Dreary Saturdays are some of the best days to get great images. Not the sparkly, sunny, dazzling blue sky shots { but let’s be real here, we live in Seattle – dreary days are far more common.}

One great thing about an overcast sky is the glorious soft white light it radiates.  This comes in very handy when shooting not one but two 1 yr. old chocolate labs… You need all the light you can get for these busy bodies!

Brother and sister, Ollie and Cocoa met me right at their picturesque door – “well hello there stranger – what did you bring me?”

I brought treats of course

and they had a few of their own already…

This kitty has great taste in hair care products… who doesn’t love Bumble & Bumble!?

Cocoa has great taste as well- her namesake maybe?

We spent some time chillin’ in bed – what is a better way to spend a Saturday?  Someone’s sleepy…

true love <3

One of my favorite things about these gregarious guys is that they are two of a kind – practically attached at the hip.

I especially love this shot where we can see kitty, hiding safely in the bathroom behind the choco-twins.

I am even MORE excited because we will all be heading together to one of my FAVORITE places on earth – Indianola.

Ollie and Cocoa’s mom’s have booked a second shoot this summer so we can capture happy go-lucky labs running off-leash on the beach. Yippeee!

I can hardly wait 

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I love this time of year. I love being surprised again and again how late the sun stays up and how abruptly the weather turns so lovely and how we all tend to smile just a little bit more when the rain and gloom have vanished. I love noticing lilacs and tulips blooming, cherry tree petals sweeping up the street and trees that were dark skeletons, filling with supple bunches of leaves. Ahh Spring in the Northwest!

What I especially love about this season is the outdoor, on-location photo shoots I get to indulge in: boats, beaches and backyards, parks and porches – a million perfect spots with a million juxtapositions of inspiring backdrops and “props.”

Saturday I had the opportunity to photograph the lovely Jamie, her husband and their furry family members: Star and Kitty Mo. Jamie warned me that that feline might be a little aloof (as felines often are) and it would be great if we could somehow get her in a few shots, but that the chances were slim. I had to laugh when I arrived because when I stepped into their oasis of a backyard, Kitty was lounging lazily on a vivid mosaic table, sunning his underbelly and pawing at the air. I giggled out loud as I noticed Star carrying around her gigantic new “baby”, over-sized fuzzy bunny that dragged on the ground as she pranced around with it in her soft retriever mouth. “Oh yeah” I said sarcastically – “these guys are going to be realllly hard to photograph.” ☺

The whole shoot was charmed. The sun sat low in the sky, Star pranced and posed with her baby, occasionally stopping to share some licks with her humans or to give me a beaming golden smile and Kitty Mo was a downright camera hog – walking between my lens and whoever was in front of it just about any chance he got.

There were hug piles in hammocks, “keep away” in the grass, rests on the deck and lots and lots of kisses. All in all, a perfect day, a perfect little family, and a downright perfect shoot. *Swoon*

Thanks to Jamie and her crew for providing such a magical place for photography and thanks to the almighty weather gods for blessing us with the perfect lazy May afternoon.

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Did I mention that Jamie is a wonderful, amazing, talented and delightful artist?  No?  Well now I have!  You MUST check out her gorgeous jewelry designs at: Laughing Raven Design or on Etsy. Be sure to check out her robot, dog and wonder woman themes. SO awesome!!

You can also find her at the Best of the Northwest, the Seattle Kennel Club Show and a variety of other local art events. To find out where you can find her creations check out her “news + events” page.

1. Adopt {Your certain someone is waiting for you, just be sure you do your research!}
2. Volunteer {Lots of duties to be done, not just the poopy ones!}
3. Foster (There is always a shelter or purebred rescue near you in need}
4. Spay & Neuter {The cat pin above says it all…}
5. License- yes cat’s too! {hefty discounts if your pet is already altered, hefty fines if they’re not licensed}
6. Microchip {It’s the easiest way for your lost pet to be found}
7. Attend fund-raising events like fun runs and auctions {check out the CityDog Magazine event calendar}
8. Donate items {Most shelters have wish lists on their websites with needed items such as new towels and pet food.}
9. Purchase from retailers who donate to animal causes such as Delia’s House of Canine Couture on Etsy.com {click the cat pin above to purchase}
10. Give cold hard cash, it’s always warmly excepted. {Check with your employer, many corporations will match your donations.}

And of course stay tuned to dane + dane studios, we plan to launch our successful “Operation Portrait PAWSitive” program in Seattle this Summer!

I typically don’t shoot on Sundays
I typically photograph cats in their home instead of the studio
I typically don’t use many props

But miss ‘Lina was an exception all these rules, and I am so glad! She was a gentle-yet-speedy little ball of spunk, complete with extra toes and sporadic streaks of orange that match her eyes…

What a great way to spend an afternoon! Thought you might enjoy seeing her for yourself…