Archive for the ‘Dogs’ Category

I really hope I don’t get in trouble, but I’m kidnapping this blog post idea from a design blog I truly adore {thanks Emily!}. It’s my 2011 recap highs and lows.

High: We started 2011 with a new baby {our daughter was born in December 2010} and lots of pretty snow.

Low: Lack of sleep and the hubs getting sick caused for a rough start.

High: I went to Vegas and WPPI. I learned so much from fellow photogs, found some great vendors,  made new friends, saw old friends, ate awesome food and caught up on rest (yes, you can actually do that in Vegas).

Low: I missed my new little one so much and getting daily videos from my sister-in-law in GA about killed me.

High: Getting asked to second shoot weddings with lots of amazing Charlotte photogs and getting to travel was total awesomesauce in 2011.

Low: I learned that sometimes you can bite off more than you can chew and it’s okay to back away from doing too much to spend time with your family.

High: Getting published in Carolina Bride thanks to one of those said weddings I second shot. I swear I floated on a cloud when I saw my name in print.

Low: Forgetting to post about it. Oops! {check out October 2011 slideshow on Carolina Bride}

High: Shooting some fantastic weddings with one of my favorite friends and then having her shoot my family reminded me how lucky I am to share in such fun times.

Low: Not getting to spend enough time with said friend.

High: Shooting events for Wells Fargo in Greensboro and Charlotte was the best. I got to even ride in a Stage Coach.

Low: Not getting to take Jackson Brown, the boxer, home with me. :)

High: Getting an image published in the 2012 MAPR calendar to benefit Pug rescue. Special thanks to Erica from Sweet November Events for submitting an image from a session we did together.

Low: As much as it was an honor, getting asked to photograph a dog that was going to be put down due to bad health. This was one of the hardest things I have ever photographed. It was amazing to see such a specular dog and know the tough choice the owners had to make. Thank you so much for trusting me with capturing these images (Jack and Patty D.)

High: Signing into this blog only to find comments not approved from some of my photog heroes. *Swooning over here*

Low: It’s been way too long since I signed into my blog to post. I’m working on a new blog with a semi-new look and hope to launch it this year. I promise it will feature all the weddings I’ve neglected to post from 2011. :)

High: 2011 was my year to learn and branch out. I had some fabulous clients, meet lots of talented photogs and celebrated another year in business, which is a huge thing in this economy. I never would be where I am today without my family, friends and clients. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all your support, love and enthusiasm over the past year.

Low:  There really isn’t a low here. Things were not always easy in 2011, but they were worth the struggles.

Here’s to 2012 and the journey it brings. May it be filled with happiness, adventure and love.

And before I go, here’s a picture from a very special birthday close to my heart. My little dog Reese {and first fur kid} turned ten the day after Christmas. I got her a cake from Barbara’s Canine Cafe in honor of this event.

There’s something about Pugs. I’m not sure if it is the snorts they make when they get excited, or the sweet curly tail or even the wrinkles on their head. Everything about this breed is just so much fun. These dogs have the best personalities – I’ve never met a Pug I didn’t just fall head over heels over in love with.

And all that could be said about Avett and Norm. Both of these Pugs are just amazing. They are sweet boys, LOVE to eat Cheerios, both toy killers and most of all, adore cuddles on the couch.

Norm is fawn colored and Avett is black. :)

Erica pointed out to be that even though Avett is black, he has traces of fawn on his back side. And I’m guess that you have figured out that Avett was named after a local Concord, NC band that struck it big – - The Avett Brothers. If you haven’t heard of them – PLEASE check them out. They are such talented guys!

This is one of their favorite toys. Notice the missing eyes and nose.

Thanks again Erica and Steve for having me over to capture your Pugs. They are just darling if you ask me.

Oh, and P.S. Congrats on your announcement today. So excited to hear about your new human addition coming Feb 2012. Yay!

In between weddings and corporate shoots, I’ve been busy on Twitter. And thanks to all the wonderful connections, I got the chance to photograph some really sweet pugs. Here’s a sneak from our session. Special thanks to Sweet Novemeber Events, Erica Stawick and her fabulous pugs, Avett and Norm.

