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BiPAWtisan Halloween Party on Capitol Hill

It’s not all tax reform and political bickering down on Capitol Hill these days. Sometimes they take a break to celebrate what brings us together – Halloween and DOGS! 

Politicians and pups from both sides of the aisle got together for a little Halloween soiree. Dog-lover, Senator Thom Tillis, hosted the gathering of dressed up office dogs, squealing staffers and excited interns. Star Wars, Game of Thrones and politicians (duh) seemed to be the most common costume themes. Yes, of course there was a Donald. 

For a few hours, the Hart Senate Building Atrium was the happiest place in DC. Then the dogs went home and it was back to work…

Stay tuned for the release of my ongoing project: The Office Dogs of Capitol Hill, coming out later this year! 

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Did someone say Dog Party? 

If you live in Northern Virginia and want the best for your pets, get excited because there are TWO new places to stock up holistic pet supplies in Vienna and Arlington! Kriser’s Natural Pet is a growing, mission-driven company with some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. They are dedicated to providing the best in natural pet food, treats, and supplies. 

The Grand Opening events were lively puppy parties with shopping sprees, raffles and free nail trims. I don’t know who had more fun, the humans or the pups! 

Check out their website for upcoming events and specials. 

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A Pup, a Park and a Proposal: Kyle, Dani + Revere’s Photo Shoot

Earlier this summer I received an interesting email. It was from Kyle who wanted to know if I would be interested in collaborating with him on the ultimate surprise: proposing to his beautiful girlfriend. She was the planner in the relationship and no one had ever successfully been able to surprise her. Since she had mentioned an interest in doing a photo shoot with Revere, Kyle figured we could schedule that and he would propose during the shoot. Not only was that the cutest idea I’d heard, but he also managed to get both sets of parents to DC for the weekend without her knowing. They would surprise her along our shoot route. I had a feeling I was going to like these people. :)

We started around 8am at their apartment. After the Glam Squad (awesome service, btw!) finished making Dani even more gorgeous and I made friends with Revere, we started shooting. Revere was super playful and extremely treat motivated and Dani and Kyle were natural models – both at ease and clearly in love. Then we headed out to Logan Circle where the proposal was set to happen and their parents were waiting/hiding.

We made it to the park and I had them pose on a bench for a few shots so I had a chance to get my settings dialed in before their parents popped out from behind the statue. I wasn’t liking the bench spot as much so I brought them over to an open area while Kyle secretly waved the in-laws around to the new location. Dani missed all of this. Once I got them in place – Dani still looking down at  Revere – the parents started walking over. Then Dani looked up and I’d say she was surprised…see above :)

It was THE CUTEST. Seriously, this shoot still makes me smile.  

Thank you Kyle, Dani and Revere for including me in on your big day! I had so much fun with you and wish you the best as you begin the next chapter of your lives. ~Hannele

p.s. The happy parents were also super adorable:

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Photo Shoot: Kent Island’s Fab Four!

I had the pleasure of spending a beautiful afternoon photographing four amazing pups out on Kent Island, Maryland recently. I really couldn’t ask for better subjects or location – a gorgeous home right on the Chesapeake Bay with the nicest family imaginable. 

The two feisty English Cocker Spaniels – Sadie and Ella – were full of personality and made me work it for their photos. Good thing I love a challenge or two. :) Chewy, the adorable Shih tzu, posed for the camera like a pro even though he couldn't hear or see me. Luckily his sense of smell was still on point so my pocket full of treats kept his attention just fine. And then there was Gwennie. She never stopped smiling during our time together, probably because she clearly adores new her life by the bay after being adopted through City Dogs Rescue in DC. 

