“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.” ~ Gilda Radner
As I capture portraits of families, that often includes much-loved family pets; however, recently I have been able to shoot the last days of several pets, and it gives me such joy to create this lasting memory of loved ones. In the Fall of 2010, we included sweet lab Maddie in a family portrait, but it also happened to be one of her last days. So when I got the call that the family’s other golden retriever, Ginger, was not doing well, I rushed over for some portraits. Ginger was named for her stunning color, and had beautiful and soulful brown eyes. I think the shared love and emotions speak for themselves.
Another client called me in December to shoot some portraits of her family’s dog, Mae the german shorthair. A fabulous hunting companion (hence the safety orange collar!), Mae was having trouble with a growth on her eye, but we were able to showcase her “good” side! I went out of town for the Christmas break, and when I got back, learned that Mae had gone on to doggy heaven. In fact, that is the name of a book, “Dog Heaven” by Cynthia Rylant, that my friend gave her kids upon learning the news. It is a lovely book that paints a picture that there are “fields to run in, soft beds (made of clouds turned inside out) and ‘angel children,’ because ‘God knows that dogs love children more than anything else in the world’.” Rest in peace, sweet pets!
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“The old man said to me, said don’t always take life so seriously. Play the flute and dance and sing your song!
Try and enjoy the here and now, the future will take care of itself somehow. The grass is never greener over there.” ~ Howard Jones “Life in One Day”
Ahhhh, youth! I am an avid fan of “First Wave” and “80s on 8″ on my Sirius/XM Radio, and I heard this song the other day and it made me smile. It also reminded me of a portrait session I had with my gorgeous niece in January (with tons of snow!), where we documented another chapter in her high school career. Along with the most gorgeous eyes you’ve ever seen, it’s her sweet and kind personality that shines even more. Her future has never been brighter!
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“Life is like a great big canvas and you should throw all the paint on it you can!” ~ Danny Kaye
I love sibling pics, especially when capturing the perfect pair for portraits, cards, gifts … and canvases. These two children are just precious in personality and I loved the happiness in first portrait below, which was turned into a huge canvas for the family room. I always wish I personally had endless wall space for fun shots like these! And the last groupings of portraits was used for annual Christmas cards, and my client couldn’t decide between the various cards in my minted.com and Tiny Prints storefronts, so she ordered two different ones!
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“Color can do anything that black-and-white can.” ~ Vincente Minnelli
As part of my Junior League of Atlanta volunteer work, one of my placements is taking portraits of my dear friend that serves as our President this year for the League’s various publications. She’s also a regular client, and I have the pleasure of capturing the milestones of her baby boy, so this session we combined the two at a cool urban location. “A” is a verified fashionista (see this post about photographing her baby in her Hermes Birkin bag!), and when she showed up in her fab red coat and Louboutin boots, I knew we could have fun at this perfect spot. When I start the editing process, certain photos immediately jump out at me as being perfect for black and white treatment. Not only did we have some wonderful B&W portraits, but the session was a blast with the shots or red – perfect for holiday cards and coordinating with the Junior League’s signature red logo. And one of my faves from the session? The last shot of the day: a sweet boy loving on his mama! Enjoy!
I had supplied a giant red lollipop as a photo bribe, and he wolfed it down while we took some portraits of mom!
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“I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun.” ~ Katharine Hepburn
In December, I snuck in one last family session for holiday cards and gift canvases, and it was one of my favorites of the year, as I am very partial to winter whites! I was also excited because we were able to capture the last remnants of a beautiful ginko tree, and play in the fun yellow leaves! (Fun fact: Gingkos survived the Permian Extinction, back when dinosaurs were alive!). The first photo was used for the family’s holiday card, and every year it has a rhyming headline, so this year was “2010 in ends in a grin!” Gorgeous girls in beautiful December weather was the perfect combo – thanks for such a fun session together!
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“Wear a smile – one size fits all.” ~Author Unknown
It can be a tricky thing, getting a genuine smile from your subjects. And with all of the kids and families that I shoot, I have some tricks that I can pull out of my hat to get those *real* smiles. One of my faves is having them say “Hey Lady” – and I have kids come up to me all the times and call me the “Hey Lady Lady” (or Ms. Flashlight, as I tell them because my name is a hard one!). This is a family I have shot for several years, and I can’t wipe the smiles from their faces when we get together for a session! This year we went “urban” with the black and whites, and the resulting images were not only fun to create, but are fun to look at long after the shoot.
