Rachel Lauren Photography - Central Ohios Canine Photographer, Ohio Pet Photography

21 Days Old

2012-02-19T16:21:00.002-05:00

These puppies are 10 weeks old now and all have been placed into loving homes, but I'm playing a bit of catch up on my blog here. These are some of my favorite shots from one of my visits to the breeder:

I have photos to share with you from my last visit with these pups, so I'll be posting those later this week. A friend of mine ended up taking one of these cuties home, so expect to see a session with Hibiki in the future :)

Wolf Creek Habitat

2012-02-11T12:56:00.002-05:00

To me, an exciting part about being a wolf photographer is visiting different facilities and ambassador animals. I'm sure you'll recognize the model in these shots (Stacey) as we have worked together before. Needless to say, I was excited when she had booked some time at Wolf Creek and asked me to be the photographer on set.

We made the 4 hour drive to Indiana, and once we arrived were introduced to each of the packs. The animals were very curious and loved being photographed! KMK Designs provided the outfits, and we spent the entire day with the wolves. Here are some of my favorite shots:

I'll end this entry with a few shots from bloopers, in case you really want to know what goes on in between shots!

Winnie & Harley

2012-02-06T13:16:00.003-05:00

Winnie and Harley were certainly a fun pair! These two do not live together, but their human parents are siblings so they get together and play quite often. Winnie and Harley's Grandma booked their sessions as a surprise for her kids. How cool is that?

We met at a local park and let them romp for a few minutes to burn some excess energy

Afterwards, since these two technically had their own sessions, we separated them so I could focus on them individually. Winnie was up first!

She enjoyed exploring along the river and watching the geese swim by

The German Shepherd is one of my favorite breeds...playing with Winnie and watching her behaviors reminded me so much of Zero when she was at that age!

Winnie was curious, adventurous, and a little silly

After playing in and around the water for awhile, we ended Winnie's short session up on a hill with some taller grasses. She looked so regal!

Next was Harley. With Winnie by his side, he was very playful, but alone he was more skittish. This boy was recently adopted from a shelter and had a rough start in life. I stayed back for some time to let him calm down. In time he became more comfortable and began to explore...in the trees!

We walked along the water again, so Harley could scope out the area

He eventually started to run and play, and I was so thrilled with this last shot

Donna, it was a pleasure working with you and the dogs...I am glad your kids were happy with the result!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-02-01T10:11:00.001-05:00

{Valentine's Day Mini Sessions} and NEW 'studio' location!

2012-01-24T11:42:00.006-05:00

I am excited to announce there will be a few new things going on around here in 2012! My fellow photographer and friend (also named Rachel!) and myself are currently working together on a joint 'studio' location for events such as mini sessions, holiday portraits, etc! Rachel Fout of Fout Foto is a portrait photographer specializing in children. You can find her official Facebook page here

Now, if you know anything about my philosophy with canine photography, you would know that I do not think our dogs and other canines are best represented in a studio with a paper backdrop. But- the new 'studio' is actually a barn built in 1889 (hence, studio 1898) and will be a perfect location for events to stay out of the weather, but still keep with the natural look I strive for. There is also a small field behind the barn, and a wooded area. I am very excited about this and there will be more updates on our new venture within the next few months.

Now, onto the mini session event this weekend: this will be our first event held at our new location, solely for mini sessions such as these. As always, mini sessions last 30 minutes and you will receive 5-10 images of your dog. Owners are welcome to be in a few shots as well! Sessions are designed for 1 dog only, additional dogs must have their own session booked.

If you are interested in booking a session, walk-ins are OK but if you want a time slot secured, please email me at rachellaurenphotography@gmail.com

Jack

2012-01-19T11:16:00.003-05:00

This adorable little guy is Jack! I had the pleasure of photographing him a few months back, his session was a surprise Christmas gift for his Mom :) Surprise sessions for the holidays was very popular this year, and although it wasn't easy for me to wait and share all of my sneak peeks on my official facebook page, it was worth the wait! (I still have one more Christmas session to share with all of you!)

Jack is an adorable mixed breed: Maltese, Shih Tzu and Chihuahua to be exact. He was rather shy at the beginning of his session, but in time he became more comfortable.

His session was held in historic Mt. Pleasant, Ohio where my family is from, and many still reside there. The charm and detail in all of the structures made for a perfect setting for Jack's pictures. As a natter of fact, the images of Jack on the wicker chair were taken on the porch of one of my favorite homes in town.

We continued to walk up and down the main street, there were so many great locations to utilize...

As someone who appreciates and is fascinated by older homes and our past, Jack's session was a fun way to incorporate my love for these places! To me, he even looks like he could be one of those small terriers you see in so many old photographs.

And I think Jack enjoyed exploring, too

We ended the session at the old Quaker House just beyond the main street of town..

I am very pleased with how Jack's session went! Perfect location, great dog, and of course being hired to photograph a dog as a surprise is always fun! I hope you enjoyed opening these up on Christmas day, Catherine!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T10:26:00.000-05:00

Jake

2012-01-10T10:23:00.003-05:00

Still catching up on posting the last of my clients from 2011! Jake's session was a surprise gift, so I've had to wait some time to share him with you.

Jake's session was held in October, and it was booked far in advance. His session had been booked at my booth in August when I attended the Licking County Animal Shelter's Dog Paddle event.

The Dawes Arboretum was chosen for the session location. I often use this location...there are many of the 'usual' places people visit at the arboretum, such as the Japanese garden, the pond, etc. I like for my clients' images to not scream "oh, those were taken at Dawes". This location is frequented by many other local photographers, so I choose to go a little 'off the path' and find different areas to shoot.

Although, we did visit the old house on the property, it has so much charm:

But we also took a few trails off into the fields:

Jake was wonderful at posing for the camera, so it didn't take long to get every shot I was hoping for

He really enjoyed the high grasses!

At the end of the session, we found some logs that Jake enjoyed climbing on...and in!

Jake's session was rescheduled so many times due to rain! I am happy that we had such wonderful weather on the day we finally got together- it was worth the wait!

Chocolate Lab Puppies

2012-01-06T10:30:00.004-05:00

Today will be the third visit scheduled with some 2 week old lab puppies. I have packages available to breeders in which I visit weekly to document their growth and photograph the parents. My first visit was when they were just turning 24 hours old:

These puppies are coming from champion bloodlines, and some are destined to be therapy dogs! Here, they are at 1 week old:

I will be sharing these pups weekly with you as I continue to document their growth. Today, I'm visiting them for their 2 week pictures so check back for more!

Rudy

2012-01-03T12:54:00.005-05:00

First of all, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! I am finally back on track after my short break over the holidays, and have many more sessions to share from 2011 that you haven't seen yet...not even sneak peeks on my official Facbook page!

So, next on the list to share with you all is Rudy. If you remember, Rudy was the winner for my most recent contest held after I reached over 1,000 fans on facebook. With over 500 votes, I say he deserved it!

One thing about Rudy, is that he is not very fond of strangers. A location for his session had to be chosen carefully. I knew a place that was more isolated would be best, to keep him calm and able to focus on exploring his surroundings. So, the Lobdel Reserve in Alexandria was chosen. As soon as I arrived the barking started, and over time Rudy became more comfortable with my presence. He never completely stopped barking though, but that's not a problem! I was able to capture Rudy being...well, himself!

I've come to love this location as it has so much to offer. On this particular day there was also an added bonus- frost! The colors were just perfect. We elected to stay on the paths where the grass was shorter...otherwise Rudy would not be seen! He began to really explore and enjoy the great outdoors

Rudy is a very independent individual, but I did manage to get a few shots of him watching his mom, Marie

As the session was wrapping up, Rudy was more comfortable and allowed a few close up shots.

Photographing a dog in the morning during a beautiful frost was one of the things I had been wanting to do, and for Rudy's session we got lucky! The light blues, purples and greens really helped make Rudy stand out. I also want to take this moment to thank everyone that participated in my contest- entrants and voters alike. Rudy's session was a perfect celebration for the many fans, clients, and new friends I have acquired over the past year!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-28T11:52:00.001-05:00

Hear Doggy! Toy Review

2011-12-22T14:19:00.003-05:00

Have you finished with all of your Christmas shopping? For those of you last minute shoppers in search of a gift for Fido, I wanted to share my recent review of a new dog toy...something I know they really would enjoy in their stocking!

Recently I was sent and asked to review a new toy called Hear Doggy! it has a patented squeaker inside, which squeaks at such a high frequency that humans cannot hear it. I was intrigued by this, I mean how many times have I been woken up at night by squeakers? Or phone conversations interrupted? I had to see it for myself...

I honestly expected to hear the squeak myself, but I did not! At first, Oliver was afraid of the unusual sound he heard coming from the toy, but Zero wanted to play right away

Oliver learns a lot from Zero by observing. As a skittish dog with anxiety issues, Zero helps keep him calm and he often 'follows her lead' when he sees her try something he at first perceived as scary. once he saw the toy was OK, he decided to join in. These two enjoyed playing tug of war with their new toy

And then Oliver began to play with it on his own...

you know he likes his new toy when he lays on his back, thrashing around. This is what he does with his favorite ones

My recommendation? This toy is a wonderful alternative to "regular" squeak toys. My dogs like playing a little before bed, so this is perfect for when I'm trying to sleep! The only thing is if you have a dog like Oliver, who is wary of new sounds and situations...they might be afraid at first. Throw it around, let them see your other dogs play if you have any. In time they will be desensitized and enjoy it as much as the other toys they have!

Isabella & Priscilla

2011-12-20T12:06:00.002-05:00

Not long ago I worked with these two beautiful girls, their session was a surprise birthday present for their Mom, so now that she has seen the images, I am free to share with all of you!

Their short session was held in Schiller Park in a wonderful little area in Columbus called German Village. The first few shots of the session were taken at this small stage in the park, which was appropriate since it's where their parents were married. We did a few shots with their scarves to be a little festive for the Holidays, although at the time fall was still in full swing:

Priscilla, the oldest was rescued from an irresponsible breeder as a pup. She was wise and well-mannered

Isabella was the youngster, she desperately wanted to visit with the other dogs at the park but was very obedient and cooperative!

