Yorkies Everywhere

This is a dangerous job. A bit dangerous for my marriage anyhow. Last time I was hired to photograph dachshund picnic. This weekend I was hired to photograph the San Francisco yorkie group. I fall in love deeply and quickly. Now I will either end up with a dachshund or a yorkie (if I get both see the above statement about my marriage). Sunday was Miss Paris Hilton's birthday (the one with the appropriate length on her skirt). She and her friend Shug Knight were absolutely darling. I think I will be fine as long as I am not hired to photograph any St. Bernard picnics (one look at a rolly polly St. bernard puppy and my heart will sway again).

Monica MIchelle

www.fifilovesfido.com

Kenya

This was suppose to be a head-shot session with Nancy Castelli, who owns Balance. with some shots of Kenya. I went a bit over board but seriously look at that face, those deep eyes and tell me how can you not take a million pictures. Nancy runs an organization company so if suddenly I seem more relaxed and together everyone will know who to thank.

Monica Michelle

www.fifilovesfido.com

Damion, no not that one

I adore spaniels. I love all dogs but there is something about those big brown eyes and floppy ears. Damion was a love with a penchant for snuggling. Every few shots my new friend would pad across the set to spoon (when photographing dogs I try to stay at eye level which meant laying down, see why I love chiropractors?) Damion's the companion of my new second Candi's mom.

Remember to give me a call soon to photograph your friend (especially if you need Holiday cards!)

Monica Michelle

www.fifilovesfido.com

Senior Portraits With Best Friend

I love doing Senior portraits. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know exactly who someone is right before everything changes. This is usually the last family portrait and portrait session before they go off into the "real" world. As much as I love capturing the emotions and connections between teens and their parents, siblings, and friends, often the most emotion I get from the day are between them and their best friend, their dog, horse, or cat (seriously I am open to photographing any animal you call friend or pet). This pup seems very aware that his friend is moving accross country. Granted he has three other friends and adoring parents but I could tell looking at his eyes that he knew one of the most important people is going to be leaving soon. I am so glad I was able to capture this moment and I think the Senior is going to be very happy to have a photo album that will also include the furry member of his family.

Monica Michelle

www.fifilovesfido.com

www.ilovewhiterabbit.com

Horse Portraits for Stable Solutions

Monique Hodgkins from Stable Solutions was kind and brave enough to invite me and my beasties to visit her horses (my beasties being a 1 year old and 6 year old, I was very jealous of the leads and saddles by the end of my visit). Monique and I met at a Ladies Who Launch incubator and knew that we had to work together. She makes the most gorgeous horse embossed soaps and I have been dying to do horse portraits. Pups I still love you but every once in a while I need a new venture. I had an amazing time taking horse portraits on her Pescadero boarding facility. She was even kind enough to let me son and I ride her horse. I was able to even capture her daughter and her daughter's horse. I am so thrilled to open horse portraits as a new facet to Fifi Loves Fido. To see more portraits from the day visit our facebook site or go to our website www.fifilovesfido.com.

Please forward this blog post on to anyone you know who may be needing horse portraits.

monica Michelle

www.fifilovesfido.com

Maternity Pictures With Your First Baby

Many of us try to prepare a sibling for the new member of the family. We talk, tell, stories, and we take pictures.  For those who's first baby may not have a full grasp of the English language (sit and stay are still major issues, though dinner is clear as a bell) there are other ways to always remind you fuzzier baby who was first. I had a wonderful opportunity to take these maternity portraits at the Palace of Fine Arts, one of my favorite places to take pet portraits.  The Irvines wanted a reminder of their life before the new baby which of course features their current baby. I am looking forward to seeing them in a few months when I can photograph Mike, Katie, and their new addition with her older sister.

Monica Michelle

www.fifilovesfido.com

Dogtown

It is a dog's life. I have been staking out Plaza De Paws in Burlingame (coolest pet shop in my neighborhood) and I finally met the owner who also is the owner of brand new Dogtown in Palo Alto. Lori is amazing and incredibly kind. She has two adorable pups who were kind enough to model for me and seriously what adorable models they are! We decided we wanted to do something VERY Palo Alto and what could be more Palo Alto then the Stanford Theatre? Shooting in the middle of the day these two pups were superstars. They stayed put even as people walked by. Please stop by Plaza and Dog Town to see some gorgeous canvas prints of these adorable pups! Remember to pick up some amazing fashions and biscuits while you are there then give me a call to photograph your pup!

Visit www.fifilovesfido.com

Monica Michelle

Itty Bitty and so CUTE!

