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

This pretty little lady with the dashing yellow-green eyes and the Cindy Crawford mole is Katrina. Her owner is Kerrie of The Back Bay Framery. Katrina is 15 years old, and this is her official coming-out party. She is ready to be wooed by treats and under-the-chin scratches.

I know I shouldn’t be preferential towards any specific species, but I really do love photographing cats so. so. much. I can practically see all the little secrets they have stored away inside their furry heads.

Behind the Scenes
Katrina has her own little room to which she retreats, to sort of, you know, get away from it all. Curled on the arm of the sofa may be her way of sinking into a nice bubblebath with a glass of merlot. So though she said nothing, I could tell she wasn’t thrilled that I kept following her into this space, especially when she dashed in there a few times specifically to get away from me. Ha ha. But what a great room! A couch that matched the color of her eyes, and punched up by pink and magenta pillows. And the window treatments! I was obsessed with working the curtains into the shot, literally. Deliberately held the the gauzy white curtains in frame, shot after shot after shot, while Katrina looked at me like, What, what, what are you doing in my SPACE?!

Thanks Katrina for a lovely morning. Mwah!

Several months ago I met wedding photographer Abby Christensen of Abby Lorenz Photography over a round or two or three of drinks. We talked photography shop and life stuff, and basically hit it off like gang busters. As a graduate of the New England School of Photography, Abby is in cahoots with all sorts of people in the photography field, so I was very flattered and honored when she asked if I would take portraits of her and her husband Caleb, in celebration of their 6th year anniversary. 6 years since they first started dating, not when they got married.

I was on the phone with a co-worker that morning and told him I had to skedaddle early for a shoot and he asked, “What kind of dog this time?” And I said, “Ha no dog, two humans.” He said, “What’s the occasion?” And I replied, “They want to. Just cuz.” And he was like, “I don’t get it.” Sigh. This coming from someone who had no photos taken at his own wedding. Anyway now I’ve been calling these sorts of non-wedding, non-engagement, non-pet shoots “Just Because” shoots. You can come up with any reason you want, or none at all, but we’re doing a shoot…just because.

The scene was Davis Square in Somerville, where Abby and Caleb first set roots when they moved from the Midwest to the Northeast. We started off with some oversized beers at Mike’s – where we ALMOST forgot we were there to do a shoot and not to get sloshed – and roamed about from there.

By the way, Caleb is a physicist. He takes atoms, splits them apart and turns them into Smurfs. He might as well have told me he was an X-Man, as my eyes widened in fear and awe.

A very happy six years together, and here’s to sixty more!

I love pens. I love paper. I doodle non-stop. Dan yells at me because I’ll absently doodle on bills if it and a pen are within reach. Even with Google docs or Google calendar or whatever electronic tools that are available out there to keep organized, I still keep a very paper-based system of note-taking, just so I can write.

I’ve always wanted to try calligraphy ever since jr. high but like so many other interests I thought I had, I never got past just dabbling here and there. Same with photography. A steady attention span has never been my forte. I’ve been dabbling with photography forever it seems, and it was only a couple of years ago that I decided to step it up. So I’ve decided I’d like to step up my calligraphy skills as well, and quit saying it’s something I would like to do without doing it. I really don’t have any skills to begin with, aside from a penchant to just scribble.

I’ve had this pen, nib and ink set that I got eons ago in Florence, Italy. I used it the other day for the very first time. I love the way the ink smells, like moist soil in a dark forest, the noise the nib makes as it scratches across the paper’s surface, how the ink sprays if I bear down too hard. And how much the whole process hurts my hand.

This is a work in progress! So far I like writing S’s and lower case f’s the best. I am horrible at lower case a’s and n’s. Lots to practice, but I’m so enjoying the process.

I met up with the very lovely Sarah Mica for a little photog meet-and-greet at the Eastern Standard a couple months back.  I really like these one-on-one meet ups with other area photographers over drinks, where we can really talk and get to know each other. Sarah and I hit it off immediately, and the deal was officially sealed as soon as she mentioned that she had two Ragdolls sitting at home. I pretty much forced my way into her house so I could photograph them. And pet them, and hug them, and braid their hair, and trade scratch ‘n sniff stickers. I have always, always wanted to meet a Ragdoll.

Ragdolls are not dolls made out of rags, no. They are cats made out of a million cotton balls that have been brushed and combed until they are at maximum puff capacity. They are named such because of their tendency to go limp when picked up. Because they are so nice and will let you have your way with them.

Here are the beautiful Nola and Bijou, making their modeling debut.

I don’t know how else to say this but I just want to dive into their chests and live there.

Last month I took a stroll through my neighborhood to meet Lucy, a 6-year-old black pug with big shiny eyes and some distinguished grayness around her snout. I love neighborhood shoots, and I love pugs! Dan has decided this is his favorite breed. They’re always so, so happy to make your acquaintance. It was bitterly cold outside so we kept inside. Snug as a pug in rug. Here are some of my favorites.

Who’s there?

Why it’s Sadie the kitty, at a young 16 years of age, deciding she’d like to make an appearance afterall.

BEHIND THE SCENES!

This is what shooting in New England is like in the winter, for all you spoiled West Coasters out there running around shooting in your bikinis in January. We stay indoors, still with our hats on, and make use of whatever lighting is available, weather it be natural lighting through a window, artificial indoor lighting, or a combo of both. But no on or off-camera flash is fired.

{ ^ Using D300 + 17-55mm here ^ in case you’re cures.
I haven’t upgraded lenses in over a year/trying to see how far I can go with the two I have.
I’m about to cave soon. }

Lucy and Sadie’s owner has already picked up his large-scale mounted prints for the home office. He selected the first and last photo of Lucy you see here, and one of Sadie in mid-mew (such a squeaky baby mew she had!). My own personal favorites, and “round one” of orders, he says. Now that’s what I like to hear! Thank you Lucy & Sadie for a wonderful shoot!