Los Angeles Pet Photography: Paw Prints Pet Portraiture (818) 887-9010

Christmas 2009 re-cap

2009-12-19T20:15:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe 2009 is drawing to a close, seems like the year has just flown by!

We had a great round of pets and their people this Christmas season. Some we met for the very first time, and some have become annual customers of ours. It's always exciting to see familiar faces, and we thank you for spreading the word about Paw Prints!

So without further adieu, here's our 2009 Christmas re-cap!

This shot makes me want to bring a wind machine on every shoot!

"Dude, your tie is crooked..."

I think these dogs were born to pose for photos.

Best Friends!

You don't see many Dalmatians, this one was a doll!

"Smile? You want me to smile? I don't think so..."

"Santa, I swear I didn't do it!"

Relaxin' - bunny style

I've no words for how stunning this pooch is.

Hamsters get in on the photo action too!

Hands down one of the coolest dogs I've ever seen. This is legit folks, not photo shop. "Catcher" here is a Wire Hair Pointing Griffon. I think I want one...

Too cute for words!

Anyone got a cute caption? 'Cause this photo is just dying for one!

I don't get many requests for sepia. I think this photo might change that. :-)

"I'm ready Santa!"

I had to save one of the cutest shots for last. Is there anything more adorable then these 4 Doxie litter mates??

Thanks everyone!

~Erin

Tony Cardenas Pet Care Fair, Woodley Park, Van Nuys Pet Photography

2009-04-18T21:23:00.000-07:00

Another weekend, another fair. That's how it seems to go in the spring and the fall, and I just love it! During the summer it's just too dog-gone hot out, so all the fairs are all dog-gone. ;-) But today the weather was lovely, for the most part. It did get a bit hot near mid-day - you can always tell the temperature by how far out the dogs wag their tongues.

The days emphasis was on caring for your pet and included a low-cost vaccination clinic that had a never-ending line all day long. The first 100 people got free micorchipping too. There were all sorts of booths, from dog food to dog clothes to dog vitamins, and of course dog adoptions. I fell in love with a tripod (3-legged) red husky and a little black puppy that was a dead ringer for our last dog, Spats, who passed away a few years ago. The resemblance was uncanny! Unfortunately, even though I was indeed a photographer when we had Spats, the thought didn't occur to me to take some really nice, professional portraits of her. All we have now are some cute, yet unremarkable, snapshots. If I could go back in time and properly photograph our gorgeous black Lab-Akita mix with her 4 white feet, beady little eyes, and great big smile I would do so in a heartbeat.

Luckily for the 14 customers who came to my booth on Saturday, they won't have the same regrets. Here are some highlights from the day. Enjoy!

Redondo Shores Veterinary Center, Redondo Beach Pet Photography

2009-04-02T21:03:00.001-07:00

I first met Dr. Yelinek at a photo event at The Studly Pooch, a dog salon in Hermosa Beach where I frequently have photo days. A few months later and I found myself at his Veterinary Center, photographing many of his happy clients.

You know a Vet *must* be good, when not just one, but multiple customers bring their dogs to the vet and the tails are waggin', the tongues are hangin' out, and the owners are saying "my dog just loves Dr. Yelinek!" Turns out most of these dogs were pretty happy to be photographed as well. :-)

Here's a few highlights from the day. Thanks for coming, everyone, and I look forward to seeing you in November for our Christmas shoot! :-)

If you live in the South Bay and are need of a Vet, I highly recommend Dr. Yelinek. Here's how to get in touch with him and his staff:

Redondo Shores Veterinary Center
701 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 540-5588

Woofstock 90210, Beverly Hills Pet Photography

2009-04-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

On March 15th I participated at a great event in Beverly Hills called "Woofstock, 90210." Like most doggy fairs the day was filled with costume contests, parades, and a bunch of activities and vendors galore. This was the first year the city hosted event and they got a HUGE turn-out!

My booth seemed to be a little too popular at one point, with quite a line of people and their pets waiting to have their photos taken. We did the best we could to take quality portraits of everyone's dog while trying to efficiently move through the line of (mostly) patient customers. ;-) In the end we ended up with some great shots of some pampered 90210 pooches and I look forward to being back next year!