As it seems with all my private sessions, I fall hard for each of my subjects. Chewy, Gwennie, Ella and Sadie were all hilarious in their own way and I thank them for giving me a few sweet hours in their presence. I want to thank my friend, Sam, for helping to corral pups and to Sandy, Bob and their two grandkids, Zoe and Ethan, for making this shoot so special! Cheers, Hannele

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#TravelsWithOllie: Maine Beer Trail

Since we spent David’s birthday driving I-95 North to begin our Maine vacation, I decided to make it up to him by spending a day touring the #MaineBeerTrail. Our friends, Randi and Chris, were our epic guides and welcomed Ollie along for the expedition. The plan was simple: start in Freeport and see where the day takes us.

We started with lunch and pilgrimage to the giant L.L. Bean boot then headed to the Maine Beer Company. The boys tasted, the girls visited and Ollie attempted to glean pizza bones from our neighbors (he was semi-successful). Beer favorites ended up being “Peeper,” “Woods & Waters” and “Dinner.” When we found out the brewery partners with a number of local conservation groups and they’re big into cycling, we were hooked.

Next up was Flight Deck Brewery in Brunswick. In keeping with the conservation theme, the brewery is 100% run on renewable energy. Adding to their cool factor is their location – the redeveloped Brunswick Naval Air Station and the tasting room which was once a Small Arms Range. So yeah, the tasting room is bullet-proof, cool. Their beers were awesome and the warm soft pretzels were the perfect afternoon snack. Ollie met his new best friend, an 8-month old terrier twice his size. They played a for awhile out on the lawn before Ollie decided it was nap time. 

Now it was decision time. Do we head further east on Route 1 or back to the Portland to visit any number of fine breweries in the Old Port? My friend Jess was throwing pizzas (Uproot Pie Company) at Oxbow Brewery in Newcastle that night so dreams of wood-fired pizza made the decision for us…we headed east for Oxbow.

We ate our glorious pizzas, the boys enjoyed a few IPA’s and as the mosquitos began to overtake the dog-friendly picnic tables we decided to call it a day. Ollie passed out in the car on the way home, with a belly full of pizza bones. 

Most of the breweries along the Maine Beer Trail are dog-friendly, especially in the summer when patio weather is at its best. If they don’t specify as such on their website, it’s a good idea to call first. 

Huge thanks to Miss Randi for acting as our designated driver for the day and to Chris for pointing us to some great establishments! Cheers!

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#TravelsWithOllie: Sun Safety

It’s prime road trip season—we’re headed out soon for another #MaineAdventure with the pups—so we’re educating ourselves on doggie sun care. Dogs—especially light colored, short haired pups—are susceptible to sun damage  and can get skin cancer. Even long-haired dogs can get too much exposure on some parts of their bodies like their nose. So let’s talk about how to protect our precious pups from those no good UV rays.  

Exposure: Keep your pups inside during the hours between 10am-3pm when UV rays are at their most intense. Providing ample shade and plenty of water for them during those hours is important if you have to be out and about. 

Sunscreen: Yes, there are dog-specific sunscreen products available at most pet stores and online. It’s a good idea to test out the sunscreen on a small spot before applying it to your pup. Some dogs may have a reaction to certain types. Also, apply with care around their face, especially near their eyes. 

You can use kid-safe, fragrance + zinc-free human sunscreens as well but you’re better off getting on made specifically for dogs. Natural sunscreens containing zinc oxide are great for people but TOXIC for dogs so be sure to read labels carefully. Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), another common ingredient in human sunscreens, is also toxic to dogs so use caution.  

Check ‘em out: Regular skin checks are important in your pup’s care. Melanomas from sun exposure can pop up anywhere, even their nose. Watch for the signs and take them to the vet if anything looks suspicious. 

So keep in mind that if you’re burning, they probably are as well. Simple as that. You may not be able to see the effects of sun exposure underneath your pup’s hair but it can build up over time. We noticed Ollie has a few extra freckles and dark spots on his underbelly and legs this summer. Looks like we’ll need to up our game when it comes to exposure because this dog LOVES his summer fun. 

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#TravelsWithOllie: Turkey Run Park Loop

Ollie has been feeling pretty neglected this past week so I decided to take a long lunch yesterday for some special time. Wanting to try a new place, we headed to Turkey Run Park on the George Washington Parkway just outside of DC.

