Pawsitively Pictures

We're Moving Blogs

2009-09-29T10:17:00.001-07:00

This is bitter sweet for me. Blogger was where it all got started. But with growth comes change and so now I have to say "bon voyage" as Pawsitively Pictures Blog will now join forces with Word Press. Here, we will be able to blog bigger and better than ever before and I am so excited about that.

Here are the links to Pawsitively Pictures as well as the Pawsitively Pictures blog.

And of course, since I hate posting without any pictures, check out my new logo on the welcome image of my first word press posting.

A Very Moving Video

2009-09-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know what you are thinking. I am a pet photographer so why have I been posting so many videos to my blog. Well, it's because I want to post my images on the new blog. I am in the final phases of blog building. My super talented friend, Lindsey Luxa , is just about finished with the Pawsitively Pictures logo. So we should be up and running by this weekend! I am so excited.

I saw this video on facebook the other night. It really made me sad to see the treatment humans give to others whether its to their own kind or not. Click on this link below, grab a tissue and always remember to treat others the way you would want to be treated. Stray Animals Foundation

What We're Up To ~ Harbour Island Pet Photographer

2009-09-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

Has it really been almost ten days since I last blogged? That is insane. But I guess that's pretty much how my Fall has been. Super busy with way too much happening all at once. I just returned back from an awesome photography workshop called Learnfest. Four amazingly talented successful women taught 60 photographers how to fine tune and improve their business. And while all the women specialized in children's portrait photography I knew a few of my fellow pet photog friends who couldn't stop raving about all that they took from this workshop. I must agree, it was an amazing learning experience, where my head is still spinning with all that I am planning on doing with Pawsitively Pictures. First on the agenda is the new blog. I have been sweating Wordpress blogs for sometime. So last night I purchased it and began constructing the future of Pawsitively Pictures. It will take me a few days which is killing me because I have two great pet posts from last week. I want to hold off for the new and improved blog. So, rather than just have a post with no images here is something that made me smile. My brother sent me a video of my moms dog eating a hanger. She is a special dog. Ya know, the kind that barks when shes not allowed, eats only if she is fed by hand, and poops only on the finest oriental rugs. Stay tuned for more from Pawsitively Pictures.

Slideshow of Best Buddies Commercial Shoot ~ St. Petersburg Pet Photographer

2009-09-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the pleasure of shooting Best Buddies Boutique in downtown St. Pete. They needed some stock images

of their store as well as some yappy hour pictures which will be used for email promos. Not only that, but next month the Travel Channel

will be shooting this store and my pictures will be featured on T.V!!!! Super excited. The models both four legged

and two were wonderful to work with. Special thanks to my ladies Jamie, Tina and Kelly for kicking it. And special loving going

out to my four legged crew Bailey, Killian, and Ernie. I created a sideshow of some of my favorite shots as well as some post commercial shots.

Jamie had contacted me earlier regarding pet photos with her Killian. I figured why not completely immerse her in the dog photography world.

So they ended up coming to both the commercial shoot and stayed after for an on location shoot in downtown St. Pete.

I love it when my days are filled with dog activities. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the show :)

Sneak Peeks ~ Killian & Commercial Work ~ South Tampa Pet Photographer

2009-09-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

It snuck up on me once again. No more endless days of summer. The yellow buses are buzzing around and Starbucks has started offering their Pumpkin Spice Latte again. Ah yes, September, the beginning of Fall. I feel like this month always flies past without recollection of where it went and what I did in it. So much stuff has been going on, it has been difficult to keep up with everything, especially the blogging. The first of two sneak peeks is a project that has been in the works for sometime now. I did a commercial shoot for a local pet boutique in downtown St. Petersburg. I'm super excited, there were models, both two and four legged, bubbly all around and some really tasty treats. Soon after that, I did a shoot with an adorable beagle named Killian. Full postings to come shortly but for now here are some shots to hopefully hold you over.

Maggie ~ Tampa Pet Photographer

2009-09-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

Meet Maggie. The sassy little shih tzu that packs more punch than Mike Tyson. Okay so perhaps that was a dorky analogy but you get what I mean. Looking at her, I would guess she wasn't anything older than 2, however she is closer to 14!!! The girl looks good for her age. Her big brown eyes just melt your heart. And just when you think you can reach over and love her, she bounds off. Her favorite activities include sleeping in her crate where she rests upon nest of blankets and running through the fields of her backyard. It's really funny to watch her run because its more like a bunny hop. Here are some of my favorite shots from the session.

Tito Tuesday ~ The Case Of The Missing Dog

2009-09-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

As many are aware, Tito, my 20 lb. shih tzu loves to prey upon lizards. His steadfast obsession is chasing them down a wall to a height where he can swat at them. And yes, while these traits sound more like a cat, I can assure you, Tito is all dog. I have a great set up in my office where my desk, in which I spend most of the daytime hours, overlooks the backyard. While it's not fenced in, we are on a back alley so Tito stays where the lizards are located. Fortunately enough for me that means he is within eye sight of the window. From time to time I will take a five minute break and join in on the hunt. As sadistic as this sounds I take great pride when Tito catches one ( which has only happened twice). He isn't your typical lap dog, but rather an instinctual predator that can catch his own food and survive on his own if anything were to ever happen to me....Or so I like to think.

A few days ago happened to be one of those days where I had to just walk away from my computer. Tito followed as I trudged outside. There, we basked in the glorious sun and began the search. A few moments past and I was back at my computer. I must've been doing a lot of things at once because about an hour later when I sat down to eat my lunch I realized I had no idea where Tito was! I walked through my apartment, covering the rooms in seconds. Panic set in as I didn't see him in any of his usual resting spots. I dashed outside only to see an empty lawn, an empty back alley, and an empty neighbors yard. My heart sank as I had no idea where my dog was. Realizing I would be better off with a box of treats and a pair of flip flops I retreated back inside to my apartment.

Grabbing the box of milk bones I ran into my room to grab my flip flops. It was there, that I found not only my sandals, but also my dog. There, on top of my heaping laundry pile, Tito laid sound asleep. Once I had settled back down to my Zen state I decided that it would make for an excellent Tito Tuesday......and the moral of this Tito Tuesday is....Do your laundry :)

Barclay ~ St. Petersburg Pet Photographer

2009-08-31T08:25:00.000-07:00

Barclay, or known to some as Barkles, is the happiest senior citizen I know. At thirteen years old his main goals throughout the day consist of smiling at everyone and getting some loving from anyone that will pet him. Hailing from the streets of Boston, Barclay's summer retreat is located along the coast of Maine. That's where I had the pleasure of photographing him. His teddy bear like features made me want to squeeze him and kiss him rather than photograph him. However, we were able to accomplish both during the on location pet shoot. Here are some of my favorite of Barclay.

