McGraw Photography Blog

Jake – The Cockapoo

admin — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:06:41 +0000

A little obsessed with his ball.

That’s what’s I knew about Jake before I got to meet him in person. I’d say that was an accurate description. :)

This happy and handsome 2-year-old Cockapoo was more than thrilled to show off his skills with his beloved toy (not so keen on giving it back to us though). His floppy ears and fluffy body were too cute to photograph! You just have to see what I mean…

Jake’s flying ears!!!Jake makes me laugh! He loves his ball more than life itself!If it’s not in his mouth, you better believe he’s got it in his possession. :)When we were able to pry his tennis ball away, he was happy to do some posing for us.Jake’s mom had always wanted a dog but her husband was more of a cat person. However, once Jake entered their lives, he totally won over his dad’s heart. Now Jake is his little buddy!Don’t let go, Jake!!!!At the end of our session, Jake’s friend Ruby go to come over to play. They are two of a kind!

Pebbles and BamBam In The City

admin — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:15:55 +0000

This session couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. I’ve been longing to move to Uptown Charlotte for years and there is a very small chance that it finally might happen. I’ve had my eye on a set of condos (more like townhomes) that I’ve loved since they were built a few years. With rates as crazy low as they are right now, it may actually be the time we could make the move happen. Of course we have several obstacles in our way. First, we have to even see if we can get financed. With me being a small business owner and my husband changing jobs last year, we might not even get past the first hurdle. Secondly, and another big one, we have to sell our current house. I love where we live (Cornelius) but a more central location would be ideal for me and my clients. We are heading to the bank tomorrow to tackle the first obstacle!!! Wish us luck!

Anyway, enough about me!!! I just love Uptown and I think Charlotte is a really beautiful city. I would be so proud to live there!

Obviously I was very excited when repeat clients, Pebbles and BamBam, wanted to have another session with a totally different vibe than their super-adorbs Fall shoot. This time they wanted a more urban feel with cool buildings, backdrops, and skylines. This was going to amazing! I already knew they were well-behaved and would be great for a more stimulating city shoot.

Enjoy…

They’re just two little dogs in a big world.There are so many cute little vignettes throughout Uptown. Pebbles and BamBam looked unbelievably adorable everywhere we put them! Oh, and they got plenty of attention too!As long as we kept the hotdogs coming, the pups were happy to cooperate. Here, Pebbles was tired of waiting and just went for the treat…This session was a surprise for Pebbles and BamBam’s grandmother. She though she was going to dinner but instead she ended up in the middle of a photo shoot. She was starving but she worked it for us!We enjoyed a beautiful sunset overlooking the growing Charlotte skyline. I HAVE to take my dogs to this location and get some photos. It would be perfect in my *possible* new Uptown condo. ;)It was a pleasure working with this family again. I hope they enjoy the totally different vibe with this awesome urban setting!

Shelby – Angel Session

admin — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:40:37 +0000

In the midst of a busy Spring season, there is always time to squeeze in an Angel Session. Of course I don’t like to. Not because of scheduling, but because I wish my clients were never faced with the situation. It is beyond heartbreaking to hear the story of a pet having to say goodbye too soon. It’s always hard to grasp. Why? Why are they with us for such a short period of time? It’s just not fair.

Shelby was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. It took the vet almost a year to diagnose the problem and by then, the tumor was too large to remove. Shelby just started chemotherapy and, fortunately, hasn’t had any side effects.

We are all so happy that she still has a smile on her face…

Shelby has so much soul behind her eyes. They seem to go on forever…
We started off the session a little on the rocky side. Shelby was so stimulated by the new environment, she was a little over-excited and distracted. Once we pulled out the Buddy Biscuits, she was all mine! :)
Shelby was so beautiful in front of the yellow flowers. I think she was made to be photographed here. Even the pretty pink and yellow collar accessory matches wonderfully. Love!Please send positive thoughts for Shelby and her family. She is deeply loved…

Cooper the Chiweenie

admin — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:27:46 +0000

Cooper was my client’s first purchase when she moved to North Carolina and he’s been her best friend ever since. He was around before she met her fiancé that, by the way, she is marrying today! Cooper approves so all is well! :) Her fiancé even surprised her with the gift certificate for this session. Now that’s a man that knows what a girl wants! ;)

Even though Cooper isn’t involved in the wedding ceremony, this happy Chihuahua-weenie dog-maybe Rat Terrier-mix keeps a smile on his face at all times…especially if the Chuck-It is out and there is a tennis ball around. Yep, a game of fetch is his favorite thing in the world and he wouldn’t stop playing if the world depended on it. His slight ball obsession worked wonders for his posing, as his eyes never left his little bundle of yellow felt goodness.Cooper doesn’t mess around when it’s play time. He’s like Forrest Gump…he keeps running!Cooper looked so handsome in the blooming clover. Seriously.Uh…you gonna give me that ball back?‘Cause if you don’t, I’ll gonna start yelling… ;) Haha!100% play all the time…Cooper’s parents thought he wasn’t going to be good for his session but they were sooooo wrong! He was amazing and there is no doubt he is a professional model on the side.I love those ears!!! They’re just SO Cooper!Congratulations to Cooper’s parents on today’s nuptials! I’m sure Cooper is so excited to “officially” have a dad and he is welcomed with open paws! He’s a lucky boy and his parents are equally blessed! Love, love, love!