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“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” ~ Walt Disney
Quadruplets….I can only imagine in my wildest dreams what it must be like to raise four children of the same age. I had a very small glimpse of that task when I had the pleasure of photographing these four precious ones for their annual Christmas card. And while I can only imagine what it’s like to feed, clothe, put braces on, throw a birthday party for quads, etc. - their mom is truly expert in managing multiples. My favorite tip from her: she learned while becoming an expert in making cupcakes for the kids’ class room, it’s best to ice them the morning of. Thanks again for a fun day together that was definitely four times the fun!
Love these fun, bright coats!
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“You’re never fully dressed without a smile!
Who cares what they’re wearing, on Main Street, or Saville Row, it’s what you wear from ear to ear and not from head to toe!” ~ Annie
What to wear?…that’s a question we face every morning in our house (or the night before if I am really on my toes!). And it’s a big question clients have, and I am always happy to give my two cents, providing a set of guidelines that offer food for thought before the shoot. For this session, the children started off in formal wear that they wore in a recent wedding, then we moved to casual family shots with bright pops of color. The formal shots I chose black and white to keep them timeless, and really captured the love these sweet sisters have for their baby brother. And how much fun did we have when it was everyday casual, which really captured the essence of this fun family. Hard to choose a favorite – think I’ll go with both!
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“Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name!” ~ Psalm 100:4
With Thanksgiving just around the corner and fall in all its full glory, I had a session with a wonderful family at their beautiful home. I love scouting around to find interesting places, and loved entering these gates into their backyard. I immediately thought of how to style the family’s Christmas card, using the above quote and my first portrait below. Combine individual portraits of the children (and the boys goofing off while I was setting up another shot!) with a great family shot and you’ve got the making of a serious wall display of portraits!
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HAPPY EVERYTHING!
I think everyone must love those weeks in December when every day you go to check the mail, and you get a fresh stack of holiday cards to sort through and see what family and friends have been up to the past year. My clients love to capture great portraits to use on those cards, and while some design their own card, I also have many that love to use my storefronts at Tiny Prints and Minted. For one family, I have shot their portraits for the past several years, and this year was our best yet. After getting some great “straight off tackle” photos of the kids, followed by some wonderful individual shots, we were done with the session. I suggested the kids shake it out, and after some goosing around, I suggested they pile on top of each other….and got the shot that made one of my favorite cards of the year!
Here’s how to click through to my storefronts!
Tiny Prints: www.tinyprints.com/storefront/christyfassnacht
Minted: http://christyfassnacht.minted.com
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Oh gosh!!! I love these little doggies!! Good job, Christy!
I’m sure they treasure these photos – I’m a little chocked up looking at them myself. what great way to remember them!
What beautiful images – I am sure the families will treasure them forever! I’ve had a dog for 15 years and when it passed away it was really hard on all of us.. i wish we had beautiful professional images that captured him!
Beautiful dogs, I’m sure their families are thrilled to have photos of them.
These are wonderful portraits and you captured their personalities so well. I’m sure their families will treasure these forever.
What gorgeous pups! Great job capturing these ones for the families!
I love pet photography
! You did a great job with these and gave something to these families that they’ll treasure always.
What beautiful dogs and so sad to hear of their passing! These are beautiful images to cherish their owners memories of them.
Awww, these are wonderful. Sweet sweet doggies.
these are so special! You are like the dog whisperer!
What special photos. I love m dogs so much and would love photos like these. good job.
Soooo very wonderful for your clients to have these beautiful images you’ve captured. I’m sure they’ll cherish them forever!
Love these, especially the last one! Great job!!!
awww– so cute! great job!
awww these are great! They will be treasured!
You capture the soul! I love your photography:)
So sad that Ginger and Mae have passed… what beautiful dogs they were. I’m sure they are treasuring these photos!
Love your doggie photos! Awww so sweet!
Love these, they totally melt my heart
Beautiful! Great job capturing these special companions.
Oh my word they are so so cute – what great shots!
What a treasure you’ve given them! Thank you so much for sharing. Such an inspiration.
OMG. I am in love with these pics. LOVE the pop of orange in his collar. These are just awesome!