The session lasted long enough to get the shots I needed, and when we stumbled upon this bridge I had to squeeze in a few more before we called it quits!

Thanks for introducing me to your girls, Andy...I hope your wife enjoyed her gift!

Hans

2011-12-10T13:05:00.005-05:00

I have been very excited to share images from my session with Hans! I was first contacted by his owner several months ago, he was looking for some images of his dog that were different than anything else he had (most of his images of Hans are of him working Schutzhund!)

We agreed that Hans needed something different for his location than the usual images I produce...and when he mentioned he envisions Hans as a very gothic type of dog, I knew that Columbus' Green Lawn Cemetery would be perfect! I had photographed a few models here in the past but have yet to take a client here, because well...not everyone would want their dog photographed in a cemetery! Regardless, Hans pulls off the look so well...

I was in awe of Hans' beauty (but the GSD is also one of my favorite breeds, so I am biased!). His dad Robert told me all about Hans' breeder and lineage, and that he had to have his pedigree translated at one time! Most of the dogs I work with are rescue, and although we both discussed that rescue is important, it is the responsible breeders and excellent bloodlines that also keep our breeds alive. I also appreciate seeing a dog 'work', and do the job(s) the breed was intended for in the first place.

Besides Schutzhund, Hans also does work looking for lost people, drug busts, etc. When we first arrived at the cemetery, Hans immediately 'went to work', searching for any type of smell he had been trained to look for. It was really cool to watch!

It didn't take this boy long to realize we were out having fun on this day, so soon after he loosened up

We continued to explore many parts of the cemetery, mainly sticking to areas I was familiar with because this place covers hundreds of acres

He just looked so regal along all of the stone and iron works..

It was a privilege working with this beautiful boy, and I hope this isn't the last time! Thank you Robert for allowing me to capture Hans in the way I saw him!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T11:56:00.001-05:00

Cletus

2011-12-05T18:46:00.003-05:00

The past few weeks have been busy around here, so I'm taking some time from my busy schedule to blog about my session with Cletus, because I simply cannot wait any longer to share...

Cletus' session was scheduled as a surprise for his Dad's birthday...I've been getting more sessions scheduled by other family members to surprise owners and it's exciting to help give them their gift! The session was held in a small park here in Johnstown. Cletus is an extra cute Jack Russell Terrier, and I was very surprised to see how well he was already trained at just a few months old! A little known fact is that most of the dogs I photograph are on a long lead for their session...not Cletus! He was so obedient and stayed right beside us the entire time, what a good boy!

When I first met Cletus he was your typical big dog in a small dogs' body. He barked and kept his distance. When dogs do this I do not force them to interact, I just let them explore the area and get used to the idea of me being around. After a short amount of time Cletus was pretty OK with my presence...

We continued to walk the area as I documented Cletus while he explored...

At the end of his session, we decided to do a few shots to make sure Cletus stayed still. I don't like to really make dogs sit and stay very much for images, but sometimes it's necessary to ensure shots that aren't fuzzy blurs! I like setting dogs on things such as logs and rocks, and this stump served to be a perfect place for some final shots...

I enjoyed meeting and working with Cletus, and am happy to report his Dad was thrilled with his birthday gift!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-23T17:44:00.001-05:00

Open House at Bath & Biscuits

2011-11-21T10:52:00.002-05:00

Late last month, local boutique Bath & Biscuits held an open house and I was invited to set up a booth and offer mini sessions! We do this together a few times a year and we always have a great turnout...the location is perfect, there are many great locations on the property for pictures. So, I'll just go ahead and share some of my favorite images from the day:

I will also be available for Holiday portraits very soon...will keep you posted when we decide on a date!

Goofey, Gracie and Gretchen

2011-11-12T15:48:00.003-05:00

fall has turned into my busiest season! Now that things are winding down, I have more time to write about recent sessions! Last month I traveled to Peninsula, Ohio to meet and photograph three lovely Dachshunds:

(from right to left) Goofey, Gretchen and Gracie were quite enthusiastic and excited to be out and about for their session. The town of Peninsula is about 2 hours away from me, but with Goofey's health problems, it was decided that I go to them rather than have him spend an entire day away on the road. I always enjoy shooting at new locations anyway, so it worked out perfectly! This small town had a few restaurants, a train station, and several art galleries. The different location made for perfect photo opportunities.

With sessions that include multiple dogs, I like to focus on each dog individually, but also bring the dogs together for a few shots. I started with sweet Goofey, so that he could go home afterwards and not have to hang around for the remainder of the session. Goofey immediately took to the trails, and with a little help made his way up to the bridge:

After a few shots on the bridge I noticed some interesting settings underneath it. We made our way back down so I could photograph Goofey in front of the colorful stone

I don't like to 'push' dogs to really do anything during a session, simply because I want them to be kept comfortable and enjoy themselves the entire time (if not, you'll see it in their expressions in the images afterward!) especially with an older dog like Goofey; his Mom and I knew I wouldn't spend a lot of time asking him to pose.

Before Goofey was sent back home, we set up a group shot. It took some time as the dogs were very interested in everything that was going on that day, but with patience I got the shot!

After Goofey went back home, it was time to focus on the girls.
Gretchen posed so well along the tracks...

...and I found some interesting places for Gracie to sit

We spent the remainder of the session exploring the area, finding perfect little locations for these girls.

This location is also very important to the family, as many of them are volunteers at the train station. What a wonderful way to incorporate that by holding the dogs' session here!

I am now in love with the charming scenery that Peninsula provides! I hope to photograph more dogs there in the future. Thank you Rose, for booking a session for your babies and showing me around!

Jack and Fezz

2011-11-04T12:34:00.001-04:00

I had a wonderful evening session earlier last month with these two beautiful boys. Their session was held at Lobdell Reserve in Alexandria, just a short drive from my home! I had never been to this location before, and I'm excited to say that it has been added to my list of favorite spots.

Lobdell is mainly used for horse riding, so there are many lovely trails to follow throughout the area. Jack and Fezz immediately took to the trails!

These two had very different personalities. Jack was the eldest...more mature, reserved, and absolutely loved the camera. Every time he heard the shudder click, he would pause and stay completely still, keeping eye contact with the camera! I can't say I've had a dog make my job as easy as Jack did! Although, it did make it difficult to get candid shots (which are my personal favorites), but I was able to get a a few...

Fezz (appropriately named after the character on That 70's Show) was more energetic and silly. His coat is different from what I have ever seen on a Sheltie, and they aren't sure if he's a faded black or a true blue (which is uncommon). As beautiful as this dog is, it's a shame he cannot be taken into the show ring because of his color!

Throughout the session, we walked the trails and explored the area. One of my favorite places was the creek, and the dogs loved it too!

...and more exploring in the woods followed...

We ended the last half hour of the session at a wonderful meadow at the edge of the woods. The sun was just getting low and made for some magical lighting!

I had a great time with these two, and I'll end this long entry with one last shot I took as we were headed back to the car:

NEW Product- Canvases!

2011-11-01T11:15:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to take this time to announce that canvases are now available to order from your session. I recently purchased one of my Zero, because I was so happy with the quality! I wouldn't choose a product for my clients if I wouldn't hang it up in my own home myself...and here is your proof:

I was so happy with the clarity of my image on the canvas

You may choose to order any of your favorite images from your session in a regular stretched canvas, or an option is the floating frame. I chose this for my canvas because I liked the 'finished off' look that it gives the piece. Plus, it matched the other frames in my living room, so I liked that as well.

With canvas sizes, bigger always looks better and has more of a statement in a room! This canvas is 20x30, but you can go as large as 40x60 (and even bigger!) if you desire! I'm currently looking for the perfect parlor table to place under my canvas to make more of an entry way at the front door, so I hung mine a little high to compensate for that.

I've been wanting to offer canvases for some time, and I'm thrilled that I now can!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T10:44:00.001-04:00

Mclovin

2011-10-25T13:45:00.001-04:00

That's right, you read it correctly...this guys' name is Mclovin! Affectionately called 'Muffin' or 'Muffy' by the rest of the family, Mclovin belongs to a soldier serving our country overseas. I was contacted to photograph Mclovin as a surprise for his owner- and the prints they have ordered from his session will be mailed to Afghanistan very soon.

The session was held in a small park outside of Columbus. There were so many interesting settings, such as the old bridge covered in graffiti, dense trees, and of course the river. I had planned to make use of all these things, but Mclovin had a different idea! I'm all about letting the dogs do what they want during a session, and the entire session all he wanted to do was play in the water...so that's what we did! He literally dove right in, so there wasn't even an opportunity to photograph a recently groomed, dry dog:

...needles to say, he was very proud of himself for getting muddy right at the beginning of his session....

He was really enjoying his time out, and I'm pretty sure half of the time he didn't even know I was there. He was so interested in his surroundings, sniffing the air for animals and listening to all of the sounds.

Regardless, Mclovin was very photogenic, and I hope that his owner enjoys seeing the images when his package arrives.

This is not the first dog I have photographed for someone who is missing their dog overseas. There's something nice about knowing you can help make someone's day when they get to see new photos of their dogs back home!

The votes are in....

2011-10-24T10:55:00.001-04:00

...and out of nowhere, Rudy is the winner with a total of 529 votes! Wow! If you have been following, Tucker had the majority of the votes for pretty much the entire contest, so I was blown away when I saw the amount of votes Rudy had last night just before the polls closed. Rudy, looks like you have a great support group that really wanted to see you win! Congratulations!

And to all other applicants, check your inboxes because there will be a special offer for the rest of you!

Keep an eye out for Rudy's images within the next few months!

1,000 Fan Contest- help me choose the winner!

