We are pleased to announce that Bev Hollis Photography has been chosen to take part in the Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour scheduled for June 21 & 22.

Many artists from throughout western Loudoun County will be opening their studios and homes to exhibit their work.

Please join us for a fun weekend that will be filled with super "specials" for attendees!

I'm on the west coast for a few days and have found myself in lovely Carmel-by-the-Sea. A hamlet filled with fine restaurants, art galleries galore, beautiful beaches and DOGS! Dogs are lucky here. They seem to spend a lot of time outdoors with their humans.

Naturally, while other photographers were snapping images of panoramic vistas, I went to find the dogs. And there is no better place than the beach....

No leashes, no fighting - just dogs getting to be dogs. I think if I was a dog I'd like to live here. I think I'd sleep well at night.

Today's shoot was a perfect example of why I do what I do. We started the day with Juno, 14 1/2 years young! Though a bit wobbly on her spindly legs she was full of spunk and spirit and didn't make things easy for us! I am grateful to have had the opportunity to capture some images of Juno in her "senior" days (don't tell her she's a senior!)

And though capturing the spirit of a senior pet is always enough for me - there was more. Juno brought her handsome, and extremely beautiful housemate - Mercury. A Vizla to the core, Mercury didn't stop often or for long. But when he did we were able to capture some truly breathtaking images of this noble sporting breed.

A good time was had by all. I'm so glad I do what I do....

(Remember you can click the images to enlarge)

Sometimes, though our subjects don't "speak," their actions tell us exactly what they think.

Today we had a studio session with Max and Barkley. Max, is beagle masquerading as a Brittany spaniel! He looks like a Brittany, moves like a Brittany and ROOS like a hound! We just chalked it up to him celebrating Uno the beagle's big win at Westminster!

Barkley, handsome Barkley... Had his DNA tested and they said he had POODLE in those genes!!! We think Barkley heard his dad tell us that and he just couldn't help but respond with that tongue!

As always though, our animal friends obliged the flashing and shutter snapping. The prodding and pleading-all to allow us to capture images like the one below. It was another grand day to be a pet photographer!

Much of the east coast woke this morning to a shiny, slippery, icy, mess. What looked like a very wet coating turned out to be at least a 1/4" layer of ice.

But always, in nature's fury, there is beauty. Lest my old (and getting older daily) bones slip on the slick ice, I shot only a few images amidst the rain drops that continued throughout the day.

Not a day for strolls with dogs, but a day to celebrate the beauty of nature.

Today when I gave Lily her morning hug she did what she always does - she scratched her right ear. Yup, her right ear, never the left, always the right.

When Niles came down (last one out of bed as usual) he climbed up on the sofa next to me, turned around once and plopped down with a sigh. As though walking all the way downstairs after sleeping all night was almost too much to bear.

The point is, I knew they would do these things as they do them everyday. And a thousand other little things that often go unnoticed or at least they don't quite register with me.

I write this because I know each of you, like me, can predict many of these simple acts that your pets perform each day.

I write this to suggest you start to really notice and appreciate them. Time flies - especially for us animal lovers. The lives of our animal family members are never long enough. So take a minute and see how your dog acts right before he goes for a walk. Or how your cat wakes you up each morning. Take a moment to really observe your pet. They're always talking.

Then, savor the moment.