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

I am wayhayhay behind on photo sharing, so before another week goes by without content, I thought I’d post some quick photos of the one thing that can be understood in all languages: MEW MEW MEW.

Our neighbor Marna and friend of the Animal Rescue League of Boston invited us over for the first in what I hope will be an on-going series called “Kittens and Wine Friday.” In a safe and welcoming environment, we drink wine, nibble on cheese, and discuss the current state of kitten affairs. The kittens in question this week (and probably the next) were Freddy and Trip, a pair of 5 week-old orphans that Marna is currently fostering. She took over for another foster whose responsibility was to bottle-feed these little gremlins, since their mother had died shortly after giving birth. They are but weeeeee weeeee things.

This is Trip:

This is Freddy:

And this is Figaro, aka The Big Fig!

He was the first cat I photographed at the shelter many moons ago. After months and months at the shelter, Marna ended up adopting him. Figaro is the most awesomest cat ever, don’t tell Veebs or Bunny. He is a full-figured boy with garlic bulb markings on his face and is just such a character. He so far has helped foster 6 kittens or so, showing them how to properly stalk and chase string.

Here he is with Freddy – the little black blob at the end of the string – for scale.

A big thanks to Marna and Figaro for hosting Kitten and Wine Friday! We’re hoping to reciprocate the gesture soon…Again, don’t tell Veebs or Bunny.

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!

This is Crystal, a sleek and glamorous rescue dog living in the South End. Due to her high motivation for stinky treats, she gave me one of those short 30 minute sessions, which truth be told is still freaking me out. We stayed indoors and started in the late afternoon, just as the setting sun was coming through the living room window. We also shot in the bedroom where the light streamed in a bounced off a wall of mirrors directly across. Awesome! I was having a field day shooting in this room, trying to make use of this dramatic lighting. A lot of these photos would have looked great in black and white. I had a hard time not converting ALL of them to black and white.

Crystal has a very glam and sophisticated Gretta Garbo look going on, even as she chews on cowhide.

Thank you for being such a pretty and cooperative model!

This is Luna, a sweet little terrier mix who’s still tearing up the dance floor at nine years old. She lives not too far from me here in the South End, so we met one weekday morning for our shoot that lasted maybe 30 minutes tops. Her owner wanted me to grab a few shots before she headed off to work. My heart jumped into my throat as I panicked a little, thinking about how little I’d be able to capture in 30 minutes…but then I remembered my session with Fergie the Shar Pei back in Sept and how I managed to pull off a nice collection in a short period of time.  So I need to stop freaking out about short shoots. And the best part is the post-processing time is cut in like, one million. It took me longer to write this paragraph.

Anyway, isn’t Luna cute?! I miss having a dog…

My favorite thing about Luna – aside from her swishy tail, or her love for Teddy Bear, or her DIY haircut (we used to give our dogs haircuts all the time, and it’s funny that Luna looks just like my childhood cockapoo) – was the St. Francis pendant dangling from her collar. In case you’re not familiar, St. Francis is the patron saint of animals. And the environment. Basically an all-around good dude.

Thank you Luna for a fun and wonderful shoot!

P.S. No behind-the-scenes shots on this one. I forgot!

A few weekends ago I had the pleasure of photographing my first Olde English Bulldog. His name is Mason and he lives with his parents in a fabulous loft in the South End. I love being able to walk to my shoots, and am thankful I get to do that, or take public transportation, for the majority of my gigs. We have no dedicated parking space, therefore no car, and plan on keeping it that way for awhile! It snowed this weekend, and guess who wasn’t shoveling out their car but inside playing a cozy hour or two of Super Mario Bros Wii instead?

For most of my sessions, I usually shoot in at least two locations. We start indoors at home before heading somewhere nearby outside – in the yard, if there is one, or just out and about in the neighborhood. For the sake of variety and all that. The exercise is a nice bonus. However on this day, variety took a backseat as it was really bitterly cold and windy outside. We didn’t stray too far from the pretty Christmas tree or the funky shag carpet, which was fine by me because the tall windows in the loft provided some really beautiful diffused light. And anyway being indoors didn’t stop Mason from stretching his limbs as if he were at the dog park. I loved this guy! Full of spirit and looking so handsome and stout in front of the camera.

Happy holidays Mason – I hope everything you wished for is under that tree! Or the table.