Blog Archives

Dina's Baby Shower 8.26.18

8/30/2018

My friends Dina and Mike are having a baby! If you've visited the blog before, you might have seen their other babies (the furry kind) Sandy and Jack. The baby coming in October is a human one, though, of the little boy variety! My friends and I are so excited for these two, so we decided to throw her a baby shower to celebrate her and the new little guy we can't wait to meet! I, of course, was happy to photograph the festivities.
Here we go!

We had such a fun day and a very beautiful moment to cap it all off. At the end of the party, when Mike came to pick up Dina and their load of presents, we gave them a very special gift that our crafty friend Lauren had made. Mike's father passed away earlier this year and it was an incredibly tough time for his family. Lauren spoke to Mike's mother the week before the shower and picked up a shirt that had belonged to Mike's dad and made it into a pillow for the new baby.
There was a good deal of eye-drying after that.

I'm so happy for these two. They're going to make amazing parents. I can tell you for a fact that this kid is going to have a lot of laughter in his life, because Dina and Mike are two of the funniest people I know. Keep a look out sometime in October for his newborn session. I can't wait!!

Are you expecting too? Book a session with me by emailing [email protected]
or calling (631)256-7476.

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My Girl Gracey's First Adoptaversary

8/21/2018

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One year ago today, I adopted my little Gracey.
As you might know, I began doing pet photography after the loss of my beloved dog Basil to cancer in February of 2016. One of my only comforts after he passed was that I had so many great photos of him, and I wanted to be able to give that to other families in my community. I knew I eventually wanted to adopt and save another dog, but for a very long time, I couldn’t face the prospect of loving another dog when I was still so heartbroken over Basil.

But then in August of 2017, I dogsat my friend’s two dogs while she was on a trip and I realized how much I missed having a dog in the house, how much joy they bring just by being there. So when my sister suggested we go to a Clear the Shelters event at Little Shelter called Pet-a-Palooza, I was hesitant but I agreed to go.
A volunteer led us around the facility and outdoors to a ring of cages that had been set up for the event. Every single dog was adorable, but not all met the criteria I was looking for. I also hadn’t had that moment. It’s hard to explain to someone who has never adopted a dog, but it’s a feeling of instant connection. I had been to Kent Animal Shelter a few weeks before and had met a great dog that checked all my boxes, but I just didn’t have that feeling.

When I first saw Gracey, she wasn’t even facing in my direction. I saw a skinny, copper-colored little dog with crazy long legs. The name on her cage was “Sarah”. I told my sister, “That dog looks like a spider monkey with those long legs”.
I told the shelter worker, “Tell me about Sarah”.

Gracey's photo on Little Shelter's website, when she was still going by "Sarah".

Our first photo together, during the car ride home from Little Shelter.

He filled me in on her history. She was rescued from a high kill shelter in Dallas, Texas. When they got her to Little Shelter, she was underweight, she wasn’t spayed, her nails were very long and she needed surgery for a hernia. They thought she was about 2 and their best guess is she's predominantly Chihuahua, but mixed with something else because she's bigger than a typical Chihuahua. When he got her out of the cage to meet me, she leaned on my legs and looked up at me and I had that moment. I put in an application right then.
The next day, the shelter called me to let me know my application was approved. The day after that, on the day of the solar eclipse, she got her forever home.

Gracey’s former life is a mystery to me, but her trainer tells me her behavior shows signs that she suffered some abuse in the past. Because of that, she has fear issues. If someone startles her, she sometimes tries to nip. At times, Gracey forgets that she’s safe, but I’m trying hard to remind her that she has nothing to fear anymore.

I still miss and love Basil so much. He was the first dog I ever adopted as an adult, and who was mine alone. He was an angel and I think about him every day. I made the decision to not let my sadness over Basil prevent me from ever adopting a dog again, and it was the right move. I love Gracey just as much as I loved Basil, but in a completely different way, because every dog has a unique personality and heart. I'm so glad I adopted her, because she makes every day a little happier, just by being there and being her silly, weird, loving little self.
Here are some of my favorite photos I've taken of Gracey throughout our first year together.

