jill carmel photography | the blog

She's Just Perfect

As you all know, I have a Boston Terrier, Bueller. When he was a puppy, I took him to Blue Ravine Animal Hospital to get puppy classes. There we met the lovely Amanda who gave me the tools to turn my crazy, rambunctious puppy into a crazy-rambunctious-yet-willing puppy, using solely positive methods (which I'm a big fan of). Bueller has turned out to be a well-trained dog thanks to Amanda (and many, many treats).

When she called me to do her maternity and newborn photography, I was so excited because, first, I knew she was awesome and, second, because I knew she had a Brussels Griffon...

She and her husband were so wonderful to work with -- easy going, funny and oh so beautiful. 

Okay, I know. It should be about the baby...but I could help myself!

 

And yet more evidence that I'm a sucker for dogs...but I think Amanda is, too, so it's okay. ;-)

 

Since I seem to have started a nursery series, I thought I'd include this lovely shot. Aren't the butterflies sweet? I love how she combined the mobile on the left with the stickers on the wall.

I adore this shot. Simple. Beautiful. She's just perfect.

Complete

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I thought I'd share some pictures today. I'll start with my favorite shot from this session. Their dog, Ferdie (short for "Ferdinand", one of my most-beloved pet names), jumped in the shot, looked at the camera for a split second, SNAP went the shutter. He seems to be watching over them, curious and responsible at the same time. And now that the baby's arrived, they seem complete.

 

Their little guy was already about six weeks old for our shoot and at that age, it's always a little extra challenge because they don't sleep as much as a newborn and it's VERY unlikely (if not impossible) to get the sleepy, curled up shots, but this little guy stuck it out and we got him eyes-wide-open, gurgling and cooing...

   

...as well as sound asleep. I was pretty impressed with all of us for pulling off a shot like this with a six-week-old. You should have seen us...Dad hovering over little "T" holding the heater, Mom standing by with an obliging pacifier and those wonderful "mommy sounds" (that only moms can make) and me oh-so-gently nudging him into place. But he stayed like this for a few moments and that's all I needed. What an angel!

  

Soon | Sacramento Maternity Portraits

I love this family. They are SO on the same page as I am, both artistically and individually. You probably recognize their little girl who has graced this blog more than a few times. One of the greatest compliments I can receive is when a child remembers me from their last photography session and lately I've been getting that "I remember you" smile from little "E" when I get to see her.

Lucky Miss E will have a baby sister very soon and we spent a lovely afternoon together celebrating and documenting this special time in all of their lives.

We can't forget Husky! He was their first "baby". 

 

Love this picture. Serene. Welcoming. Beautiful.

 

I'm in Trouble | Sacramento Family Photographer

I'm in trouble. I try to keep these blog posts short, but I had the hardest time trying to decide which pictures to show for the sneak peek. 

My conversation with myself tonight:

"Well, they have to see the one of L jumping on his bed with all of his awesome cowboy stuff around him..."

 "And I have to include the one that made me laugh out loud..."

 "And anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker for chicks..."

 

"And, okay, there's a tractor with two beautiful kids on it. Who could resist??"

 "And this is definitely one of my faves. A boy and his dog. Priceless."

One of the blessings of being a photographer is that I have the fortune to meet a lot of people. And not just any "people", but really GOOD people. 

I spent the afternoon with this lovely family and at the end of it, they invited me to join them for dinner around their kitchen table. They kindly insisted, not wanting to send me home hungry. I mention this because it is yet another reminder of the goodness and generosity of people. You can get so wrapped up in the day-to-day world, the doomsday news, rushing here and running there that sometimes you can forget to just take a moment to enjoy the people and world around you.

I don't yet have my own family, but these guys made me fall that much deeper in love with the concept of real family: people who have come together not only because they love one another, but because they want to share that love with the children they bring into this world and with the people that come across their path. If we were all a little more generous with our time and our "kitchen table" the world would be that much better for it. And a big hug and thank you to those who already go out of their way to show their love and generosity for others, especially people they've only just met.

Good Little Guy

This little guy was so good for his photo shoot. He ate and slept...

and ate and smiled...

 

and ate and was patient for all of us adults.

 

Look at those lovely blue eyes. What a handsome little guy!

Thank you for being such a good little eater! Food in the belly = great pictures!

Mr. Blue Eyes | Sacramento Puppy Photography

Here's a little sneak peek at a shoot that I did today. I'm such a sucker for puppies...who isn't? This is a beautiful little blue-eyed Boston Terrier named Riley. Isn't he just perfect??

He belongs to the best Boston Terrier breeder ever - Danielle Campbell of Campbell Clan Bostons right here in Sacramento. Love her and her pups! 

Doggie Kids | Sacramento Dog Portraits

It's rare to find someone who's a lover of kids and not a lover of dogs (we love all things innocent and sweet), so I thought all of you out there would enjoy a post of some very adorable furry friends that I had the pleasure of photographing. 

A couple of great danes having a romp at the park:

 

 

I'm such a sucker for chocolate labs - had one in my early 20s named Fudge. It was pretty funny when you'd yell out his name across the dog park. Everyone turned thinking I had some kind of repressed swearing problem...

 

 

Bode - so sweet I could've spent the whole day photographing him. I lost myself in those almond eyes and chick-fuzz hair.

 

 

 

Can't forget the Goldendoodle! She was a ton of fun and soooo soft.

 

I once rescued two Saint Bernard puppies who were running loose in the streets during the Los Angeles floods of '05 (anyone who was living in LA back then will know what I'm talking about) and they were in such poor shape: worms, fleas, ticks and totally underfed. We took them to the vet, fattened them up and $800 in vet bills later the owners saw one of our "lost dog" signs and came to pick them up. Didn't even say thank you. It broke my heart, but I'll always have a soft spot for Saint Bernards after that experience. They're just big sweethearts.

A Little Bit of Everything | Sacramento Family Portraits

We got a little bit of everything on this shoot...

A little jumping on the bed --

 

A little fun in the sun (love her blond hair!) - 

 

Some play with the dog, Zeus -- 

 

And my favorite picture of the day, Mom and son.  Just perfect.

Just so you know, Kelly (in the picture above) has a wonderful pilates studio in Sacramento - Purely Pilates. I have a client who goes to the studio for the prenatal pilates program and she says she LOVES it.

Say Hello to My Little Friend

Bueller has decided to become my assistant. I had post this up. It was too cute.

I wonder if he has any accounting experience....

-- Jill

Bark Ave | Super-Fun Pet Stuff

Here's something a little different from what I normally write about, but I wanted everyone to know how great Bark Ave. is in El Dorado Hills. They've been around for a few years but just last month expanded into an even bigger store and it is FABULOUS. Whether you're looking for a cage for you hampster or a super-cool blinged-out dog collar, they've got it all, including a entire do-it-yourself dog grooming area.  

Even if you don't have a pet, it's worth going to the store...because it's covered in HUGE photographs of puppies and kitties photographed by yours truly! The new display went up just in time for their official grand-opening this Saturday and the first 100 people to arrive get some seriously awesome goody-bags (I already got the inside scoop on what's going to be in them, and it's good.) I hope you can make it and bring your furry friends!

I photographed Mr. Bode here for the promo on the event -- isn't he handsome?!

 

P.S. - In case it's too small to read on the picture, their new location is 4311 Town Center Blvd. Suite 420 in El Dorado Hills.