We're Back! ~ Harbour Island Pet Photographer

2009-08-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

I honestly can't believe how quick vacation went...But isn't that always the case? The fun never lasts long enough. If Tito could talk, I think he would agree with me, Maine was exceptionally beautiful. We were fortunate enough to experience some of the best weather they've had all summer. With 26 straight days of rain in June, as well as a dreary July, August has brought everyone some much needed sunshine and happiness. I could tell Tito enjoyed the lack of humidity as out first walk of the trip he literally ran a mile with me until I had to take a break and lay in the grass ( yes, pathetically enough, my dog is apparently in better shape than I).

Now we are back, and trying to get back in the swing of things. Up this week will be two new blog postings from dog sessions in Maine as well as the ever famous Tito Tuesday. But first a few shots from our vacation. If you want to check out more pictures of Maine (non dog related) you can check out my other blog, Stephanie A Smith Photography.

Out Of The Office ~ August 19th - August 27th

2009-08-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

It's important to love what you do because it makes work, not really feel like working at all. That being said, it's equally important to be able to walk away from work altogether and reflect on that the other enjoyments of life. So with all this in mind, Tito and I will be taking an extended vacation up North. It's time to leave the oppressive heat and head to a much cooler climate. We will be gone from Wednesday, August 19th returning on Thursday, August 27th. I'm looking forward to the time away, but I know I will have a few blog postings when I get back. Pawsitively Pictures has some really exciting news as well as some scheduled puppy shoots when Im gone so stay tuned!

Cora and Sampson ~ Hyde Park Pet Photographer

2009-08-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

I met Cora and Sampson's dad while shooting a wedding together July 25th. Chad Whelan, owner of Digital Wave Productions, was filming the event, while I shot it. We worked side by side for most of the night, after all we are both trying to capture the same moments. It was only when one of us mentioned our dogs that the conversation really got started. Chad has been happily married for 16 years. He and his wife have two beautiful four-legged kids, Cora and Sampson. Cora is a solid 75 lb. American Bulldog who considers herself nothing more than a 16 oz lap dog. Sampson, the older, and slightly wiser of the two was rescued a year earlier than Cora. More like a daddy's boy, he listened and looked only at Chad during the entire shoot. They came to my studio for a pet portrait session. Chad plans to give these images to his wife as an anniversary present (she has no idea the shoot took place so it should be an awesome reaction). The shoot was so much fun and we were able to capture some super cute expressions on both pups. Here are my favorites. P.S. We used my new blue backdrop and I am hearting it so much.

Rusty and PuppyChoo ~ South Tampa Pet Photographer

2009-08-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

Meet the adorable dynamic duo, Rusty and Puppychoo. Rusty is a sweet brindled mastiff mix whose main purpose in life is to give love. It doesn't matter if he knows you or not, he just wants a hug. And then there is Puppychoo. The owners aren't too sure what his breed is. As soon as I realized his slight ball obsession and overly happy personality I told them my opinion, border collie/flat coated retriever mix. I had so much fun with these two in my studio. They were really good sports as my air conditioner wasn't cooperating. Have you ever tried summer in Florida with a busted A/C unit while wearing a fur coat? I didn't think so, nor would I encourage it. Here are some of my favorite shots with these two.

Tito Tuesday ~ Shark Week

2009-08-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I remember one week, every summer, in which I was allowed to watch 3 hours of T.V. per night. That privilege was given to us during shark week. Enticing segments showing raw footage of the latest shark attacks, shark studies, and newest species were enough to keep my brother and I entertained for hours. Now, living in Florida, we get more then just shark week. In fact just last night, Shark week named Florida the number One spot in the world for shark attacks. An astounding 618 unprovoked attacks to date, crushing Australia and the South African coastal attacks by hundreds! The summer here brings longer days, hotter temperatures, and relief that can only be found in the comfort of the Gulf. Almost every afternoon I take Tito down to the end of the island where we can run around and swim in the bay. Its the only way to find refreshment during our oppressive summer. Two weeks ago we had our first encounter with a real shark. A fisherman reeled in a 3 1/2 foot black tip off the beach where we swim. He sighed as he pulled it in and told me this was nothing compared to his near 5 ft nurse shark he brought in during the morning hours. And yes, Tito being the curious fisher dog that he is tried taking a few swats at the shark who could have easily made him a snack. Therefore, in honor of shark week, summers in Florida, and Tito Tuesday I snapped a few shots of Tito wearing a homemade shark fin. Forgive me for the cardboard, sharpie mess but it was all I had to create a fin. No real shark fins were used during this shoot, and no one was eaten either :)

Stay tuned for next weeks adventure of Tito Tuesday and this week make sure to check out Shark Week on the Discovery Channel.

Winner of Pet Portrait Drawing ~ Rohan ~ Tampa Pet Photographer

2009-08-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

Meet Rohan (pronounced Row-en), the spunky little Shiba whose pawrents won the drawing for a free portrait session. This little guy is only a few months old but already has the potty training down, as well as the meaning of the words "no" and "sit". Apparently that is the shiba way as owner, Josh, informed me. Shibas are smart, witty, and all personality. I had such a blast with Duncan, Josh, and Rohan. Here are some of my favorites captured from the shoot. And I'm thinking this isn't the last you will see of Sir Rohan.

Pupperware Party at Gone To The Dogs Boutique ~ St. Petersburg Pet Photographer

2009-07-30T18:46:00.000-07:00

Good times were had by all on Wednesday, July 22nd. Gone To The Dogs Boutique held their first ever "Pup-erware Party". I had never heard of this term before. Once learning what it consisted of I was stoked to be a part. There was wine, food, chocolate, dogs, and dog vendors. I was one of the dog vendors that introduced my dog photography business, Pawsitively Pictures to everyone. And in edition to explaining what I do and how important it is to capture memories with your pup I held a giveaway for a free puppy portrait session. And the lucky winner.......Rohan and adorable shiba inu pup. Blog soon to come. Here are a few shots of the "Pup-erware Party" and the four legged attendees.

Tito Tuesday ~ St. Petersburg Pet Photographer

2009-07-28T16:58:00.000-07:00

I can't believe another week has come and gone, leading us to another Tito Tuesday. This Tuesday I wanted to focus on Tito's tail. This perfect combination of half muscle, half fur is an eight inch extension of his body which tells me alot about his mood. For example, when we go for our morning walks, his tail is held high and proud. Cesar Millan would be disappointed in me as I am allowing Tito to establish dominance (right now I look at it as confidence but I know I need to work on it :) I rarely ever see him drop his tail in submission, in fact only about once a year, the fourth of July to be exact do I see him cower in fear. My favorite time to watch Tito's tail is when he is chasing lizards. We have gecko's all over the backyard so as soon as were outside he is on a mission to hunt them down. I have never seen a tail go so fast in my life. 47 back and forth swishes in 90 seconds to be exact.Who needs A/C when I have my personalized fan that can kick back some serious air. I took these pictures a few days ago just to show how serious Tito is about his lizard hunting and how much I love his little tail. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for next weeks edition of Tito Tuesday.

