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Tag Archives: cat photographer

peter the cat ~ {Guelph pet photographer}

7 September 2010 – 10:54 am

meet Peter …

things you should know about Peter is that …

… she’s actually a girl

… she’s got the most gorgeous eyes

… she’s very loved by owner Lori

… she’s all black except for a few white toes.

but what you should also know about Peter is that she’s not very friendly.

at least, not with newcomers. in fact, Peter goes down as the very first and only client in scruffy dog history who went through a full three-hour shoot with not so much as a single pat or stroke. frankly, that was Peter’s choice … and to be honest, i need my hands.

in fact, i worried that — in spite of having worked with some pretty difficult, fearful, shy, and aggressive pets over the years — Peter was also going to be that first client from whom i got nothing. within minutes of arriving she was spitting up a storm as Lori tried to coax her from trying to run away to the basement, having a small hissing fit, boxing Lori’s hands with some rather significant seriousness. but don’t misunderstand …

… there’s love between these two. it seems that Peter just doesn’t much like hands. instead, Lori nuzzles her with her face …

… and there is definitely affection shared between them.

but me … i had to speak to the paw for most of the shoot.

… or receive the cold shoulder.

… or the paw again.

but when mom wasn’t looking, i did find this girl’s soft spot when i pulled out one of my cat-nip ‘marinated’ mice. just look at her whipping that thing around … and then: “oh wait, did mom see me actually having fun? can’t have that!”

moving Peter from one ‘location’ to the next wasn’t always easy with peter … it almost always involved some hissing and yowling, but each time she settled quickly for her next round of photos.

but when Peter was done, she was d-o-n-e … headed to the basement where she’d wanted to go from the beginning. and with enough photos for her final portfolio, i let her go in peace at last.

thank you, Peter, for putting up with me. you’re a sport. hope you enjoy our gallery, Lori.

By illona | Posted in clients & sneak peeks | Also tagged black cat, cat, guelph pet photographer | Comments (7)

… when we have to ~ {Waterloo pet photographer}

2 August 2010 – 10:56 am

a couple of blog entries ago you met Tigger … big, ol’, easy-going, don’t-wake-me-from-my-nap Tigger. he and the rest of his pride make shooting cats seem easier than shooting fish in a rain barrel … so easy, in fact, i’d be willing to change the business name to scraggly cat photography and start buying fish treats instead of lamb and liver. alas, there are those cat clients who are the essence of why i’m often heard saying — albeit quite fondly – “… and cats, when we have to” in reference to what we shoot at scruffy dog photography.

meet Ziggy …

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Ziggy was not at all pleased about our shoot. in fact, i think he would have rather eaten dog poo than face the cameras. but for those who know me, you know i never give up on any animal …

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so even though Ziggs wasn’t in the mood and was mostly focused on getting back into the house, i stuck with it … giving him loads of space and using my zoom lens so he could settle.

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which he gradually did …

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… but not before giving me a few funny faces. this shot below is my favorite of the shoot.

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thanks, Ziggy for being as brave as you could, and for showing me those lovely green eyes of yours in spite of your fear. i hope you enjoy your gallery, Nikki.

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By illona | Posted in clients & sneak peeks | Also tagged cat, kitchener-waterloo pet photographer | Comments (5)

… and cats, when we have to. ~ {Kitchener-Waterloo pet photographer}

26 July 2010 – 6:53 am

it’s almost our motto here at scruffy dog — “… where all we shoot is dogs … and cats when we have to” — accompanied by a roll of the eyes to emphasize the humor. yes, cats can be difficult … not as easily manipulated as dogs, not as quick to gobble down treats or become enchanted with a new squeakie, and no matter how giddy you make your voice their level of disdain will only deepen. so the approach must be different … it must be calm and respectful, geared to the individual cat’s own pace … it must be accommodating of their sense of personal space, and, as with dogs, never forceful.

this month i had several cat clients, so over the course of the next week i thought i’d share a few of them with you to show you the drastic difference that can be found in feline subjects.

first we have Tigger …

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… and yes, this is how i initially met Tigger — crashed out across the back of the sofa … or maybe that’s his sofa? in fact, when mom, Christine, greeted me at the door her voice was hushed as she informed me: “he’s still down for his nap.” at first i thought she was referring to a wee two-legger she must have tucked away inside in one of the upstairs bedrooms and we should proceed quietly. but no, she was referring to none other than Tigger. and down-for-his-nap he was! truth be told, “utterly immovable” might have been a better description.

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in fact, Christine had a couple of small paintings hanging over the couch directly above Tigger which I asked her to move to declutter the images. and in spite of the bustle of the quick redecoration and the clacking of the camera’s shutter, this was about all the reaction we received. only after a few pokes and a stroke on the head was i able to assure myself that there was indeed life.

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once carried to the back yard — because walking would be far too much effort for this groggy boy — Tigger seemed to waken enough for his session. well, sort of. i admit, i felt a kindred spirit in Tigger — needing that extra time to wake up after a good nap.

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and when he did finally wake, it seemed like he realized for the first time that he had company.

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Tigger and his other cat housemates have a fabulous set up … a gorgeous, landscaped back yard with a secure fence, topped with high netting so that the cats are all safely contained.

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