2011-10-17T13:01:00.000-04:00

In celebration of the 1,000th fan on my Facebook Page, this week I announced that I was taking entries for a session give away (see the things you are missing if you haven't 'liked' my official Facebook page yet?).

Well, the entries are in, and voting will be done here on the blog! Below are the dogs submitted for the contest! be sure to vote for your favorite dog in the poll on the right hand side of my blog! Voting closes this Sunday, October 23rd. Remember, this contest is not based on 'best photo'...it is based on which dog is your favorite!

Good luck!!

BUDDY

BRIANNA

EDDIE

RUDY

MISSY

ROCKY

TUCKER

YAZMIN DIVINE

LUKE

***Remember to vote for your favorite dog in the poll on the right hand side of this post! Blog comments do not count as votes!
Winner will be announced next Monday!

Ohio Dog Auctions

2011-10-14T14:55:00.000-04:00

Did you know that a USDA report issued at the end of 2010 ranked Ohio as sixth among the top 10 states with the most 'puppy mill' breeding kennels in Ohio? Sixth. I was shocked by this, and I was also shocked to learn that in Holmes county alone, there are over 400 puppy mills currently in business.

Most puppy mills sell their animals to local pet stores. Not only do these dogs not fit breed standards, but they usually have health and behavioral problems due to poor breeding and living conditions. Animals are bred over and over again for pure profit, not for a passion for the breed or to produce healthy, good quality animals.

Other puppy mills breed dogs which are sent off to auction. The auctions serve as a major distribution channel for buyers and sellers from 15 states, many of whom have long standing, repeated violations of the Animal Welfare Act and/or have been convicted of animal cruelty. These dogs life nothing but a sad life in cages, never feeling the sensation of grass on their feet...passed from owner to owner for no other purpose other than breeding. It's a business managed by a tremendous amount of corruption and consumer fraud.

Last week I traveled to Millersburg, Ohio (in Holmes county) to participate in a peaceful protest against puppy mills and dog auctions. I was also there to document the event, so I can continue to spread awareness here on my blog.These dedicated volunteers were also collecting signatures for a petition to make puppy mills and dog auctions illegal in Ohio. We are one of the last states that does allow these events to occur.

To learn more about puppy mills, visit www.prisonersofgreed.org

Are you an Ohio resident? Find out how you can help stop puppy mills and auctions here in Ohio: www.banohiodogauctions.com

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T10:29:00.001-04:00

Featured Adoptables: Second Chance Humane Society

2011-10-11T13:43:00.000-04:00

Last week I visited Second Chance Humane Society again to photograph more adoptable dogs. I will be featuring dogs that are adoptable at least once a week from now on, to help the shelter and the animals get more exposure.

Second Chance Humane Society is strictly non profit and relies fully on volunteers. They are located here in Johnstown.

Peanut is a playful and happy go lucky beagle. He didn't want to stay still for photos, all he wanted to do was play in the leaves!

Roscoe is a beautiful boxer mix with a wonderful temperament, very well mannered!

Neveah is a beautiful Pit Bull Terrier. She loves others dogs and has high energy...she loves playing fetch!

Olivia is a playful lab mix who loves being in the water! She loves attention...especially belly rubs.

Dillon is a Pit Bull/Shepherd mix. He has had a rough start in life, and is ready for a loving home.

Benny is an affectionate lab mix. He didn't want to stay far away from me while I was photographing him...he just wanted to be in my lap!

Betty is a beautiful shepherd mix. She can be wary of people, so she needs a family that would be willing to earn her trust.

Chief is a Treeing Walker Coonhound. He has a very sweet temperament and loves to cuddle!

Reid is a greyhound mix. He has very nice manners. Although he is an older dog he still loves to run and play!

Zeus is an American Staffordshire Terrier. He gets along great with other dogs, loves to learn and is very smart.

And lastly, this is Tanner. He is a pit bull/lab mix. He is such a nice looking dog! He is new at the shelter, and I have a feeling he won't be there long!

If you are interested in adopting or visiting with any of these dogs, please call Second Chance at 740-967-3700

You can also visit their petfinder page here.

And official website here.

Brandy & Bennington

2011-10-05T11:43:00.000-04:00

First of all, I wanted to say in advance that this is a BIG post! My usual post today would participate in Wordless Wednesday, but I can't wait one more day to share these two with you!

Brandy and Bennington are two beautiful golden retrievers I had the pleasure of working with when I went to Pittsburgh...as a matter of fact, their mom is the reason I traveled there in the first place! She was the first to book a session with me in North Park, although their session was held last on this day, to take advantage of the evening light that I am so fond of. I knew their color would stand out well in this lighting situation.

I began their session along the river, behind the boathouse. We spent the first hour-45 minutes just walking along the water as I kept an eye out for nice settings. As all multi-dog sessions are done...I did a mixture of individual shots, and some together...with a mixture of asking the dogs to sit and stay, and letting them interact with their surroundings as I capture it.

Bennington (above) is the youngster, and as expected had much more energy. Before the session I was informed that Brandy (below) was very camera shy and would be a challenge. This is something I often hear, and the owners are always surprised afterward how many shots I walked away with after the session. I did not push Brandy or ask her to do anything at all...with shy or senior dogs I have found this to be my best method. The older dogs do not feel 'obligated' to cooperate most of the time, and shy dogs just need time to come out of their shell. I focused most of my attention on Bennington and shots of them together, just to let Brandy get a feel for what was going on and plenty of time to become more comfortable:

I also did a few shots of the family with the dogs. This is something I do offer during sessions, although I do not always post them on my website or blog.After I was happy with my results along the water, I decided to walk further down the trail and let the dogs explore more on their own in the woods and higher grasses. This is where Brandy came out of her shell, and allowed me to photograph her stress-free. I just sat in the grass with her and observed as she checked out everything, and I was very happy with the result:

I was so happy with the above image, that Brandy is now featured on the front of my new business cards!

After getting a good number of shots of Brandy alone, I needed more individual shots of Bennington. He was very enthusiastic, climbing all over everything!

With both dogs beginning to slow and tire out, I finished the session out with more shots of them together...you can never have too many!

I want to thank all of my Pittsburgh clients, you have made me feel so welcome and I hope to return again very soon! For those of you out of town (or state), remember that I am available for travel!

Follow on Facebook, Session Giveaway!

2011-10-03T12:13:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to make an announcement about my Facebook page! I am almost to 1,000 fans!

My Facebook page is updated more often than my blog, with sneak peeks from sessions, and lots of other things that do not get shared on here! The blog only shows the finished product...a full 'review' of how a session went along with the images.

For example, a few days ago I shared this image from my session last weekend:

As of right now, my Facebook has 987 loyal fans. I'm hoping to reach the 1,000 mark soon...and as soon as I do, I will be hosting another session giveaway to celebrate!

So what are you waiting for? Follow me on my official Facebook, here: www.facebook.com/RachelLaurenPhoto (and don't forget to tell your friends- you all will be eligible to enter the session giveaway contest!)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-28T12:02:00.000-04:00

Roy

2011-09-27T09:45:00.000-04:00

Roy was my third client session held in Pittsburgh last month. The big guy was very laid back during his session, but the heat of the midday sun attributed to this as well. I began Roy's session along the river, under the shade of the trees where it was more comfortable.

...and a few shots at the boathouse. I just loved the texture of the large stone!

Next, we decided to take quite a hike to another shaded area, where there was a small pine forest. I used this same spot for another session on this day, and it worked very well...so why not take Roy to explore it, too?

Roy's session was short but sweet, and we wrapped it up in the small meadow area surrounding the pines.

I just loved the effect I was getting with my 50mm lens with these shots

...and even more dramatic in black and white:

I am thrilled that Roy's parents were so pleased with his images that they purchased a few digital files so that they can be used on their Christmas card this year! What a cool idea!

Second Chance Humane Society

2011-09-24T10:12:00.000-04:00

I've recently announced over at my Facebook page (and I recommend following me on my Facebook if you aren't...lots of sneak peeks and more frequent updates!) that I am now volunteering with Second Chance Humane Society here in Johnstown. Of course my main duty is to photograph each of the dogs and cats! I went last week for the first time, and after mingling and getting to know a lot of the dogs I began photographing a few:

Bock is a rat terrier mix. He was calm and laid back when I worked with him. Very nice little guy! He had great manners and posed nicely for the camera.

Second Chance has a large amount of beagles. In Licking county, hounds turn up as strays and in shelters quite frequently so this did not surprise me. They are all housed together and live in one big beagle pack! This girl is Betty Boop, and she was the tiniest one...I had never seen a beagle so small! She was quiet and gentle, and she is still available for adoption!

Adopted since my visit last week is Tucker and Cabe. They are the ones that greeted me when I arrived at the shelter. Both are 10 years old (and brothers) who have been together their whole lives. When I took them out into the yard I just remember continually asking how such great dogs like them ended up in a shelter...but I am happy to say that they were adopted just a few days later! What great boys!

I plan to visit Second Chance at least once a week, and feature adoptables on my blog a few times a month!

ShedMonster Review (for dogs)

2011-09-23T12:39:00.000-04:00

I was recently asked to review the ShedMonster grooming tool. Here are my findings:

The ShedMonster claims to reduce shedding, and remove the undercoat without pain to the animal. In the commercials for this product, it compares it to the Furminator, which would be the main competitor. The ShedMonster is much cheaper than the Furminator...but does it work better?

I happen to own a Furminator (I won it in a contest over at Bocci's Beefs), so I feel was able to accurately compare these two products. The thing I don't like about the Furminator is that it pulls the hair and can damage the coat. I only use it occasionally each spring to help remove Zero's thick undercoat...and she hates it! It does work well in removing the undercoat, but again, I do not use it often because it can pull or damage the hair.

You can see the difference between the Furminator's sharp blade compared to the rounded edges of the blade on the ShedMonster. Seeing this had me intrigued.