Affinity, Kobe & Avalanche

admin — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:44:18 +0000

Rainy, cloudy, and windy aren’t really things you want to see in the forecast…especially when you are heading to the beach…from Kentucky.

Every year, this furry family takes a week-long trip from the Bluegrass State to the shores of Emerald Isle. Usually the schedule consists of sunbathing and a little r&r but this time, I shook up their plans when they realized I would be doing doggy sessions there at the same time they arrived.

These troopers left Kentucky at 3 in the morning and arrived on the island around 3 in the afternoon. With little sleep, empty bellies, and a few excited Dachshunds, their session was only a couple hours away. We spent those 2 hours texting back and forth as rain, wind, and clouds surrounded us and made us wonder if we were going to have to give up hope on taking pictures of Affinity, Kobe, and Avalanche on their favorite beach. We decided to press forward and I’m so glad we did!

The wind and cold never let up on us and we had to dodge raindrops a few times, but it was totally worth it! Affinity, Kobe, and Avalanche had a great time and as long as they were on the beach, they were happy as the clams washing up on shore. :)

We began the session with Affinity. The eldest of the trio, she is pretty chill and just takes things as they come. For example, she was happy to let the wind do it’s thing.Don’t let her fool you though. She does get excited. When she’s allowed to roam on the beach, she comes out of her shell!And she might even take a roll in the sand.What a happy face!!!LOVE this pretty necklace she modeled at the end of our time together!Next up was Kobe. Kobe is pretty opposite of his sister and is a little firecracker! I was warned he likes to run and dig so I was happy he didn’t disappoint!Some outtakes that are oh-so-Kobe…Don’t get me wrong though, he was also an excellent model. I love this of him looking toward the ocean. He likes to look…not touch.Last but certainly not least, we photographed Avalanche. This sweetie started cuddling with me the minute I showed up for the session and I knew right away he was going to be a little camera ham. I love his little white face! (PS – I’m going to drive to Kentucky to dog nap him.)Mighty hunting stance…Avalanche made sure he showed his crazy side too. I was impressed! Happy boy…And the three beach bums…So sorry for the longest post ever! I just couldn’t help myself!

I hope the weather has gotten better for this furry family! Major props to them for putting up with the wind and rain. Safe travels home!!!

Pictsie and Digby

admin — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:55:44 +0000

So what’s it like to have 2, 200-ish pound English Mastiffs? Well, be prepared to feed them 4 scoops of dry food, 2 cans of wet food, 1 pound of hamburger, and several dog biscuits and bacon treats each day. Yep, each day! Haha! Plus, you may have to invest in lots of rags to clean drool and perhaps replace a window if a happy-tail gets a little too close (true story). However, and most importantly, you should be prepared to share your home with pups with the biggest hearts!

I introduce Digby (the male on the left) and Pictsie (aka, Pixie, the female on the right)…

These two beauties were litter-mates and, as puppies, grew one pound a day!Pictsie and Digby’s dad had wanted Mastiffs his whole life. He finally convinced his wife to take on not one, but two! You have to realize that she was more of a cat person at the time so it was quite an adjustment going from 10-pound cats to having 200-pound pups! It was totally worth it and the Mastiffs are the light of his life!Their parents even purchased the extra land behind their house, giving Pictsie and Digby about 4 acres to walk trails and to go hunting for rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, and other small creatures. Pictsie and Digby’s happy faces tell just how happy they are. They have their own bedroom in the house as well as as huge dog house in the backyard. Yeah…they have it made. :)
When they run, they tend to get a little drooly…and when they have treats, and when they are hot, and just about whenever. Their mom even offered to let me borrow a different shirt to drive home in. Heck, I’m used to it and it makes me laugh!Such a gentle giant…They are daddy’s dogs without doubt!

And a little outtake! This was one of the very first shots right out of the camera. They just had to make sure the camera wasn’t a new, special treat! :)

Happy early Father’s Day to Pictsie and Digby’s dad! I hope you enjoy the sneak peek!

Bailey’s Canvas

admin — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 22:39:30 +0000

I’m simply in love with the software I use to show clients what their artwork will look like on their walls – to scale…with their decor. When Bailey’s mom was redecorating one of her rooms, she decided to add a canvas above her couch. Using this software, we decided on a 30×40 canvas with one of her favorite images. I think it looks fantastic!

On the left: The Preview

On the right: The final product!!! :)

Oh, and Bailey approves too!

Thank you to Bailey’s mom for the wonderful pictures!!!! :)

Bristol – A Furever Puppy

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:59:20 +0000

Bristol may be 2.5 years old but that doesn’t stop everyone from thinking that this fresh-eyed Golden is still about 8 months old. With a petite 45-pound body and vibrant personality, this sweetheart has everyone fooled. This is just one of the many aspects of Bristol that her parents adore – she is a “fur”ever puppy!

Along with her small stature, Bristol is a social butterfly and doesn’t know a stranger. She’s about as happy as they come and she was ready to show off her different smiles for the camera…

Bristol has tons of energy so we made sure we could get some time in with a tennis ball. Maybe it would take the edge off?All the fun running made Bristol a little on the warm side. While her body may be petite, her tongue is not! ;)Bristol was ready to play in the water but there was an important picture we had to get beforehand. Yep! Her mom and dad are getting married!!!“Can we play in the water now???”Well, we didn’t take the edge off earlier with chasing the ball. Nope! Bristol never runs out of energy. She was sooooo excited to go swimming!Haha! Bristol blends right into the sand!When Bristol was a puppy, she chewed up a plastic toy and some of it got stuck in her tummy. She ended up having to have surgery to have it removed. To top it off, her intestine then got a small tear in it and Bristol went septic and had to have another surgery. She spent 9 days in ICU. Now, Bristol is only around toys with supervision.And she enjoys every minute with them…She is such a beautiful girl!!!If you are on a computer, you should be able to see the slideshow of Bristol running into Lake Norman. She’s like the Energizer bunny! She keeps going, and going, and going!

Congratulations to Bristol’s parents on their recent engagement! I hope this little sneak peek is a nice early Mother’s Day surprise! :)

2013 Bark For Life – Lake Norman

admin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:18:44 +0000

Saturday started out as a typical Spring morning – crisp and cool. Fortunately, this chilly temperatures didn’t scare away the many people and dogs that were slated to walk in this year’s Bark For Life Lake Norman event. As the sun rose and temperatures climbed, participants began to sign in, get their goody bags, and place the American Cancer Society’s signature purple bandanas around their pups’ necks. It was only a matter of moments before this year’s walk through Birkdale Village was to begin! Hooray!

As people started filtering in, I happily captured some of the excited doggy faces that were ready to get their exercise in for the day…

Here are some of the fabulous people that were part of my team! They rock! We have raised $725 for the American Cancer Society and there will be even more money added after my donation from print sales! Not too bad for a first year team! :)This year, the walk’s ambassador was a Westie named Luka. I had the honor of photographing him in the past and I was so excited when the Bark For Life organizers wanted to have him lead the walk. Despite his condition, Luka took his job very seriously and proudly walked before the crowd. What an angel!
There was a great turnout of people and dogs that walked through the streets of Birkdale Village.About 3/4 into the walk, Luka was still in the lead. What a trooper!!!After the walk, the crowd enjoyed some fun contests and giveaways. The participants had a good laugh during the doggy fashion show…

With the help of 25 teams and 185 participants, $21,345.00 was raised for the American Cancer Society’s fight against canine and human cancers. A huge thanks goes out to everyone involved, including the dogs, walkers, staff and volunteers. You guys rule!

To see more pictures from the event, check out this site: http://mcgrawphotography.zenfolio.com. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of any prints will go directly to the fundraising efforts of the Bark For Life – Lake Norman event. Thank YOU!!!

Lottie Dottie, Little Sister and Breezer

admin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:29:16 +0000

Lottie Dottie, Little Sister, and Breezer. Judging by the names, I knew this trio was going to be pretty awesome.

This little pack’s mom won a session with me in a silent auction during the Humane Society of Charlotte’s Ties and Tails Gala back in October. We decided to wait until the Spring to shoot the session to take advantage of the green grass and pretty flowers that their yard offered. I’m so glad we did! These three really showed off their home turf as best they could!

We had a lovely session together and I learned so much about each of these Shih Tzu’s personalities.

Lottie Dottie, the gray and white lady on the left, was the most independent of the pack. She was happy to go about her own business unless we could bribe her with some hotdogs, cheese, or carrots. She knew how to get what she wanted! :)

Breezer, the blue-eyed boy in the middle, was the one we were most nervous about. He is a recent foster failure that was rescued from a puppy mill. When he was brought home, he didn’t know how to walk down stairs, he wouldn’t eat out of a bowl, and he was obviously very skittish. It has been several months since he’s been rescued and he’s made wonderful strides in learning how to be a real dog! He was actually very cooperative during the session and warmed up to me pretty quickly. His mom is very outspoken against puppy mills and Breezer has now become the poster child for her cause. Love that!

The happy black and white girl on the right is Little Sister. She is so laid back and wanted to be involved in all of the action during the shoot. She has been a big help in making her new brother, Breezer, feel at home.

Each of the pups happily posed by the pretty flowers in the backyard…I thought this was a cute shot of Breezer coming out of his shell. He allowed me to get very close to him with the camera from above – something that can be very intimidating to a timid dog. He was fine as long as he got his hotdogs! :)
Little Sister showed Breezer the ropes in getting some action shots!Meanwhile, Lottie Dottie heard treats rattling around and came running!And some cute pics by the lounge chairs… :)

What a wonderful session with some fabulous dogs and heartfelt people! I hope to see more of Breezer’s face as his mom speaks out against the puppy mill problem we are dealing with in North Carolina. I want to give a huge THANKS to her for fighting the fight!