Here are some highlights from the day.

Woody, Spencer, & Shamus; Hollywood Pet Photography

2009-03-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

Late last month I spent a cloudy morning with Mike, Branden, Woody, Spencer, & Shamus. These guys love their dogs and it shows through and through in their photographs! The 3 pups spanned the generations, with Woody being the Senior Ambassador at 14 and Shamus still a young pup. We had a good time romping around the backyard and Shamus made sure I knew how much he loved his blue stretchy ball. (Check out the photo of Branden and Shamus below.) There were so many great shots I had a tough time picking which to show-off in the blog!

This photo shoot was actually a Christmas gift from Branden's Mom. She found me online, and subsequently a gift certificate got to travel from the Valley, to Colorado, and then out to Hollywood. If you're looking for a great gift for the pet-lover in your life consider a gift certificate for a photo shoot! As you can see, they're a great way to give a memorable gift, and the results last a lot longer then a box of chocolates. ;-)

Enjoy the shots gentlemen, you and your dogs were great fun. :-)

Spencer's all done. ;-)

Shaq & Kobe; Redondo Beach Pet Photography

2009-01-14T19:23:00.000-08:00

On Monday I had the pleasure of meeting two Golden Retrievers, Shaq & Kobe, their mom Debbie, and their adorable little (human) brother A.J. I always mentally prepare myself for Goldens since they're notoriously the hardest dogs to photograph. Thing is, they're so loving that everyone becomes their new best friend! It can be very difficult to get enough distance between their big eraser noses and the camera since they just want to kiss and slurp the entire time! (Check out the last photo in this series and see what I mean.) ;-)

Shaq & Kobe warmed up to the whole photo taking idea pretty quickly though, and with the help of their mom some really adorable shots were achieved.

On a sad note, I have to mention that Shaq has cancer. He's had a surgery already and seemed to be doing great when I met him. I hope he has many many many days of happy-go-lucky Golden-Retrievering ahead of him! Good luck Shaq!

...If your dog is ill or is getting up there in age, isn't it time to get some beautiful, professional photos to treasure forever?

Here's Kobe & Shaq - all smiles! :-)

Shaq & AJ - so cute!

Shaq, going in for that classic Golden Retriever slurp

Vote for Best LA Pet Photographer!

2008-11-07T11:49:00.001-08:00

So many photos lately! Very soon I'll be posting some highlights of the many events we've been at. In the mean time, please take a moment and VOTE FOR ME! Just when you thought the election madness was over... Fox LA is holding it's "Best Of" contest, and I'm nominated for best LA Pet Photographer. So follow the link below and vote!

Thanks so much!!

http://myfoxla.cityvoter.com/paw-prints-pet-portraiture/biz/142579] Paw Prints at LA Hot List

My Admission:

2008-10-18T09:00:00.001-07:00

Hi, I'm Erin, and I'm an absentee blog owner.

There, I said it. Phew!

I could come up with a million reasons why I haven't updated my blog recently, but none of them really matter. What matters is that I'm going to start updating my blog again on regular basis, starting today!

We've had so many wonderful shoots this year with Paw Prints and met so many great people and fantastic dogs and cats (and birds and reptiles too!) and I can't thank everyone enough for their support. My next post will feature some highlights of the year (so-far), so be sure to check back soon!

I'd like to encourage you to give me a call if you've EVER considered having a private photo session in your home or location of your choice. Private sessions make a FANTASTIC holiday gift for the pet lover in your family and will produce results you're sure to cherish. So while you could give someone yet another smoked sausage basket and fruitcake, you'll probably make a more lasting impression when you give them a Paw Prints Gift Certificate instead. (and just put the smoked sausage in their stocking) ;-)

And what's more, if you book your session between now Thanksgiving, you'll get 25 free Holiday Cards with the photo of your choice!

So pick up the phone and give me a call. I can't wait to discuss your shoot! (818) 887-9010

One last note - I would love it for you to leave comments on this blog now that it's active again. It's so great to see who's reading and what everyone's thinking.

