101 in 1001 Update - Kansas City Dog Photography

Here is an update of my 101 in 1001 project! It has almost been one year since I began back on January 5, 2010. For those that may have missed my original post on this, here is a recap: Melissa Jill is one of my favorite well-known and successful photographers, who shared a project on her blog known as "101 in 1001". This is where you write down 101 goals and ideally they would be complete in 1001 days. Below are my 101 personal and professional goals. The 1001 day deadline would be October 3, 2012. I have updated in red what has already been (or almost) completed.

It really helps to have your goals written down, and I believe holds you more accountable and reminds you of your hopes and dreams. I highly recommend it!

1. Volunteer at an animal shelter - completed 2-23-10 (and continuing regularly!)




2. Create a logo and brand for my website - completed 2-1-10




3. Book 50 dog shoots - 33 pet photo shoots booked in 2010. More to come in 2011!




4. Photograph another wedding - completed 4-8-10




5. Give my maid of honor speech at Lisa’s wedding - completed 9-18-10




6. Attend a photography workshop




7. Update my blog to display categories and to be more integrated with website - completed 1-28-10




8. Blog daily for a month - completed 4-9-10!! (harder than it sounds!)




9. Go back to the Bahamas - Scheduled for Jan 24-28, 2011
   
   


10. Have professional photos taken of me and Remington and also at KC PAWS with shelter dogs all around me for a mini-campaign to Adopt, not shop.
    
    


11. Learn to swim




12. Throw Remmy a birthday party - completed 1-8-10




13. Visit Colorado




14. Buy another camera lens -Bought a fabulous wide angle lens 7-2010
    
    


15. Bring Remmy to the lake and teach him to swim
    
    


16. Update business cards - completed 2-1-10




17. Finish basement/media room




18. Find land to purchase for building our next home




19. Have more playdates with Remmy and friends - ongoing and completed 2-14-10




20. Give more thought to having a child someday




21. Be more assertive - ongoing and doing better!




22. Play a real round of golf




23. Make a new friend -ongoing and completed 2-25-10




24. Achieve the ability to master a tack sharp photo - still practicing!




25. Buy some new props for photo shoots




26. Read a book




27. Bake cookies - completed and ongoing for hubby




28. Enlarge my favorite Remington photos and frame them




29. Give Remington more photo shoots - definitely ongoing, completed his last one 12-24-10




30. Be a vendor to showcase my photography - completed 5-16-10 at the Pooches on the Parkway event.




31. Take a road trip and find interesting areas to photograph




32. Enter photos to dog photo contests - completed 2-18-10




33. Travel to Europe




34. Gain more recognition in newspapers & websites - completed 2-19-10




35. Order more marketing supplies - completed 2-8-10




36. Order thank you personalized cards to send to past clients




37. Donate old clothing to the needy - I have everything bagged up now and ready to go!




38. Go to the spa




39. Learn to make sushi




40. Buy an upgraded version of Lightroom & learn new features




41. Play in the snow - completed 2-13-10




42. Keep Remington in style - ongoing and completed 1-8-10




43. Spend more time with family




44. Pray more- ongoing




45. Remember to be thankful for my blessings - every day




46. Tell someone how much they mean to me




47. Become a member of a photography association - Completed - Member of the Pet Photographers of America Association




48. Continue to take part in the annual Lupus Walks
    
    


49. Find new locations for dog photo shoots




50. Visit local dog businesses to market - completed 4-6-10




51. Have neighbors over for a BBQ




52. Watch a sunset




53. Become a member of the ASPCA and sponsor an animal




54. Go to a pumpkin patch




55. Meet Melissa Jill and Dixie Dog




56. Remember to use the elliptical




57. Tone down on the chocolate - realized this might be impossible...




58. Upgrade blog to use larger photos - completed 2-5-10




59. Donate gift certificates for photo shoots to a good cause - completed 1-15-10 (dog park silent auction)




60. Visit dog parks more - ongoing with my dog photo shoots on weekends!




61. Attend church more frequently - Found a new church very close to our house and want to attend more frequently.




62. Have a deck night with close friends - scheduled for 5-15-10




63. Have lunch with hubby




64. Visit Dan’s Grandma in Charleston again - Visiting December 31, 2010 weekend




65. Get a massage




66. Attempt to be less OCD - attempted... not going to happen!




67. Reconnect with September Morn, a past mentor - completed 1-7-10




68. Call my grandparents more often




69. Go to Las Vegas for the first time - planning to book this trip in May 2011 for my 30th Birthday!




70. Find more photographer's blogs for inspiration - completed 1-29-10




71. Be excited to turn 30 - booking a trip to Vegas for this big landmark!




72. Help my dad find a new job after being laid off - Dad did find a new job after 7 months of searching.




73. Reach 500 fans on my Facebook page - Wohooo! Completed 2-1-10 and over 2,500 as of 12-28-10!




74. Help a deserving family during the holiday - Completed 12-20-10. Chose KC PAWS rescue to buy items on their wish list and presented the owner Sandi with a special Spa basket for herself.




75. Take a self defense class




76. Have a margarita with Erin P.




77. Continue to celebrate dating anniversaries with Dan - celebrated our 7th "dating anniversary" this year!




78. Network and meet new people - ongoing every day!




79. Redesign splash page on my website - completed 2-1-10




80. Bake a turkey




81. Find new Facebook groups to join and market more - ongoing and completed 2-1-10




82. Return to the Overland Park Botanical Gardens with my Mom




83. Enlighten myself on the whole “Twilight” obsession




84. Learn to fish




85. Go back to the New Theatre Restaurant




86. See an Opera




87. Pay off my student loan - Completed - 2010!




88. Learn how Logan hunts and learn the proper way to handle a gun - Learned how to handle a gun, but have not actually seen "hunting" in action.