I received both ShedMonsters to try...one for long hair, and one for short hair. Oliver's hair is much longer than Zero's, and I tried it on him first. I liked that the ShedMonster din't pull on his hair or scrape on his skin, it seemed to glide nicely across his coat and remove any loose hairs. I tried the Furminator on the other side of his body and you could tell a huge difference...it was tugging at his hairs and he began to squirm. He has a wiry coat, which did not help either.

Next I tried to product on Zero, my shepherd mix. I used the ShedMonster for shorter coats. She normally does not like being brushed but she did not mind it this time. I was amazed to see how much hair easily brushed out of her coat. I also tried the Furminator on the other side of her body and again, it was easy to see the difference. The Furminator gets caught in the coat and can be painful.

The Furminator seemed to remove a slightly larger amount of hair than the ShedMonster, but again most of these hairs were probably pulled out or broken off from the coat. I was not asked to compare the ShedMonster to anything, but I was curious to see how well it worked vs a product I already had used. You can see the difference:

I think the ShedMonster is a great tool to use, especially when you want to gently remove the undercoat. It may remove it in smaller amounts per brush stroke, but at least you won't be damaging the coat or making it painful for your dog! You can learn more on their website, www.shedmonster.com/

I received free product samples from the company to use in exchange for this review. The opinions expressed in my review are my own personal and honest thoughts. No other compensation was given.

*want me to review your product(s) on my blog? send me an email at rachellaurenphotography@gmail.com!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T10:51:00.000-04:00

Sophie

2011-09-20T09:42:00.000-04:00

I am so behind on blogging...I have been extremely busy with orders and booking fall sessions! I have been excited to share Sophie's images with you.

Sophie is another client I traveled to Pittsburgh to photograph (yes, I am available for travel!). This little girl was full of personality!

At times, the smaller dogs can prove to be more difficult to photograph. Sophie was an exception! The above image was one of the first shots taken...she was posing immediately, as if she knew this day was all about her. We moved closer to the water's edge and I continued to get great shots:

Sophie's session was scheduled on the same day as 4 other dogs...and because of this, sometimes time slots have to be filled that do not necessarily give the best lighting. We stayed in the shade for Sophie's session to avoid any harsh lighting situations. After our romp by the creek, next we went up the hill under some large trees.

This is where I learned about Sophie's obsession with her Kitty. Kitty is a cat puppet, and she just loves it! We used Kitty often to get her attention for close up shots, and of course I had to get some shots of her actually playing.

We ended Sophie's session under a large pine forest. She seemed to enjoy all of the new smells

...and Kitty returned for a few extra shots...

Sophie's parents also wanted a few shots together. I do offer this, all you have to do is let me know :) I prefer to capture candids of owners interacting with their dogs, instead of the pose and smile type of thing. I like capturing the real emotion...this is my favorite shot from the set, and I am happy to say that a print of this one was ordered!

Keep an eye out for more Pittsburgh dogs! I Still have three more to share with you!

More puppy pictures

2011-09-14T23:10:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share some more photographs taken today of the stray puppies. This weekend they are going to a foster! Two of them went today, as we found an injury one one of them, so the foster took another one to keep it company. Until the rest of them can leave this weekend, my friend is still caring for them. I want to thank everyone that has helped us care for them and donating food!

The puppies are looking to be about 4 weeks old. So, in a few weeks they will be ready to find forever homes. Both of their parents will also need homes as well! The parents are skittish but that is easily reversed...they will just need to find the right people who have lots of patience.

I already have about 3 people that are interested in adopting these puppies, but no confirmations just yet. If you are interested in adopting one of the pups or parents (will have photographs of the parents hopefully later this week!) please contact me! rachellaurenphotography@gmail.com OR 740.334.3641

There are 8 puppies total, so some of the black ones I must have photographed more than once...but I thought I'd share all of my favorite pictures from today!

I will be doing home checks to ensure that the puppies will be going to good families. Dogs are not toys that you give away because you decide a puppy is 'too much work', I'm looking to find responsible owners that understand the next 10-15+ years must be dedicated to these beauties! They deserve it!

**UPDATES:

-yellow pup has a home!

-one of the black pups has a home! 6 more to go!

Save a Stray!

2011-09-13T21:18:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine found a mother, father dog, and their 8 puppies a few weeks ago. She has been caring for them, but they are still living under a trailer in a vacant type lot. I went with her today to see the pups for myself, and they are more than ready to be weaned and rehomed! Both of the parents are skittish, but I'm hoping we can catch them with a live trap or something. We're trying to rehome them ourselves instead of just sending them off to the pound.

They are lab mixes- not sure with what. Both parents are black and I didn't get a very good look at them, as they stayed away and let me get close enough to the pups for pictures. Some of them were more bold and let me pet them...others were afraid and stayed more towards the back. With socialization, this will not be an issue.

Please contact me at rachellaurenphotography@gmail.com OR by phone 740.334.3641 (leave a message if no answer) if you are interested in adopting or fostering. We want to get these guys into homes and around other people and animals as soon as possible...and don't forget both parents will need homes, too! Forward this blog post link to all of your friends! The dogs are located in Newark, Ohio and I am willing to personally transport any of them within reasonable distance.

Thank you!

The 9/11 Rescue Dogs

2011-09-11T16:13:00.000-04:00

I guess I should have waited until today to post Callie's blog entry. As I said in yesterday's post, Callie's session was scheduled by the mother in the family, and Callie's prints and coffee table book will be sent to her son (who is serving overseas) as a Christmas present. I also have a session with a Golden Retriever booked in a few weeks for this very same reason...another soldier's dog...and their prints will be sent as a gift to him in Afghanistan. I cannot explain how wonderful it feels doing this, as it is my special way to comfort a few people and families in a difficult time. And ten years ago today is when it all started. It's hard to believe it's been that long...I remember being at school and classes all came to a halt, and we sat around TV screens watching the news.

I also wanted to share this link, with portraits of the surviving dogs that served as search and rescue 10 years ago. I would love to photograph these dogs.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2033628/Surviving-9-11-rescue-dogs-scoured-Ground-Zero-bodies-commemorated-decade-difficult-mission.html

I wanted to take this time to think of those who died on that fateful day ten years ago...and to thank those who continue to sacrifice their own lives and fight for the rest of us.

**Edited to add: Thought I should share some photos with you (NOT taken by me) of search and rescue dogs hard at work on Ground Zero. All images found by searching various photographers' streams on Flickr.

Callie

2011-09-10T11:32:00.000-04:00

Callie is the first of five dogs that I traveled to Pittsburgh to photograph for their owners (yes, my services are available to those of you out of state!). This is the second time I've traveled out of state for clients. I enjoy going to different locations for sessions- it can also add some variety when the landscape is a little different than here in central Ohio.

Callie is a rescue dog... a Katrina dog, to be exact. She was very reserved during her session...you could tell she had so much wisdom and I could not even begin to imagine what she had seen and experienced in her life. I processed her images a little more than usual, there were so many moods coming from the session...and sometimes certain processing helps bring it out.

There was a beautiful river at the location all of the sessions were held (North Park). Callie was not interested in getting too close (and I don't blame her!) but I wanted to make sure and get some water in the shots. Representing her past, telling more of her story. A story only Callie completely knows.

I loved the view of the mountains, too...

Along with her new life in Pittsburgh, Callie also has an occupation as a therapy dog. It was easy to see that she was a perfect candidate for this. She visits hospitals and comforts patients.

After spending some time near the river, we ventured to some more wooded areas. Callie wasn't very interested in being photographed, so I just stood aside and observed as she explored her surroundings.

Callie is a family dog, and her session was specifically scheduled to be a surprise Christmas gift. The son in the family is serving our country overseas. I am beginning to have sessions scheduled for this reason- a special photographic gift of a soldier's dog...and I am happy to be of service and do this for these brave men. I hope he is as thrilled as I am with the images!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-07T11:37:00.001-04:00

Gracie

2011-09-06T11:52:00.000-04:00

I met Gracie last month. Her parents had been wanting to book a session with their previous dog, but she sadly has passed away. Shortly after bringing Gracie home they scheduled a session for their new bundle of joy.

Gracie's session was held in historic Mt. Pleasant, Ohio- where my family happens to be from. I have not photographed a dog here before her session (besides my own dogs) but the entire town is full of historic homes, and other beautiful settings perfect for pictures. I scheduled Gracie's session on the same date as the historic walk in town, on this day many of the normally 'closed' buildings have their doors open to the public...giving even more photo opportunities. With Gracie's dad having a love for all things historic, I knew this would be perfect.

To keep with this vintage theme, I also processed many of Gracie's images to match another time period. Not all clients are interested in this type of processing, but Gracie's parents certainly were. They had purchased some personal work prints from me in the past...images of old historic homes I had 'antiqued' in post processing.Gracie enjoyed climbing up on the different obstacles, porches, and furniture at all of the different locations around town.

Her playfulness and energy were short lived, however. She had a vet appointment that morning, and received her puppy boosters. Some dogs become drowsy shortly after being vaccinated, and Gracie soon became calm and still. Although this was helpful in certain situations- I would have loved photographing her more at play as well!

The last stop was an old cabin, where at first Gracie was curiously climbing on things, and ended the session drifting off to sleep with her head hanging over the side of one of the benches. I just love how her beautiful eye color popped a midst all of the brown tones.

I hope to one day photograph her again and document her maturity and growth! Thanks for a great session!

Barksters Treat Review

2011-08-31T13:29:00.001-04:00

I was recently contacted and sent two boxes (each different flavors) of a new treat called Barksters, made by a company called Loving Pets. I was asked to review the product on my blog and give an honest opinion...so here it is.

The front of the box states they are 100% Natural, low calorie, gluten and wheat free with no additives or preservatives. Now, these words alone would probably be good enough for many to see, and then purchase the product...but I had to do some more investigating. My dogs are fed a raw diet, and I'm always trying to learn more about whats good and not so good for them to have.