Check this space soon for new photos and tell your friends. The Paw Prints Blog is back! :-D

Christmas Season review

2008-01-10T22:04:00.000-08:00

It may be January, but I'm not quite ready to let go of Christmas. In fact, our tree is still up (for one more day at least...) My family and I had such a wonderful season that I'm sad that it is indeed over. One of my New Years resolutions though is to keep the "Christmas spirit" throughout 2008. There's no reason "good will towards men" and all the patience, love, and cheer has to end once the decorations are put away, right?

Speaking of patience, I'm glad you've been so patient with me - it was a hectic and busy season photographing all your animals. I do believe everyone got their pictures and items by Christmas eve (except for the last Animal Lovers bunch, who had their photos taken just 9 days before the big day. I hope you love your photos and your items will arrive shortly!) Around our house we would joke about the "Paw Prints Express" - our car which would make runs to the post office multiple time a day and trips from the Valley to the South Bay to hand deliver large orders. Hard to believe that was all just a few weeks ago...

As I was so busy I had to let the blog slip for a bit. Usually I post highlights from every single shoot immediately afterwards, but I could not keep up this season. So here is a "Christmas Season In Review." The following slough of photos is in no particular order and is a smattering of my favorites from the last 2.5 months. There were soooo many that I wanted to post that it was hard to narrow it down to even this large group.

So without further adieu - here are the stars of Christmas 2007!!! Are you or your dog in the mix??? Add a comment and let us know! :-)

Animal Lovers - Avians and Reptiles and Felines Oh My!

2007-11-06T20:26:00.000-08:00

This weekend marked my 3rd and 4th visits to Animal Lovers since I started all this last year . I'll be making a 5th trip on December 15th. I always look forward to returning to Tommie's shop because she and her staff area so incredibly friendly and helpful. They even had a large tent all set up for us before we showed up - a complete surprise! To say we were grateful doesn't begin to describe it. The real highlight of the weekend though is meeting all the wonderful birds and reptiles and their owners. I love birds though I don't currently have any. Last weekend I got to indulge in plenty of birds of all shapes and sizes.

We had a number of dogs and even some cats as well, but as it's not often I get to take photos of our feathered and scaly friends, I'm taking this opportunity to showcase a few non-furry highlights of the weekend. There were so many great photos I could post a picture of every customer!!!

Enjoy these photos, and if you have a bird or reptile, come back on December 15th!!! Of course, you can always swing by the shop on the corner of Calle Mayor and PCH (in Torrance) just to visit all the wonderful resident birds - be sure to say "Hi Baby!" to Boo Boo!

Sylvester is simply stunning.

Moyeto poses for the camera.

Last year Spike donned a (now famous) Santa Hat and Beard. This year he's an Indian. :-)

Look! It's another "Spike" in a Santa Hat! Too cute!

Long Beach Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade - Oct. 28

2007-10-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Billed as the largest Halloween event for pets in the world, I had no doubts about its' claim after over 600 dogs walked the streets of Long Beach in a fantastic puppy parade! There were over 50 vendor booths at this very large festival and I was only one of among 5 on-location photographers. (:::shock!::: there are *OTHERS* - but not according to my customers) ;-) With so many cute dogs and creative costumes it's hard to pick out only a few superstars of the day. Instead, I included a few from my studio and also some random candid shots to give those of you who weren't there an idea of the event.

Enjoy!

Here's my portable studio ready to make magic!

They held their "pumpkin drop," signifying the start of Halloween, right in front of my booth. This poor, poor 50 lb. pumpkin looks so innocent and unsuspecting -- it didn't know what it had coming.

Oh fair pumpkin, we hardly knew thee. Anyone wanna roast some pumpkin seeds???

Hmmmm, I thought the dogs were supposed to wear the costumes...

Another shot from the parade - look at the sneakers on the dogs' feet!!!

This event is so big we even had celebrities attend!

And if celebrities weren't enough, I had her royal highness, Queen Coco, pose for a portrait as well.

Pirates tried to seize my booth! But I subdued them with my amazing photography skills. ;-)

When I'm not busy taking pet photos I like to stretch my skills and take nature shots as well, such as this lovely sunflower.