Dear Barney ~ Hyde Park Pet Photographer

2009-07-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

Dearest Barney Boo,

Thank you for being pretty much the most adorable dog ever. I love that your mommie brings you to me to get puppy portraits every six months. It's so much fun watching you grow and become the super cool pup that you are. And my how you've grown since I last saw you. You are still quite a trouble maker, always running around the studio, attempting to eat my extension cords and camera straps but I still love you, especially when you give me one of your many adorable faces. I really couldn't get over how cute you were in your Redskins football jersey. Your dad is going to be so surprised when he sees those pictures. And while your bumble bee costume was a little snug, you made it work for the camera. So Barney I will miss you these next few months but will look forward to our Fall rendezvous when we will do another puppy portrait session.

Much Love,

Stephie Smith

Your Pet Photographer

Bogey ~ South Tampa Pet Photographer

2009-07-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

Meet Bogey, the adorable little shih tzu/maltese mix I had the opportunity to photograph yesterday.This little man is full of energy and love. His main goal, as I found out early on, is to give as many kisses as possible. So he was a little bit confused when I made him sit in a chair all by himself with no one else around. We were able to capture some super cute shots. And even with all that fur and hair you can see what a bundle of love Bogey is.

Tito Tuesday ~ Tampa Pet Photographer

2009-07-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

Tito is a funny guy. He likes to keep to himself as much as possible. He doesn't care to be around other dogs no matter what age, breed or size. Its not that he is aggressive he, just wont play with them or pay them any attention. That being said, when I am in the studio doing a pet portrait session he is very eager to be the center of attention. Take for example yesterday. I had the two scheduled pet portrait sessions, one was a French Bulldog and the other was a shih tzu/maltese mix (blogs to come this week on both pups ). I left Tito at home for the Bull dog shoot, and when I returned it was quite apparent that I was not going to be leaving him for the next shoot. So Tito joined us for the second shoot. Again, he didn't really have any interest in befriending this shih tzu/maltese but he did try to be in almost all the shots. And even though he was not being photographed he felt it was his right to have equal amounts of treats as my subject, Bogey. Here are a few shots that I captured of my man, just being himself :)

Shadow ~ St. Petersburg Pet Photographer

2009-07-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

Meet Shadow. This very vocal feline made me reconsider being an only canine household. Upon arrival he began meowing.Whether he was telling me about his day or catching me up with the gossip around town I will never know. What I do know is that he is one of the sweetest cats I have met. I photographed him on location in his St. Petersburg home. And as you can see in the images, he is quite the looker. Here are some of my favorite shots.

Tito Tuesday ~ South Tampa Pet Photographer

2009-07-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to another fabulous edition of Tito Tuesday. This Tuesday you are going to learn about Tito's love for the water. But before I begin let me just start out by saying that I consider myself a professional beach bum. I even could be classified as a mermaid in which I reply, "thank you". Therefore I don't know what I would do if my dog didn't like the water. Fortunatley for me Tito loves it. Granted he is no Michael Phelps. He much prefers to wade at the waters edge, and will only go as far as his shoulders (which is maybe 8 inches tall). He may go in further, but that is only if there is a fisherman out in the water.Perhaps its the smell, the thrill of a flopping fish, or just the fact that its totally different then a walk around the block but he goes nuts over fish. And yes, being the fairly laid back mother that I am, I allow him to try the fish and consume it if he wishes (lets face it, it doesn't get much better than sushi). I snapped these pictures from tonights adventure in the water, where we ate minows directly from a fishing net, and ran along the waters edge to chase birds, and posed on a jetty for mom. Good times Tito Tuesdays :)

Tito Tuesday ~ Hyde Park Pet Photographer

2009-06-30T12:16:00.000-07:00

When one is stuck inside a tiny apartment all day due to massive amounts of rainfall you tend to get a little stir crazy. I call it creative crazy as I just came up with a new weekly blog I will be posting, Tito Tuesday. My shih tzu, Tito, is kind of a low key guy. He keeps to himself and remains quite a mystery to all he meets. Therefore every Tuesday I will be updating everyone and something new that we did during the past week. Today, being one of our first full days of torrential rain I decided to write about that. The rain doesn't bother Tito. Infact he likes to frolic and run in light rainfall making it super fun for mommie. Most of my morning was spent editing photos so as I glanced down at my little guy staring back up at me were these two sad eyes. I know he was bored but whats a gal to do? So finally when the rain subsided a little bit we went outside. I thought there was going to be a little more enthusiasm as it had been hours since smelling the fresh air. Instead, Tito just laid down in our alley, right next to a large puddle. He was simply looking for a change of scenery. Stay tuned for next weeks episode of Tito Tuesday.

Canvas Prints ~ St. Petersburg Pet Photographer

2009-06-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

It was a typical Monday morning. I woke up, did some yoga, and then checked my email while drinking my morning caffeine. Nothing really stood out until I got down to about the 8th email. 30 % off any order with Simply Canvas. I glanced at it, thought about it, and kept going onto the next email. That afternoon I returned back to that email and further investigate this 30% off sale. Now, I had used other canvas print companies before and been satisfied so I wasn't sure if I wanted to go with a different one. On the other hand I was planning on purchasing some large canvases for my pet studio and 30% off makes a substantial difference. Well, as it turns out I ordered four large canvases.They range in size from 11 x 14 ( black french bull dog), 16 x 20 ( Red Coonhound), up to 20 x 30 ( golden pup and shepherd mix). My only regret, that I didn't order more. I was very pleased with the way my canvases turned out and the customer service that was provided by Simply Canvas. These prints will be hanging in my studio next week, which I am super excited about. However, there is one that I'm not sure is going to make it. You see, I fell in love with this canvas of Combo and so preceded to hang it on my wall in my house. I like it so much I don't think I can share it with my studio. Guess we will just wait and see next week.

Big Boy Blue ~ South Tampa Pet Photographer

2009-06-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

If I could only take one lens with me on a pet shoot I would have to say that my 20 mm 2.8 would be the lens of choice. And while I have about 8 other lenses on my wish list, the 20 mm is like good ol' faithful. That being said I wanted to expand past my comfort zone and work with one of my other lenses. Thus enters the Nikon 50 mm 1.8 and Big Boy Blue. Blue is my neighbors dog whom I had the pleasure of puppy sitting last Thursday. The owners were having an open house and thought it might be easier with everyone coming in and out to have Blue in a different spot. Thus enters my assistance. I took Blue and my pup Tito to the dog park in an attempt to wear out this 2 year old lab....Ha! Wear out a 2 year old lab? What an oxymoron. It did tire him out enough to sit still for me once we were back at my apartment for some puppy pictures. Here are some of my favorites. And all of these were captured with the 1.8. Check out how straight his teeth are in the last shot....Boy has better pearly whites than me :)

Tito's Travels ~ Tampa Pet Photographer

2009-06-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finished an article on Pet Travel for the Dog Travel Network. I can't really say too much about the article because I'm uncertain as to when Courtney and Bree will post it on their website. But rest assure, its gonna be a good one. I also sent them some super cute pictures of my pup, Tito and our flight home in April. Stay tuned for the article but until then here are a few shots of my man :)

Ms. Gracie ~ St. Petersburg Pet Photographer

2009-06-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Meet Grace. This precious little girl has grown substantially since I last photographed her. But considering she is a Great Dane that's pretty much all they do for the first 2 years. Her mom called me and asked us to take some pictures of her 1. Her birthday is coming up and she wants to document her growth 2. Because Gracie's dad is a HUGE penguins fan and apparently they just won the Stanley Cup, so she wanted a few shots of Grace in a Penguins jersey. I apologize for not being more sports oriented but I had no idea hockey was still going on!
Even more exciting than all of this, Grace will be having her puppy party in July and I am going to be the photographer. Much for to come with Grace but for right now here are a few of my favorite shots.