The ingredients are as follows:

Box 1 (Brown Rice & Beef Krisps Recipe)
Brown rice, rice flour, beef, rice bran oil

Box 2 (Sweet Potato & Chicken Krisps Recipe)
Sweet potato, rice flour, chicken, rice bran oil

First, I'll start with the beef and chicken ingredients. Meat is a good ingredient, but since it doesn't go into detail as to what kind...I can't be so sure. It could be chicken and beef meal, which is good (meal is a concentrated form of meat, with all moisture removed, it contains pure protein), or...it could be fresh meat (also good) or with by-products...which isn't good. (although the box says no by-products, one cannot always be so sure!). So, I guess with the mention of meat being so vague, I cannot make a proper judgement.

Next is sweet potato! This is a good ingredient; high in beta-carotene, it is good for eyes and also helps support the immune system.

Rice flour: again, no details if it is brown or white rice flour (brown rice would be better). It's not the best ingredient, but not the worst either.

Rice bran oil: This is the ingredient I looked into the most, and although I've seen it is a good anti-oxidant, I have also been informed of some other things. Rice bran oil is similar to peanut oil, and is often used in Asian cooking, and many pet foods because it can withstand high heat (for faster preparation). It is also used to extend the shelf life of pet foods and treats because it breaks down slower than other oils. There has been some research done that shows anti-cancer activity in lab animals...but these tests are inconclusive. So does this make it a good ingredient? A better one would be canola or coconut oil...

(nutritional information provided by Danielle Wilson of Bath & Biscuits!)

So, my personal opinion on the treats? The box preaches all natural, but that doesn't always mean it is healthy...but again, it's meant to be a treat. It isn't something I'd purchase often, but as a treat every once in awhile, I don't see any harm. There are worse ingredients out there!

I know I've analyzed these treats more than others have in past reviews, but I figured this is an important way to review the product. Testing to see if the dog 'likes it or not' doesn't impress me, personally.

...speaking of that, my dogs liked them, but they don't care what the ingredients say like I do ;)

TJs Country Kennel

2011-08-27T16:42:00.001-04:00

I have recently begun offering my services to local breeders. TJs Country Kennel was the first to contact me! TJ has a passion for his dogs, and a really nice setup.

I photographed each pup individually, and also did some group shots. I had a lot of fun with these guys, they're the youngest puppies I've photographed so far and it was an experience!

I look forward to working more with TJ in the future!

I also wanted to take this time to announce the launch of my [new and improved!] website!
Check it out here: www.rachellaurenphotography.com

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-24T17:03:00.001-04:00

Heath Water Park Dog Paddle

2011-08-22T19:54:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I had a wonderful time at the water park in Heath! The Licking County Animal Shelter hosted their very first dog paddle event. All were welcome to bring their dogs out for some fun at the pool, and the entrance fees will benefit their spay neuter program. Local businesses could also sign up as vendors (I was one of them!).

I haven't heard an exact number, but with over 200 dogs present yesterday evening I think it's safe to say that this event was a success. I hope they are able to do this again next summer! I was busy watching Oliver and my booth, but I did manage to take a few photos throughout the evening.

Those images do not show how many dogs were there! I waited until it slowed down a bit to get some photos. It was hard for me to pick one dog at a time to observe and photograph, they were all having so much fun!

Oliver on the other hand, was not so sure about the water. He ended up just running around in the grass with the smaller dogs, and wandering about.

There were a few dogs that elected to stay along the sidelines, nothing wrong with that!

I had a lot of fun watching this dog jump...he never got tired!

It's hard to say if the dogs or the people enjoyed this event more! I look forward to doing this next year!

**If you see your dog on this post and would like the photo, please email me at rachellaurenphotography@gmail.com and I will gladly send you the high resolution file!**

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-17T16:26:00.000-04:00

Leopold

2011-08-16T11:36:00.000-04:00

Meet Leopold...or Leo, Poldi, SpongePold, this guy has so many nicknames...

...Of all the dogs I have worked with thus far, I think Leopold has one of the most interesting stories. His parents adopted him at 6 months of age while they were stationed overseas- Leopold is Italian! He has also visited Germany...this guy is well traveled...and in 2004 he came back to the US with his family.

When his parents decided they wanted a dog, they began their search in Germany. Staying at a Holiday Inn, they noticed the street name was 'Leopold' and many stores had Leopold in their names. Although they decided that this would be a perfect dog name, they returned to Italy without a dog.

Soon after, they met a woman in Italy who was married to an American man. They rescued dogs and adopted them out to other American families. Leopold was very skittish when they adopted him...but you would never know that now...this guy is a ham!

Leo likes to dress up, and has all sorts of outfits...it was decided that he needed some 'nude' photos taken, so we did not dress him up ;) We went to a forest, and a large field for his photos. He certainly enjoyed all of the attention...he knows he's a model...

...he was literally posing the entire time. He knows it's all about him. I do not see many dogs 'hamming it up' during sessions as much as he was!

Time got away from us during his session, because he was posing so well and I was getting so many great shots! I had a wonderful time photographing Leo, and I know he enjoyed it, too!

Lastly, I was asked to create this with one of Leopold's images...it's different for me, but I had fun making it!

Thanks for the great session Leo!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-10T11:14:00.001-04:00

Oscar and Brody

2011-08-09T17:37:00.001-04:00

I had a wonderful time with these two old souls recently at Alum Creek.

Oscar (left) and Brody are extremely close. Their mom wanted to quickly schedule a session with her older boys, with her third dog recently passing on and a health scare with another pet...she just did not want to wait any longer than needed to schedule their session. I always make sure to squeeze in older, or ill dogs into my schedule as soon as possible, their session was booked just days after the original inquiry.

Oscar is the older of the two, and it was apparent during our session. He doesn't get around like he used to, but you could tell that he was extremely excited to be out and about. I started out with some photos along the shore, to get some nice individual shots and a few of them together before they took the plunge into the water.

During the session Brody was more active, while Oscar elected to stay in the nice cool water...

Brody joined Oscar for a few shots...

...but then he was back to fetching his ball, and attacking bugs...

Oscar enjoyed his time on the sidelines, taking in all of his surroundings. A few times we pulled Brody aside to slow down and take a breather with Oscar.

...then back to the water they went until the end of the session! They had so much fun on their day out- but we were sure not to push them or make the session last too long, just long enough to get the shots desired.

I had a wonderful time with these gentle boys, seeing the love between them and their Mom!

Gun Dog Magzine

2011-08-07T10:24:00.000-04:00

I've been published again! I was recently contacted by Gun Dog Magazine, they were in need of a few shots of a Springer Spaniel. Luckily, a very good friend of mine happens to own one, (his name is Peat) so we trudged through some extremely high grasses and mud to get the shot they wanted. Here is the article featuring my image:

Also, I wanted to share a few other shots from my session with Peat, they are all horizontal because that's what they needed (below is also the original shot for the article, colors were edited in my style afterward though!).

I really enjoyed working with Gun Dog Magazine, and I plan to work with them more in the future!

Reggie

2011-08-05T15:46:00.000-04:00

Reggie is a sweet, happy Miniature Dachshund that I had the pleasure of working with a few weeks ago.

Lots of planning went into Reggie's session, I wanted the location to be perfect for this little guy. We opted to go somewhere with water and lots of rock formations. I had been wanting to shoot in a location like this for some time, I just haven't had the chance until now!

You wouldn't know it, but Reggie is 12 years young. This meant that he was eligible for my 'senior dog' discount, 15% off the session fee. Although, this doesn't always mean that the senior dogs wont be as adventurous as the rest! I always enjoy meeting these kind souls, and learning about their lives as I get to know them.

Although we had a few minutes of rain (which soon cleared, luckily!), Reggie didn't mind at all, and was very interested in exploring his surroundings...

As a matter of fact, he was SO interested in checking out everything (and following his Mom), that treats were mainly used to get the closeup shots of him, which gave me enough time to get a few shots of him looking into the camera.

It would work for just a few minutes (or sometimes, seconds)...

...and then, he was back to checking on Mom...

One thing is for sure, Reggie is certainly photogenic!

We finished up the session with a few shots at a small shack

I'd like to thank Reggie's Mom for booking a session! I'm sure he had just as much fun as I did!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-03T11:15:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-27T11:51:00.000-04:00

The Humane Society of Delaware County

2011-07-21T18:29:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday I was invited to an event at the Humane Society of Delaware County.

The reason for the gathering was for the HSDC to thank all of their volunteers, but also invited were the individuals who took part in the rescue of 89 dogs last year. As far as I know all have been adopted, and I got to meet several of these dogs and their new families. This was the 1 year anniversary of their rescue.

You can tell that these dogs are loved and adored by their adoptive families. People traveled very long distances to be at this get together!

Along with food for the human guests, there were tables of freebies for the 89 rescue dogs as well as raffles, treats, and more.

All of the 89 dogs were seized from one location, and from the stories that I heard, they were kept in small cages on the property. As in most cases like this, many of the dogs had health problems, like the dog pictured above who had to get an eye removed. I did not see the original condition of these dogs, but I do know how much transformation a dog can go through after just a year of proper care.

This little guy got a new collar from the freebies table:

Volunteers and staff were also walking about with a few dogs that are currently up for adoption:

(If you're interested in any of these dogs, please go to their website for more information)

Other past adopters brought their dogs to play in the fenced in yard and mingle.

I was present to photograph the event, but I also offered mini sessions to owners for just $15. I often do these at local pet events, so if you are having a pet-related event at your venue and are interested in having me attend, please contact me! I also donate a portion of my profits to the organization holding said event.

Here are some of my favorites from the mini sessions:

I look forward to more events at the HSDC, and want to thank everyone for inviting me!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-20T09:39:00.001-04:00

Location Scouting

2011-07-15T09:11:00.000-04:00

A big part of being a photographer 'on site' is looking for unique locations in which to photograph the client. Many sessions are held at parks or nature reserves, where I don't have to worry about asking a landowner for permission to be on the property.

