PetValu Lewis Center Pet Halloween contest
PetValu has been a very generous donor to PetPromise, the rescue that I am pretty active in. They held a fundraiser for PetPromise where owners could bring in thier pets for photos!
Check out some of these awesome pets that came in.
I don’t talk much about my personal life here, but i feel like I should probably talk about this. I made it an “official” business around 2006 and struggled for a long time to come up with a clever quirky name. I didn’t want to use my own name as it was too long, and settled on a name that was even longer. The irony is not lost on me. I wanted to somehow incorporate my heritage, and my name, but Lucky Photography was taken, and nothing i came up with the Gaelic Translations sounded good to me. I also knew somehow my pets would be part of the business as well, and couldn’t decide how to incorporate them either.
At the time when i was creating this, my best furry pal, my faithful follower and protecter, was and is Lola. Lola is my beautiful redheaded (now white) shepherd mutt. Ive had her since 2000, when she was a wee pup. Today, however I look upon her old white face and thank the heavens for each day she is with me.
I did not initially adopt her, a friend did from Greene County Animal Shelter, and turned out she couldn’t keep this adorable fat puppy. I was a total sucker for her from the moment I met her. Lola has been my partner in crime and constant companion. She traveled with me everywhere, she loved to climb out on the roof with me and watch the world from up high. She protected my property, and myself.
She was my husbands first dog love. She was his his constant running parter while they both could still get up at 5am and run 4 miles. She taught him how great life is with a dog. They played fetch for hours, and she greeted him happily at the door every evening with her big dopey grin, even when she had just emptied the entire contents of the kitchen trash can all over the floor.
She was my Muse, OUR Muse and still is. She would sit pretty for me and let me practice my photography on her for hours, giving me soulful eyes and sideways glances. It clicked finally that to me that she, while having an expiration, had to be part of my studio name.
Its 10 years later and we grow nearer that date by the day instead of the years, as I had once thought would take forever to happen. I have worried about how I will handle having my business named after my long lost pal, and now have come to realize it wont matter. It was my way of honoring her then, and will always be a way to honor her.
Lucky Lola will remain who I am, even when she is no longer with me.
RIP my sweet girl. You are so sorely missed. (Dec 20 2016)
Elijah walked into my studio and his face lit up instantly. He RAN to the stage where i take photos and yelled “PRETTY” at the top of his adorable little lungs. He saw the bright pink, lime and blue polka dots and balloons and couldn’t wait to get up there and take his photos. His Mom, Victoria, clapped her hands in delight and said “Love it!”
She messaged me on Facebook – describing me the colors and wants for Elijah’s second birthday photos. She wanted bright vivid colors, and kittens. Well those two requests are basically my specialty.
Victoria and her family and friends have had a very interesting and stressful last six months. Victoria is the founder of “Speak for the Unspoken” – a rescue for special needs dogs in Columbus Ohio. I met Victoria when photographing dogs for the rescue last summer. I also met her life changing dog Leya when helping to fulfill one of her Live Like Leya bucket list items by having Studio Portraits done.
Elijah loves kittens, much to his dog loving Moms chagrin. She knew she wanted kittens in his photos and when you are a rockstar in the rescue community- you have many connections. When Victoria calls for kittens, she gets kittens. Shortly after Victoria and Elijah arrived, Katy, a volunteer from Colony Cats (a cat rescue in columbus) joined us with a handful of fluffy kittens for Elijah to have as part of his photos.
Just a few short weeks ago, I did a marathon session at the studio for TWENTY rescue kittens for PetPromise.org! let me tell you, photographing that many cats in the middle of the summer in my non-airconditioned studio is hard work. I couldnt have done it without the help of my friend PJ, who did all kinds of silly things for us.
While I was working, a journalist from the Columbus Dispatch, Jeannie Nuss and photographer Barbara Perenic interviewed me, and took some video.
It was a great feature piece and I am very proud of it.
These are just a few of the cuties that i photographed that day!
To adopt anyone of these kittens fill out and application on PetPromise
Amara is a wonderful 1.5 year old pit mix! She’s a curious and playful girl. She has been at training camp for the last 6 weeks learning how to be a polite girl. Continued training will keep this girl a great family pet. 
As a child, I had an aussie, and she was the coolest dog. She was my best friend. I loved her so much. She, of course, stayed with my dad when I moved out and took care of him once my Sister and I were both gone. As I grew older and rescued my own dogs, I always had a special spot in my heart for Aussies. One day, I will rescue one for my own family.
I have volunteered for PetPromise.org for the last 2 years, and have loved every minute of photographing the dogs that have come into my studio. I feel bad that I don’t more time to photograph more animals for them.
This week on Facebook, I happened to come across another rescue I haven’t heard much about. It popped up in my “suggested” feed. (Thanks Facebook for stalking my life).
Speak for the Unspoken is a foster-based animal rescue based in Columbus, Ohio. The goal is to do what they can to put an end to careless breeding practices that overpopulate the streets and shelters. They believe that special needs dogs are capable of doing anything you wish as long as you provide proper training and patience.
I was hooked when is saw they had a couple of special needs Aussies in transport to Ohio. I knew I needed to photograph them. I knew that I just had to meet these sweet girls and be part of their life travels.
I was right.
Alexis came to the studio first with 5 puppies, and the mother to three of the puppies, Judy.
Alexis is deaf, but dont let that fool you. She was cute and sweet and explorative. She checked out all the puppies and we opted to let Judy out of the crate to hang out with her while I photographed the babies. Judy and Alexis explored the studio from top to bottom, sniffing and climbing and having a great time.
Like any aussie though, she is a jumper and when my assistant Barb left to let in Alexis sister in, She couldn’t contain her curiosity and jumped the tall gate at my door to go follow her. Fortunately there isn’t many places to explore in my building.
Enter Analie. She is a kinda and gentle soul who is blind and deaf. Her sweet face and calm demeanor make you want to snuggle her forever. She seems a bit fearless as she had no issues exploring my studio without assistance. She used her nose to explore and while she’s blind her optic nerves are still there and can notice light changes. This sweet girl will happily be your best cuddle bug.
If you would like more information on adopting, fostering, or donating to help out these girls get their furever home, check out SftU Facebook page, as well as their website.
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