BOZEMAN CHILDREN and SENIOR PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER, BOZEMAN BABY, CHILD, FAMILY and FAMILY REUNION PHOTOGRAPHY by SUSANN SAAREL » Pets

Feeling the love…

Susann — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:37:24 +0000

It was an unusually warm winter afternoon when Jennifer and her adorable 5 yo son, Alec arrived for their Holiday Mini Session at Sky Ranch. Jennifer and her son are so so sweet together. And the way little Alec snuggled with his rescue Boston Terrier, Max was equally as charming and sweet. But when Alec looked up at the sky and outstretched his arms toward the warmth of the sun, it was then I knew he was really having fun and feeling the love!

Growing Family

Susann — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:15:29 +0000

One of the greatest “perks” about doing what I do is watching families become, grow and expand. Last Fall, when I photographed Carrie & Ellis at their Paradise Valley hillside home, it was just the two of them, cute as can be, and their giant of a puppy, Chimba, a Rhodesian Ridgeback! This year, it’s Carrie & Ellis, still cute as can be…Chimba, and Chimba’s newest playmate, the lovely Mucinda. Still, the best is yet to come…the family is growing still…soon, very soon, baby will make five!

Beautiful Holiday Cards

Susann — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:58:51 +0000

One of the things that’s most beautiful about these Holiday Cards is that they LOOK like they cost a fortune, but don’t! Not only are these designer-quality cards fully customizable with your choice of photo(s) and text, but the customer service level of the card companies I am affiliated with, is second to none (only the best for you, my dear clients).

What makes them affordable, is that they’re do-it-yourself, but nowadays everyone is so computer-savvy, doing it yourself isn’t an issue. Plus these companies make it easy for even the less than savvy folks. So who are the fabulous ones I am affiliated with?…

Tiny Prints, Minted and finestationery.com are my faves and here are some of my favorite designs from their 2009 Holiday Card collections:

Tiny Prints offers flat cards, simple and elegant, and is probably the most affordable. Minted offers luxe cards and introduced a delightful holiday booklet card this year…a great way of showing off multiple images. FineStationery.com is a little pricier than the rest with cards designed by Vera Wang, Kate Spade, Cranes & Co. and more.

Click on the links in the footer of this blog to check out the various collections. If you have any questions at all about how to obtain digital files from me or how to order through any of these affiliates, please feel free to contact me!

Fall in Love

Susann — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:11:09 +0000

I fall in love with portrait photography over and over again, simply because I have the most wonderful clients! Dusti came to me through word of mouth…from a neighbor whose family I photographed several years ago. Having never had professional family portraits done, Dusti was a bit anxious about the session. She needn’t have been. Her children were not only beautiful, but so very cooperative and delightful and her husband and she…well, where do you think those babies got their amazing good looks from? Check ‘em out…

And I mustn’t forget to mention the family’s amazing 3-legged dog, Ema, who jumped out of their car window and followed us into the woods to make absolutely sure she’d be part of the family photos. What a spirit!

Back at the Ranch

Susann — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:01:27 +0000

It was a glorious drive to Paradise Valley and a glorious ranch setting. Animal-lover, Cindy, who lives on this slice of Paradise was the winning bidder of the Pet and Family Photo Session which I donated to the Stafford Animal Shelter‘s annual Fur Ball last May. She gathered all her loved ones for the session…

Her beautiful daughter Serena brought along her dog, Scarlett. Cindy’s horses Bo, Romeo and Shammy had been meticulously groomed for their photo session that day and Cindy’s handsome friend, Andrew was all duded-up in his cowboy finest ready to ride off with Cindy into the wild blue yonder at sunset…

Now I’m dying to know, which photo she’ll select for her 20×30 fine art canvas print included in the package!! Thanks again, Cindy for supporting the Stafford Animal Shelter and for your winning bid!

Joy and Love

Susann — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:04:57 +0000

I am going to take a detour from my usual posting of recent photo sessions and the like to share with you a cause very close to my heart. We are animal lovers and have several rescue animals of our own, including dogs, horses and goats and most recently a mallard duck…but our rescues, though varied, have been mild in comparison to that of my friend, Penny and the many other volunteers that came forth to assist in Operation New Beginnings in Billings, Montana when 200 dogs, mostly English Shepherds, were seized from hoarder, Linda Kapsa’s Ballantine property in December 2008.

Sadly, as this operation comes to a close within the next few weeks in Yellowstone County, Montana, dogs are being shipped cross country by the NESR (National English Shepherd Rescue) as opposed to being placed in homes right here in Montana. Volunteers who have given 8 months of their lives to these dogs, who love these dogs, know these dogs and with whom the dogs have bonded, are being denied adoption. Yellowstone County residents are being denied adoption. And yet, volunteers and Yellowstone County residents were to be given first priority in the adoption process by order of the District Court.

This video chronicles the story of one volunteer, Penny and her unwavering dedication to Joy and Love, both of which were denied a home with Penny…

Please…I know how busy you are, but it is within your power to make a difference TODAY. Please lend your support to Penny and the Operation New Beginnings volunteers by joining their cause, Give Joy and Her Friends a Voice or the Facebook Group at Give Penny her Puppy! to learn more about how you can help.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Crosswinds and the 10th Annual Fur Ball…

Susann — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:17:59 +0000

Today a crosswind blew…completely out of left field. Doug had just dropped off the twins at school and was headed home when he spied an emaciated hound puppy, perhaps 6 months old, wandering just outside the school grounds lawn… sniffing, sniffing. He called out to the dog who instantly came a runnin’ and leaped into the car as though he’d been expecting this ride. “And what took you so long??? he seemed to ask.

