What we've been up to ...

My last few moments saying good bye to Kaeri before she begins a new adventure with her forever family in Seward and then Nikiski.  We've fostered her for about three weeks.  I met her when photographing Kaeri during a Friends of Pets Pet Patrol portrait session about five weeks ago.  I'll miss the heck out of her but she is in wonderful hands with a fantastic new family.

So many good things to share.

Kaeri, a young labrador rescue, has been harbored at the Jensen house for the past three weeks as a foster dog.  Today, we sent her off to live a forever life with a new family.

Taylor and I have been busy in the studio photographing mature puppies (ages 10-17 years old) the past four weeks.  We've photographed more than 50 dogs for a special project that will be unveiled soon.  A couple photos are shown in the slide show below.

Pawstice 2014 is coming soon.  This is a celebration of dogs passed and present.  You can register and attend this event for free by visiting the Special Events section of the this website.

And I'm off to Moab, Utah for a three day photography assignment.  Photos to follow.

And ... we're just having a blast photographing everything from family reunions; people and their animal companions; high school seniors; medical office staffs and more.   Give me a call.  What a great summer for those portraits you've been thinking about for so long!
David 

Patti

About two months ago, Taylor and I traveled to FlatTop with Patti Hickok to create some Alaska-themed executive portraits.  The work, some of which is shown here, was just featured in the Society of Human Resources Magazine Summer edition.  Doesn't she look great!

We've known Patti for many, many years as a devoted volunteer for Friends of Pets.  She assists with FOPs social media and has been a foster family for many large breed dogs in the past - especially St. Bernards.

Congratulations on this recognition, Patti!  You deserve this and more.

Bubba!!!!

Bubba!   A rescue from Sioux City, Iowa at six weeks old.  Now 12 years old and living in Alaska happily ever after.

I loved photographing this handsome boy and his family today.   He is one very special boy.


Bubba ..... you were amazing in the studio.  Rockstar!!!

Leo, Lucy and Baby

The weather turned around with perfect timing today and blessed the studio with excellent lighting to complement this session.   Leo and Lucy are Springer Spaniels - eight years old - and Baby is a 15-year old cat.   I was so pleased that we were able to capture so many great photos - especially the image of the three four-legged kids together on the studio's wagon wheel bench.
Just. Beautiful!

Tilly

A short work afternoon at the studio included time behind the camera with Tilly and then Carly.  Shown here, Tilly did what everyone should be doing on a chilly 'spring' day in Alaska with fresh snow on the mountains in June:  Bundling up under a cozy blanket!!!  And how cute is she with those big brown princess eyes?
You wouldn't know that she's a senior dog.  But she is.  And she doesn't know it.
Don't tell her and spoil a good thing.

Jordan and Justin's wedding.

I was honored to photograph Jordan and Justin's wedding and reception with Carolyn Franks last night.   It was a great evening with their friends and family at the Millennium Hotel.
Here's a sneak peek at some of what we enjoyed being a part of!
Thank you Jordan and Justin.  And thank you, Carolyn for your awesome assistance and photography work with me.

Oddo, Olive and Butters

Oddo, Olive and Butters - beautiful dogs made better because of the people who call them family.
I love that we were able to create portraits of all three together.  Oddo (shown in front of the studio's Wagon Wheel Bench) is blind and hard of hearing.  However, Oddo's sense of smell and taste for jerky treats is as strong as ever.  Nature is a wonderful thing.

These portraits were made possible thanks to everyone's teamwork and patience - especially Taylor who worked into the evening with us to help make these dreams come true.

Thank you everyone.  So, So many more amazing photos to share with you.   Great work.

Grizzabella. 15 and then some.

Our Grizzabella. 15 and then some.
She nibbles at our hearts as we walk along her path;
gracefully accepts the lifts up the stairs though she believes that she could easily climb them herself;

yawns in disapproval if we've neglected her stares more than a moment or two; 

and barks at all who arrive - knowing that the sound of her song is a treasure that must be enjoyed by all.

Such a beautiful puppy.

Adding to this:  Grizzabella is part of the inspiration for a new project that I will announce and unveil in a couple weeks.  Please keep checking back.  This will be special.

