Shoot type: 30 minute mini-session
Location: Belle Cooledge Park, Sacramento, CA

This pupper really pulled out the stops for her parents' big shoot! Holiday card, engagement photo, family photo all-in-one. We got big smiles! Looking straight at the camera! Adorable shenanigans! The shoot turned out fantastic overall--great location, great lighting, great subjects.

I confess this was a tough shoot--but I'm proud of the result! Even under the best of circumstances photographing pets is a challenge. Doubly when there are three; triply when there are other dogs walking past while you try and hold their attention! But these pups powered through the temptation of squirrels and the distraction of potential playmates to give us not one, but TWO group photos where everyone is looking at the camera! All in under 30 minutes.

I had the pleasure of photographing more of my good friend Toby today, this time outdoors in some gorgeous early-winter late-afternoon sunlight.

A member of the Eyes for Others Yolo County puppy raisers club, a chapter of Guide Dogs for the Blind, Whatley is a sharp, fiesty one, but has a very sweet and mellow side as well. Six months old, I got to photograph her on one of her mellow days.

You can learn more about Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Yolo County Eyes for Others puppy raising club by visiting their website: http://www.yologuidedogs.com/

The Yolo County Guide Dogs for the Blind chapter 'Eyes for Others' recently had a puppy social, a socialization and training event for Guide Dog puppies-in-training. As a part of their training, puppies must become comfortable and well behaved around other dogs and unfamiliar people in anticipation of their work with the Blind. Raisers from throughout Yolo County got together to give their charges some puppy play time and skills practice with other puppies in the club, as well older puppies and adult dogs within or familiar with the program and its tenets.