It was a bright sunny Sunday up in Newtown and I had a shoot with a family with a 5 week old baby and their 2 year old animated daughter. During all the activity the baby slept so peacefully. There was a white fluffy rug in the daughter's room which became an amazing backdrop for the 2 kids. Lots of great interaction. And the two Boston terriers were a bonus!
For me, creating fine art portraits is about going beyond a person's likeness. I try to capture a motion or gesture or attitude that will spark memories 20 years from now and remind my clients how they were when the photo was taken. I also want the image to be visually interesting. A work of art that stands on its own.
This family session was wonderful for all that. We began the shoot at the family's Westport home. The 12 year old boy loves basketball, so we got him playing. As you can see, the 3 year old girl loves ballet! Then we went to Sherwood Island Park where everyone became connected and played around and got wet and let the session unfold.
Great day and great weather at Puttin On The Dog in Greenwich, CT. Met lots of people, some clients came by the booth, and it was fun to see so many dogs and their people having a great time. Adopt-a-Dog puts on a terrific show. Very casual and family oriented.
What a great opportunity to revisit my clients after 5 years. The triplets have changed so much since the last photo session that I did when they were 3 years old. There was a lot of laughter, action, and caring to go around. It's wonderful to compare photos from each shoot with clients and be able to chronicle their life journey.
I always do photography sessions with the awareness that I’m helping a family create a journal of memories. But this session was special because the family is moving back to the Netherlands while their daughter is staying here to finish her senior year of high school. The mother wanted to do a session with her daughter and their two dogs in a favorite place so they would have an album to take with them. The day was 90 degrees and wonderful as we hiked around a beautiful orchard they enjoy in Easton. We walked and talked. They played and laughed. It was a magical time filled with love and connection.
Shooting Pictures for the Pound was a delightful experience for me. May 1st was sunny and warm. Dogs, kids and parents were all in a fun spring spirit. We had big dogs, little dogs and even a chicken! New puppies full of love for everyone and faithful senior dogs just happy to be with their owners. All of it was connected by the love that people had for their animals. There was a lot of hugging and kissing and chatting and playing, and even a singing/howling a cappella moment that I wish had been on video.
We Einarsens are a huge pet family, and warmed my heart to have us all there. My husband, Paul, managing the image files and my boys, Connor and Carson, helping wrangle wandering pets and kids. But seeing all these people and the animals that are so much a part of their lives made me see Boomer and Gravel, our shelter dog and cat, through refreshed eyes. It made me thankful that I could do something to help other strays find loving families like these.
Thanks to Earth Animal and the landlord, we were able to set up a temporary studio in the empty storefront next door which helped contain energetic dogs and roaming children. We scheduled 23 sessions but the event was so popular with walk-ins that we had to extend the day and ended up shooting 37 families and their pets, plus Perry from Adopt-a-Dog. In the end we raised over $2700 for Westport Animal Shelter Advocates to use for improvements and supplies at the Westport Dog Shelter. I encourage everyone to contact and help out with their great work.
On Saturday, May 1st, I'm doing a benefit pet portrait shoot at Earth Animal in Westport. All proceeds from the shoot will go to Westport Animal Shelter Advocates to help support the Westport Animal Control Shelter. These are some pictures I took while visiting the shelter.
The Westport Animal Shelter was just renovated on the inside. Now the need is for outdoor runs for each of the dogs. Officer D'Amico runs the shelter along with Kathleen, the assistant. A group, Westport Animal Shelter Advocates (WASA), has rallied to the support of the shelter and works on projects to raise funds and provide volunteers who come to walk the dogs and create a community of caring.The Westport Animal Shelter is a no-kill shelter so dogs can remain for a while. Loretta has been at the Shelter for four years.
Another coolcustomer is this Staffordshire terrier/boxer mix who is happy, wags her tail a lot and seems to smile. Her name is Ellie and she loves everyone. Ellie looks a lot like our dog, Boomer. Their faces seem to say, "I understand."
The benefit Pet portrait event will take place from 10 am to 4 pm at Earth Animal, 606 Post Road East, in Westport.
