Well, it seems “the lady doth protest too much, methinks,” aptly fits my current state given my prior post. I complained, you see, about having to run on the treadmill due to our constant pummeling of snow this winter.
So, the God of Nature showed me – she dumped 30 inches of the white stuff upon me and now, alas, even the gym is closed. I believe I’ll stop complaining.
I ventured out this morning but conditions were so nasty and the snow so deep, I didn’t stay out long. Here are a few from inside my snow globe.
2 Hour Parking Limit!
After shoveling all day, my husband made a tiny dent in our driveway. Niles and Lily were grateful.
Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 11:00am For Fun!
It’s been an unusual winter for us here in northern Virginia. This is my fourth winter here. And though it’s only the start of February, we have had more snowfall since December than in my past three winters combined.
I’m not much of a winter person. I like warmth. The older I get the more my joints really appreciate those balmy temperatures! Plus, I’m a runner. I’m a runner who prefers running outdoors to a treadmill – a million times over. This snow cramps my style.
That said, there is sometimes such beauty in this white stuff. It is so breathtaking at times that even I, hater of cold, am lured out into its wonder. With my camera of course…
So, though it’s only the start of February and the luscious warmth of spring seems so very far away, I’ll stop for a moment and enjoy the beauty of winter.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 11:40am In Memory
We had the sad news yesterday that our dear friend Marjorie said goodbye to her sweet boy Boo. We photographed Boo last May at Marjorie’s daughters house as a surprise birthday gift.
At that time Boo was just weeks away from his 15th birthday. A spry, alert fellow, we fell instantly in love with this little character. That he had charmed most everyone he met, most of all Marjorie, was clearly obvious.
Boo, it seems, had always been quite a personality. Marjorie told us that one of Boo’s favorite past times was to watch TV. Whenever an animal was on-screen Boo became the performer – jumping, pirouetting, and barking. It seems, for reasons which shall remain unknown to everyone except Boo, Diana Ross’ hair evoked the same response….
He loved children but was totally devoted to his dear human, Marjorie. She tells us towards the end of his life Boo really only knew where he was when he was in Marjorie’s lap. And he would sit there for as long as he could keep Marjorie in one place.
Finally, after 15 1/2 years, Marjorie said goodbye to Champion Hollybriar Sweet Baboo. He was a champion on so many levels. Our deepest sympathy to Marjorie on her loss of this sweet, sweet boy. We know he is deeply missed.
We were blessed with an amazing 2009 at Bev Hollis Photography. Our business doubled in size and we settled into our new barn studio. Most importantly we met so many wonderful and much loved pets! Here are just a few from our past shooting season. Enjoy!
It seems only yesterday I jetted off to Canada to pick up the latest addition to our canine family, Niles Phineas T. (for trouble) Firefly. We flew back together, Niles dozing soundly beneath the seat and weighing in at all of 11 pounds. Today my happy boy turns 8.
Niles is a PBGV -a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen – also known as a French rabbit hound. No matter what you call this breed with the peculiar name – they’ve been known to be called “hee-bee-gee-bees” by the uninitiated, you have to call them entertaining.
Niles is the funniest dog I’ve ever had. He parties by himself if he can’t rouse a game with man or beast. And he is the eternal optimist.
NILES
As a hound, he’s the perfect dog to live with my bossy terrier, Lily. She simply cannot hurt his feelings.
He’s not much of a dog model and prefers instead to stay on the periphery and collect the treats while Lily does the work. I’ve managed, over the years, to capture a few decent images of him – usually while he thought I was focusing elsewhere.
Niles has brought me such joy and hysterical laughter that I worry that I can never have another PBGV. None could ever, ever stack up to this clown of a dog.
Happy Birthday Niles – may you enjoy many, many more.
Today, January 27, 2010, is Lily’s day. Lily, my almost 10 year old, shelter rescue, mix-terrier, dog model extraordinaire, is the calendar girl today in Workman Publishing’s Dog Gallery Calendar.
We were lucky enough to have 25 images featured this year. And though I have listed the Amazon link above it appears the calendars are sold out. Workman did a short run this year. Perhaps anticipating a decline in demand commensurate with the decline in our economy. It appears dog lovers have their priorities though and a $20 calendar was still within their budget…!
I think that this may be my last year working with this calendar. Sadly, Workman, like other publishers, has decided it is much more cost efficient to purchase images through stock agencies than through individual artists. They said to me, and I quote, “We won’t insult you by telling you what we’re paying stock agencies for images.”
I can’t blame Workman for this decision. I do however, hope that those who sell their images for pennies will give some consideration to the fact that their decision to do so hurts all of us. And hurts the industry as a whole. But, enough of my soap box for today. For now I will just enjoy January 27, 2010 and give Lily a much deserved treat.
Don’t worry – Niles got his nose in that calendar as well later in 2010!
Lily
Join us at the 2010 NBC 4 Health and Fitness Expo, Saturday, January 16th and
Sunday, January 17th from 9am to 5pm each day at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center. Log onto www.nbcwashington.com for details.
We will be joining our great friends at Nova Dog Magazine in the “Safe & Healthy Pet Pavillion” Booth 2210.
Please stop by and say hi!
We met Myles and his human Dawn at the farm last week on a blustery winter day for a barn session.
I loved Myles and Dawn before I’d even met them. But I was also a bit concerned. We have each client fill out a questionnaire prior to their session. It asks questions about their pet as well as overall goals for their session.
Upon reading Dawn’s answers, I LOVED that she described Myles as “A young Paul Newman,” and told us his nickname was “Cowboy” because of his bowed front legs. On the other hand, I became concerned when she said how terrifically afraid of the camera Myles was.. and fearful of new places… and slow to warm to people….
It was obvious that we had our work cut out for us.
Myles couldn’t have surprised us more. This sprite of a dog, all five pounds of him, marched into the barn and promptly made himself at home. He darted about, came when called, and played for a fleeting moment with a sock. He sat on a chair for as long as we asked him to.
He acted nothing like his 8 1/2 years and was beyond thrilled when we deviated from his very strict diet and plied him with the teeniest of tasty treats. To say that Myles is a personality is an understatement.
Thanks to Myles and Dawn for brightening an otherwise grey and dreary winter day. It was our pleasure.
I love that by the end of the session Myles seemed to actually be looking for the camera. This shot during a lighting check cracked me up.
"Myles"
You may remember Sassy from her farm session this past fall. We worked with her and her dog-mates, Schmoopy and Mia amongst the final, fading colors of fall on the farm.
She returned this week for a barn session. We plan to combine both sessions and create a lovely book for Sassy to take to Westminster in February, 2010 when she competes in the non-sporting group along with other champion American Eskimo dogs.
Sassy is young, not yet two, but earned her championship quickly – finishing this fall. She’s a delightful dog, friendly and eager to please, and oh so easy on the eye.
Whether you are an aficionado of the dog show world or not, I think it would still be difficult to watch the dogs of Westminster and not embrace the beauty, grace and dignity of these creatures.
So, we wish Sassy luck on her big event. And we hope amidst the frantic chaos known as Westminster, Sassy will catch the eye of the judge and have the chance to win the hearts of millions of viewers.
Good Luck Sassy!
We love that Sassy can still laugh at herself!
Monday, December 7, 2009 at 11:45am Charity
Please find time this Wednesday to visit the quaint town of Aldie and join us for this wonderful cause! Sponsored by Bella Villa and The Aldie Peddler – we look forward to seeing you!
by Bev
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