The park has a bunch of picnic areas, restrooms and a dog-friendly loop trail. The trail takes you down through the Gorge and along the Potomac River where it meets up with the Potomac Heritage Trail. It’s amazing how quiet it was considering its proximity to DC. The hike was an easy 3 miles and we had the trail to ourselves – probably because everyone in DC was watching the Comey testimony. 

Ollie spent his walk marking as many spots as possible, eating grass and searching for squirrels. I enjoyed the fresh air and spent my time brainstorming ideas for upcoming projects. It was perfect. We both left feeling much more peaceful.

Have a great weekend, all!

[adogphotographer]

Paw-liticking at DC’s Bipawtisan March!

Yes, it was as fun as it looks: 100+ people and pups gathered on the east grounds of the Capitol for a bipartisan rally for the dogs. Then a police escorted march through the streets of DC to a beer garden. What’s not to love? 

The mission of the march was to “find a way that a group of individuals from different political and ideological backgrounds could come together and find common ground on a position that we all support: our pets.” Many participants were marching to support animal rescue missions, end animal cruelty and educate people about breed-specific stigmas.

Now that’s an event I can get behind. Plus, hanging out with a large group of dogs and doting dog owners is kind of my thing. ;) 

See more images from from the event here. 

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Home Life: 10 years with Annie

I can't believe it's been 10 YEARS since we brought darling Annie into our lives!

I still remember the nervous energy I felt as we drove 2.5 hours to Harrisonburg, VA to meet available dogs at a Boston Terrier Rescue event. We were pre-approved to bring one home but we kept telling ourselves “We don’t have to adopt today, we’re just looking.” We had spent months scrolling through Petfinder.com, going to area rescues and shelters and hadn’t found the right fit. This would be the first pet we owned as full-fledged adults and both us understood the responsibly. Plus, our lease didn’t allow us to have a pet over 20lbs so that certainly limited our options. 

At the adoption event we met several great candidates. One, named Luke Skywalker, was a favorite but in the end he was too big for our restrictions. Another, John Henry, was awesomely crazy and fun but maybe a little too much crazy. In total we met awesome 6 or 7 Bostons, but weren’t quite sure. Then one of the volunteers asked if we had met Stacey Anne, the dog she had been holding the entire time. We hadn’t so we took her for a walk around the store. She was quiet, small and so freaking adorable. It was a done deal. We excitedly signed the papers, bought her a studded red leather collar (of course!), shortened her name to Annie and headed home.

Annie – June 2, 2007

It took a full year for her personality to blossom. “Blossom” may not be the right word for it but you get the idea. Annie is a sensitive girl. Until she gets to know new people and pets, she is fearful, bossy and at times, aggressive. The “fight” instinct runs deep with her and at 15lbs this hasn’t always worked out in her favor as you can imagine. She’s obsessed with her toys, will play keep-away until she pukes and will snuggle with you all day if you let her. She also keeps our other two Boston boys in line as best she can. We love her to pieces and can’t imagine life without her. She is the reason I began this journey into dog photography, for which I am so grateful. 

Thank you to the Boston Terrier Rescue of East Tennessee for saving her and allowing us to take her home. 

Happy Adoption + 11th Birthday, Miss Annie!

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#AdoptMe: New pups available at City Dogs Rescue!

This wild, joyful bunch of pups arrived in DC on Saturday after a 10-hour freedom ride from South Carolina. Covering “intake” for City Dogs Rescue is always a challenge (especially when it rains) – but it leaves me with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside to play a small role in bettering the lives of these beautiful dogs. 

I want to give a huge shout out to the A.D.O.P.T. team in South Carolina. They work incredibly long hours in the worst conditions to save animals from Pickens County Animal Control. For a long time, any animal brought to that Animal Control didn’t leave. But because of the amazing people of A.D.O.P.T. these animals have a second chance at life in the DC region. 