Roxy ~ South Tampa Pet Photographer

2009-06-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

So as I said in the previous post, Rusty and Roxy were my super models on Monday. Roxy, having a little more pep in her step than Rusty allowed us to try a whole bunch of angles, props and backdrops. Here are a few of my fav.

And again, anyone who is looking for an awesome hair stylist contact Tanya at Rocco's in Safety Harbor.

Rusty ~ Pet Photographer Safety Harbor

2009-06-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

On Monday I had the privilege of photographing to adorable pups, Rusty and Roxy. Their names blend together as if they were meant to be. Rusty, the older and wiser of the two is nearing nine years old. He has a slightly whiter face than he used to but that doesn't stop him from being the greatest sweetheart to anyone he meets. And Roxy is the spunky super star that wouldn't stop smiling. I had a blast with these two loves and their owner Tanya who is an uber talented hair stylist at Rocco's in Safety Harbor.

We got to experiment with some different backgrounds and props. Most of the experimenting was done on Roxy because Tanya informed me that Rusty's only specialty was laying down for photographs. I totally understand. It's hot, he's a little bit older....Do whatever you feel like doing. These are a few of my favorite of Rusty.

Pawsitivley Pictures ~ The interview with Packs and Paws

2009-06-17T07:11:00.000-07:00

I was really flattered when pet blogger, Jorge of Packs & Paws contacted me the other week. He really dug my style of pet photography and wanted to do an interview with the artist for his blog. I was totally stoked. Check out the interview, and the pictures by clicking here.

Gunner ~ Pet Portrait Session: Tampa Pet Photographer

2009-06-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

Meet Gunner. A Beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback. I had the pleasure of photographing him in my studio on Sunday morning with owner Shelly. Gunner was one of the most well behaved dogs I have ever shot. Did you know they were originally bred to hunt and help kill lions? Not this pretty boy. In fact Shelly told me he prefers lizards and squirrels to lions. Regardless of his preference, we were able to get some super cute pics of Gunner which Shelly is excited to use as a Father's Day present for her boyfriend (Gunner's dad). I can't wait to hear what he thinks! But until then here is a sneak peak at Gunner's studio session with Pawsitively Pictures.

P.S. What do you all think of my super amazing yard sale find? This vintage chair was purchased for $20 at a Tuesday afternoon neighborhood sale. LOVE It! And LOVE the fact that I got a chance to use it on a gorgeous dog.

Tito's Trip : Turtle Beach Resort

2009-06-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

The Trip Through Tito's Eyes:

I Ruv The Beach. I Ruv Wrizards(lizards). I caught one and almost ate it until mom grabbed it out of my mouth. I swam. I sniffed. I swept(slept). I Ruv My Mom And Me Getaways.

Pet Friendly Getaway ~ Turtle Beach Resort

2009-06-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

I knew this was going to be an amazing trip when I opened the front gate to the cottage and Tito charged ahead trying to get every single lizard that immediately scattered upon our arrival.There were hammocks, hot tubs, and big outdoor porches. I felt like I was back in Jamaica at my island cottage. Above all, Tito, my four year old shih tzu was permitted anywhere on the property. No restrictions. Sure, if he is in a public place (like the pool, grilling and fishing area) he has to be leashed. Totally understandable. Both days, we kayaked to this beach, only accessible by boat. Imagine the length of three football fields, tri-colored beach grains, and not a soul there besides me and my dog. I have never seen a bigger smile on Tito as he ran up and down the surf line. It was a wonderful two day getaway that brought some much needed rest and relaxation. Located in Siesta Key the resort is called Turtle Beach Resort. It has ten Caribbean style cottages varying from studio to two bedroom cottages. I encourage everyone, especially in the Florida area, to check it out.

Ms. Maggie - St. Petersburg Pet Photographer

2009-06-12T10:06:00.001-07:00

I was excited to get the opportunity to shoot Maggie last Sunday. Maggie is a super sweet dog and an absolute Daddy's girl. From the moment they walked into the studio Maggie only had eyes for her dad. In fact, she wouldn't dare look anywhere else besides him. Getting her to glance at the camera was a little bit challenging but I finally discovered the trick. Ms. Maggie is very bribeable (yes, bribeable is not a word, however I liked it in the sentence) with Nutro Lamb and Rice sticks :) Here are a few of my favorite shots.

Sneek Peak....The Getaway

2009-06-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

May was an action packed month for us. There were shoots, editing, proofs, client consultations, business opportunities and more. Needless to say I was looking forward to a few days off in June. Last minute (actually Sunday night before I prepared to leave Monday morning) I stumbled across a pet friendly destination about an hour South of me. The price was right and availability was there. Here are a couple of pictures from Tito and my trip to the Turtle Beach Resort in Siesta Key. Much more to come. But Tito is just so precious I couldn't go without blogging immediately.

Animals In General

2009-05-26T17:06:00.000-07:00

"Please Stephanie, when is the last time we hung out together. I mean really can you even remember our last adventure?" I had to admit, she had a point. While raking my brain, trying to decipher the last time I had an adventure with my friend, Leah , I decided I wasn't going to win this argument. Sure deadlines were calling, brides and pet owners alike were waiting for proofs. But I had to get away, just for a day. And so on Monday, May 11th I arose extremely early in the morning for the hour and half commute to Orlando. Grand Central to Floridians, this iconic tourist trap reels in hundreds of millions of people each year. And I, being a local headed straight for the heart of it. Discovery Cove is known as the oasis amidst the theme parks, long lines, and thousands of people. Accepting only reservations Discovery Cove allows 1,000 guests into the park each day. After all, most of them come to swim with the dolphins so I would imagine there is only so much a dolphin can take in one day. I have to admit when my alarm went off I was tempted to hit the snooze or even more severe throw it against my wall and fall right back to sleep. I am so glad I didn't. I spent a solid 9 hours surrounded by the most beautiful animals and sea creatures. The aviary, sting ray pool and artificial reef housed enough animals for me to think I was on a tropical island. The food, drinks, and equipment were all included. So basically it was me running around with my camera in a park filled with amazing wildlife. Here are a few of my favorite shots. I encourage anyone, especially Florida residents to take advantage of their amazing specials right now. It is a day you will never forget.

We're On The Professional Photographer's Website!