89. Run through the fountains near Crown Center




90. Increase my verbal communication skills




91. Collect more shells in the Caribbean - hoping to find more in the Bahamas in January! My favorite place.




92. Complete a new scrapbook




93. Upgrade my point and shoot camera




94. Have a professional manicure and pedicure - completed 9-17-10
    
    
    
95. Try yoga again
    




96. Submit my website to blog directories - completed 4-8-10




97. Surprise Dan with a delivery to his office




98. Have an overnight date night with Hubby




99. Go to a winery we have not been to before - Completed 7-29-10 for our 4th wedding annversary at a new winery built right by our house




100. Mail a Christmas letter with my cards




101. Document which goals I have completed, along the way, on this list -ongoing and completed so far!

Before & After - Removing Elements - Kansas City Photo Restoration

I usually do have doggies under complete control during photo shoots, but sometimes it does require a little editing magic. For example, in this photo below, my client really wanted a photo of her dog on the bridge, but we didn't think he was going to stay on his own. So, she held him there on his leash and I was able to make her disappear during post processing editing. Check out the before and after below. If you have a photo you need altered, feel free to e-mail it to fixyourimages@hotmail.com for a free estimate! I am always up for a challenge, so send me anything.... even if the edit requests seem impossible!

BEFORE


AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Remington and the Holidays - Kansas City Dog Photography

Remington always appears to look very serious in photos... some people may think it's because I dress him up in ridiculous clothing and he is trying to humor me. I am going to stick with the fact that it's because of the Schnauzer eyebrows and beard which makes him look very stern! Either way, here is my precious fur baby with his new hoodie and Christmas present. (It was gourmet dog treats... he was very excited!)

Adopt me Please - Current KC PAWS Adoptables - Kansas City Dog Photography

Now announcing more doggies up for adoption at KC P.A.W.S.! KC P.A.W.S. was formed in 2007 with the determination of working with animals in need. They specialize in working with animals who are the victims of abuse. They work in connection with local City and State agency’s to help investigate and report cases of cruelty and neglect as well as providing education and resources to the community on how to properly care for their animals.

All dogs adopted from KC P.A.W.S. come with 6 months of free day care at A Dog's Fun Playce (a $2,700.00 value). All dogs adopted will be current on their vaccinations and spayed or neutered prior to their release.

If you are interested in any of these dogs, please click here to fill out an online application.

If you would like to see a full detailed list of all the KC PAWS dogs up for adoption, click here to visit their petfinder link.

Please spread the word to others and promote adoption! For more information, call Sandi or Tiffani at 816-361-7829 or email kc.paws@Hotmail.com.

Meet Vinnie!


Meet Trooper!

Meet Cookie!

Meet Remington!

Meet Ella!

Meet Schnoodles!

Meet Sweet Pea!

Meet Epiphany!

Rest in Peace Sweet Tyson- Kansas City Dog Photography

I was heartbroken to hear that Tyson, the sweet Boxer I met and photographed this past April just passed away. Tyson was the furry son to Jenny Matthews from Kansas City's Mix 93.3 radio station. Jenny is an absolute sweetheart with a very kind heart and she is also a new Mommy to a beautiful little girl Julianne.

Sweet Tyson had been diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy (a progressive and incurable disease of the spinal cord). He was even fit for a custom wheel chair once his back legs could no longer move as they used to. But, the time has come for him to play with the other doggies over the rainbow bridge and be set free from pain.

Here is a special video I created. Just click on the triangle play button to begin.


These are some of my favorite photos from his modeling session. He especially enjoyed all the treats I brought with me and followed me around pretty much everywhere with that adorable longing look in his eyes... "hey nice lady, can I have one more, pretty pleeeeeeease!?" It was an honor to have met and documented your beautiful soul, Tyson! We all love you and will miss you very much.

Remington Models Pampered Pets Party Collars - Kansas City Dog Photography

I recently met with Jackie, the owner of Pampered Pets Party Collars. She had asked if Remington might like to model a few of her latest creations and I knew he would gladly oblige. Jackie is the owner of two English Mastiffs who were her inspiration to even begin her business of making these delightful and fun collars, because she found it impossible to find large enough party collars for her dogs anywhere.

Sizing

• Small fits 6 inches to 11 inches

• Medium fits 12 inches to 18 inches

• Large/Extra Large fits over 18 inches

• Custom sizing is also available - just contact Jackie at Jquinlan13@gmail.com

Click here to visit Pampered Pets Website and order a party collar for your furry child!

Click here to visit Pampered Pets Facebook Page.

Remington is modeling the Winter Wonderland version here.



And here he is in the New Years Eve version.

Finn, Hank & Gus - Kansas City Dog Photography

I was very excited for another doggy photo shoot this weekend! Compared to last Winter, it has been pretty mild here so far in the Midwest. It was actually in the 40's here yesterday and the perfect light for an outdoor photo session.

This is Finn, the gorgeous Rhodesian Ridgeback. His Daddy Jason is his best friend and his Mommy Sarah wanted to surprise Jason with an enlarged photo of Finn for Christmas. This is the picture she chose!

And her UH DORABLE Pomeranians Hank and Gus also made an appearance. Here is Gus, the wise 9 year senior. He looked just like a teddy bear and was always smiling at me... he was so happy I couldn't help but smile the entire time I was photographing him.

And new baby brother Hank, not even 6 months old yet!