So when thinking about adding a pet to your family, please consider adopting. If you have your heart set on a purebred dog or puppy, you can find one through rescue. Research + reach out. This group of dogs includes 2 Great Pyrenees, a Beagle, a Carin terrier, a Blue Heeler and several beautiful mixes. Note: Bella’s puppy, Dana (last photo), has been adopted but Bella is still looking for a loving home. 

Learn more about them at City Dogs Rescue. 

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Behind the Scenes: Boston Beach Week

Last week we headed south to Ocracoke Island, NC with the pups for a little R&R. David and I have retreated here a number of times but this was the first time with all three pups. Traveling with three dogs certainly changes things. For one, it requires you to slow down, way down. This is especially true if you have a elderly pup like we do... 

We had decent weather and made sure to give the pups beach time everyday. Ollie, our youngest, loved exploring the beach and chasing the sandpipers. He was the only one of our crew to join me for my sunrise walks everyday. Murray, our 15 year old, was surprisingly active on the beach. He liked exploring the sand dunes, wading in the waves and lazing around. Annie found a volleyball the first day and obsessively played keep-away with David before passing out on his lap. I’d say everyone enjoyed beach time. 

For those of you planning a summer trip with your dogs, here are a few things we’ve learned along the way: 

1. In the car: This time we used a car seat cover with seat belt clips and beds for each of them. They had their own space and were safe. 

2. At the rental house: We brought 2 large crates – 1 for Ollie and 1 for Annie + Murray to share – so that when we left them at the house, they were confined. Crate training certainly pays off when you travel, especially with sensitive dogs like ours. They were safe and comfortable and so was the house! 

3. Out and about: I find attaching heavy-weight carabiners to the loops on their leashes to be very helpful. This way I can hook them together or easily tie their leash around a tree or pole to secure them when necessary. I also brought an extra long leash for Ollie to use when we did our long sunrise walks. They love to run around but going off-leash is not an option for my pack (any images without the leash above have been retouched). 

Water is also really important. We always kept cold water, a portable dish and bag of treats on hand wherever we took them. 

(what we usually look like - top image; a rare moment in the bottom image)

4. Emergencies: I’d love to say that our trip went off without a hitch, but no. Travel can be stressful for animals which can lead them to act out of character. Ollie and Murray got into a little scuffle over who got the sunshine filled dog bed on the front porch. Murray took the brunt of that on his nose and we ended up at the local vet’s office to make sure he would be ok. Luckily all he needed was a cleaning and a little antibiotic ointment. 

So...it’s a good idea to look up vet services before you go and bring a first aid kit for dogs. We also brought Benadryl for stings and eye drops/ear cleaner to rinse out salt and sand. 

All in all it was a relaxing, stress-free trip. It's so important to take time out to reset and remember why we work so hard in the first place. I’m so grateful for my crew and spending quality time with them. I’m pretty sure they enjoyed it too despite the grumpy faces in this photo…

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#AdoptMe: New pups available in DC!

These beautiful dogs have recently arrived in DC and are searching for their forever homes! Help me get their sweet faces out to the world by sharing their #adoptme posters. If you’re in DC and looking for a new, emotional support buddy (am I right?) learn more about them on the City Dogs Rescue website! 

You can also support this fabulous animal rescue by bidding on items in their online auction! I donated 2 seats in my next Mini-Session event plus there are a ton of great dog-friendly travel deals, music tickets, handbags, pet gear and more. Bid early + often :)

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#TravelsWithOllie: Ocracoke, NC

I love the beach in late fall/early winter. It’s quiet, the weather’s brisk but not cold. For the last 2 years, we’ve joined my sister and her family for Thanksgiving at their beach house in Ocracoke, NC – an island at the end of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. This year, Ollie got to come along too.

Traveling with Ollie is easy. He’s great in the car, friendly with everyone we meet and always ready for adventure. Ocracoke Village is a very dog-friendly town and the miles of protected beach give you lots of space explore. Most of the island is protected by the National Park Service as part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. 

