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

Here is Jameson, a 13 week-old Greater Swiss Mountain dog who came all the way from Germany, and is now working his very first photo shoot inside Boston’s Fenway Park. A puppy! Inside Fenway! Park! All to ourselves! Red Sox! Jameson’s parents got engaged while we were coordinating, so this session became a puppy and engagement shoot rolled into one. I can’t even tell you how excited I am to have had this opportunity. Not only was this just so much fun, I got to see parts of Fenway I’m normally too poor to see. Am thinking I need to find more friends with connections…

We started in the right field roof deck, moved onto Ted Williams’ seat, then the Green Monster, had to leave (booo!) but shot lots more right outside Fenway.

More dog shoots at Fenway Park please!!!!

BEHIND THE SCENES

Dan took off work so that he could accompany me to Fenway. Not only was he there to help carry gear and to get the puppy’s attention, he was there as my second pair of eyes. Our shoot inside the Park was short – I think we had maybe 20 minutes at most, which included time to walk to the three different spots around the Park – and since I was focused on the dog and using all the time we had, I didn’t really have a chance to look around and take in the scene. I’m so glad Dan got a shot of me quasi-sitting in a Monster Seat. Because that will never happen again! And the shot of us in action in the sea of empty seats. We really did have the place all to ourselves. It was awesome.

Thanks a million Andy and Shayna for making this happen!

Here is Rummy the Vizsla of Cambridge, MA. I loved loved loved this shoot, even though it took awhile to get Rummy to relax in front of the camera. It turns out he just needed some props, something to do with the hands :) As soon as we went out into the backyard, it was like a fuse ignited under his belly. I photographed two different dogs that day!

He looks great in color and in black and white, so I had a hard time choosing. We start off with a shot of Rummy getting a calming forehead rub from his mom. Easy now Rummy. I know I’m all up in your face but everything will turn out a-okay…

{ Still not so sure about this… }

{ Yep, this is still weird. }

{ BY JOVE I THINK I’VE GOT IT. }

Hope you enjoyed the shoot afterall Rummy!

BEHIND THE SCENES

I think I am officially apprenticing Dan to become a semi-photographer. He usually comes along to my pet shoots because 1) I need a driver sometimes, ha 2) I need someone to help me get the dogs’ attention 3) it’s really fun and therapeutic. He was never really interested in learning photography itself…but it seems the tide is turning. He’s been asking me about f-stops and ISO and shutter speeds and the relationship among the three. A very big baby step! Gotta take advantage it.

This is Destiny, the tennis ball-obsessed chocolate Labrador. I met her and her owner at their home on the outskirts of Boston on a very humid late afternoon. We’ve been getting a lot of those lately. Nevertheless we kept the session outdoors, first in their pretty, wooded backyard and then in a nearby field where Destiny could chase the tennis ball at will. Her tongue grew longer and longer and longer as the session went on!

If the ball is not in camera, you can be sure that it is very, very nearby.

* With special guest appearance by A Stick *

Meet Plato, the cutest 7 month-old puppy I’ve ever photographed. He’s a Havanese. I met him and his owner at their home Medford, MA, a town where Dan and I bought our first place :) This shoot included Putting the Dog on Top of Things, which while not entirely candid, does add some variety to the portfolio and can really turn out well. So aside from running around and noshing on Greenies and Bully Sticks, Plato got to lounge in a hammock! And sit on the back of a flat-bed truck!

Behind the Scenes

Relaxing on the hammock. Just so you know, I would never myself suggest placing your pet aloft because I don’t know if he’ll sit calmly or freak out and break a leg in the process! But if you the owner want to try something and know your dog will be up for it, then I am too.

Plato plays up his good side and tosses his tresses back.

P.S. These photos were taken with the 24-70mm lens, except for the indoor shots which were taken with the 50mm.
Edited to add: 24-70mm f/2.8 and 50mm f/1.4 Nikon lenses

I met Willow and Nala recently for a photoshoot on a lovely almost-summer’s afternoon. Willow is a happy Jack Russell mix with Pippi Longstocking ears, Nala is a pretty calico with supersized thumbs. They’re moving to Chicago soon, so I was glad to be able to document a day in their South End home before they say farewell to Boston.