The thing is this…this is unusual behavior for Doug. Not that he doesn’t love animals or worry about strays, but he usually assumes these so-called “lost” dogs live in the neighborhood or he reminds us that we’re running late for something or other and that we simply don’t have time to pick up and deliver a stray. Normally, it is either the twins or I begging him to stop to try and coax a lost dog into our car and surely, over the years, we have delivered quite a few to the local shelters to have them be happily reunited with their owners or adopted by loving families.

But today, I must say, I am proud of my husband who all on his own accord, brought home a lost and hungry dog. It was not the twins and I calling out to “Papa” to STOP!, but another voice that called out to Doug this morning… And so, a 5th dog joined our household, at least for the day and night. After all, the Stafford Animal Shelter is closed on Mondays.

“Shack” followed Doug all over the house and howled like only a hound dog could, whenever Doug left the room and his view. Interesting. I could barely get a stitch of work done with all the HOWLING goin’ on…

Whether or not we are able to keep “Shack”, depends on whether or not he has owners that are missing him. In the meantime, he certainly has a home with us and especially with Doug, whose instant attachment to this creature honestly surprises me and truly touches my heart…

Just when you think you’re life is set and you know who you’re married to and where your kids are and how your day and afternoon and night are going to go, a crosswind blows and scatters everything as you know it completely out of place and magically into place all at the very same time.

“Shack’s” appearance in our lives is also timely in that once again, I am honored to have been asked to donate a live auction item…a Child, Family and Pet Portrait Session to include a 20×30 fine art canvas print to the Stafford Animal Shelter’s fabulous annual fundraiser, the Fur Ball!!! The invites’ cover…“and now for something completely different” seems to have, in some strange way, foretold today’s events…not only with its choice of words, but also due to the fact that there are FIVE dogs dancing on the cover!…(well, ok…I admit…two of them look like cats).

So let the crosswinds blow and be sure to save the date!…this Friday, May 15th for a whirlwind tour around the world with wine, beer and food from exotic regions. Visit Italy, Spain, France, Australia, South America, American Wine Country and more…all without leaving Montana. The fun begins at 6 pm at Chico Hot Springs Convention Center. Bid on great items including work by featured artist Parks Reece, a week in Mexico, original art by Jeff Bridges, ethnic meals, a Yellowstone Safari, quilts, furniture, massages, handmade pet-themed ceramics and much much more!

As owners of three rescue dogs from not only the Stafford Animal Shelter in Livingston, but the Heart of the Valley Shelter in Bozeman as well, and with our 9 year old twins being volunteers at Stafford, we as a family are proud and honored to lend our support on behalf of the animals in any way we are able.

The Fur Ball has been one of Livingston’s hot ticket item for YEARS!…and you won’t want to miss this one…Call 406/222-1313 to buy raffle or Fur Ball tickets or visit www.staffordanimalshelter.org to buy your Fur Ball ‘passport’ today!

Oh…and yes, of course, we’ll keep you posted about our temporary addition, “Shack”.

***We are happy to report that “Shack” was returned to his rightful owner on Tuesday, May 12th.***

Dog Day Afternoon

Susann — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:06:00 +0000

It may as well have been the dog days of summer the day my session with Larry & Dickey took place in late October! It was so warm, even their dogs had to cool themselves off in the creek! Larry was the highest bidder on my pet & family photo session in a rousing live auction a few years back at the Stafford Animal Shelter’s annual Fur Ball fundraiser…and then he took off to the Bahamas to grow orchids!

Now he and his wife, Dickey are back and breaking ground on a new home east of Livingston at this stunning location! They love it and so do “The Cabana Boys”…Boomer, Diesel (the goldens) and Otto (the Cardigan Corgi)…

And there’s nothing like concluding a session with a glass of wine served from the trunk of Larry’s car, to celebrate the beauty that surrounded us, the love that Larry & Dickey share with one another and their Cabana Boys, and the joy their future holds on a perfect Dog Day Afternoon…

Here’s Dickey’s response to their online gallery:

“You are a master! Genius! We love them…will place order tonight!”

…and they did!

Paradise found…

Susann — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:25:00 +0000

When you’re young and in love and living in Paradise Valley, Montana, life is pretty darn perfect. So it would figure that the day of my session with Carrie and Ellis would be perfect too! In fact, haven’t we been having the most awesome weather???

The newest addition to Carrie & Ellis’ “family” is Chimba, now 6 months old. (Get a load of the size of him!) I think puppies and dogs are harder to photograph than children, but their “baby”, Chimba was on his best puppy behavior. Obeying commands, only occasionally to burst forth in joy…

Isn’t Chimba absolutely gorgeous? I had never seen a Rhodesian Ridgeback before! They are also known as the African Lion Dog. He was one big ball of bounding energy! And oh, THAT FACE!!!

This is the darling look you get from Chimba when you call out “Cookie! Cookie!”

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Carrie and Ellis are pretty cute too! And yes, I do believe they’ve found Paradise!

Have dog, will travel…

Susann — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:05:00 +0000

I don’t know for sure but I have a feeling Zoe gets to go everywhere her “mama” Maureen goes. Maureen and her husband, John, drove all the way from Butte to have me photograph their adorable 3-year old son, Ryan and do their family portraits which of course, included their first “child”, dog Zoe.
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No doubt about it, Ryan is as cute as can be, but then again, so is Zoe…

Zoe was a real scene-stealer, but nothing could take away from how much these parents love their little boy. Indeed, it is a special joy and blessing to become a parent a little later in life…Maureen and John truly treasure Ryan and being a family and it shows!

Thanks Maureen and John for making the trek from Butte all the way up to Sky Ranch! It was a real pleasure meeting you!