Le Chien Dog Boutique - October 27th

2007-10-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

What a darling shop! Le Chien has everything you could ever need or desire to pamper your favorite pooch. With beautifully muraled walls, elegant and whimsical props, and an incredibly helpful staff, Le Chien is the perfect place to go pick out a new doggy outfit, leash, pillow, bag of treats, or anything else you could imagine.
You just gotta stop by this darling shop. :-)

On the 27th we had a wonderful day taking pictures of some of the clientele, including their owners. :-) We had puppies, kittens, multi-dog families, and many owners eager to jump in the shots too! Rebecca, Le Chien's owner, had complimentary finger sandwiches, cookies, banana bread, lemonade, and even wine on hand for everyone to enjoy. Can you ask for anything more???

After the photo shoot there was a pet costume contest we helped judge. The winner was Lady, a blonde (and I mean blonde!) tinkerdog - I mean Cocker Spaniel. ;-) 2nd and 3rd place went to a darling fairy-poodle, Tess, and a little black dog, Count, ready to dawn some flight goggles and fly away. All the winners were rewarded with rather handsome gift certificates to Le Chien. (I should have brought my dogs!)

I thoroughly look back to returning next year!

Le Chien Dog Boutique
24575 Hawthorne Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90505
(in the Hillside Village as you approach Rolling Hills Estates)
(310) 791-7232

Here are just a few of the highlights of the day:

Lady, the Tinkerdog - complete with blonde wig! She was the costume contest winner! (Photo taken at Haute Dog Howl'oween, but she was at Le Chien too) :-)

Tess & Count took 2nd and 3rd prize. Good job!

Look at these cute Havanese dogs! Yoshie, Sammy, & Bailey are just adorable.

Everyone loves a puppy, especially one as cute as Coco!

Everyone loves a kitten too! Dexter was especially curious about the camera pointed at him. More people should bring their cats in to be photographed. :-)

I told you this shop was darling! Forget the big box pet stores, it's small independent places like Le Chien that offer you the quality, prices, and customer service you deserve. Stop by next time you're in the South Bay!

Fires and Winds

2007-10-22T23:29:00.001-07:00

It's heartbreaking to witness the devastation ripping through our beautiful state. Please stay safe and allow the firefighters the space they need to do the best job they can, and say a prayer for thier safety. So many owe their lives and homes to these brave men and women.

While it's common sense for us to stay inside away from the smoke, many forget about our pets. They have no voice to say "It's hard to breath! Let me in!" If your pet is an "outdoor dog" consider sectioning a part of a room or kitchen for them until the air is clear. They're lungs are sensitive just like ours. Also, the high winds may be causing many a dog to "freak out" and run away, so be aware of any strays you see. I always keep an extra leash in my trunk just in case I see one on the road.

I hope everyone is far, far away from the flames and that you and your loved ones are safe. Let's hope these fires are finished soon.

Redondo Beach Dog Park Halloween Hoedown!

2007-10-22T23:14:00.000-07:00

So I thought the reason people lived by the beach was for the wonderful, moderate climate - so why was it over 80 degrees out in the end of October!!! Well, heat and all, people and thier doggies showed up in droves for the Halloween Hoedown at the Redondo Beach Dog Park. Every year costume makers (and of course the people who buy or create them) get more and more creative. I saw a "Yorki-saurus" walk by, a trio of knights scamper along, and a corgie-train, complete with smoke stack! And amazingly enough it seemed most of the dogs were getting as big a kick out of the costumes as us people were!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to get pictures taken - I'm so sorry for the delays!! But I do hope the quality of the photos will make up for the extra wait. :-) It was very hard to choose the photos for this entry, please know that ALL the costumes were fabulous! And so many of your dogs were INCREDIBLY well behaved. (And the rowdy ones were so cute that I could fogive them of nearly anything.)

Here are just 4 of the highlights of the day. Enjoy!! :-)

Toby and Charlie pretend to be slightly larger mammals. :-)

Someday Lexi's prince will come - but in the mean time that apple sure looks good!

Otis is known for his colorful . . . personality??? ;-)

Diego - our most frequent Paw Prints customer - waves "Bye-Bye!"

The Studly Pooch - Halloween!

