Mia | Pit Bull Terrier

My friend Matt was in a pinch a few weeks back and asked me to care for his Pit Bull Terrier, Mia. It was just for a few days while his family was out of town, so I was happy to oblige. And while most people might see this as a simple pet sitting gig, I saw a willing subject and an opportunity to make some portraits! Pitt Bulls get a bad rap. But let me tell you, this 2 year-old pup is one sweet and lovable lap dog. When she wasn’t at my side wanting her belly rubbed and her ear’s scratched, she was begging me to throw her ball for a seemingly endless game of catch.

Petfood Industry Magazine Cover

It was raining cats and mice the day I photographed Eric Koppleman and his two dogs for the cover of Petfood Industry magazine! more! But the weather was perfect, as he wanted his portraits to have a “Pacific Northwest” feel. So Eric dawned a rain parka and we let the rain-soaked ferns and trees set the ambiance. Eric is the Chief Financial Officer and the public face of Blue Dog Bakery. It’s a company that has made a big name for itself in the Petfood Industry! Blue Dog Bakery bakes healthy, “super-premium” pet treats. My border collie rescue Mittens devours them. And they are readily available at almost any grocery store throughout the United States. Check them out at https://bluedogbakery.com!

Portraits on the Oregon Beach

Oregon’s Beach Bill was passed in 1967 allowing free beach access to everyone. It’s unique as far as state laws go, and it’s one of the many things that make Oregonian’s proud. It also makes my young daughter and her puppy very happy. The beach is a pretty amazing place to photograph. It’s the perfect setting for a family portrait, for candid images of children and dogs playing on the beach, or even for that standout personal branding headshot.

Orcas Island

Orcas Island is the largest island in the San Juan archipelago, a chain of islands located in the Salish Sea in Northwest Washington. One of my favorite places on the Island is Rustic Falls, a small waterfall along Cascade Creek inside Moran State Park on Orcas Island. The water gracefully cascades about 10 feet into a shallow pool. And a large tree rests at the top of the falls, providing for a unique and interesting photograph. This image, entitled “Forces of Nature” recently merited at the Professional Photographer Association’s International Print Competition.

Black Dog in White Snow

I am often asked by pet owners how to photograph their back dogs, especially in white snow or other bright conditions. They find that their cameras will often capture the scene reasonably well, but their dogs appear as black blobs with little or no detail. I am the proud owner of a black and white border collie rescue dog. She’s still a puppy, and this winter was her first experience romping in the snow. The images in this post were taken during a walk we took on a remote logging road in Oregon’s Mount Hood National Forest.

Portrait of one year old baby in a cat dress standing with her two pet cats.

The Cat Lady

My 15 month-old daughter, Kiana, considers our two cats her best friends. Meeko, a white cat with brown spots, is a rambunctious one year old kitten and she gives Kiana a run for her money. Pigeon, our fourteen year-old black cat reluctantly puts up with the antics of the other two. As you can imagine,…