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

Hey! Here is a little local news clip that aired after the Pawsh party from earlier this month. You get to see the back of my head in action, oooo.

The camera man conveniently caught me actually not taking a photo. I was trying to shoot Penny (shown below with her bff Marta) by herself.  And she was all yeahkaynothxbai.

I get the brush-off more often than not, truth be told…

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HARRIET is an English Pointer/carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting who would not look at the camera.

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SIMON is a German Shorthaired Pointer/chocolate cupcake with butterceam frosting who was not aware of the camera.

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MADISON is a Labrador/vanilla cupcake with buttercream frosting who couldn’t get enough of the camera.

Harriet, Simon and Madison are already well-known in the area, each having their own cupcake alter egos at the South End Buttery, my favorite neighborhood coffee shop. When we sold our house in the burbs and moved here nearly 2 years ago, we spent our first weekend as city dwellers hanging out at the Buttery, drinking iced coffee, eating cupcakes and reading the last installment of Harry Potter. It was a perfect, PERFECT summer’s afternoon. The bakery sits at the end of Union Park, with its English layout of 1860 bow-front row houses enclosing a small park gurgling with water fountains. I sat there that summer pinching myself between mouthfuls of cupcake (the Simon is Dan’s favorite, Madison is mine). Because after we were done eating, all we’d have to do to get home was to walk. No cars, no traffic, no rushing to catch the commuter train. Just a short, leisurely walk past the fountains, the brick row house after brick house, the front steps of which are each flanked by lovely wrought-iron curliques.

I love living here.

FYI here is a short NY Times piece from 2006 about the South End. There’s a fly-by mention of the Buttery, with Simon  misidentified as a chocolate Lab. I did the same thing, oops! It’s just short of a glowing article because of the unnecessary snark. But whatever. The author’s secretly jealous that she doesn’t live here ;)

Last night’s party at Pawsh Dog Boutique in the Back Bay was a roaring (growling? snarling?) success. I really wanted to peek my head into one of the psychic readings that was going on downstairs, but I was busy photographing pretty much the whole time, and before I knew it, the party was over. I unfused my hand, now misshapen into permanent claw, from the camera. OW. Mike and Nancy did an awesome job with the PR (the local news and a photog from the Herald was at hand, taking photos of me taking photos. She had a 70-200mm, recorded voiceover notes into her digital camera, and wore a pair of yellow Wellies. It was pretty hot) that the place was pretty much packed from start to finish.

This blog post is about to packed with photos. Not at all web-optimized. Are. You. Ready.

First up is Balki, who puts the “paw” in Pawsh, kindly modeling me some test shots before the party. They got this awesome RED! pillow just for the photoshoot. It worked great.

A black chair was another option, which I didn’t end up using very much.

Balki looks like he’s about to go marry a stranger after this photoshoot is done. Or go panning for gold.

First customer is Remy! (Pardon me if I don’t spell your names correctly.)

Here’s Ricky:

Charlie!

Look at those anime eyes, all quivering like jelly in the light!

Here is Beana. I was meowing at her to get her attention.

She’s looking particular sharp against that red pillow:

Gus and his silly tongue:

Kepler, taking a little breather after all that dancing:

Meg, who still isn’t sure about that raincoat her mom bought her last month. But I know I like to party!

Bugsy! Those big Cavalier eyes KILL me.

Marta: YAAAH!

With her BFF Penny:

Hee heeee!

Langston here, feeling at least 5 months younger after a nice massage:

Henry, slightly concerned that the flash will wash him out:

Isla, knowing she looks good in any lighting:

Two is better than one. And so, Paco and Ping Ping:

Abby, who is not ready to go home yet:

Cody, most fashion-forward of the evening:

Yeah uh huh that’s right. Shake that groove thing.

And last but not least, Jade, who responded very well to the word “pizza.”

And that’s a wrap! Hope everyone enjoyed their photos (hi CALL ME if you want more, a-wink wink), and thanks Mike, Nancy and Balki for throwing such a great party!

Next up: three lovely dogs from the South End. But first, the parents are visiting. Seems like a good time to finally scrape that cat vomit off the floor…

The 2nd grand opening party at Pawsh Dog Boutique, which I first mentioned about in here, is happening this Thursday, April 2 from 5:00-8:00pm. Boston-area dogs should stop by and get their haunches massaged, then their paws read, and finally their mugs photographed! And not necessarily in that order, although it would help you relax in front of the camera if you got your massage first. Heh.

And maybe if you’re extra good,  you’ll go home with one of these fabulous t-shirts.

iPood. I am Fartacus. Bahaha.

And Pawsh is displaying 6 of my prints in their store! I’m all pink from being tickled! Only 5 are showing because I made a clerical error and had to reprint the 6th one. All of them are 16×20.

3 prints (and soon a 4th) above the entrance.

From L-R we have Daisy in the snow, Lola in the South End, and Sadie and her snout. On the very right is their owners’ own photo of their Balki as a puppy. Cuuuute.

2 more prints above the staircase to the lower level. Beijing dog on the left, Margo on the right.

Hee hee! Thanks Mike and Nancy for displaying my prints!

Boston dog owners, see you Thursday!

The more dogs I come in contact with, the more I want one. I asked the boys what they thought of a new canine companion, and they said, Oh sure! Remember when Mocha (mom’s dog) came to visit those few times? Remember how she’d come into the room and immediately I, Bunny, would plant myself in the back, and Veebs would take position up front, and Mocha wouldn’t know which way to run so she’d just stand there crying? Big baby tears coming out of her little poodle eyes? And how we licked our chops and glared at her until she peed? Wasn’t that fun? So yes let’s get a dog!

They’re so mean.

I spent some time this Sunday at a fabulous new shop called Pawsh Dog Boutique in the Back Bay, just off Newbury Street. It was a beautiful spring-like day (which didn’t last of course; started snowing during the night. New England I hates you sometimes) and the beautiful people and their beautiful dogs were out in full force.

Here is a fluffy Bichon who came in the store with just a leash on her back…

…but left with a snazzy new raincoat. Ha ha!

Those black ears in the corner there belong to Balki, one of the proprietors of the store. He was VERY taken with the camera. I’ve never met a dog or cat who was so aware of it. He saw me taking a photo of the Bichon and her new raincoat, and made a beeline right over and blocked the lens with his face. Me me! Take a photo of ME!

Hee!

Momentarily distracted by treats

Pawsh is having a second grand opening in early April to celebrate the launch of their new salon service. There will be a dog masseuse, a pet psychic (!) and a photographer – me! I’ll be documenting the festivities, and taking dog portraits in the store. F-U-N. I’m so excited about it, so looking forward to it. Many thanks to owners Nancy and Mike for their willingness to have me participate. So Boston-area dog owners, stay tuned for the date and time! It should be a lot of fun.

We heart Boston!