I love McIntire…a gorgeous bernese mountain dog.  I shot him as a puppy and every year since… He is such a gentle lovable dog but also has a mind of his own and does what he wants. He is no longer an only child as he was when I first shot him. He has gained two brothers who adore him but he is still #1 and knows it….

Here he is as a puppy…just a few weeks old in my studio

eating shoes

and climbing into things he shouldn’t climb into…

with his mom as  a puppy…..

mac with his mom in 2010

Mac outside in the park with his dog friends….

Mac has the colorful necklace on…

With one of his brothers at Christmas…

Putter is a schnauzer mix, a gorgeous and sweet 9 year old dog who only has eyes for only one person….his best friend Jeff.

He is not subtle at all, he begs for his attention and gets desperate at the prospect of going for a walk…

He loves having his portrait taken when bartered for a walk with Jeff…

This is sophie, golden retriever extraordinaire.  I photographed her at the end of October and got too busy to show her so I’m taking the time now because she is gorgeous and sweet and I want to share her love and put you in a good mood…..

One of Sophie’s best friends!

Sophie wasn’t easy to photograph,  she was a fast runner with a huge yard and wanted to roll around in the leaves and chase cars near the fence the entire time. She pretty much refused to pose at all! I don’t blame her…

Finally, after coming inside after a long day she collapsed on the wood floor and 3 minutes later she was out….

Collins is being groomed and pampered waiting to be given to parents for a christmas gift. What an adorable puppy he is…a cream and white tibetan terrier.

I photographed him so that his life as a troublemaking puppy could be preserved and given along with him as the gift…..

He is not lacking energy, that is absolute

It might look like he is calm here but he actually just got stuck in between two pillows and he is trying to figure out how to undo himself….

The new parents have no idea what is in store for them!

Snappy (white) and Lucky (orange) are transplants from Japan….Golden Retriever mixes and the best of friends. Good looking, sweet, warm, affectionate, mellow but spunky and very mischievious. You couldn’t ask for cooler dogs!

Starting on a hilltop in Lincoln park with a commanding view of the city, Luna, a stunning bernese mountain dog, took a deep breath in and gathered her energy for a tour around some of Chicago’s most beautiful landmarks…..

She was the self-appointed guide on an ambitious fall walking tour around the city…..what a beautiful day it was!

Her owners wanted to remember all the beautiful spots in Chicago they love as they say goodbye to the city for a move to Florida. Luna had a lot of ground to cover so before really getting too serious she layed down for a quick belly rub…..

then got back up in front of Cafe Brauer and plotted the course for the day…..

First stop was the bridge near the Lincoln Park Zoo with the great panoramic of the Chicago Skyline….the spot where every bride wants to be photographed. We went to the backside so we wouldn’t get all of the wedding parties in the photographs….

Next Luna choose a hilltop where you could see the fall colors starting to change in all of their glory. She choose this spot because she knew how good she would look in the light…

Onward to a great row of trees and a promenade that makes you feel instantly nostalic….as if you are walking down a promenade that you have seen in an old photograph of Paris…

Luna kept us moving and was constantly urging us to walk faster through the tour…the light was falling and we still had places to go….

….Like a statue in Lincoln Park which was the site of her owners engagment.

It was time for a rest and a chance to take in the beautiful colors of Lincoln Park…

After some down time taking in the incredible fall night we were having, Luna was up again and walking us to the North Avenue beach…it was the perfect time of evening and the lights of the city started to creep up….

I don’t thing there is a person or dog who can tire of looking at Chicago from a slight distance….

However, I am sure Luna will find lots to love in Florida. Good bye Luna! Chicago will miss you!

Hi My name is Jack. Let’s talk…..

First of all, I’m not like other dogs, I’m special. I know what I like and I Iike when I get it.  And  #1 is my pink and yellow ball….. #1 non-negotiable…….

Don’t get me wrong, i also like a glass of chilled white wine on a hot summer day but nothing compares to my ball…….I dream about it even while It’s in my mouth…….

I appear to be patient but the wait to get someone to throw my ball sometimes literally kills me inside. When I roll the ball to several people’s feet and everyone ignores me……It just feels unjust, to say the least….

You might think I have an unhealthy relationship with my ball but actually I think I’m way more adjusted than those big lazy dogs that lay around all day slobbering with no desires in sight. Personally I think its quite healthy to be a little dog with huge desires. The two must balance each other out because my disposition is one of the best you will find anywhere….!

A little sun, a little wine, a little run, a lot of chasing the ball…..what more could I ask for?

Oh yes my faux fur blanket I forgot about that. I can’t be without that for long…

After a good long ball chase I like to snuggle in and get my belly rubbed…..

And then I’m up again dusting the cobwebs out of my eyes and looking for action. Sometimes my ball seems to disappear when I take a nap and I have to spend way too much time trying to find it.  I think I have a nice profile by the way. Don’t you?

Well, thanks for the chat I’m off to find my ball……

Location dog photo shoot of a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier-Chicago, Illinois.

Photo shoot and prints created as a surprise birthday present