2007-10-18T14:03:00.001-07:00

On October 13th I headed back to The Studly Pooch Pet Spa in Hermosa Beach for another visit with Wes and his friendly staff and customers. I can't talk up this place enough - it's really a wonderful grooming salon and Wes's work is second to none.
The Studly Pooch: www.TheStudlyPooch.com 310-376-7033

We had a nice relaxed day and I met some really darling dogs and cats. Many came dressed in their Halloween finest to participate in the costume contest (prizes were a free full service grooming and a bath & blow-dry.) There were witches, pirates, karate dogs, a devil, a bride and groom, and even a giant, black-lab sized lobster! (Look for Eliot below, that's the shop dog) :-) There was also a cat whose natural good looks could have doubled for a mountain lion. I'm always amazed at these pets that patiently sit with a costume and don't try to paw them off. How do you owners do that!!??!!?

We'll be back at The Studly Pooch December 8th and 9th for a fun filled Christmas shoot featuring "Santa Claws!" Be sure to call Wes and sign up as slots will fill fast!

Here's a few of my favorite Halloween shots.

Bella makes a beautiful witch.

Puppies ready to trick or treat!

Here's Eliot, the wonderful shop dog.

Lola is simply devilish!

Manhattan Beach Pet Appreciation Day

2007-10-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

On September 30th I participated in the Manhattan Beach Pet Appreciation Day, photographing numerous dogs, cats, and even a lizard - excuse me - a "bearded dragon." (Sorry Leo!) There were some ducks there too, but they were camera shy and didn't want photos taken. :-( It was great fun to be at a fair solely dedicated to the love of pets, I plan to participate next year as well!

Here are some of the super loved pets that participated!

Leo strikes a pose with his fun-loving owner.

Unconditional puppy love.

Barney's looking particularly dignified.

This spooky Chihuahua says "trick or treat!"

Freddy - Private Sitting

2007-10-18T12:05:00.001-07:00

I often donate private sittings to local pet charities and other organizations' silent auctions to help them raise funds for much needed causes. One recent recipient was the Pope family, owner of Freddy, a striking black and white cat with a Monroe-esque beauty mark. This silent auction was held to help raise funds for the Lacrosse Team at Mira Costa High School. Freddy had a few of his own ideas during the shoot, as most cats do, but I think we ended up with some fabulous results!

If you work with a charity or other group and would be interested in a private sitting certificate for an upcoming silent auction please contact me! Also, if you would like the extended time and attention available through a private sitting contact me and we can discuss tailoring a sitting to suit your needs. Private sittings also make fantastic gifts - the Holidays are coming up! (We do Christmas Cards too!) :-)

Here are a few of the stand out shots from Freddy's session. Enjoy!

Patriotic Pooches!

2007-07-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

Saturday, June 30th was my first 4th of July / Uncle Sam shoot. :-) It was a blast!! Many dogs came donned in their red-white-and-blue best ready to strut their patriotic stuff. It was an incredibly busy day, we photographed 26 dog groupings, including a proud family with their first ever pet. Minutes before the photos they adopted Cooper, most likely to be renamed Happy, from Bichons & Buddies which were also on hand for the "4th Festivities." No doubt he'll be very "happy" in his new forever home. :-)

Since the event was held at The Studly Pooch pet spa, many of the dogs were treated to a bath, trim, and blow-dry before their big moment. Wes does a beautiful job grooming the dogs and his love for his career - and for dogs - is evident. Be sure to check out his website for information about all sorts of pet related topics and many helpful hints. And then book an appointment to get your studly pooch primped. :)

The Studly Pooch: www.TheStudlyPooch.com 310-376-7033

Here are some of the stand out patriotic pooches!

Wes made a great Uncle Sam! And these dogs look patriotically perfect with him. :)

The Heslin family poses just minutes after they adopeted thier first dog.

Gertie loves to mug for the camera!

Weazel says "are we done yet?"

WE WANT YOU!

2007-06-29T12:09:00.001-07:00

To come to The Studly Pooch in Hermosa Beach this Saturday! Uncle Sam himself will be on hand to pose with your patriotic pets, so come an join the fun! There will be opportunities to have dogs photographed with thier owners or by themselves as well. Also on hand will be The Lab Rescuers and Bichons & Buddies with dogs ready for adoption. You could find your next forever friend! If this wasn't enough, local artist Chris Abbe will also be providing custom paintings done with your doggies paws!