You can find more information about accommodations, ferry service and things to do on Ocracoke’s tourism website. Be sure to look for dog-friendly vacation rentals! There’s also a great pet guide if you’re planning to visit the Outer Banks with your pup. We’re excited to be going back in May for a week with all THREE of our pups! Wish us luck!

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Photo Shoot: Kenny!

This energetic goofball totally made my week. 

I met Kenny about a year ago when he and his litter mates arrived in DC from a high-kill shelter in South Carolina. I photographed 6 of them at their foster home on the eastern shore of Maryland and fell in love with each wiggling pup. 

Seriously, look at them:

Since this handsome guy was adopted by Danny and Doug, he has lived a charmed life in Washington, DC. He is clearly the center of their world and vice versa. He watches their every move – ready and waiting for any chance to play fetch or snuggle on the new, stylish sofa. Kenny has grown into a beautiful dog with legs for days and a calm but playful demeanor. 

It was a pleasure to photograph this sweet guy again and see how truly happy he is. Thanks Danny + Doug for giving him a beautiful life and for the opportunity to capture his sweet soul again! 

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Photo Shoot: March Mini-Studio Sessions!

After a successful fall mini-session charity event, I decided to do another round this spring. The event benefits City Dogs Rescue in Washington, DC – so far we’ve raised $1400 to save animals in need! Yeah! Giving back is such an important part of what I want to do with my business and this is such a fun way to do it! Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I get to play with adorable animals for a living! 

So on March 18th, I took over the City Dogs HQ with 4 fabulous volunteers and photographed 22 animals + one foster pup who happened to stop by at just the right time. (See Piper below). Participants in this event were quick to book – we sold all the spaces in 3 hours flat as soon as registration opened in February. It was insane, but good insane :)

The next event will be Sunday, November 5th with registration opening sometime this fall. Learn more here. Thanks to everyone who took part and to all the beautiful pets who made the day so much fun!

xoxo, Hannele

p.s. This is Piper - she has an application but is still technically available for adoption through City Dogs Rescue. 

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Photo Shoot: Theodore Roosevelt!

This adorable Shiba Inu and his owner, April, met up with me recently for a little fun along the C&O Canal in Maryland. At 11 years young, Theodore was spunky from beginning to end.  

Theodore was born in South Africa (!) and has traveled all over the world with his mama. Even with all of his cultural experiences, this doggie diplomat is a down-to-earth pup who is happiest out on a walk or digging in the dirt. 

Thanks to April and Theodore for allowing me into your lives for a few hours on a beautiful winter morning. I had a blast.

All my best to you on your future adventures! ~Hannele

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Photo Shoot: Henry + Emma!

It is hard to believe that these two sweet, wiggly pitbulls were ever neglected. Henry had spent the first 6 months of his life inside and was grossly underweight when he was rescued. Emma was also underweight and suffering from a skin infection when she was picked up by Animal Control. Lucky for both of them, they won the hearts of Sarah and Jainen who have lovingly nursed them back to health at their home in Brooklyn. 

Sarah and I grew up together in rural Maine so when she asked me about doing a photo shoot of her fur babies, I was excited to catch up with her again. We tried a shoot in Maine over Christmas but the constant stream of winter storms wouldn’t allow it. The timing of my New York trip lined up with a streak of unseasonably warm weather so we decided to do a session down by the classic Brooklyn Bridge. 

Henry and Emma arrived happy and ready to preform. And preform they did. Both of them were so good at “sit and stay” and were responsive to all of my funny noises and beefy treats. The location ended up being a perfect place to photograph as they are true city dogs. Henry and Emma are such wonderful examples of how dogs can live in the moment, love unconditionally and move beyond a neglectful past with tenacity and grace. 

Thank you Sarah, Jainen, Henry and Emma for allowing me into your world for a few hours on a beautiful Brooklyn morning.  :)  ~Hannele