My two little new friends Bitty and Brooke came over for their modeling session. Bitty was invited to stay forever being a 3 lbs chi. I think my husband's resolve against getting another dog melted as she curled into his arms and hung out until it was her time in front of the camera. There goes his excuse that a small dog would be yappy. Brooke was preened and made gorgeous by her best friend and dedicated caretaker Nanci. Nanci had once tried to explain to me how much work goes into grooming a silky long haired Yorkie. I had no idea just how much work was involved!  Nanci is a brilliant couture dog clothing designer. Be sure to keep on the look out for future shoots. We have some wonderful shoots planned!

Monica Michelle

www.fifilovesfido.com

I found my WOLF!

Ruby, owner of Five Paw a dog bakery in Los Altos Hills, was kind enough to lend me her White German Shepard and her Chi mix. I thought for sure Moki was going to take the stage and edge out little Chico. Who knew how much of a Napoleon complex a 5 lbs dog can have? Moki was a sport and a gentle giant. I can't wait to steal my friend again and do a little red riding hood shoot. Stop by Five Paw and grab some treats for your pooch and of course check out the fabulous photography on their walls!

Monica Michelle

www.fifilovesfido.com

Bella

How much fun is a mini schnauzer?  This beauty assaulted a snake (stuffed animal), climbed on boxes, and an armchair (with permission). This was on of my first puppy portraits indoors. I usually photograph my fluffier clients outside where they can roam free but I decided to try something a little different today. Bella lived up to her name and gave me some truly beautiful portraits!

Monica Michelle

www.fifilovesfido.com

Website Update

I just finished photographing the cutest Papillion! Tyler has inspired me to update my website. Take a look www.fifilovesfido.com

Tyler was kind enough to let me photograph him all over Palo Alto's University Ave. We got a few strange looks when I laid down on the sidewalk (never say I am not committed to getting the shot) and meowing (it got his attention). Perhaps in Berkeley I would have been a little more normal. In Palo Alto I think some will look twice when I walk down the street!

Pet fairs

Walking past adoption fairs is VERY dangerous. I fall in love quickly and intensely! Being kitten season my husband and I stumbled on an adoption fair in Berkeley. Each cage contained a small bit of playful fluff. SO tempting to bring one home. My husband gently reminds me that we have two large dogs that in loving gestures would probably terrify anything that small. I am sure he's right but I am still having heart palpitations over a little orange and cream kitten named Jack.

I am so excited for next week. I have four of my first clients set up! Soon the site will be full of dozens of different pups!

Visit us at www.fifilovesfido.com

Raise Your Paw if You Can Help

Every new business can use a leg up. Here are some fun things you can do to help!

* We need more puppy portraits (and ferrets and horses and anyone else with scales, hooves, paws, feathers, or whiskers) who would like to be photographed. For the next month we will be doing our sessions for $150 including 4x6 proofs of the session if the session is booked before 6.07.08. Call me today 650.393.4262 or 510.432.0371, sign a model release for your pet, and pow instant pet celebrity!

* We need to find pet charities. If you or someone you know runs Rocket Dog or other responsible charities dedicated to finding forever homes, please introduce. We would like to donate 10% of our sitting fees to a charity we can partner with. 

*Speaking of personal intros can you dig deep into your filo fax and introduce us to owners of high end pet boutiques, veterinarians, et. Fifi Loves Fido will be willing to do a free session for the owner and give prints to the owner at cost that will be hanging in a preapproved establishment. 

Thank you in advance for your help!

Monica MIchelle

www.fifilovesfido.com

www.ilovewhiterabbit.com

Babies and Dogs

I have heard it said many a time that someone's dog is their baby. One of the family. I am incredibly lucky to have two four legged babies and two who are lacking in the leg department. Like many parents my husband and I have agonized (well not so much agonized but pondered loudly) whether we should add to our family (four legged variety, the other ship has sailed). Then along came Peanut. Adorable amazing peanut. Peanut is 7 lbs fully grown and was looking for his forever home. I reasoned with my beloved husband that really it would be the equivalent of a cat. After a few days he relented and just as I was ready to race over to get Peanut I got a call from his foster family. They could not part with Peanut.  I am a little heart broken but thrilled for Peanut. In the meantime I am opening my new pet portrait business. I am hoping it will act as the same patch as my portrait business. I get my baby need (two legged variety) whenever newborns come into the studio. I am hoping to get my puppy fix on the new babies (you guessed it, of the four legged variety) that I will now get to photograph!

Please view my new website (still under construction) at www.fifilovesfido.com for those of you curious about the human photos visit me at White Rabbit www.ilovewhiterabbit.com

Monica Michelle

510.432.0371

650.393.4262