2009-05-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

As most of you know I am a huge animal and environmental advocate. I have been a part of the Greener Photography group for over 7 months now. Its a wonderful organization that encourages photographers all over the world to live a greener lifestyle and have a more environmentally friendly business. Since the beginning I have tried to involve myself as much as possible. So when the opportunity came up to write an article for them I jumped all over it. The Professional Photographers Magazine asked Greener Photography to write a web exclusive on energy conservation for photographers. Together with Megan Just who is an awesome freelance writer and green girl guru we were able to come up with some pretty stellar ideas on how to be a green machine. Click here to check out the article.

Oh. And because I can't post without a picture here is a shot of my man, Tito. His way of being green is to lay in the dirt as featured above :)

They Call It Mellow Yellow

2009-05-14T21:01:00.000-07:00

Well, actually they call it banana. But mellow yellow was playing in my head throughout the studio pet session with my pup Tito. Now more often than not he is less than cooperative to participate with anything that has to do with my camera. Tonight I didn't give him that option as I had already set up my equipment. He did really well, giving me his side profile alot. I was so impressed with his participation that I took it one step further and put on his chopper jacket with matching doggles. I'm pretty sure that took him over the edge as he layed down the remainder of the shoot.While I don't know if he is ready for his professional debut in BARK magazine I do think we were able to get some super cute shots.

Rodie

2009-05-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

On a cold winters night in Texas, while driving home from a Rodeo, an animal wandered into the path of my horse trailer. Carrying three - 1000 pound horses made stopping impossible. All I could see was a small animal. Next thing I knew we came to a stop, but the animal had scurried underneath my truck. In horror I jumped out of the truck and crawled underneath to retrieve what I thought was a Chihuahua.

I named her Rodeo, but call her Rodie for short. She was only five weeks old when I found her. She was extremely emaciated and was given a poor prognosis due to her numerous health issues. After several weeks at the veterinarian she was well enough to come home.

Rodie, come to find out was not a Chihuahua. She was a Rhodesian-Ridgeback mix. Rodie was a rambunctious puppy who loved to run outside on the farm with all the other animals. She would play with the calves and kiss all over them. She would steal the horse's apples and carrots and play tag with them all over the pasture. We have even been caught in a twister together.

I am writing this story about my beloved dog of almost 13 years, Rodie. Unfortunately, she was just diagnosed with renal disease/failure and her life expectancy is short. She is my child, best friend, and the most loving pet I have ever had. This is a way to express my love for her and say thank you for all the wonderful times we had.

~Kimberly Carbonelli ~ Tarpon Springs, Florida~

Now I don't know about you, but by the time I finished reading this tribute I had a steady stream of tears flowing down my cheek. What a beautiful life they had together. I believe all of us will experience a soul dog in our life. Mine was Paco, whom I lost in December of 07. Kim's is Rodie. This story tugged at my heart and I knew I wanted to talk to her. After many enjoyable conversations on the phone Kim and I set a Saturday afternoon date for an on location pet session with Rodie. It was a blast and even better is that Rodie's health is much better thanks to her new food the vet prescribed her. Rodie and Kim I wish you many more happy memories together and thanks for letting me be a part of you two :)

Combo and Kali

2009-05-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

I had a blast last Saturday with Combo, Kali, and their parents Chris and Linda. They were visiting from Chicago and stopped by for a pet studio session at Gone To The Dogs Boutique. Unfortunately they were headed home the next day so I didn't get to spend much time with the little loves. Combo got his name because Chris and Linda weren't exactly sure what breed he was. They have had him for 14 years and while they still wonder what he is a mix of, they don't care at all because he is such a sweetie. Kali, is the five year old firecracker who was also rescued. She was little Ms. Personality in front of the camera. I literally could not stop laughing taking these pictures. Chris and Linda thanks for sharing your pups with me. Hope to see you all again next winter!

Sneak Peek Combo and Kali

2009-04-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

So I am still in the editing process. However when I finished tweaking this one picture, I burst out laughing. I hope it does the same for you. This girls name is Kali and she is a five year old rescue. I will be doing another blog posting on her and her brother Combo, but I just couldn't wait to post this one.

Earth Day 09

2009-04-23T19:47:00.000-07:00

Not only am I a pet photographer but also a huge advocate for the earth. Therefore, being earth day yesterday I wanted to do something green. This has been a huge pet peeve of mine for about three years. St. Pete Beach does not have any recycling receptacles on their beaches, only trash cans that mainly fill up with recyclables from beach goers. So I did what any earth lover would do....I picked trash. It was humbling and awkward at first but then it became addicting. In the end I collected two full trash bags of recyclables from only 8 trash cans (the 30 block stretch of beach that I live on has close to 100 trash cans). In total I collected 33 glass bottles, 31 aluminum cans, 29 plastic bottles, and 10 plastic containers (such as fruit trays and solo cups). That is the equivalence of enough power to take 7347 hours of pictures. I do plan on picking trash again, and maybe I can take it one step further getting the city to get recycling containers out on the beach. This will not only be better for the earth but also for my pup, Tito. Go green!!!

Murph Man

2009-04-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

Now I thought I had met my fair share of big dogs....That is until I met Murphy, the 117 pound Collie. Who knew Collie's got that big? And he isn't even overweight! He is just a big dog. Anyway it was a beautiful sunny day and I was so happy to be outside taking pictures of a pup. In addition to Murphy liking his picture taken he also likes to stare at himself in the sliding glass door. I guess, when you got it, you got it :) Here are a few of my favs.

Lil Ms. Lily

2009-04-15T18:03:00.000-07:00

Meet Lily, second in my weekend worth of dog shoots. This sassy little shih tzu likes to wear pearls and play with the big dogs. She is too cute for words. Here are my favorites from our photo session.

Samson Part II

2009-04-15T18:00:00.001-07:00

He is just too cute for only four photos and one blog post. Here are a few more shots of Samson.

Samson

2009-04-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

What a whirlwind of a weekend I had. It was action packed, filled with family, Easter egg hunts, and puppy shoots. The first session was with a husband and wife couple and their 4 month old golden retriever, Samson. O.M.G. Can we say ADOraBLe!!!! I fell in love. Not only are Becky and Tommy the cutest couple ever but they added icing to the cake with Samson. We had a blast at their home, around the neighborhood and in the backyard. I'm hoping this will be a repeat photo session and I will get to blog Samson when he is full grown too.

Family Of Three

2009-04-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was a blast. I spent the afternoon shooting at Best Buddies Boutique in downtown St. Petersburg. At the end of the day I had the pleasure of photographing store owner Alan Ronay's four legged family. Pictured below are Happy, Rusty, and Buddy. We did some individual shots to showcase some of Alan's beautiful couches available for purchase at the store as well as some family portraits. Here are some of my favs.

My Nana

2009-04-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

Nana was beautiful. She was everything you would want as a grandmother. She laughed. She listened. She smiled. She hugged. She never let you see fear or pain. She made you feel good about yourself. She loved. God, I wasn't ready to give her up, but I know that you have just gained a beautiful new soul into Heaven. I will miss you Nana.

