We photographed Mercury in 2008 with his older sister Juno, who has passed away. Mercury and his humans have moved to Arizona but our memories of this wonderful shoot remain.
July 27, 2010. Thank you Mercury!
July 30, 2010 - 2:42 pm
Spectacular image. May this image continue to bring much joy to his family in his absence.
Well, with temps continuing to top 100 degrees our summer shooting season has been significantly impacted. Summer always brings its share of complications for outdoor shooters such as late afternoon storms and the occasional super hot temps. This summer has been the poster child for bad weather and reschedules.
Yesterday we had Buddy and Cooper on the books. It was to be a combined barn and outdoor session. With the heat index well over 100 we opted to shoot the barn portion only and have them return in the fall for the outdoor portion of their shoot.
Buddy & Cooper
After meeting these two, we’re secretly happy that they have to return! These little guys were simply delightful. Buddy, age 11, was a rescue dog. Adopted by his family in 2008 from Maryland Westie Rescue, he breathed life back into a home that had recently lost their beloved dog, Kasey.
Buddy did not come to his new family without problems. As many Westies are prone to have, Buddy came with a plethora of skin issues. To say they were extreme is an understatement. Below is a photo of Buddy in 2007 as he entered the rescue program.. Words, I believe, are not necessary.
Buddy’s current condition is a testimony both to the wonderful work of Maryland Westie Rescue and to the dedication of his adopted family. I have seen so many dogs abandoned because of conditions like this. Unwilling or financially unable to manage such severe skin conditions, dogs like this are at best relinquished to rescue groups and at worse, euthanized.
Instead, Buddy found a home with his very lovely forever family! First he had to be wrangled away from his foster home who also wanted to keep him. He was such a charmer within the rescue organization that a newsletter has been named after him, Buddy’s Buddies.
Buddy’s charm notwithstanding, Cooper is a bundle of personality as well! Cooper came to his family as a puppy and is full of cautious curiosity. He has that Westie charm and exuberance (read stubborness!)
It was truly a delightful afternoon. We are so glad Buddy has come so far. And so grateful to his adopted family for giving him a new lease on life!
Buddy & Cooper thanks for a lovely day. We can’t wait to see you in September when the temps are cooler and the farm is in full color!
Cooper
Buddy
by Bev
7 comments
July 30, 2010 - 9:40 pm
Oh my what a transformation! Lovely work as usual 
July 26, 2010 - 8:28 pm
I’m the foster mom who Buddy had to be wrangled from! He certainly did “almost” become a permanent member of my family, but I am thrilled that he is in the perfect home, and I can continue helping others. Love the photos!
July 26, 2010 - 7:47 pm
Your photos of Buddy and Cooper are just amazing. Thank you for your kind words about Maryland Westie Rescue. All of MWR’s rescues are special, but Buddy was one of the most memorable. Buddy was in foster care for nine months while he recovered, and we were thrilled when he found the perfect family to adopt (him).
July 26, 2010 - 6:57 pm
You know I love me some Westie’s! This is an incredible story of love and acceptance.
Thank you for sharing with us Bev. Absolutely beautiful!
July 26, 2010 - 5:24 pm
What a beautiful rescue success story, Bev and you captured their personalities so well!!!
July 26, 2010 - 4:09 pm
This blog post brought tears to my eyes. My husband and I own two rescue dogs. They are mom and daughter. We took in the mom, without even seeing her first, after our friends found her starved, pregnant, and abandoned in the middle of the road near their home. She (and one of her puppies) are the best things that have ever happened to us. I can’t imagine life without them! Thanks for sharing this story!
July 25, 2010 - 12:56 pm
What a remarkable story, I am glad you posted the photo from 2007. People need to see that care and love can bring these dogs back to life and looking so great.
Thank you for beautiful photos and a message of hope!
World is a better place when there are people and organizations who care.
We thought it such a wonderful plan when Carissa, who was about to marry Mike, called us and wanted to give him a surprise session after the wedding with their dog, Bull Terrier, “LB (LeBlanc).”
What was even cooler was they planned to give LB the wedding experience he missed by dressing in their wedding attire. They had an intimate and beyond special wedding weekend in May and our shoot was on the books for June – twice. Both sessions got rained out. But finally, LB showed up with his humans, Carissa and Mike (and he brought his perfectly coordinated neckerchiefs as well)…
So, armed with a bag of “LB” treats and distractions, and dressed to the nines – we started out for our session.
