Li Ward photographer of pets and weddings. Fat Orange Cat Studio is a fresh and candid boutique photography service in Boston, Massachusetts.

I’ve known my good friend T. now for ten years now, holy goodness, and just by the nature of being in your twenties and hawt, you may imagine that during those years I have met and/or have heard about a boyfriend or two. Or three. Or eleven. Heh heh. So when T. brought her latest boyfriend C. for us to meet several years ago, I was friendly but cautious. When they stayed together, I was optimistic. When they moved in together, I was impressed (I’m so mean). When they went on vacation to Budapest and Nice together, I was jealous. And when she came back and showed me her flawless rock of an engagement ring, I was convinced. He finally wants to keep you, hooray!

I like giving her a hard time. ;)

Their lovely and intimate wedding & ceremony were held in October at the beautiful Roger Williams Botanical Garden in Providence RI. There was not a hired photographer to be found. Between me, the groom’s sister-in-law who is a professional photog, and especially the Uncle Bob Studio of Photo and Videography, we got the whole thing covered.

Actually it was a good thing they didn’t officially hire a photographer, because methinks there would have been a serious thrown-down in the aisles, with possible spilloverage onto the guests…

The ceremony was officiated by an old family friend of the bride’s, the DJ played both hip-hop and Cambodian line dancing music – yes there is such a thing – the open wine and cordial and cupcake bar made overindulging a little too easy, and the maid of honor cried even though she said she wouldn’t. All in all, a fun and beautiful wedding. I am so happy for my little friend T. and most thankful to C. for finally making an honest woman out of her. Oh I only jest! Congrats to you both!!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of photographing Mr. Hooves the Pug, fellow resident of the South End. He clocks in at 33 lbs or so, making him a good 30 lbs heavier than the last (and first) pug I photographed. He came originally as “Brady,” as in Tom Brady. I think “Mr. Hooves” is a far superior name and it suits him very well! His owner made a very good call.

Photo of owl by nature photographer Jim Gray + Nikkor 500mm beast lens

Here is Pogie, a spirited little Bichon mix who met me at the Boston Public Garden on a warm November’s afternoon. I’ve been shooting there quite a bit lately. Our reward for the soggy rainy summer has been trees with brilliant leaves in the fall that have stayed on longer than usual. Every week I think, OK. Next week all the leaves are going to fall for sure, so better get the shoot in right now! And before I know it, 5 straight sessions at the Garden have passed, it’s December and there are still leaves in the park!

So this was probably the most action-packed shoot I’ve ever done. When I arrived early to scope out areas, there was a small group of nature photographers crowded underneath the giant ginkgo tree (so pretty that tree), gawking and photographing a huge barred owl sleeping high up in the branches. Very cool to see wildlife other than rats, squirrels and baby strollers in the middle of the city.

Pogie arrived shortly thereafter and underneath this tree and the magnificent gold carpet of leaves it created, we posed some, chased squeaky toys and said hello to other small dogs within reasonable running distance. Pogie became tangled in a mesh of leashes, and we followed the trail to see that they were hooked to a tall (so tall!), striking blonde in the form of CameronDiaz, who was just by herself strolling through the Garden with her two dogs.

We all took our eyes off of Pogie for a little bit while trying to make casual small talk with CD, like whatevs, nice day in Boston isn’t it, there’s an owl up there, yeah I’m on a dog shoot, I see you have dogs, wanna be friends? etc. etc.  When we finally focused our attention back on Pogie, he had given himself a really good facial and the left side of his little white face was absolutely caked in mud. And we had just barely gotten started! Luckily their parents understood that this was about fresh and candid pet photography, and if fresh and candid meant mud-caked yet exuberant, then more power to Pogie!

(It was determined later in the shoot that Pogie was really caked not in mud but in poo. Pogie’s dad learned the hard way after a fragrant kiss on the nose.)

After our shoot was finished, I went back to the ginkgo tree to look at the owl some more and see if I could run into another celebrity. Instead, a red-tailed hawk swooped in and landed in a small tree next to me, with his dinner swinging from his talons. He was barely 6 feet off the ground and sat there resting for quite some time, treating a large crowd to a portrait session, before he took for higher branches to enjoy his meal. But he wasn’t so high that I couldn’t see or hear him tearing through the gristle.

So an owl, a hawk, a movie star, and a Pogie under one tree. Not bad for a afternoon’s shoot!