Majorie Smith October 4, 1925 - Friday, April 3, 2009.

Pet Flys Video

2009-03-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

This business makes me want to own a little purse dog. Pet Flys is a super posh pet luggage carrier line created by Tammy. They are airline approved and super fashionable. You will also get a kick out of her pomahuahua, Sailor. Check out the Pet Fly Video.

Planet Dog Video

2009-03-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

I Love Planet Dog!!! I was so excited to come across their booth. They have been around for a number of years and have strived since the beginning to be environmentally conscience. They have an awesome dog travel line which when corresponding for the Dog Travel Channel is really important. Check out the clip for Planet Dog.

Wagatha's Video

2009-03-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

This was a fun clip we also captured at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando. Wagatha's is a newer company based out of New England which brings organic all natural dog treats into the mix(no pun intended). Yes, they are good enough for humans to eat. Check out my reaction to the treats at Wagatha's video clip.

Cesar and Me The Video

2009-03-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

What a great day. Woke up bright eyed and energetic. A gentle breeze is blowing through my house. As I turn on my computer and go through all of my correspondence I notice a message from the Dog Travel Channel. My heart started beating faster as I read "Cesar video and more". I clicked on all the internal links and was so excited to see Cesar and Me on the website. Again, I can't say enough good things about him. So check out this video on Cesar Millan.

Sammie & Bailey

2009-03-15T20:38:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had the privilege of photographing Kim and Tom's engagement session. Just to paint the picture of how happy I was that afternoon I will bore you with a few minor details; the weather was perfect (sun, a breeze, 70's), I was driving in my car, windows and sunroof wide open, Bob Marley was singing to me, I'm about to do what I love to do everyday (take pictures), and...... the couple has a pair of bulldogs!!!! Obviously this shoot was to cover the love between Tom and Kim however I couldn't help myself and had to sneak in a few shots of their precious pups. Sammie and Bailey were just too much. Their squished noses, their waddling walks, and their snorts! No wonder I got home at 8:30 p.m. Just to be fair I am posting a few shots of both the most adorable bulldogs ever as well as a few of the soon to be Mr. and Mrs.

Awwww Snap*

2009-03-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

There are so many exciting things happening to Pawsitively Pictures right now. Spring has sprung with alot of new clients and opportunities. One in particular I would like to share is we made another pet photography directory!

Snap my pet is a sister website to Mod Dog an uber fun website specializing in modern pet art. The snap website provides a directory of modern dog photographers all over the U.S and Canada. I'm so excited to be a part of this! We are the top left picture. Isn't Lily the cutest?!

Think Green Widget

2009-03-09T18:28:00.001-07:00

Okay so this is pretty cool. I was on the think green website trying to write a pet based green article for a local pet magazine. Basically you total up the amount of trash you've recycled that day and it will calculate how much energy you saved. For example, I, Stephanie Smith, recycled 3 plastic bottles, 1 aluminum can, and 2 units of paper. In total I saved .70 KW/Hr! And since I have no idea what that scientific percentage meant they broke it down even further by explaining that I saved enough energy for 351 hours worth of camera shooting! So think, act and be green.

We're On MacroMutt.com!

2009-03-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

What a way to start off the work week. Thanks for all you other pet photographers who introduced me to Macro Mutt.

They were so easy to work with and I'm so excited to announce that Barney and I made the cut!

Big Boy Bruno

2009-03-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

So whats a trip to Colorado without some ski time? This trip I was determined to learn snow boarding.....And what I learned about snow boarding is that I should leave it to the snow bunnies and I should stick to the beach bumming (I broke my arm on the first day during my last run). Whats even more ironic is the fact that I was telling my friends that morning how I should be wearing wrist guards as my wrists are my livelihood now. Right!!

Needless to say the snowboard got returned the second day. The one cool part about the story was the big St. Bernard named Bruno hanging out at the rental store, Wild Ernest Sports. He belongs to the store owner Casey so I would consider Bruno more the mascot of the store. With one hand casted I was determined to have better luck shooting than snowboarding. I was fortunate in the sense that my model just wanted to lay down. I think a slower target was probably better for me that day. Here are a few of my favs.

Lily

2009-03-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go out to Colorado. I have never been out there, heard only positive things about the state so when my friend told me all I had to cover was the plane ticket I figured, why not? P.S Jaime I really wanted to spend time with you and the pugs, and Claire I was hoping for coffee and a ridgeback photo session but my plans did not pan out at all

: (

When we arrived it was 60 and sunny. A little cold for the Floridian but I knew it could be alot worse so was grateful for the mild conditions. As we pulled up to my friends cousins house I heard howling. It continued as we approached the front door. I was so excited because you know what that means...Pet Pictures. Meet Lily, a 15 month old Red Bone Coon Hound. She was extremely curious as well as very thorough when it comes to sniffing around. I was outside with her till the sun went down.

Jared and Greg, thanks for letting us crash at your place, and thanks for putting up with me and my crazy camera habits.(Literally I hadn't even met them and I was outside with Lily until dark)

Cesar and Me

2009-02-18T09:18:00.002-08:00

Okay so this is pretty much the most amazing experience I've had in a while. The past few months I have been working closely with the dog travel channel. Bree and Courtney own this Internet based website which is geared to inform dog lovers where they can travel with their pet. It's super resourceful and I have a blast doing the correspondence for them when they're in the Tampa area. They asked me to travel with them to the Global Pet Expo in Orlando last weekend. Only open to press and media it demonstrated the latest and greatest pet concepts for 2009. Not only did we meet some really cool vendors but we also had the opportunity to meet and interview Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer himself !!!! He was at the expo to exhibit his new food line, pet bedding line, and pet cleaning products. All I can say is wow. I would have been happy with just a picture but we also got to talk to him for a few minutes. He is exactly what I pictured. He is so calm and approachable. Talk about my nervous energy, my hand wouldn't stop shaking as I was holding the microphone. In fact , I don't even remember what I asked him!!! I'm so excited to see what the final interview will look like and of course I will post it as soon as its up online. Here are a few shots courtesy of Bree and Courtney at the Dog Travel Channel.

Tidbits On Tito

2009-02-12T16:48:00.001-08:00

I've noticed that alot of other photographers have blogged about themselves. It's almost like a "get to know you - Q and A type" blog which is really cool. There are many things that I read and would've never guessed by checking out their website. I however have decided that I am going to blog about my dog, Tito. Tito is my rescue shih tzu of almost two years. I never stop learning about him. Therefore I bring to you The Tidbits on Tito. Every so often I will write about new findings with him or I will post any cool shots I get.

The first few tidbits of Tito that you should know are:

1. He HATES to have his picture taken. If he sees me pull out the camera he will automatically curl in a ball or give me his side profile. I am working hard to break this habit however he acts like an old Hollywood star that just wants to be out of the limelight for good.

2. He loves sleeping on the pillow right next to me. He may not start off sleeping in my bed but sure enough when I wake up and roll over I am looking at one end or the other end of Tito...unfortunately more often than not its his back end. Good morning!