It has been quite some time since I've looked for new locations, but as always, Zero came with. She is helpful because first; she keeps me company, (and it's an excuse to go on a hike with her), but also because she will let me know if she is uncomfortable on any terrain. If my high strung, fearless girl is not willing to walk down a certain steep hill, across rocks, etc then I know it's not suitable to bring a dog client there!

She also is a great model; and for those of you who do not know much about my special girl, she is the reason I decided to get into this field and pursue canine photography as a career. Whilst location scouting, she gives me ideas for shots with upcoming clients:

This particular location is called Blackhand Gorge. I have never been here before, but I've been wanting to find a location that was a bit different, with some large rock formations and possibly water. Upon arriving, we found a small cabin and a field which would make for some interesting shots.

Down the trail, rock formations are on either side

We also stumbled upon an old bridge. The water stains on the concrete can make for a unique backdrop

..and testing with Zero I've found that I love this wall for both color and black and white images

Afterward, we crossed into the woods to get closer to the river. The evening light here was beautiful, and can be perfect for a shoot with a large dog!

Once passing through, along the river was exactly what I've been looking for

With the right processing, I can make this place look entirely different if necessary

or, even another time period:

I had a particular session in mind for this location, and hopefully it works out for both dog and owner.
Zero certainly enjoyed her time there, and I was left very inspired.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-13T09:34:00.000-04:00

One year later...

2011-07-08T23:04:00.001-04:00

One year ago today, I adopted little Oliver and brought him home. The last year has flown by, and Oliver has come a very long way. It all started after my fiance and I moved into our first home. Of course we already had Zero, my shepherd mix- but we decided we had more than enough space and time to bring another dog into our family.

A few years ago Zero was attacked by a dog her size...and ever since she has been unsure of large dogs. I've always loved the Northern breeds, but something like this was out of the question. I needed to make sure the other dog was a good fit for Zero, more than anything. This meant that a smaller dog was a better choice (Zero is 65lbs). We also are active, outside hiking and camping often so I wanted a dog that could handle something like this. My original plan was to get a dog that was around 45-50lbs, not too small or big. I didn't really have a breed in mind, but we were thinking either a lab mix, or some sort of herding breed. We also knew we wanted a male. I elect to rescue dogs rather than purchase them, so I just kept searching local kill shelters for a dog that I thought would fit with our lifestyle.

And then, I saw this image on the Facebook page for the Licking County Animal Shelter:

His description read:

#726~Terrier [Mix]
This little guy is about 8 months old and spunky as a 8 month boy would be. He has one floppy ear and one that stands up most of the time as you can see in his picture He is a cute boy.

My best guess is that he's a wirehair Dachshund, Yorkshire Terrier mix. This IS a 'designer dog' believe it or not, and if you google 'dorkie' many of them look like Oliver, with one ear up, one down.

I'm not sure what made me decide to go check him out (besides the obvious cuteness) because he was not exactly the type of dog we were looking for. But, I went in the very next day to see what he was like. I was greeted by an extremely nervous dog, standing quietly in his cage:

The notecard on his door read "Snippy, not good with kids" I stood aside for awhile, watching people pass his cage time and time again after reading the card. I knew this dog would not have a high chance of being adopted because of what it said...but I also knew that it was something I could work with. There aren't many people who are willing to work with dogs that have behavior issues, and one like this is not a good match for a family with children. I entered his cage to see what he was like, and he was absolutely terrified. He would squirm and yelp at the slightest touch...putting a leash on to take him out for a walk proved difficult. Once we were finally outside, he hid under the shrubs and would not come out. Any light tugging on the lead set him into a yelping rampage, he had obviously been dragged on walks. This dog was severely damaged, and needed out of the pound...badly. For the very first time in my life I made a snap decision to bring a dog home, without even thinking about it.

I could not adopt him on this day, because they were about to close. I put my name on the list, and I would be the first person able to adopt him the very next day. After leaving, we went out and purchased a bed, collar, and a food dish.

July 8th arrived, and I went to get him first thing in the morning. All I remember is that he wanted to be held...and I struggled to hold him in my arms whilst filing out paperwork. After that was finished, we were free to go and in the car we went. As soon as we began moving, he uncontrollably ran around the car...terrified of every tree, person, building...anything that we passed. The reflections in the windshield confused him. He finally found a perch on my driver's seat, and was calm. I let him stay there until we got home.

This is the first image I took when we got to the house. I introduced him to Zero (who loved him by the way), but I think he was too overwhelmed by everything to care.

For the next few days I just let him relax, and observe our routine. It took awhile for him to come out of his shell, and I had to sneak any photos I did get because he was too afraid of the camera:

It took about a week for Oliver to get over his fear of the leash and collar. Lots of treats and praise while putting them on did the trick. This is the collar he had on at the pound, which says "Bad to the Bone". This does match his attitude, by the way. He does not wear the collar from his previous life, but I keep up with the theme by using a skull and cross bone leash and collar. At the pound, they had no information on him other than he was found running as a stray.

One thing Oliver adapted to almost immediately is a raw diet. Because of Zero's health problems I began to feed this way, which is something I'd been wanting to do for many years but didn't have the resources and the people to help educate me about it as I do now. Ollie took it like a champ and LOVES his new diet.

He didn't know how to be a dog. He didn't understand 'play'. Zero helped teach him these things, and he in turn taught her to not be weary of dogs. Now, I can take Zero anywhere and she is fine with dogs of all sizes. This took more work than just having Oliver around, but he sure helped with the process.

Oliver and Zero bonded better than I could have ever imagined, and I often caught him copying her behaviors, or whatever she happened to be doing:

(sorry for the low quality cell phone pictures!)

Zero was also in the process of recovering from an illness, so the light play with Oliver helped rebuild her muscle and make her strong again. Now it seems all these two do is play! Their favorite thing to do is play tug of war with their toys.

Although, when Zero does not feel like playing he is perfectly fine entertaining himself.

Hikes, and other outdoor activities have helped build his confidence. I try to expose him to as many things as I can, as he still is skittish in new situations.

Over time he has become quite accustomed to the camera, even putting up with 'dressing up' for certain shots if necessary.

If he is being quiet this is where I find him...snuggled up under our comforter with his little face sticking out...

And of course...you gotta love the head tilts:

I've had several people tell me that you don't always necessarily get the dog you want, but the dog you need. Oliver is certainly a testament to this. A complete opposite of what I was looking for, but he loves all of our outdoor activities and fit in so well with us...I couldn't imagine any other dog filling in those shoes as well as Oliver. I'm looking forward to many more years with my little man!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-06T18:54:00.000-04:00

Dark Beauty Magazine

2011-07-02T10:32:00.001-04:00

A little late....but I just got my copy of Dark Beauty Magazine's June issue. One of my images from this past winter was published! The article was about the designer, Romantic Threads, and I am thrilled one of our images was chosen for the article:

Jane (arctic wolf) really made us proud during this shoot, she is turning into one of Eden Creek's best ambassadors!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-22T10:52:00.000-04:00

Gypsy

2011-06-20T09:58:00.000-04:00

I don't normally blog on Mondays, but I had to share this. Meet Gypsy, my friends' wolfdog she adopted this winter. You'll be seeing more of her soon, as she has booked a session for her this summer!

Onyx

2011-06-17T09:24:00.000-04:00

Recently I was featured in the local newspaper, and afterward my inbox was full of emails from people wanting to book their dogs a session. Onyx was one of the first booked!

When I first arrived, I was greeted by an uneasy Onyx in the front yard. But his barking ceased after approaching calmly, and offering him some of the beef liver treats I always have on hand. After a few minutes, Onyx began to open up and show me around his yard.

Even sitting nicely for a few 'formal' type shots:

As expected at 11 years old, this guy was pretty laid back. A much different pace than my last few shoots with dogs who were extremely active. We wound down the session with a few shots on the front porch...

I had a great time with Onyx, and am so glad his family found my article in the newspaper! I also wanted to take this time to mention that I offer a 20% discount for senior dogs (ages 10+), which Onyx qualified for. So if you're thinking of signing up your senior for a session, now is the perfect time!

*Update 7/28/11: I just received an email that Onyx has passed on. I just hope my images bring some sort of comfort to his family during this rough time...

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-15T21:40:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-08T10:59:00.000-04:00

(New Guinea Singing Dog)

Print Store is Live!

2011-06-07T15:46:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to take a moment to announce that prints of my work with Eden Creek Wolves are now for sale through our online print store!

All of my favorites are featured!

So check it out! View the print store here: www.edencreekwolves.smugmug.com

Enjoy!

Taloula

2011-06-05T12:02:00.000-04:00

Taloula was the second session scheduled from when I traveled to Indiana last month. She's a young, playful Olde English Sheepdog, and I was delighted to work with her. Having the chance to photograph a breed that I haven't yet is also an additional plus!

Taloula's session was held in a small park outside of Nappannee, Indiana. I like parks that offer several different sceneries, which gives more opportunity for a large variety of compositions and setting.

The forecast said we were in for lots of rain on this day, but luckily it held out long enough for Taloula's session. Towards the end we had dark skies rolling in, which made for some cool images, but it was also my cue to wrap it up, as we saw lightning in the distance:

I had a wonderful time working with Taloula and seeing new places out in Indiana. I will most likely revisit in the future, so if you are in the Northern Indiana area and are interested in a session, contact me!

Byrd

2011-05-25T08:58:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I announced that I was traveling to Indiana and was available for dog sessions. Byrd is the first of two dogts that I worked with while there (yes- I am available for travel!). This large, elegant dog certainly was photogenic:

I have worked with many types of dogs; young, old, outgoing, shy, large, small, active, laid back...but Byrd was one of those that I'll never forget! Byrd is a greyhound, who used to race. She's only been retired for 6 months, and her owners were concerned that during the shoot she would want to start running again. (Just in case, Byrd was leashed on my trusty long lead during the entire session).

After all I heard about her, I was pleasantly surprised to find just the opposite: a calm, cooperative dog that was easy to photograph. I think they were surprised, too when Byrd greeted me at their house; She isn't one to greet strangers.