LB found the whole thing quite entertaining and LOVED the attention.
After a few shots in the front yard we loaded everyone up and drove down to the stream in our lower field…
Where we proceeded to show LB exactly what we expected of him… There was a bit of concern on his face as Brandy whisked him away and headed toward the creek…
But once out there, on his assigned “prop,” he behaved quite beautifully!
We proceeded to roam the farm and enjoy our evening with this lovely trio. LB was rescued after being in 3 other homes by age 2. He was shuffled between college students who didn’t quite have the wherewithal to care for him.
To say he scored big is an understatement. This lovely couple loves this dog!
We loved how they were ready to try anything and it was so much fun to watch how happy they are. I love this next shot as it shows the gentle sweetness of this couple as they brushed each other’s hair into place.
This truly was the most fun session we’ve ever done. This couple is delightful and fun and LB is a dream. Thank you so much for sharing this part of your wedding with us! (And thanks for the great wine too!)
by Bev
21 comments
July 23, 2010 - 11:36 am
Bev, I am in love with everything behind this shoot. My favorite image is where LB is on the purple sofa in the river. Amazing!!!
July 19, 2010 - 11:04 am
Bev, Brandy, and Nicola… Carissa, LB, and I are so very grateful for your time, energy, care, professionalism, and all the fun that we were so fortunate to experience while on this shoot with you. We are still very much in the afterglow of this session, which turned out to be an amazing wedding gift from my wonderful bride, and these photos allow us to relive the experience as often as we want! Can’t wait to come in and pick/choose prints to keep and hang/display in our home. We’ll have to have you over some time.
Thanks again… I love these images… cannot wait to see them again with you.
July 15, 2010 - 4:22 pm
You guys look great, You really make such a cute couple. LB is also very handsome. There are so many great shots, its hard to pick. Bev you did well as always.
July 15, 2010 - 3:04 pm
AMAZING! Beautiful!
Fabulous images Bev!
July 14, 2010 - 11:07 am
SUCH a cool session!! i love those last two.
July 14, 2010 - 10:59 am
What a sweet idea! Great photos!
July 14, 2010 - 8:30 am
Bev, as always a fantastic job. What a fun and creative session. Where did the paining come from? I am not sure if I could pick a favorite, but if I had to, the one in the stream is amazing.
July 14, 2010 - 8:10 am
Amazing shoot Bev…very romantic.
July 13, 2010 - 11:23 pm
Totally love them all. Awesome!
July 13, 2010 - 9:11 pm
aw Bev. So perfectly seen!
July 13, 2010 - 8:38 pm
It is like a fairytale unfolding right before your eyes… well done!!! Imagery is absolutelty wondeful. Kudos Bev:)
July 13, 2010 - 8:10 pm
These are fabulous Bev! What a treasure for this couple. They will cherish them forever.
July 13, 2010 - 8:09 pm
I love them all, but especially the one with LB and the tennis ball! Great!
July 13, 2010 - 8:08 pm
How awesome Bev! I’m glad it was as awesome as you were hoping! And you even sorta got that creek shot! Love that one!
July 13, 2010 - 7:25 pm
I am speechless. Absolutely beautiful! It looks like a fairy tale… perfection.
July 13, 2010 - 7:24 pm
Wow, Oh my God, & Gulp. These photos are breathtaking, funny and evoke such emotion… it’s hard to find the words, Bev. I love them all, but the last one has to be my favorite. So glad LB found such a happy, loving family! He’s the perfect groomsman!
July 13, 2010 - 4:25 pm
Best ever!!! Wow! Loooooove these!
July 13, 2010 - 3:24 pm
These look great! What a fun idea
July 13, 2010 - 3:19 pm
Bev – These are better then we could have ever imagined! It is so great that we were able to share the joy of our wedding day with LB! He is such a handsome bully! Thank you!!!!
July 13, 2010 - 3:12 pm
This was a wonderful session to assist on. The images are delightful!
July 13, 2010 - 3:06 pm
What an amazing session, Bev!!!!
After weeks of temperatures surging into the triple digits and a morning of torrential downpours, the skies cleared, the temps cooled, and we had a lovely evening session with Sandy and her human, Barb.
Sandy brought along her BFF Cody, who I photographed nearly two years ago. He has survived liver cancer and is still active and interested and seemed to enjoy roaming about while Sandy took center stage.
