i {heart} mod

Oh mod, I love you so. Your clean, classic look gets me every time. I love when you're simple, but I love it even more when you're daring in color or bold in print. Case in point--pet beds.

Here are some fantastic pet beds I found at Design Public (all images copyright 2008 by S2D2 LLC)...

This first one is the Crypton Doodle Dog Pet Bed in the color "Pool":

This one is also by Crypton and is the Rotator Pet Bed in the color "Pomelo":

Can't forget about the kitties! This gorgeous piece is the Elizabeth Paige Smith Kittypod:

This one is the Kittypod Mini:

I still can't get over how great these are! The cat beds look like sculptures and would be purrfect in my living room. :)

Speaking of mod things that would look good in my house, check out these super cute bird-themed wallpapers (yep, they're on Design Public too!)...

This is the Graham & Brown Mode Birdcage Wallpaper:

And these next 2 are Cavern Home Blackbird Wallpaper:

With Design Public's vast array of modern products, I could literally create my own mod wonderland.

Harley

I'd like you all to meet Harley:

Harley goes to work with his owner Mary every day. This is what she sees in her rear view mirror during her commute:

Harley was so sweet curling up on Mary's lap.

He was definitely ready for some shut eye by the end of the session...

Thanks again Mary and Harley!

Hamish

I traveled up to Edmonds the other day to help my friend Heather bake cupcakes. Well, it was more like me snacking on yummy goodies and watching her make them.

While I was there, she introduced me to her cats, one of which loved having his picture taken. No need to tell me twice! I took a break from cupcake sampling, grabbed my camera and photographed Hamish, a handsome little guy with the bluest eyes I've ever seen.

Doesn't he look like he should be on a cover of Cat Fancy? ;)

Not only is he a good looking cat, he's also handy in the kitchen. He was watching Heather closely to make sure all of the cupcakes were meeting his high standards.

Here's a sneak peek of a beautiful cupcake masterpiece, baked and designed by Heather:


I'll post more yummy creations soon...

Lola & Baker {Denver, CO}

I love mini-vacations. Especially ones that involve 2 adorable pups.

Here are Lola and Baker, quite possibly the cutest dogs in Denver:

Izzy!

Word of mouth is how I get all of my business & I love getting calls like the one I got last week, which went something like this:

"Hi Amanda, I'm at the dog park where I just met Rachel who gave me your number & said I should call you about getting pictures taken of my dog Izzy..."

So here's a big THANK YOU!!! to Rachel for sending Lawrence & his puppy my way for a photo session.

Isn't Izzy the cutest thing ever?

It's hard picking a favorite shot from each photo session, but this one was an easy winner:

a pup haven in Kirkland, WA

One of my clients recently told me about Barkz, a dog boutique in Kirkland. Never one to pass up "research" shopping, I decided to check it out.

Located on Lake Street in downtown Kirkland, Barkz is a pup haven to say the least. The first thing I noticed were the toys--vibrant toys that filled the shelves and would make anyone excited for play time. Then there were the dog beds that were so fashionable you'd want to display one in your living room (instead of stashing it in your laundry room the minute guests arrive). There was a whole section of dog leashes that featured just about every color you'd find in a box of Crayons. And then there were the doggy treats that looked so good I wanted to eat them.

I roamed their store for about 20 minutes, taking the time to look at every car accessory (protective seat cover for your wet pooch? Genius!), every shampoo (green tea scented? Yes please!), and every doggy outfit (kind of like a Bluefly for canines). This is definitely a place that will keep you coming back for more, but don't trust me--check it out for yourself.



Barkz
115 Lake Street South
Kirkland, WA 98033

Open Monday-Friday from 10:00am to 7:30pm; Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

A big THANK YOU is in order to everyone who nominated PaddyWag for Evening Magazine's The Best of Western Washington in the pet photography category! Charity and I are so excited to be listed and we'd be honored if you voted for us on King 5's website.

I went to the site today and was floored by the wonderful reviews written about us. Thank you for all your kind words. They mean more to me than I can ever express. :)

Here are a couple pics from Charity...

...and here are a couple new ones from me

Jessica & Josie

Today I woke up to a bleak, gray and cold Seattle. When I arrived at the Edmonds ferry terminal I was convinced I'd have to cancel the photo session with Jessica and her puppy Josie because this is what I saw:

I kept looking up at the sky and was convinced that the clouds would open up and pour rain all over me and my camera, but I crossed my fingers and boarded the ferry anyway. Turns out I made the right decision! I was greeted in Kingston by the cutest little golden lab who showered me with kisses and made me fall in love.

Charles Schulz was right..."Happiness is a warm puppy."

Let's talk PaddyWag...

I started writing about the changes that are happening with PaddyWag when I realized that some of you may not know anything about it in the first place! Take this time to sit back, relax, pet the cat or dog sleeping on your lap, and read about the wonderful world of PaddyWag...

PaddyWag is the collaboration of two accomplished photographers, Charity Burggraaf and yours truly, and was created to capture the precious moments of your pet that you just can't live without. From dogs and cats to lizards and horses, we're there to photograph the smallest--or in some cases biggest!--members of your family.

There are two PaddyWag galleries for your viewing pleasure. One is through my site (in the galleries section) and the other through Charity's (in the portrait section).

PaddyWag has undergone some recent changes:

#1 - We've expanded to Illinois! Charity made the move to Springfield and brought the joy of PaddyWag with her. If you're in the area and are interested in having your furry friend photographed, send her a message through her website, www.charitylynne.com.

#2 - After conducting a focus group with pet owners (thank you to all that participated!), I've updated the PaddyWag price list.

#3 - Summer is quickly coming to an end and I'd like to take full advantage of the sun before it leaves Seattle. This means an END OF SUMMER SPECIAL! I'm offering a 60 minute photo session and a $50 a la carte credit for $120! I'm only offering this special through the end of September, so book your appointment today!