In a year, Gracey has put on 6 pounds to reach a normal weight, she's learned all her basic commands (except lay down, she just can't get it), and she frequently takes part in doggy social hours hosted by her trainer to help her learn how to socialize with other dogs. She loves to ride in the car, take walks and incessantly squeak her vast collection of toys. She finds the mushrooms in our back yard delectable, so I have to go out there every few days and pull them out of the ground to make sure she doesn't eat them and get sick. She's so good at finding them, I feel like I could get her a job as a truffle pig. She's incredibly cuddly and loves to burrow under blankets. She loves to be in the studio with me so much, I started to call her the "Chief Canine Officer" of Laura Pea Photography. I can't tell you how much I love her. I hope we get to celebrate many many more adoptaversaries together.

Do you have a furry friend that makes every day happier? Schedule a pet portrait session for them today. Email me at [email protected] or call me at (631)256-7476.

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Baby Seth's Newborn Session No. 2

8/14/2018

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My nephew Seth is a month old and I’m still editing his newborn session. In my defense, I’ve never shot a newborn session that lasted 3 days before, and this kid is not exactly a paying customer! :)

My sister Lisa and my mom gave me this white wooden moon prop for Christmas a few years ago. I saved it for years because I wanted to use it first with Lisa's baby. It was so special to me to be able to finally use it with my beautiful nephew.

There was another prop I used for this session that had so much sentimental value. Our Aunt Cathy passed away last year a few months before Lisa became pregnant. Before she died, she was so helpful to Lisa when she was suffering through having miscarriages, because she had had them herself when she was trying to get pregnant. Her daughter Marissa, our amazing cousin, gave Lisa this beautiful blanket for Seth. It was made with pieces of fabric from our Aunt Cathy's clothes. I can't express how meaningful it was to take his photos on this blanket.

Seeing Seth every day reminds me how important it is to get newborn photos taken. He changes from day to day. He already feels different in my arms from the tiny little peanut my sister brought home. They’re only so small for such a short while. This time is really precious and really fleeting.
Here are the rest of the second round of Seth's newborn session!

Book your newborn session with me by emailing [email protected] or
calling (631)256-7476.

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Baby Seth's Newborn Session No. 1

8/2/2018

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My sister Lisa and her husband Will tried for a very long time to start a family, and it was a very difficult time. She has been very open about her struggles and I know for a fact that it's helped several women going through the same thing to hear about her journey. My nephew Seth came into our lives on July 10th. He is a tiny little miracle and I love him like crazy.

Shooting Lisa's baby's newborn session was something I dreamed about for years. I had several special outfits and props set aside that I was waiting to use on my niece or nephew some day. I was finally able to use those in Seth's newborn session. It lasted for 3 days because I couldn't stop taking photos of his adorable little face. He looks exactly like my sister Lisa.

Because there are so many photos, I've decided to break the photos up into a few different posts, not to overwhelm anyone with his cuteness :)
Here is the first round of Lil Baby's Seth newborn session!

Stay tuned for more Seth coming soon!
Have your own little miracle on the way? Book a newborn session with me by emailing me at [email protected]
or calling (631)256-7476.

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Dina's Baby Shower 8.26.18

Are you expecting too? Book a session with me by emailing [email protected]
or calling (631)256-7476.

My Girl Gracey's First Adoptaversary

Do you have a furry friend that makes every day happier? Schedule a pet portrait session for them today. Email me at [email protected] or call me at (631)256-7476.

Baby Seth's Newborn Session No. 2

Book your newborn session with me by emailing [email protected] or
calling (631)256-7476.

Baby Seth's Newborn Session No. 1

Stay tuned for more Seth coming soon!
Have your own little miracle on the way? Book a newborn session with me by emailing me at [email protected]
or calling (631)256-7476.

Author

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Archives

Dina's Baby Shower 8.26.18

Are you expecting too? Book a session with me by emailing [email protected] or calling (631)256-7476.

My Girl Gracey's First Adoptaversary

Do you have a furry friend that makes every day happier? Schedule a pet portrait session for them today. Email me at [email protected] or call me at (631)256-7476.

Baby Seth's Newborn Session No. 2

Book your newborn session with me by emailing [email protected] or​calling (631)256-7476.

Baby Seth's Newborn Session No. 1

Stay tuned for more Seth coming soon! Have your own little miracle on the way? Book a newborn session with me by emailing me at [email protected]or calling (631)256-7476.

Author

Categories

Archives

Are you expecting too? Book a session with me by emailing [email protected]
or calling (631)256-7476.

Book your newborn session with me by emailing [email protected] or
calling (631)256-7476.

Stay tuned for more Seth coming soon!
Have your own little miracle on the way? Book a newborn session with me by emailing me at [email protected]
or calling (631)256-7476.