Lucky and Connor

Two amazing senior dogs who inspired me beyond words today.

Both are nearly 14 years old.  Both are incredible souls.

Taylor and I have photographed about 40 senior dogs (10 years and older) the past few weeks) for a special project that we'll talk about in a couple weeks.  When Lucky and Connor arrived for their portrait session today, I couldn't resist adding them to the project.  What a perfect couple of dogs with wonderful people who complete their love stories.

Thank you everyone.  Beautiful portraits were created thanks to your help and patience today.

Miss M.

A sensational afternoon with Miss M and her mom and dad.   With Taylor and Carolyn assisting, we traveled the Turnagain Arm, flew a kite, blew cat's tails, said 'aloha' to a Moose, bounced light along McHugh Creek and Potter's Marsh and had a great time with a beautiful family.

Thank you everyone!  Wonderful photos!

The Jensen Six Pack

We've never gone this far before.  Six dogs in the Jensen house?  Wow!

Kaeri is a Friends of Pets foster dog I photographed a couple weeks ago.  She has great manners, perfect obedience skills and is super smart, sweet, energetic and cute.  Yet, no one adopted her after seeing her photo.  I can't believe it!

Then again, I sort of connected with her during the photo session.

When I learned she was still waiting for a home after two weeks, I insisted that the Jensen family step in as a foster home.   The bonding continues.

Who knows where this will end up.  But I've promised her that she'll never live in a cage again.

Shown here:  Flash, Layla, Kaeri, Princess, Kobuck and Grizzabella.

57

Carol sent this image to Jackie Purcell/KTUU (Alaska's best meteorologist) and it aired this evening.  Mama moose has been chowing down a lot lately.  We think she's about to have a baby moose or two very soon.  Thank you Carol and Jackie!

I celebrated 57 years as an Alaskan today.  Born in Fairbanks, 1957, this was my Platinum birthday.  it was a great day spent pretty much like every day:  Photography work in the studio; turned away a couple of telemarketers on the phone; worked on another book project; trip to the Eagle River landfill and enjoyed lots of dog time.  Looking forward to much more of the same in the years to come.

Bailee

Rescued and adopted at just six weeks old, we'd say that Bailey (now four years old) is doing quite nicely.  Isn't she one of the cutest little girls!?  What a great way to start the week at the studio.

Trail time with Layla on Mother's Day

Layla shared time by my side along Prospect Heights Trail in the Chugach Range Sunday.  We launched from the trailhead around 8 a.m.

We were joined by Ken and his dog Baku, and Dawn, Wayne and their dogs Dakota and Deja for a three hour hike in the hills.  Early morning temps were around 45 degrees.  By close to noon, the temperature was closer to 60.

This was our first hike of the year without ice, snow and winter gear.  Though, I did try out a new gear pack and hauled some camera equipment along to test things out.

Awesome day with great people and their dogs.

Mick, Jessica, Kenai and Kimber

Terrific day with a great family.  The portraits couldn't have been better thanks to help from Taylor with gear, lighting and posing assistance.  These portraits were created at the studio and then along Turnagain Arm.

Enjoy these photos.  Many, many more to show you next weekend!

Thank you for your service to our country, Mick and Jessica.

Skylar. Class of 2014

Sneak peek!!  Here's a portrait featuring Skylar and Vargus in South Anchorage, her cutetest-ever Westie 'Ivory' at the studio, and a couple other fun poses from this afternoon.

Wonderful time this afternoon in the sunshine with lovely subjects to photograph.

Thanks everyone!

Great Great Danes

The photos will have to speak for themselves!  We're tuckered out.  Hope you enjoy!!!  These were the result of a lot of planning and awesome volunteers (note how many hands are involved in the truck photo setup!!).  Thank you everyone!  And Thank you Christine and Frank Asay.

The Deloney Family

Barney and Thor - two adorable puppies - probably stole the show during a lot of today's session.  But who could resist photographing faces like theirs?

The main goal of today's portraits was to create photos of Zach with Barney, his French Bulldog puppy.  Zach is graduating this month.  While here, we added a few friends, a Chihuahua, sister and mom!  Way too many photos to post on this blog but here are a few sneak peeks.