3.He considers himself a super big dog. I have never had this little dog syndrome before with any of my other little pups so I find it quite terrifying that he stands up for himself as well as eggs the bigger dogs on. ( I have been reading CeSar Milan and we are working on this )

4. His lower jaw protrudes about a 1/2 inch further than his upper...Under bite much?

5. He does have eyes. Two of them, they are just hidden underneath this bowl cut that I keep giving him...Honestly I think it kind of suits him. The allusive little shih tzu that thinks he's the toughest of them all :)

More tidbits to come.

Barney Continued

2009-02-11T08:49:00.000-08:00

When I arrived at Gone To The Dogs Pet Boutique to do some studio sessions all I knew was that I was going to be shooting a 3 month old adorable puppy. Thats all the owner of the store remembered. As I was awaiting his arrival I was going through in my head what black little puppies are there? Black lab? Black Poodle? Black Newfie? "No, no its a little dog won't get really big" Greg, the store owner told me, " I just don't know what kind he is". So big dogs out what little breed was black and cute? The suspense almost got the best of me when in walked Barney the 3 month old French bulldog and his mom, Laurel. O.M.G ! Love at first sight. He was so much fun to photograph. When Barney was on the ground all the wanted to do was explore and of course not have his picture taken. He did much better up on the chair. Here are some of my favorites from the day. And Im really excited that Laurel wants to have some family photos taken of her and her fiance with Barney of course.

P.O.T.W

2009-02-09T20:09:00.000-08:00

I HEART BARNEY!!!!

More to come on this adorable 3 month old french bulldog but for now here is the photo of the week!

Lucy and Mame

2009-02-09T19:51:00.000-08:00

Friday, January 30th was an action packed day full of dogs. Pawsitively Pictures was at Gone To The Dogs Boutique for pet portraits.Lucy and Mame were the second and third dog of the day.Its funny because whenever we start the portrait session I think the parents are more nervous than anyone. They are afraid their dogs wont photograph or wont sit still. Well...more than likely they wont sit still, there are so many new scents and bright lights however I have great tactics to get the dogs attentions. And all you need is a split second. By the end of the session the parents always leave proud of their pups for taking a great photograph. Check out Lucy and Mame's debut.

P.O.T.W

2009-02-03T11:51:00.001-08:00

This past weekend has been a whirlwind of events. As you all know the Arizona Cardinals faced off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Tampa for the largest watched sporting event in America. So needless to say there were many events taking place here. I was tied up with some puppy portraits on Friday and Saturday and didn't get a chance to do any paparazzi style photography. I was dreaming about running into all these celebs and snapping a few shots than selling them to Us Weekly for a large cash settlement, live happily ever after. Not exactly. So by Sunday I was so distraught I hadn't seen any celebs or taken any pictures I decided to meet up with one of my friends for lunch and drown my sorrows in a few beers. Along with me I brought my camera with one lens, my fixed 20 mm. What would I need a zoom for? I was going to eat lunch in a low lit restaurant so I would want my 20 mm 2.8......U.G.H. Of course we are in Channel side where the ESPN center is broadcasting. Low and behold I look over and Snoop Dog is about to walk up to the announcers. Double U.G.H!!!! I don't have my zoom!!! Needless to say, I snapped a few shots and was happy to have seen a celeb. Tying this into pet photography and my photo of the week? Hello Snoop Dog :) The name says it all.

We're On The Dog Travel Network!!!

2009-01-22T07:37:00.000-08:00

A few weekends ago, Tito and I went down to the Saturday morning market in downtown St. Petersburg. We met up with our friends Bree and Courtney from the dog travel network. After a little caffeine and some delicious food we were able to get creative and start shooting (surprisingly not with a camera but rather video). We had such a blast. More to come from all of us but for now check us out on the Dog Travel Network.

When you click on this link it will take you to the community section of the website. From there click on the video on the left and viola!

I Taught I Taw A Putty Tat

2009-01-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

I did! I did! About 5 of them. I had the pleasure of photographing a group of brother and sister cats born underneath "pawrent", Quinn Noonans house. She has been caring for them since birth making sure they receive plenty of T.L.C and cans of tuna. All the cats were spayed and micro chipped thanks to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Now the cats roam freely both in and out of her house. And while they love Quinn they are a little hesitant about other people. Fortunately the can of tuna enabled us to get up close and capture some great images. Meet Tom Tom, Mollie, Buddy and Kate all featured in these pictures.

P.O.T.W

2009-01-17T10:59:00.000-08:00

This stands for photo of the week. Some of my photography friends have decided that with the new year should come a new photo each day. I, being slightly more realistic know that I wont be blogging every day( it's taken me a month since I've blogged last!) Therefore I will be attempting to blog a photo a week, something pet related. This photo was captured at Ft. Desoto Dog Park. I have shot many sessions there and absolutely love the area. This afternoon however I was there with my pup Tito just enjoying the tranquility (surprisingly we were the only ones there...this lasted about a half hour and then it started to fill up). I thought the sun was hitting the sign just right. It's funny because I never realized how fortunate I was to have an off-leash dog park. Many people I have talked to there tell me that their parks back home require dogs to be leashed at all time? And while it doesn't make sense to me it does give me a greater sense of how fortunate I am to live so close to Ft. Desoto.

Holiday Studio Pet Portraits

2008-12-14T18:03:00.001-08:00

Well, here they are, a sample of the Holiday Pet Portraits from last weekend. Saturday, December 6th, I was at Gone To The Dogs Boutique and than Sunday, December 7th, took me to Best Buddies Boutique in downtown St. Pete. It was a blast and I feel like we were able to capture the personality of each pet. The response from the "paw-rents" have all been really positive so I think all were pleased with the outcome. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Also, for more pet portrait samples check out Pawsitively Pictures.

One more thing, if you are interested in having your pet portraits taken in the St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida area contact the two boutiques listed above. We are there every month and would love to meet you and your pet!

"I LOVE the pictures of Brylie and Zoe, they all turned out so well that I can't decide on which ones to buy (hey Beth, buy them all and I will throw in a canvas print ;p Steph)

Beth Gerrish~St.Pete Beach, Fl~

"Hi Stephanie, we had fun and can't wait to see the canvas of Max!"

Greg Phillips and Joe Borzoni~St. Pete Beach, FL~

"Daisy and I had so much fun that afternoon I've told all my friends about it"

Betty Stewart~St. Pete Beach, Fl~

Coming Soon...

2008-12-08T14:49:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited about this past weekend I had to give a sneak peak at what happened. Saturday was action packed with pooches, people and pictures. I was at Gone to The Dogs Boutique in St. Pete Beach. It was a combination of both Holiday pet portraits and pet studio sessions. I had a blast, met some cool dogs and their human counterparts and took pictures. Sunday I was at Best Buddies in downtown St. Pete snagging a few more shots of some really cute pups. This shot was of Beth, Jenn and their adorable pups Brylie and Zoe. More to come on them and all of my pet sessions, but right now its back to editing.