Come and join the fun! Afternoon photo slots are still open! Contact Wes at the Studly Pooch to sign up: (310) 376-7003. And sign up for a shave and a haircut while you're at it. ;-)

The Studly Pooch
1127 Aviation Blvd.
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
www.TheStudlyPooch.com

Valley Pet Supplies

2007-06-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

On May 23rd many a puppy playfully bounced in to be photographed. I've never seen so many puppies at one shoot in one day! There were puppies EVERYWHERE - from a 10 week old Golden Retriever to a 18 month old Soft Haired Wheaton. What cuties! In fact, there were so many young pups on hand you'd think it was officially "Puppy Day!" And even the more "mature" dogs were just darling. I also got to photograph a Hairless Chinese Crested - a first.

Puppies are just great - you can't help but smile when one comes near. :-) Needless to say this made for a delightful day of photography at Valley Pet Supplies.

If you live in the Chatsworth area and are looking for an alternative to the "big box" pet stores Valley Pet Supplies is the place for you. Jaime and Maria run such a friendly operation it's not surprise that they have such a loyal clientele. Drop in, and who knows, maybe you'll leave with a puppy of your own - they sell wonderful, healthy, well-taken-care-of pups of many breeds.

Here are some of the stand out pups from the day.

Chyna-Doll strikes a pose

Lily - as comfortable as can be

"I love my teddy bear!" ~Kerlie

LeLa is pretty in pink

How can you resist a puppy! Especially one as cute as Snoopy!

Bruno, the shop mascot :-)

Redondo Beach Dog Park Spring Fling

2007-06-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

What a FUN day! I was invited to participate in the Redondo Beach Dog Park's annual "Spring Fling" in May and I'm so glad I did! This was a laid back day full of fun in the sun, furry paws, and wet noses. :) Being that this is an off-leash dog park all the dogs were so well behaved and had impeccable people manners. Maybe they can teach my dogs a few tricks! If you live in the south bay go take your dog to the RB Dog Park - you'll both have a great time.

(psst! - I'll be back in the fall for their annual Halloween event!)

These dogs stars really stole the show!

Diego - Surfs Up Doggy!

So Elegant...

Big Dog, Little Dog

Everybody loves a puppy!

All dressed up and ready to go :)

Merri's Grooming Palace

2007-06-04T10:06:00.001-07:00

For a few months now I've had a standing invitation to photograph the clientele of Merri's Grooming Palace on Fallbrook at Oxnard in Woodland Hills. If anyone here is looking for a great groomer I highly recommend Merri. She and her husband Mike run a real stand up operation and take great care of your dogs and cats. To schedule an appointment with Merri give her a ring at: (818) 610-8002.

Here are a few of the pet stars I've had the pleasure of photographing over the last few months!

Tess and Zach - picture perfect!

Fido & Friends Walk

2007-06-04T09:48:00.001-07:00

Back in March I was privledged to be a part of a Doggy Faire sponsored by The Wellness Community. The Wellness Community is located in Redondo Beach and is dedicated to providing services and support for thos suffering from cancer. For more information, please visit thier website: http://www.wellnessandcancer.org/

While there I had a great time photographing all sorts of dogs big and small. I look forward to returning again next year! Here are some of the highlights and superstars of the day!

My dad - worlds best dog wrangler - with Madison

During the Walk

Madison - ready for her closeup :)

Jasper - one cool dude :)

Welcome!

2007-04-04T21:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Paw Prints blog! I hope to update this little blog whenever I have a shoot, participate in a special event, or just have something significant to share. :) I'll be posting sample pictures from photo shoots along with event coverage from vendor booth locations at various festivals and charity events at which I participate.

I thought I'd take a moment here to introduce you to our unoffical mascots, Storm & Shadow! Nine months ago my family rescued these 2 beautiful huskys from a lovely family who had plans to move over seas. Since then they've become rather spoiled and my at the ready - though often unwilling - muses. :)

Thanks for following Paw Prints as we roam southern California taking "fetching" pet portraits!

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