Byrd's session was held at a local park in Warsaw Indiana. The forecast for the weekend was rain, and although I was lucky to miss it with my other dog session, we had a light rain the entire time during Byrd's shoot...but it wasn't bad enough to have to cancel. I had come all that way and I didn't want to reschedule if it wasn't absolutely necessary. Byrd didn't seem to mind the rain, either.

Winona lake also made for an excellent location:

I had a wonderful time in Indiana! Stay tuned for my next post from my other session, Taloula the Olde English Sheepdog!

Before and After

2011-05-23T11:31:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-18T13:26:00.000-04:00

Mini Sessions!

2011-05-16T09:52:00.000-04:00

I just got home from Indiana last night, and had some wonderful client shoots with a beautiful Greyhound and an Olde English Sheepdog! The next few days I will be busy editing those images (but will share sneak peeks on my facebook page).

In the meantime, I wanted to play catch up and share with you some of my favorite images from my mini session event I held last month at local pet boutique Bath & Biscuits:

Check back in a few days for Byrd, the Greyhound client I photographed this weekend in Indiana!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-04T11:16:00.000-04:00

Gopher Needs a Home!

2011-04-29T12:16:00.000-04:00

Gopher is currently being cared for by the mother of a fellow photographer. They found him as a stray, but they are not able to keep him permanently. He is estimated to be somewhere between 2-4 years old. Gopher is high energy, but this can be reduced by going to a home who has more time to play with him and take him on walks. Someone who understands and has experience with his breed would be beneficial, too.

Gopher has been temperament tested and passed with flying colors. The short amount of time I spent with him taking his photos, he was doing mad dashes and rolling around in the grass. This boy just wants to play! He does well with children, but not those that are extremely young...he knocks them over in excitement!

He would need a home without cats, and depending on the other dogs' temperament he would be OK in a house that already has a dog. Gopher is also house trained and neutered.

Gopher is located in Newark, Ohio but I'm sure his caretakers would be willing to adopt him out to the perfect family located within reasonable distance.
If you are interested in adopting Gopher, please contact Molly: 740-405-9995

*And just because I enjoy 'catching up' with dogs I've helped place, I'd be more than happy to offer a free short session to Gopher's adopters, so they can have photos of their new family member!

Traveling to Indiana! Book your sessions NOW!

2011-04-28T17:31:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to make a quick post announcing that I will be in Nappanee, Indiana from May 13-15th!

Aside from traveling to the Ohio Valley region where my family is from, it is not often that I leave the central Ohio area (besides vacations). This is a perfect time for those of you living in or near the Nappanee area to take advantage of this opportunity and schedule a session with me, with no travel fees added!

I will be available for five dog sessions, and am going on a first come first serve basis.

I hope to meet you and your dog(s)!
If you are interested in booking a session, please visit my website for more information or email me at rachellaurenphotography@gmail.com

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-27T18:31:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-20T16:20:00.000-04:00

Spring Mini Sessions

2011-04-16T21:34:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to make a quick post about my spring mini sessions! They will be held at local pet boutique, Bath & Biscuits. The property it sits on has some nice scenery, and always makes for a great backdrop for photos! This is not the first time I've offered mini sessions. To give you a better idea, here are some of my favorite images that were a result of a mini session, most of these were taken on the property of Bath & Biscuits:

Mini sessions are a perfect way to get just a few photos of your dog, and to get a better feel about how a session with me works- so be sure to stop by and bring Fido! I hope to see you there!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-13T11:51:00.000-04:00

Cats?!

2011-04-12T13:25:00.000-04:00

(yes, I AM available to work with cats and other animals upon request!)

I have been working with the Cozy Cat Cottage for about a year now. Myself and a few other volunteers have been in the process of putting together a coffee table book that features my images, and also the stories about these animals. It will be for sale with all benefits going towards the care of these cats. I enjoy working with shelter animals and spreading the word about adoption, so when I was asked to be a part of this project I jumped at the opportunity.

Kitten season is here again, which unfortunately means many of them end up in shelters. Cozy Cat Cottage has a specific room for kittens and nursing moms! I spent a lot of time in this room last week with the kittens, but I also hung out with the older cats as well.

We are close to the end of this project, so hopefully it will be ready for sale very soon! I will keep you all updated! I just wanted to share my favorites from my visit last week.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-06T11:22:00.000-04:00

Nitro's Law

2011-04-05T11:02:00.000-04:00

Did you know that Ohio is one of 4 states that does not have a first offense felony provision for animal cruelty?

This is Nitro:

I found out about Nitro's Law about a year ago, and have been supporting and following it ever since. It was started by Nitro's owners after he was left to die in a kennel by his 'caretaker' along with several other dogs who had been starved to death (a few survived, but were in really bad shape upon their discovery). All while the owner of the facility was inside his home, just a few yards from these dogs, and he chose to do nothing and let these animals get into this state. His reason for letting these dogs starve? He didn't have the money. Upon investigation it was found he DID have the money, each of these dog owners were sending him money every month for their dogs' care. This is what I took from the Nitro Foundation website:

"On October 22, 2008 an elite dog training & boarding facility 'High Caliber K9' in Youngstown, Ohio was raided. Steve Croley owner & trainer of High Caliber was arrested, charged and convicted on just 4 misdemeanor infractions for starving 19 dogs, 8 of which died. This was just one more crime of horrendous proportions to add to the list of Ohio's growing atrocities of abuse committed against defenseless animals.

A total of 19 dogs suffered extreme starvation and 8 of them lost their lives; 1 Rottweiler, 3 Doberman Pinschers, 1 American Pit Bull Terrier, 1 Border Collie, and 2 German Shepherds. Each of these dogs had a family and came from all over the United States and abroad for elite K9 training only to end up deliberately starved to death in their kennels at High Caliber. The owners of these dogs paid fortunes to ensure their care, only to have them suffer depraved acts of cruelty and neglect. "

I wanted to share this with all of you because tomorrow, (April 6th) The Criminal Justice Committee is holding their second hearing "Proponent Testimony" on Nitro’s Law HB108. Nitro's parents are asking for your support by either attending the hearing (Nitro's dad will be testifying), or to contact members of the Committee be sure to mention not to change the bill, they want them to retain the language as passed in the house during the 128th GA

(Committee meetings begin at 9AM but they are still in process of securing a more specific time)

Statehouse Room 114

Link: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/house_committee_schedule.cfm

In addition to your Legislators, please call, e-mail or fax the Committee directly information as follows:

Lynn Slaby (R) Chair 41st District
He represents the 41st District, which includes parts of Summit County.
Phone: (614) 644-5085
Fax: (614) 719-6941
Email: district41@ohr.state.oh.us

Bill Hayes (R) Vice-Chair 91st District
He represents the 91st District, which encompasses Perry and Hocking counties, as well as portions of Licking and Pickaway counties.
Phone: (614) 466-2500
Fax: (614) 719-6991
Email: district91@ohr.state.oh.us

Louis W. Blessing, Jr. (R) 29th District
Representative Blessing represents the 29th House District, which includes portions of Hamilton County.
Phone: (614) 466-9091
Fax: (614) 719-3583
Email: district29@ohr.state.oh.us

Danny R. Bubp (R) 88th District
He represents the 88th House District, which includes Brown County and parts of Adams and Clermont counties
Phone: (614) 644-6034
Fax: (614) 719-6988
Email: district88@ohr.state.oh.us

William P. Coley, II (R) 55th District
He represents the 55th House District, which includes portions of Butler County.
Phone: (614) 466-8550
Fax: (614) 719-6955
Email: district55@ohr.state.oh.us

Robert Sprague (R) 76th District
The 76th House District includes Hancock and Hardin counties, and parts of Auglaize County.
Phone: (614) 466-3819
Fax: (614) 719-3976
Email: district76@ohr.state.oh.us

Joseph W. Uecker (R) 66th District
He represents the 66th House District, which includes portions of Clermont County.
Phone: (614) 466-8134
Fax: (614) 719-3966
Email: district66@ohr.state.oh.us

Roland Winburn (D) Ranking Minority Member – 40th District
He represents the 40th Ohio House District, Trotwood, Harrison Township, parts of Huber Heights, Riverside and Dayton.
Phone: (614) 466-2960
Fax: (614) 719-6940
Email: district40@ohr.state.oh.us

Nancy J. Garland (D) 20th District
20th Ohio House District, which includes Bexley, Gahanna, New Albany, Whitehall and parts of Columbus
Phone: (614) 644-6002
Fax: (614) 719-6959
Email: district20@ohr.state.oh.us

Connie Pillich (D) 28th District
Phone: (614) 466-8120
Fax: (614) 719-3582
Email: district28@ohr.state.oh.us

W. Carlton Weddington (D) 27th District
Phone: (614) 466-5343
Fax: (614) 719-3581
Email: district27@ohr.state.oh.us

Sandra Williams (D) 11th District
She represents the 11th District Cleveland
Phone: (614) 466-1414
Fax: (614) 719-0011
Email: district11@ohr.state.oh.us

district41@ohr.state.oh.us, district91@ohr.state.oh.us, district29@ohr.state.oh.us district88@ohr.state.oh.us, district55@ohr.state.oh.us, district76@ohr.state.oh.us district66@ohr.state.oh.us, district40@ohr.state.oh.us, district20@ohr.state.oh.us district28@ohr.state.oh.us, district27@ohr.state.oh.us, district11@ohr.state.oh.us

Nitro’s Law died in Senate committee on Dec. 31, 2010, but all Nitro law supporters won’t allow this to happen again! Your help is desperately needed! Please ask your friends and neighbors to call/e-mail/fax too.

For more information about Nitro and Nitro's law (graphic photos are also found in a certain section, I didn't include them in this post but I do feel like they need to be seen) Please visit the official website:

http://www.nitrofoundation.com

Nitro's Law on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/nitroslaw

Ellie

2011-04-01T17:56:00.000-04:00

I met Ellie a few weeks ago, her session was one of those days where the weather and lighting were all just perfect. The golden light, grasses, and the color of her coat all blended so well.

