Recently I received a gift from a client. We met Michelle when we had a session with her “gray dogs,” Hagen & Pearl this summer.  She is the owner of Gray Dog Originals.., a pottery company that makes all things whimsical!

I was just so pleasantly surprised by my gift – this delightful wine stopper! Thanks Michelle! And hugs to Hagen & Pearl!

New to the area at that time, Dr. Evans had recently arrived to complete her residency in veterinary ophthalmology at The Life Centre in Leesburg. A wonderful referral and emergency center here in northern Virginia that we feel lucky to have!

She moved here from the Los Angeles area and her two dogs, Potter & Josie, continue the commute while Paige finishes her residency.

They seem to handle this travel quite well and certainly seemed at home on Virginia soil! Potter, the black lab is totally attached to Josie.  Josie, the older of the two, is happy to take the lead.

The pair have more in common than their bicoastal lifestyle.  Both have undergone extensive surgeries – Josie had TPLOs done on her knees and Potter had reconstructive elbow surgery when he presented to Dr. Evan’s surgery center in Los Angeles with two broken front legs.  The owner at the time seemed baffled as to how it might have happened and when presented with the surgical options and cost, elected to euthanize Potter.

Instead, Dr. Evans convinced her to sign Potter over to her and the rest is history.

So, these two dogs, with some pins and plates holding them together, are quite the jet setters.  I wonder how they get through airport security with all that metal?

Thanks for coming out Potter & Josie. We had a lovely evening!

New to the family then was Cassie, also known as Girlie.  She was a shy girl who preferred to stay on the periphery and watch her brother’s antics.  Now, two years later, Girlie was much more approachable and easier to photograph.

Enter Penny.  A.K.A. Penny Loaf, Henny-Penny.  A white schnauzer, rescued last fall from a rescue group who had snatched her from a hoarder.  Though Penny has come a tremendously long way since entering this “white dog” household, she had yet to experience a photo session.  And while Girlie hovered about when we shot 2 years ago, Penny ran for cover this year.

We still managed though to coax and cajole and wrangle a few lovely photos.  Penny has these remarkable ears that move about like antennas.  I’m so glad I got a few shots that show them!

As always Blake and Dash were the consummate hosts.  Smiling, playing, and ready to pose.

Don and Kevin have this amazing ability to bring damaged, neglected and sometimes abused pets into their home, and with time and a lot of love, allow them to flourish.  Penny is no exception.

It was a magical evening.

Dash & Blake

Though the session was a surprise, the gift of a photo shoot was not a novelty.  In fact, it was a payback of sorts.  It was just about a year ago that Berkeley contacted us and wanted to do a surprise session with Cynthia’s dog Dudley, for a Christmas gift.

So, while Cynthia was of town, Berkeley and Dudley had a summer session. Dudley had a blast and Berkeley’s Christmas shopping was done!

Since Dudley never had a “proper” blog post because we couldn’t let the proverbial cat out of the bag, I thought I’d post one from his session in 2009.

Dudley

Yesterday was Scarlet’s turn.  A little sprite of a dog with an indomitable spirit, I first met Scarlet as a patient when she presented with a strange, horrific skin affliction.  Though no one ever diagnosed her, she is back in fine form today.

She is thought to be about 7 years old, likely some mixture of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Pekinese.  She was found wandering the highly trafficked streets near a local mall and turned into the local shelter.

Which is where Berkeley entered the picture.  Young, and living at home, she was a shelter volunteer when Scarlet found her way there.  She fell immediately for this tiny dog but needed her parent’s permission to bring Scarlet home.

Cynthia, having no interest in having a dog in the house (this was BD {before Dudley}, sent Berkeley’s dad to the shelter knowing full well that he would say “no.”

It seems Scarlet had other plans.  When Scarlet came into the room she promptly jumped into Berkeley’s dads lap which apparently sealed the deal. And thus, Scarlet had found her forever home.  Where she now “mothers” 110LB Dewey – a Labrador Retriever.

We are so glad to see Scarlet healed from her medical issues of last year.  She is truly a delight of a dog and we loved our morning session!  Thanks for coming out Berkeley, Cynthia and Scarlet!

They had asked for some images a while back and I had forgotten all about it.  While we didn’t shoot the cover, (though we’d love to some day..) beautiful Tucker whom we shot in 2008 with his brother Henry, highlighted the calendar section.

His photo was taken at the top of our Tranquility Farm property in late summer when the grapes were ripe.  They’re almost in that shape now!

We’re so excited about our upcoming fall shooting season! We hope to see you there.

Sirius is a 10 year old Bouvier. He was adopted by the Mason family after a divorce landed him with a Bouvier rescue.

Sirius came to his new family with a mission of his own it seems. The family had lost their previous beloved Bouvier, Benny, suddenly and were hoping a new family member would help ease the pain of their loss.

Sirius’ human Julia told us that when they met him he was “a sad soul.”  She said it took two weeks at his new home before he would even wag his tail.  But once it “clicked” he assimilated perfectly into his new family.

Even more exciting news, it was discovered that Sirius and Benny had the same mother!

So, in a round about way, Benny lives on it this wonderful “bear of a dog” named Sirius.

As expected with any giant breed he is slowing down at 10. But we still saw the remarkable gentle spirit of this dog and hope he has many more years with his loving family.  For now, we are glad to provide Julia with some images. Her husband is serving a year in Pakistan and she wanted to surprise him with some images! Thanks for spending the evening with us Sirius!

July 27, 2010. Thank you Mercury!

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