|
Happy Monday!
There are three black-and-white photographs hanging on the wall of my recently renovated powder room. Two are close-ups of my sweet, departed basset hounds, Polka and Dooley; the other is a 16×20 print of Oliver, chilling out on the cobble-stoned grounds of the old City Hall building in downtown Winnipeg.
Close-ups of Leesa’s sweet, departed basset hounds, Polka and Dooley.
Advertisement
The image was captured a few years ago by a local photographer, @winnipegtails, who cheerfully acquiesced to photograph my scruffy, blonde Lhasa apso cross.
Oliver, chilling out on the cobble-stoned grounds of the old City Hall building in downtown Winnipeg.
I treasure the striking portrait of Oliver hanging on my bathroom wall, but to be honest, it’s missing a picture of his beloved crony, Guapo.
I’ve made several attempts in the past couple of years to take an equally memorable likeness of my not-so-photogenic Yorkshire terrier, but to no avail.
Guapo, Leesa’s not-so-photogenic Yorkshire terrier.
So, when I heard local photographer Joey Senft of jsenftphotography was shooting pet portraits at The Beer Can’s second annual Winnipeg Humane Society fundraiser last weekend, I packed up the pooches — along with my daughters, Emily, Rebecca, and Rebecca’s Belgian boyfriend, Tars Van Litsenborgh — and headed to the outdoor beer garden on Granite Way.
Tars, Leesa and Archie.
Emily and Oliver.
Guapo with Rebecca and Leesa.
When we arrived shortly after noon, dozens of pet owners, including Carey Hawkins, were already queued up alongside their furry friends for a turn in front of the camera.
Hawkins, 42, and her gentle four-year-old collie/mastiff cross, Tundra, made the two-hour drive north from Niverville to secure a professional snapshot and to raise awareness for the upcoming Paws for the Cause Cancer Walk, which will take place Sept. 19 at Kildonan Park.
Carey Hawkins and her pup Tundra.
“It’s the one fundraiser I commit myself to, and I do as much as I can to help raise money for the Never Alone Cancer Foundation,” said Hawkins, a pharmacy assistant.
And now, the affable dog owner and her seasoned Pampered Puptography model consider themselves huge proponents of #dogsofthebeercan as well.
“The Beer Can fundraiser is a great event. I like that the vendors here have a portion of their sales going to the WHS,” she said. “And I think events where people can bring their dogs is a wonderful opportunity.”
Evidently, journalist Kristin Annable and her boyfriend, Mike Kelly, think so, too.
CBC journalist Kristin Annable and her partner Mike Kelly pose for a portrait with their pooch.
The gregarious Winnipeg couple sipped on a few cold ones from Fort Garry Brewing Company (the local micro-brewers donated a portion of their proceeds to the WHS) while they waited in line; but really, all they were after was a family portrait with their one-year-old Bernese Mountain dog, Bernie.
Annable and Kelly with Bernie.
The sweet-tempered, tri-coloured pooch, however, had other things on her mind that afternoon.
“She’s very concerned with wasps right now,” said Kelly. “She’s trying to keep them under control, but she’s currently about 0 for 100.”
Later, it took more than a few tasty treats, and some serious coaxing, to keep my own two pooches, Guapo and Oliver, focused in front of the camera.
Joey Senft takes shots of Oliver and Guapo.
But the extremely patient Senft was easily up to the task.
After all, when she worked at Blueberry Hill Books, the 38-year-old local freelance photographer used to shoot all types of critters, including a self-deprecating tortoise that dresses up in different outfits for the illustrated children’s books, Chompy the Tortoise. But after losing her job owing to the pandemic, she pivoted toward a part-time gig at The Beer Boutique on Regent Avenue. Since then, she took on a TikTok consultant position for several local musicians and spends a lot of her free time taking pictures of local bands at concerts. Oh, and she also shoots fantastic portraits of dogs.
Journalist Austin Grabish and his dog Archie.
“I just love taking pictures of dogs. They’re so adorable,” she said. “And they always look like they have a smile on their face.”
Beth and Austin Lightfoot with Ralph.
At the end of the successful Sunday afternoon fundraiser, Senft was an hour late for her day job at the beer store but managed to catch nearly 30 smiling dogs on camera.
A glossy of Leesa’s pups Oliver and Guapo.
Including mine, who are sure to find their likenesses inside a frame, hanging on a bathroom wall, for many years to come.
Leesa’s Oliver and Guapo. (Joey Senft)
Have a great week!
|
