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Monthly Archives: November 2008

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old man jesse

29 November 2008 – 1:20 pm

just a quick sneak peek of jesse’s shoot a couple of days ago.   i don’t often get the chance to put up sneak peeks for clients these days … so backlogged with the fall shoots and getting in Christmas orders … but sweet old man jesse deserves some attention.

 

since one of the main reasons i started scruffy dog  was to offer images of owners’ dogs so that they would have those visual memories of their heart-dogs and best friends, i always, always, always make time - no matter how crazy my schedule might be - for those dogs who are old and/or ailing.  i know first-hand how devastating it is to lose an animal who meant the world to you and not have very many visual memories of them.

i’m very glad Kristy called me, and i hope Jesse’s man will be surprised and thrilled with the images of his best friend once they are all ready for viewing.  even more than that, i hope Jesse fools them all and is around for quite some time to come.

although extremely camera shy, Jesse came around eventually with enough treats …

… in fact, he turned out to be a bit of a ham … and a real mister barky-pants once he got together with his best buddy and fellow old-man riley.

and here’s just a quick one of the wild man that shares the house with tolerant Jesse.  i wasn’t able to capture many of this crazy fool since it was  Jesse’s shoot after all.

thanks again, Kristy, for calling me and letting me share some time with your sweet man.  i’m looking forward to having the full gallery up for you and doing justice to this wonderful soul.

By illona | Posted in clients & sneak peeks | Comments (3)

are you done your holiday shopping?

26 November 2008 – 6:05 pm

even though scruffy dog is all booked up until well past Christmas, it doesn’t mean that you can’t give a scruffy dog gift this holiday season … whether it’s to family, friends, a loved one, or even to Fi-fi herself.

Sessions can be paid for in full, or dollar amounts can be purchased to be applied to a session … whatever fits your budget and situation.

Of course, gift certificates are available year round, but for those looking for something different this holiday season, or for those to whom i’ve had to say ‘no’ for a pre-christmas shoot, a scruffy dog  gift certificate is always a great option.  Just contact me via the website to get yours.

By illona | Posted in products and promos | Comments (0)

crazy busy fall

25 November 2008 – 2:27 pm

i’ve had no time for posting proper entries to the blog this fall.  understandably, autumn seems to be everyone’s favorite time of the year for shoots.  in fact, fall has become so popular that i’m thinking next fall (mid-September to mid-November) will be dedicated to shoots only, no processing.  

the upside: more clients accommodated to capture those wonderful fall colours and light.  the downside: a longer wait for your client gallery, with later shoots not having images ready in time for Christmas ordering.  it’s simply a by-product of our shorter shooting season in Canada and the fact that less clients are interested in sub-zero-degree photo-sessions.

still, it was a wonderful fall season, and i can’t even begin to bring the blog up-to-date with all the wonderful characters i met.  the Wiley gang - seen below - are just a few …

forgive my lack of description.  deadlines don’t allow me more than posting these few photos from the full day shoot with this eclectic pack.

By illona | Posted in clients & sneak peeks | Comments (2)

jewel

16 November 2008 – 10:59 am

i’m definitely behind with this blog, but this fall has been such a windstorm of shoots and processing, it’s hard to keep up with the blog.   the intent of the blog, of course, was to provide ’sneak peeks’ for clients as they wait for their images to be finished and the galleries to be mounted, however, these days, i’m not even able to process images and send all of my clients sneak peeks, much less post anything on the blog.

this is hardly a sneak peek anymore when these images are from a shoot two weeks ago, and the client already has her gallery, but i thought i’d share a few images on the blog anyway.

this is jewel, a sweetheart of a lab living in Toronto …

we had a great afternoon, walking two different wooded trails and catching the late afternoon light down by the stream.

as i write this, snow falls outside my window and i wonder where i stored my winter gloves that i cut the thumb and index finger tips out of so that i could shoot on those cold winter days.  yup, i can definitely say that autumn is my favorite time of the year to shoot.  i don’t have to freeze my ass off, and the light and colors simply rock.  and with Jewel, i took full advantage of that magical light, whether it was the autumn leaves of the dried weeds …

there were times, of course, that i couldn’t help but think that Jewel was enjoying the camera-time … hamming it up and taking advantage of the spotlight at every opportunity …

whether it was a log or one of the trusty Cuz balls i always bring along for my clients.

thanks, Roberta, for a fabulous afternoon.  i hope you enjoy your gallery.  and thanks, Jewel, for being such a sport.

By illona | Posted in clients & sneak peeks | Comments (2)

morley-approved

8 November 2008 – 6:55 pm

as my clients - and their dogs - well know, i never arrive at a photoshoot empty handed … well, besides 60 lbs of camera equipment hiked over one shoulder and a fistful of crumpled up mapquest directions.

no, i come prepared.  and i’m not just referring to the extra poop bags in my pockets, for those whoops moments when owners have run out.  we’re talking yummy treats that have never failed to turn around even the shyest of clients …

how i start a session

well, okay, there was that one shiba inu that wasn’t going to be won over with anything short of a belly-dancing chihuahua slathered in cheez whiz.  but generally, even the most shutter-shy pooch can be brought around with Natural Balance’s rolls cut up into small pieces and doled out with good timing.

and then there are the Cuz balls … the complimentary toys which i bring to every shoot … guaranteed to rouse any dog’s attention and drive any owner insane.  whoever invented these nightmares, I LOVE YOU, because even if a pampered pooch has their own collection of Cuz’es, the prospect of a new Cuz — each with their own, distinctive, high-pitched squeal — is bound to send any dog to a new high, regardless of the extent of their own collection. 

and of course, all Cuz balls that leave scruffy dog headquarters are thorougly inspected, tested, approved, and endorsed by morley.

By illona | Posted in products and promos | Comments (3)