Creating a Black Background Horse Portrait with Barn Doors – Pittsburgh Equine Photography

Each month, Heather Lahtinen with Weddings by Heather and the Flourish Academy organizes a camera club meetup for local photographers throughout the Pittsburgh area. June’s meetup was a horse-centric gathering at my fiend Jackie’s home and barn.  With no definite direction outside of photographing the horses, Jackie and I planned to show the other photographers how to Read More

Beatrice the Bulldog – Pittsburgh Pet Photography

If Beatrice the bulldog sounds familiar, perhaps that’s because you’re following her on her Instagram, @beatrice_the_bulldog.  (By the way, if you’re not, you  totally need to start! Her puppy prom date shots with fellow ‘burgh bulldog, Rito, and her teefy grins are enough to warrant hitting that follow button! Go ahead…I’ll wait here while you Read More

Good, Fast, and Cheap: There’s No Such Thing in Photography

There’s a truth behind the saying, “Cheap work isn’t good and good work isn’t cheap.” It’s practically the foundation of the Iron Triangle or the Project Management Triangle that essentially says you can pick two between good, fast, or cheap, but you can’t have all three. Where do your priorities fall when booking your photographer? Read More

Former Biggies Bullies Rescue Walter’s North Shore Session – Pittsburgh Dog Photography

Walter’s parents Abby and Travis describe him as “an 80-pound lap dog, part potato” who loves to sleep.  Check out his Instagram  and you’ll also see hundreds of snapshots of exactly what they mean: “He’s smart and silly. He’s handsome and full of slobber. He’s the best boy and we love watching him grow and Read More

Dogtopia of Pittsburgh’s Grand Opening Celebration

On Saturday, May 4, Dogtopia of Pittsburgh held a grand opening celebration at its Eastside location on Hamilton Avenue complete with food and fun for four-legged friends and the people who love them. PupCycled, pawTree, Nauti Dog Co., and others were among Pittsburgh’s pup-friendly vendors in attendance along with Bark & Gold Photography and its Read More

Why Play Can Be an Important Part of Your Pet Photography Session

Ask me what many of my clients’ favorite images are and I can almost guarantee that they’ll choose at least one that was created during some form of play throughout the session.  Action shots, especially, a commonality that should not come as a surprise. A 2015 study of more than 4,000 dogs conducted by Bristol Read More

Felix the Rescue Pit – Pittsburgh Dog Photography

M.K. Clinton said, “Dogs are loyal, patient, fearless, forgiving, and capable of pure love.” Felix, the three-year-old itty bitty pittie, is certainly proof of that. Felix’s story is every bit as remarkable as it is heart-wrenching. While searching for a foster, Felix’s mom Mindy connected with a friend who owns a foster-based rescue in Georgia. Read More

Chico Gilligan the Bull Terrier – Pittsburgh Dog Photography

When his mom Jen described 10-year-old Bull Terrier, Chico, as the Derek Zoolander of dogs, “not the brightest, but really, really, really ridiculously good-looking,” I knew this session was going to be a good time. With his plop-in-the-grass-and-roll antics and happy-go-lucky attitude, Chico is the embodiment of live-in-the-moment mentality and unbridled  happiness (and he has Read More

Teach Your Dog to High Five

My husband and I have done a pretty solid job of teaching Hunter a variety of tricks over the years. Since a puppy, he’s mastered sit, stay, down, roll over, paw (and other paw), spin, back up, wait, come, and move. He even knows how to give kisses on command. (Yes, it’s every bit as Read More

Wall Art 101: Maximizing Minimal Wall Space

For those living in a studio apartment or one of Pittsburgh’s historic homes where unusual floor plans weave throughout and empty wall space is at a premium, knowing how to maximize minimal wall space is a must. Here are three simple tips to take even the smallest walls from bland to grand. 1. Pull together several Read More