Thankful For A Few Good Men

2008-11-26T11:47:00.001-08:00

Tis the season to give thanks. I have so much to be thankful for. I am able to do what I love everyday and put food on the table. I am blessed to live in warm weather and sunshine. But what I am most thankful for are the men in my life. I'm so grateful for my brother, Kyle, who supports me everyday to do in life what makes me happy. And than there is my man, Kevin, who has been my backbone from the get go with my photography business. He has continued to push me closer to my dream because he sees how happy it makes me. And last but not least, I am grateful for my dog, Tito. He is the guy that I spend the most time with, he sees my triumphs and he hears my tears and yet he stays with me. We have been through so much together this past year. I wake up everyday and thank God he brought Tito to me. Its funny because we as humans say " oh this is my dog, I rescued him". I honestly think it could be the opposite. Tito rescued me and has made my life nothing but an adventure since we've been together. So enjoy your turkey and stuffing. And when you lean back in your recliner to watch the game make sure to give your pup a little love. They are the greatest form of companionship we as humans get to experience. Happy Thanksgiving!

Going Green

2008-11-18T07:06:00.000-08:00

I have always been an earth girl. I love to be outside mostly on the beach or in the ocean. Ever since moving to the beach two years back I have been an advocate for recycling and making the earth a better place to live. I see so much waste wash up on the beach, some recyclable, some trash. Regardless it has been my mission to try and live as green as possible. That being said, as a photographer it is easy to be careless. Wasting paper, using too much packaging, printing out everything. There are ways in which I, as a photographer can reduce my carbon footprint. I recently discovered a great resource called Greener Photography . It's a wonderful website that gives great tips on Eco-friendlier printing products, paper, ink, etc. I am now an active member and I encourage all of you to make a difference in the world with something you feel strongly about. Me, I'm going green!

By Popular Demand

2008-11-10T15:31:00.000-08:00

So those weren't all the shots I had from the Pets on the Patio event. Per your request, a few more fun moments at Gaspars Grotto.

I can't wait to do it again!

Pets on The Patio

2008-11-09T09:32:00.000-08:00

Alot of blogging today but there has been so much going on with Pawsitively Pictures I can't contain myself! Yesterday and every first Saturday of the month Gaspars Grotto in Ybor city hosts an event called Pets on the Patio. From 4 - 6 pm pets and "paw-rents" are allowed to socialize in a fun environment of music, drinks, food, and other fellow pet lovers. Most of the time they will allow a rescue group to attend as well. Yesterday it was the Great Dane Rescue of Tampa Bay, Inc. It was such a blast. Dogs in all shapes and sizes. Check out some of the pics we were able to capture yesterday.

When You Rescue A Dog

2008-11-09T09:13:00.002-08:00

Meet Luke. He is one of the beautiful Great Danes available for adoption from Great Dane Rescue of Tampa Bay, Inc. The first time I met Luke was at the SPCA Pet Walk mid October. He was happy, alert and full of life. When I saw him yesterday at the Great Dane meet up he was more reserved and nervous. In speaking with Linda the woman who runs the rescue program she informed me that Luke had been adopted. However the new owners decided to keep Luke in a utility closet and then called to complain to Linda that Luke was crying incessantly. Really? Is that what you do when you get a dog? Store it in a closet? I know I store my clothes there I didn't realize it was the new way to house a living creature!!! Arrrgh. Well now that everybody knows how I feel about the situation let me just add one more thing. Dogs are the greatest creatures I have experienced in my life. But you get a dog to be a part of your household, to be one of the family members. Then and only then will you experience the full joy that a dog can bring to you.

"Dogs give unconditional love, for me they are the reason for being alive" Gilda Radnor

2008-11-09T09:13:00.001-08:00

Tito

2008-11-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

Last Friday Tito and I spent the morning at Ft. Desoto Park. I was busy with my camera and Tito was busy trying to rid the world of every and any biker he could see. What's great about the dog park at Ft. Desoto is that it is completely fenced in. So Tito can run free along the fence where the bikers trail is and I don't have to worry about a thing. Now I'll admit he had been running for about 35 minutes and according to my guestimation he probably ran the equivalent of 10 football fields up and back. So being the good mother I am, I decided to grab him and hose him off so he could cool down. Tito didn't like that idea so immediately following the light spritzing he decided to roll in the dirty watered down gravel next to the shower. That was the greatest laugh I have had in a while so of course I had to snap a few shots. And here is what a dirty shih tzu covered in dirt, grass, sand and who knows what else looks like.....He looks pretty happy. Oh My Tito

Fall Back

2008-11-02T07:24:00.001-08:00

Ah the joy of getting an unexpected extra hour of sleep. I truly believe that Fall daylight savings time is the one of the best days of the year. That being said I think it only appropriate to display some of the Fall images I took while up in Philadelphia. My boyfriend and I went to Longwood Gardens.Located about 45 minutes outside the city this 300+ acre horticultural phenomenon was created by Pierre S du Pont. His goal, was to save many of the indigenous plants and trees while teaching the surrounding people about the beauty of the earth. It is an amazing place to see and a GREAT place to photograph. I had such a blast walking around and shooting all the different flowers and trees. Living in Florida we have beautiful vegetation year round however it was super refreshing to see the changes of season exhibited all around us. Here are some of my favorites.

Howl-O-Ween

2008-11-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to Tracy and Pawsitively Posh Pooch. Last Saturday I was the judge at a Pet Howl-o-ween costume Contest. This store was amazing and the contest was a blast. I think the one that made me laugh the most was this princess Cinderella chihuahua named Dolce.

Tracy let me know what you think of the medium size pictures :)

Bandit

2008-10-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

So while shooting on location for The New Barker magazine I came across an adorable adoptable dog named Bandit. Check out that face! He is so precious. This 7 1/2 year old Pekingese was given up by his owners.It seems so odd because this little fella had such a great temperament. His main goals were to be held and sleep. As of right now his home is Pet Pals rescue. But he needs and deserves a permanent home. God knows I don't need another animal but I may have to contact Pet Pals next week to follow up on his status.

Pet Walk Pics

2008-10-24T08:21:00.001-07:00

Here are some of the shots from this years Tampa Bay SPCA Pet Walk.

Tampa Bay SPCA Pet Walk

2008-10-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

The SPCA of Tampa Bay holds an annual Pet Walk. It's the largest fund raiser for the SPCA raising over a quarter million dollars to help animals in need. So of course Pawsitively Pictures was there to support this great cause. Saturday, October 18th was a fun filled day of dogs, costumes, food, and pictures. I had a tent with Biscuit, she is the owner of Nutty Buddy Biscuits. Together we were able to raise over $300.00 for the SPCA and had a blast feeding the pups treats and taking pictures.

Something New

2008-10-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

I have always been curious about blogging, dabbling in it here and there. However I decided to turn over a new leaf today. That's right, Pawsitively Pictures has officially gone to the blogs :)