Because she is a retriever, I thought it would be nice to photograph her near some water, and the pond was just perfect:

Ellie was a calm, sweet girl. I liked her easygoing nature, this made for a more calm, relaxed shoot. Not that I mind chasing around the more energetic dogs I've worked with, but it's nice to get a low-key client every now and then. With Ellie, I just had to wait for a perfect moment.

We spent the entire session exploring around the pond, and many times Ellie just sat alongside it, taking it all in:

Ellie's Mom loved this barn, so I made sure to incorporate it. Although I think Ellie was more interested as to what was inside it rather than peeking out.

I had a wonderful time with Ellie, I hope you enjoyed her images- I'm booking spring sessions now, so be sure to contact me soon :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-30T14:52:00.000-04:00

Anna

2011-03-25T13:21:00.000-04:00

Anna is the final winner from the Winter Contest. Technically there were supposed to be 3 winners, but Anna tied with Cooper at the last minute!

She is a Golden Retriever, but she's small for her size. Don't let that fool you though, she had a lot of energy! Her session was held at the Granville Dog park, where we had plenty of places for her to run off lead in the fence, as well as some nice locations nearby where we could let her roam on the long lead (yes, she was not loose in most of these shots!). Another good example that a dog that cannot be off leash is not at all an issue for me...the long lead I have works perfectly:

I just loved the spots on her tongue!

More shots of her playing and exploring:

Lastly, I wanted to share this...three consecutive shots. Anna would almost disappear in the water as she rolled around:

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-23T12:20:00.001-04:00

Molly

2011-03-22T12:33:00.000-04:00

Molly was another winner from my winter contest. Although we had snow come and go before and after the contest, everything had melted before all my sessions with the winners!

Regardless, I'm extremely happy with the weather we had for Molly's session. She would not have been able to do this with snow on the ground:

Of course, we saved the swimming part for the end of the session, which took place at the beautiful Dawes Arboretum. Molly spend the entire time running and exploring, with me just observing, waiting for the perfect shot. This is my usual method during most of my shoots, but I always give some direction to the dogs here and there (having them sit, and stay for a few shots). Molly made things easy, but she's used to being photographed anyway:

Molly is a theraphy dog in training. She even has her own Facebook page, here. But when she's not working, she's just as normal as any other dog, wanting to run and play.

And, she was absolutely crazy for playing ball:

One more winter contest winner to go! Next up is Anna, the Golden Retriever!

Share Your Rescue Stories

2011-03-18T15:33:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to share this information with all of you who have rescue dogs- I'm sure some of you remember Bocci, the adorable mixed breed I photographed last year this time. If not, here's an image to remind you:

Bocci has his own blog, called Bocci's Beefs (he gets help from his parental unit, Joan DeMartin :) ) where Bocci talks about his daily life, promotes adoption, and talks about different products as well as has his own give a ways for readers!

Joan- Bocci's parental unit, is currently putting together a book that features rescue stories from all over the country (and hopefully, from all over the world!). I am helping out too, I'm in charge of the images that will be featured in the book. I just wanted to do a little post and let everyone know that you can submit your stories to be part of this project! Here's the information, taken from Bocci's blog. I hope you share your stories- I'll be submitting mine!

Thank you so much for submitting your dog's rescue story to Bocci's Beefs! We will be using these stories in a book about, you guessed it, rescued dogs! Joan DeMartin will serve as the book's editor, unless or until this book is officially accepted by a publisher, which is our first choice.
Rachel, of Rachel Lauren Photography will serve as the book's Director of Photography.

If you want more information about this planned book, before, during or after the time you submit your story, please feel free to e-mail me at: jdemarti@columbus.rr.com We also can schedule a time to talk if you'd like-I know how much these stories mean to you.

We reserve the right to:
__Choose which stories to include in the book, and
__ Edit the stories to fit our vision of the book.

Here are the guidelines:

1. Please keep your story to a maximum of 2000 words, using plain, easily readable, 12 point font. Please double space the copy.

2. Please include any and all information that you think is important to help tell you and your dog's rescue story, including what has happened before, during, and after you brought your new dog home. I'd love to focus these stories (and thus the book), on the rehabilitation that so many of these dogs need after being rescued. This rehabilitation process is such a beautiful reflection of the bond that develops between human and dog, and also provides a stark contrast to the abuse and cruelty that dog might have suffered at the hands of other humans. You may also want to include in your story what you believe rescuing a dog means to you, your family, and maybe even our society.

3. Please include several high resolution jpgs of your dog with your story. Please have one of these pictures of only the dog, if possible.

4. Please include your contact information including:
Your full name and address, and e-mail address and phone number. None of this information will be shared with anyone for any purpose! We must be able to contact you, if necessary, during the editing process, and to be able to mail you a free copy of the book, which every contributor, whose story is chosen for the book, will receive!

Please indicate whether you would like the names in your story to be changed to protect your privacy (or you can change the names before turning it in). If you do not specifically indicate that you want the names changed, we will leave them as submitted.

6. Please include the following sentence at the bottom of your copy:

"I hereby grant full first publication rights of this story to Joan DeMartin for use in her book about rescued dogs, and I relinquish any and all rights I may have to this story, including any proceeds generated therefrom, once it is submitted to Joan DeMartin."

And following this sentence, please include a signature line with your name typed on that line.

Note: At least 50% of the after tax profits from the sale of this book will be donated to no-kill animal shelters chosen from votes from our Followers.

Please submit your dog rescue stories and the additional required information to: jdemarti@columbus.rr.com

Thanks! And if you have any questions at all, feel free to e-mail me here: jdemarti@columbus.rr.com

Bastone

2011-03-17T11:14:00.000-04:00

Bastone was the overall winner from my winter contest. He's a star- he had his 15 minutes of fame on America's Funniest Home Videos not long ago!

Bastone was named after a previous dog in the family, who lived quite some time ago. The name means 'big stick' in Italian. It only made sense to give him this type of name, because his human dad is Italian himself!

When I first arrived at Dawes Arboretum and saw Bastone, he was excitedly jumping around and barking at the end of his lead at other dogs passing by. I was expecting to have a feisty dog on my hands during the shoot- you couldn't imagine my surprise when Bastone quickly calmed down for his session, even working nicely off-lead.

Congrats on winning first place, Bastone! You're a star!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-16T11:52:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-09T12:04:00.000-05:00

Cooper

2011-03-08T11:47:00.000-05:00

I'm excited to share with you the first images from one of my Winter Contest winners!
Cooper is a 10-year old lab. If it weren't for the gray on his face, you'd never know his age! This guy had a lot of energy, and was an absolute ham!

There were several times during his shoot that he wanted to make sure I got enough closeup shots. He sat right in front of me, with just enough space for me to lift my camera:

Cooper's session was held at the Indian Mound Park in Heath. I like this location not just for the actual scenery, but it's also easy to get to. Once you get into the center of the park, you'd never know you were in the middle of town.

And if you saw the blog entry where I listed the winners of my contest, you might remember Cooper's image was of him 'at work'. Cooper is a therapy dog, visiting people in nursing homes. Having a little experience with taking my childhood dog to visit the elderly, I know how much of an impact these animals have on people's lives. Keep up the great work, Cooper!

Zero and Oliver

2011-03-07T11:05:00.000-05:00

I wasn't planning to write an entry today, but I couldn't help but share these photos I took of my two yesterday afternoon:

Tomorrow I'll be sharing photos from my session with Cooper, one of the Winter Contest winners!

Vintage Friday

2011-03-04T13:22:00.000-05:00

I've seen others participate in this so I thought I should try it out. I have a love for old photos and I often process personal work this way, and sometimes client work (if it is requested).

KMK Designs

2011-03-03T09:31:00.000-05:00

KMK Designs made this adorable Red Riding Hood outfit specifically for our shoot with Stacey last month. This set was taken on the same day as the Romantic Threads images in one of my recent blog entries. We were already in town from that shoot but I wanted a location that was less urban, so we opted to head out to one of the Indian Mound parks in Heath. I've shot here before, and I really like its central location...it's easy to get to, but once you get in the middle of the park you would never know you're in the middle of town.

Although Jane wasn't quite sure about the big cape blowing in the wind at first, she always delivers exactly what I want during a shoot, and we were very proud of her!

See more clothing from KMK Designs: www.kmkdesigns.org

Stacey's Portfolio: www.modelmayhem.com/142210

Interested in collaborating with myself, and Eden Creek Wolves? We are available to work with models, clothing designers, and stylists! Contact me at rachellaurenphotography@gmail.com for more information.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-02T16:35:00.000-05:00

Romantic Threads

2011-02-21T10:53:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago Eden Creek Wolves and myself had a commission with a model, and also designer out of California, Romantic Threads. We have worked with them before, and I love when clients keep coming back to work with us and the ambassadors.

Belinda of Romantic Threads makes beautiful designs, and as always, Stacey is a very talented model and knows how to pose with the animals. We decided to take our oldest Arctic ambassador, Jane into a downtown setting to contrast with her, the model, and the beautiful dresses. We were very proud of Jane, she's starting to blossom and really loves the camera!

We also worked with a second clothing designer on this day, but that will be saved for another blog entry! You can see more of Belinda's beautiful dresses on the Romantic Threads website, and Stacey's modeling portfolio can be found here.

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T22:26:00.000-05:00

Winter Contest Winners!

2011-02-15T13:09:00.001-05:00

The past few days I have been extremely busy editing images from a recent shoot with a designer and Eden Creek Wolves, but in the meantime I thought I'd do an entry announcing the winners of the contest (for those who haven't been following the action on my Facebook.)

First place goes to Bastone, who had a whopping 38 votes!

Second place is Molly, with 33 votes!

And we had a tie for third place between Anna and Cooper. Both received 24 votes!

I want to congratulate the winners once again, and keep an eye out for these guys on the blog in the near future!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T09:21:00.001-05:00