of them looking out to the water but since she had the stick in her hand, the majority of the shots are of him staring up at her. I told her to just hold very still and keep looking out at the water.

Patience always wins with dogs and I knew eventually he would look out at the water hoping to see a flying stick.

In the split second that he looked out I pressed the shutter and made this image.

For me, what makes this shot incredible is that he is not used to sitting on the diving board.

And of course we all know what happened next.

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It was a hot and stormy July afternoon when I met Bella's Mom and Dad for an engagement shoot.

Not normally prone to doing these types of shoots, the only way I would agree to shoot them is if they brought their sweet Bella along.

Towards the end of our shoot, we got caught in a terrible downpour. Rather than call it a day, we decided to wait it out.

I really love images that happen towards the end of a shoot because people are more relaxed and dogs couldn't care less about me. There is an entire series of this darling family walking up and down the beach that I love so much.

Right as we were getting ready to leave, the ducks showed up. No dog can resist the ducks. She desperately tried to make friends with them, but they kept swimming away. She wasn't in the water for very long, so I consider myself very lucky to have this image.

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My darling Gracie

Spring had just arrived in Seattle so we headed to the backyard to enjoy some much needed fresh air.

As the daughter of a photographer, she knows that when the camera comes out it's time to run and hide. My bag of tricks is empty with Gracie. I've used them all up in my many efforts to get her attention.

On this day, to celebrate Spring, I wanted to take one or two images of her outside.

She decided to be a brat.

So I did what any determined parent does - I forced her to look at me.

As I was pushing her chin up with my left hand, she was pushing her head down. That pushing resulted in her smooshable cheeks spilling out over my hand.

I quickly snapped a few shots before she took off.

I guess sometimes being a brat pays off.

She must take after her dad

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