Cody 2008
So, while Cody explored the farm, we put Sandy through her paces. She played with her beloved ball for a while for some play shots and then we settled down for her “beauty” shots.
Sandy is a big dog with a big spirit (and a big tongue!) There is rumor she is a shepherd, possible pit bull cross, as evidenced by that large mouth!!! But she is a bundle of sweetness and fun.
It was interesting last night. I had an opportunity to have both of my assistants work the shoot. I loved the fact that they are both seeing light!
Nicola found this wonderful spot amongst the cool shade trees…
…and Brandy found this one..
So, it’s not enough that they are dog handlers extraordinaire – they are beginning to see the light as well!!! Making my job easier and easier…
Thanks for coming out Sandy.
by Bev
9 comments
July 13, 2010 - 9:12 pm
great flare!
July 12, 2010 - 7:48 pm
That last one is way too cool! Great session!
July 12, 2010 - 8:52 am
Wow!!!! These are my favorite! I love the fun use of lighting.
July 11, 2010 - 11:48 pm
Simply amazing shots, Bev. What super light you had!
Yeah, Brandy and Nicola!
July 11, 2010 - 11:47 pm
Sandy is adorable, and so is Cody! Your light scouts did an incredible job…and that black and white shot with the crystal sun shining through the trees is stunning!
July 11, 2010 - 9:08 pm
I love them all, but especially the one of the light in the shade trees….
July 11, 2010 - 8:19 pm
Jaw-dropping photos!!
July 11, 2010 - 3:28 pm
WOW. How will they ever choose? Such a pretty dog and such beautiful color all around… awesome!
July 11, 2010 - 1:28 pm
What a great session. the Black and white one is spectacular!!!
We tolerated the sweltering heat with Ari and Abby on Saturday. But Sunday turned out even hotter and more humid. Since our subject was nearing 10 years of age we all decided that we would shoot indoors and do an “abbreviated” session outdoors.
We made a wise choice as the 97° temps, coupled with the extreme humidity, made the outdoors fit for neither “man nor beast.”
Sara may well be the gentlest and sweetest dog I’ve ever met. Truly.
Happy, full of tail wags, and extremely good-natured, she did anything we asked of her.
This is particularly surprising given her background. Sara was adopted by her forever family at the age of 5. Prior to that, while not abused, she was rather neglected. She was tethered in the backyard with scant attention from her people.
So often dogs that experience that type of life are skittish and wary of people, especially strangers.
Not Sara! She was truly delightful. She came with her own entourage – her humans and her girl, Jenna.
While Sara’s human Stephanie made it clear that this session was about Sara, we did grab a few of Jenna with Sara. (It was difficult to get Jenna indoors as she was enamored by the goat and horses in the barnyard!)
We had a lovely afternoon and feel lucky to have met his wonderful family!
by Bev
10 comments
July 18, 2010 - 8:52 pm
Oh Bev. what a sweet old face…..I just love it when they get those bits of grey around their eyes.
July 10, 2010 - 9:10 am
You rocked these Bev!
July 4, 2010 - 4:42 pm
I love your work! These are awesome!
July 1, 2010 - 1:52 pm
Stunning photos! The one of Jenna and Sara is precious
June 30, 2010 - 4:35 pm
Adorable
June 30, 2010 - 7:40 am
I don’t know whose cuter, Sara or Jenna! Terrific photos and I too like the one in front of the stone wall the best.
June 29, 2010 - 7:01 pm
It always thrills me to hear how an abused dog can find a forever home and thrive!
Sara and Jenna are beautiful together!
June 29, 2010 - 6:30 pm
Sara melts my heart. We lost our beloved collie in February, but we’re getting a collie puppy in the fall. These photos exude the gentle spirit of this loving, loyal breed. I’m so happy for Sara and her people that they found each other. LOVE the shot of her laying in the grass!
June 29, 2010 - 5:06 pm
At least she’s not camera-shy like my collie! Beautiful pictures, as always, Bev. This dog reminds me of my sweet collie-mix Lily from years back, who had lived a prior life of abuse and still thought people were gods. The forgiving nature of a dog never fails to amaze and humble me; Sara’s eyes say it all.
June 29, 2010 - 2:37 pm
Beautiful session and I love the rock wall!
by Bev
1 comment