I’m so excited to share that Tish Mackay Photography is featured on Bryn Alexandra Interiors blog. If you have a chance, jump on over and see the transformation to a really awesome historical home’s living room here in Charlotte, NC – Dilworth neighborhood. It was so much fun to work with Bryn and see her in action. Here’s one of the pictures I took of the client’s dog Samantha – you can check out the rest on Bryn’s blog.

And here’s one more not featured but I had to include of Sam. Enjoy!

Last week, I got the opportunity to work with a designer here in Charlotte, NC for a makeover at a beautiful historical house in the Dilworth neighborhood. While I was there shooting, the clients dog Sam, stole the show. Here’s a sneak from the session – - more of Samantha and the makeover later this week.

{personal} 2011

January 10, 2011

Lately things have been a blur around our home. Days and nights are running together. And I swear the holiday season and New Years was a total blur. Next thing I know, it’s 2011; and if 2011 is anything like 2010, it’s going to be an awesome year. And the best part so far of 2011 is all the beautiful SNOW. I have a love affair with snow. I think it’s so beautiful, even if my feet go numb from standing outside for too long to watch my dogs run around and get covered in white. I’ve also been known to just stand in the window and watch the flakes come down. Now, my husband makes fun of me for this addiction – but that’s because he grew up in Canada. Who can blame a southern gal like me who runs to get milk and bread as soon as there is a five percent chance for snow. I also refuse to drive in the stuff. I would like to think that everyone appreciates this fact so that I don’t slide into them on the road.

So to celebrate all the snow we rarely get to see in the Carolinas, I thought I would post one of my new favorite pictures. It’s my neighbor’s dog named Stella but for this post, you might think her name would be snowball.

And the best part of this picture is that it was taken on my new toy (camera): The Olympus camera I got over the holidays. I love this camera so much because it not only takes awesome pictures, but it has video and really cool effects. And if you are in the market for an advance point-and-shoot, then I recommend getting one. 

But enough of my rambling. (note to self – blog more, ramble less). Happy 2011 to all the readers out there. Here’s to a wonderful winter wonderland and staying warm! 

This year we had turkey. We had lots of turkey, sweet potato with baby marshmallows, green beans and onions, cornbread dressing and the best pumpkin cheesecake. I got to spend time with family around a small table and we all shared what we were thankful for and believe it, it was a long list. This year was better than last year with a frozen pizza, because we started new traditions. We decided that we would carry the Thanksgiving meal in the years to come. And a week ago, we put the tree went up along with decorations. I also let a little secret out that when I was younger, I always wished of a tree for the season even if I was Jewish – - I’ve always loved a tree with ornaments and lights. Don’t worry – the menorah is up on the mantle as well ready to light. And this year in the spirit of traditions, I’ve decided to get pictures of our dogs all dressed up for the holidays.

So happy holidays from our family to yours. May your season be filled with love, joy and laughter.

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Trust is something you earn. You can’t just simply say to someone to trust you — it must be built up over time. The same is true about dogs. And the dogs that make you earn their trust are some of my favorite ones. Chi-Chi might be all bark, but she’s also the smallest dog with a huge heart. By the end of our session, she was giving me kisses and I knew then and there, she trusted me. That’s a huge accomplishment if you ask me. Here are some pictures from my session of Chi-Chi and Lola.

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Isn’t Lola such a cutie? Her eyes are so pretty and just pour love.

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Chi-Chi guarding the entire neighborhood. She’s a tough cookie for being so little.

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 Here’s Chi-Chi and Lola’s parents. :) They have been married for about three years and love just gushes out of them as well.

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Christie is so freaking beautiful. I love the series of the couple together. They totally rocked it.

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This last picture was right before I left the session. As you can tell Chi-Chi was working the camera. Christy told me that this was one of her all-time favorites from the session so I had to include it.

Camerone explained that from childhood, she’s always had a Golden and they always had names that began with the letter B. That Brady and Bentley made a king size bed feel like a twin. They both loved going on walks and their treats – but most of all all their neighborhood friends. We started our session in Latta Plantation and move to the Golden’s neighborhood in Huntersville, NC before the sunset. These two together are quite a pair. Here are some pictures from the session.

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When I first saw the above picture – I really thought it was a lion – - just look at that chest of fuzzy fur. LOVE IT.

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Nothing beats having a LARGE dog think they are small enough to fit into your lap. Always makes me smile.

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