Typist: Bethany
Photographing three dogs while out on dog friendly adventures is enough of a daily challenge. When I throw adventure cat Amelia and traveling cockatoo Leo into the pet friendly outing mix, I very rarely get a picture with all five pets in perfect photograph form. But I do get a variety of group pet photos that display each pets individuality, serve the "we were here together" purpose, and give me a good chuckle. Perhaps it is the togetherness aspect of our adventures or that I am a glutton for punishment but I rarely photograph any of the pets alone. Shooting headshots for the Dogwood Photography 52 Week Photography Challenge seemed like the perfect opportunity to see what I could do with only one pet at a time in front of my camera. Any change in routine can be difficult. In this case, moving from photographing multiple pets to just one was indeed a challenge.

Dogwood Photography Photo Challenge Week 4, Portrait: Headshot
"You shot a selfie, now shoot a 'selfie' of someone else!"

The first challenge for me this week was choosing the pet portrait location and best lighting. I toyed with the idea of shooting each pet in their favorite place but the lighting in some of those places would not make for the classy portrait the dogs, cat and cockatoo deserved. So upon settling on photographing the pet's headshots outdoors, it rained buckets for days. Then I got a cold. I also knew that getting the right angle and clarity in these photographs would take an extra set of human hands. And Jason did a lot of traveling for work last week. Photo challenge indeed! But at last, the sun came out, I was able to get out of bed, and the neighbor was kindly available to help pet wrangle. Like all challenges, the tougher it is, the greater the reward. And I absolutely love each headshot! Like an excellent portrait should do, these photos perfectly display the individual personalities of my beloved pets.

This post is a part of the Dogwood Photography 52 Week Photography Challenge. Please see more of our photo challenge posts here.

Share this post:

Typist: Bethany
The beginning of the year is usually when people create goals, resolutions and make plans for the future. Yet for some reason this time of year causes me to reflect on the past, particularly how quickly time flies. In dog time, days whiz by in a blur! Everyday I spend with Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley I am amazed at how quickly they grow and the progress they continue to make in training and socialization. Looking back at when my best friends were new additions to my life reminds me that each and everyday with them is the most special of gifts. In that sense, I think spending my New Year reflecting on the past, actually helps me to enjoy the present and wisely plan for the future. I treasure my dogs at every stage of life, past, present and future. There is no better way to cherish the new by embracing the old. (Especially when my old dogs were so very cute as new puppies!)

What kind of perspective do you gain from reflecting on the past?

Share this post:

Typist: Wilhelm
As you all know, there is pretty much nothing I love more than a good dog walk. Except for all the food I can eat. But Bethany says this post is supposed to be about walking. Specifically I want to thank everyone who participated in our Walk You Dog Week Celebration. Things have been pretty crazy around here so it was amazing to have so many dogs and people participate. Plus there were a lot of fun walks for Brychwyn, Huxley, Morgan and I. Thank you for all your inspirational posts, comments and #DogWalkingWeek shares. We are really glad so many people entered our Walk Your Dog Week giveaway too. PromoSimple drew the random winner on Sunday night and I am pleased to announce a congratulations to Lauren of ZoePhee: The Adventures of Zoe and Phoenix. She and her dogs did a lot of walking during Walk Your Dog Week and like we Cascadian Nomads, they do a lot of walking other weeks too. Maybe I'll get to join them for a walk sometime. More walks is something every dog is grateful for. Thanks.

Congratulations Lauren, Zoe and Phoenix!

Cascadian Nomads best dachshundless Walk Your Dog Week photo.

Want to catch up on all of the Walk Your Dog Week fun and find inspiration to keep on walking? (The Cascadian Nomads still need to!) Click around below!

What are you and your dog most grateful for learning during Cascadian Nomads and My GBGV Life's Walk Your Dog Week Celebration?

Share this post:

Typist: Bethany
Just a few days after we returned from the UK, my mom's corgi, Morgan, came to stay with us while mom visited family in Buffalo, New York. Honestly, having four dogs when I was jet lagged, ill and dealing with Jason's sister in the hospital was not necessarily fun. After Morgan left, though, I kind of missed him. Having four dogs did have it's plus sides too. I got a reminder to be careful what I wish for yesterday afternoon when Morgan came to stay again. This time the circumstances are bad. My mom has gone back to New York because my grandfather is in the hospital. I certainly hope the craziness with my human family will soon cease but in the mean time, there will be a lot of adorable pet mischief around here.

Typist: Wilhelm
It is my obligation as a hound to live the motto the more the merrier. There are certain times this saying would not apply like if I had to share my food. Usually, though, I prefer having more dogs around to play with and to cuddle with. Especially short legged ones.

Typist: Amelia
Everyone expects me to be upset about having a fourth dog around. Yet I don't really mind. In fact, since Morgan doesn't live with a cat, I can get away with all kinds of fun feline tricks when he visits. Morgan loves it when I bat at him from under a door, surprise him from around a corner or jump down in front of him from on high. So as long as their is still room for me on the beds and I get to constantly show Morgan who is the boss,er, I mean, play with the second corgi, all is well

Typist: Brychwyn
When Morgan comes over, he and I try our best to get along. However, I do not like it when Morgan out stays his welcome. A few hours is enough time to admire the loveliness of two corgis, right? Why does Morgan have to spend the night and especially a lot of nights? If he joins us on walks, all of the people that we meet don't only pay attention to me. Why pay attention to him? He doesn't even have one whole blue eye. I suppose if I didn't have to share attention, the couch, the bed, the other pets, the humans or anything at all with Morgan, he wouldn't be so bad to have around. In fact, having another corgi to play with is kind of fun sometimes. Only sometimes.

Share this post: