my sweet sweet lady: revisited.

One day Olivia and I ventured into work like any other day...
My hands were overwhelmed with the routine leash, yerba-mate latte, purse, laptop, key combination, and our entrance to the studio was grand as ever; I fumbled with the lock while trying to balance my lava-filled Tulley's cup between my chin and whatever it was resting on... PRAYING that Olivia didn't spot the Shi Tzu downstairs that she continually has a desperate need to bark at with the conviction of any creature whose life is clearly on the line.

*sigh* But this time no toy dog downstairs, no boiling liquid all over myself or the floor or *dog forbid* the LAPTOP... We made it inside (all the while I am thinking, like I do every morning, "Why don't I just make two trips?")

Anyhow, so we're inside, safe and sound, bark and spill-free.

On this particular day the seamless paper backdrop that I stretch out and tape down was set-up for a client I had arriving later. Olivia, who is familiar with this sight, as well as the smells that usually surround it, bee-lined for the temporary white stage and began inhaling at ground level on, around, behind and beside it.

When I walked towards my office I looked back, noticing she had stopped sniffing and was standing smack-dab in the middle of the paper, staring at me. I ignored her gaze and assumed she would be at my side in no time for her epic "circle-circle-collapse" routine on her bed near my desk.

Ten minutes passes... No Olivia.

So I peek back around the corner, and there she is. Not sitting, not laying... But standing, right where I had left her, in the middle of the seamless.

Clearly this was a not-so-subtle hint.

So what's a pet photographer to do but concede to the demands of her spoiled models right?



So I grabbed my camera, turned on that warm soft-box and got to work... Olivia was especially spunky and I finally captured (with a camera other than my phone in a location other than my living room floor) the position we like to call the "Dinosaur-Bunny-Rabbit" -- the on the back with back legs spread and front legs curled, ears up and floppy-cheeks upset by gravity. It doesn't get better than this.



And then of course we got the obligatory pink nose shots and sleeping "dead dog" shots - and she stood and she layed and she rolled and begged... And literally just soaked up the warm warm light and mama's keen attention.

At the very end of our time that morning, both our heads were laying on the floor, she looked right at me and handed me her paw... Then turned her head and promptly fell asleep.

I haven't ever loved her as much as I did in that moment... more than words, or photos, or blogs can express. It's days like that one that make me wonder how I ever got so lucky.

My baby girl turns 4!

Well in honor of my little Great Dane lady's birthday (February 8th, same as her momma) I dug up some clips from her first days in my company...

Keep in mind that at this time I was still a student, I was still driving a tiny, loud VW Golf (and Olivia actually FIT in the passenger seat) and I hadn't yet been struck with the inspiration that was to become"Dane & Dane Photography"

To continue to honor the greatest muse of my life, I am going to olivia-blog every day this week. She is a big old four years now, and I treasure her all the more every day...

This week you get to too :)

Olivia Clip #1



Olivia Clip #2



Olivia Clip #3



Olivia Clip #4



Olivia Clip #5

best birthday card EVER...

This year I received the best, most clever and sneaky birthday card ever...

It is still a mystery who ACTUALLY sent this card, because it arrived with no return-address, and although I have my suspicions, I prefer to just assume that Olivia is as clever and thoughtful as I've always known...

I laughed for days... Hope it makes you smile too :)

Olivia + Nichole discover Discovery Park

A dear friend (and fellow pet photographer) made the brilliant suggestion that we take a walk with our pooches at Discovery Park this afternoon.

What I knew is that I've been wanting to see the park and the weather was incredible for it... What I didn't know whas how incredibly and overwhelmingly amazing this place is and how much good it would do me to get outside and take it all in... At sunset, none the less.

I have attached a few photos, but out of pure awe and relaxation I failed to capture some of the most amazing sights this incredible park has to offer...

Sweeping views from towering bluffs of neighboring islands and the shipping lanes... turn of the century architecture- light yellow officers' quarters and barracks, complete with white column, wrap-around porches and little white lights lining the roof tops... Massive gnarled tree branches breaking the soft sunset colored sky with their stark sharp darkness... waving fields of tall, golden grass blanketing the hillsides... Yes friends... Quite a place, and I promise next time... I will capture more if it to share!


This last trip, was just for soaking in. Thanks Jamie and Fergie.

Pet Fashion Week goes to the dogs. The Idawgs

You know you have taken far too many photos of your dog when, the second she walks into your studio she heads straight for the center of white seamless backdrop you have lovingly prepared for your client, lays down, stares at you, and perks up her ears as if to say "Ok mom, I am here... you're here... Grab the camera and the treats!"

Luckily, much to the wagging delight of her treat-hungry soul, Olivia finds herself the subject of this morning's photo shoot.

Although this time, {to the wagging delight of my style-hungry soul} she's sporting an exclusive Idawg "blue shimmer" jacket, which, along with five other pieces {including one very special couture piece} will be mutt-strut down the runway in New York at Pet Fashion week, August 18th-19th.

From what we understand this up-and-coming Seattle company has been chosen to participate in this runway event with barely over a dozen other designers from around the country. A big deal for Idawg: but with product names like the "Teal Revolver" and garment details like removable hoods, reversible pink camo, how could they NOT be asked to participate???

What you might NOT expect, is that you won't ever see a chihuahua or any kind of "-poo" dressed in Idawg - Nope, they specialize in fashionable clothing for big dogs. Olivia, both fashionable and big, fits the bill as an dawg model; So do CityDog Magazine's own boxer "Scout" and Mes Amis' own Staffordshire Terrier, "Santo" {as well as Obie, Roxanne, and Bailey- our other wonderful, wiggly, big-mouth-smiling doggy models!}

Dane & Dane Photography is both proud and honored to be photographing these hip, urban pieces and wishing Idawg well as they head off to the big apple. We have long been fans of Idawg's style, sophistication, absolute dedication to quality. Finally, SOMEONE is catering to the neglected fashion needs of big dogs.

Olivia is so glad. Especially since it involves treats. So you can expect to see THIS harlequin beauty sporting several new Idawg fashions this fall + winter.
















You can buy Idawg on their website, or at many northwest boutiques including Urban Beast, Railey's Leash & Treat, Scraps and Lexi Dog.