The first week into January means a fresh start to the 52 Week Project. Blank slate was the theme and fitting for the start to a new year.

I wanted to capture a portrait of “naked” Bender on a plain wall as it would be a blank slate of a background. My indoor working space is very small where the dogs are (currently I’m living in my parents’ house and due to my parents having cats, they are kept in separate parts of the house – which means using the main part of the house or upstairs is out of the question). I was able to find a 44in x 36 in space by the back door that had a blank wall without a window, but was close enough to a window for dreamy natural light and Bender would fit into.

In a manner similar to Goldilocks, it took a little to find the just right lens. 85mm & 135mm needed too much working distance…

20mm was too wide!

35mm was still a little too wide but getting closer…

50mm was just right!

Next visit Penny Whistle Photography, fetching family portraits serving Coppell, Texas and surrounding cities in the Dallas – Fort Worth area to see her take on blank slate.

The theme this week was relaxing – which isn’t typical for this hectic holiday season! (Why yes, I do have all of my Christmas shopping done… I think…)

First, a tossback to a lovely spunky mud loving lab named Izze. I had the chance to meet her mom in Florida in 2014 (we were there for a Hair of the Dog workshop) then adventured out twice to meander with Izze and her mom as we helped each other with our dog photography.

Izze recently passed away. In looking for a couple images of her to share with her mom, I came across these of Izze relaxing in their old house. (They have fresh edits on them).

And one from the second visit to Ithaca NY. 

Izze you will be missed greatly. Enjoy the mud in the sky. Say hello to Mick & Icey for me.

Fast forward to the midst of the holidays 2017. The cats made for easy models – Snuggles, Tootsie & Lilly.

Bender played a model as well. Though the lay followed by lay (usually prompts the dogs to be “dead” or to lay their head down on their paws) made Bender look a little less than relaxed haha! (He’s got an eye open haha!)

He lounged on the couch for a relaxed lay. Until he slid off the couch in a stretch and wanted to go outside!

Next visit Darlene with Pant the Town Pet Photography serving MA & NH.

Its been solidly busy here at About A Dog Photography from the fall and start of the holiday season which means I missed a couple of weeks of the 52 Week Project. Drat! Luckily this past weekend had me downtown Minneapolis for a Dogs of MSP event at Lakes & Legends Brewery. Ample dogs to borrow and brews to drink.

The model picked was a lanky, tall, part pony, mantle blue merle Great Dane named Cash.

Its a whole other thing to work with a dog that is taller than you when you are kneeling! He was a star, granting me a couple of head tilts and some glorious drool as we meandered around the convention center area. We found some symmetry, art deco styling, a very old large set of doors and a mix of old and new architecture.

Thank you Cash (and mom Karla) for meandering around downtown Minneapolis with me!

Next visit Linda from VP Shoots Photography in Tampa, FL to see the architecture she found in Florida!