You have landed on the Nicole Mlakar Photography blog. You are in for a real treat! This is where I will be posting all sorts of lovely photos for your viewing pleasure and maybe some odd thoughts thrown in for good measure. "Yes, that rhymed and no I didn't mean to do that." Most of the images on this blog will be of the pet variety but, I do intend on showing some two-legged peeps in the near future. So, keep checking back and share all your witty thoughts with me along the way.
Oh, and this should go without saying, but I'm going to say it anyway, you cannot use these images for any commercial reason whatsoever. You are allowed to use them on a non-commercial website ONLY with a link back to nicolemlakarphotography.com and maybe an awesome shout out, if you are so inclined. I will definitely entertain any commercial requests, just contact me for licensing details. If you would like further information please go check out my website or send me an email. Thanks for stopping by.
Tommy Peterson, over at Pieces of the Picture Blog, interviewed me for his weekly photograher spotlight. This is a newly created part of his blog but he already has some amazing photographer interviews. Thanks Tommy for the awesome interview!
Ella acts like she doesn’t want to have anything to do with water. However, I have seen her on several occasions stand in a bucket of water, belly high, to cool off. My husband and I talked all summer long about getting a baby pool for Ella to play in (yes, we clearly don’t have kids). Well, we finally got around to searching out a pool and all we could find was this brightly colored blow-up pool. It’s of course a lovely pool and a fun color but I was worried she would poke a hole in it almost immediately and then all the fun would be over. Ella was really apprehensive and curious all at the same time. After much coaxing by John she finally went in for a cool refreshing dip. I think this is the beginning of some good times…
I was contacted back in May to contribute to a photo/art book called the Dogs Rule Fatbook. The awesomely talented Jill Beninato, of Sit.Stay.Smile Photography & Art, came up with this fantastic idea that had an equally fantastic purpose. The book will be auctioned off on eBay (November 14th!) and 100% of the sale price will be donated to A Place to Bark. How cool is that?
Even cooler are all of the amazing female artists/photographers that joined in this effort - now lovingly referred to as the “Sisterhood of the Pet Portrait Artists.” Below you will find links to all of them:
Manon Doyle of Hoochie Poochie Studios , blog
Jill Beninato of Sit Stay Smile Photography, blog
Jamie Pflughoeft of Cowbelly Photography,
Leigh Jackson of Noisy Dog Studio, blog
Moira McLaughlin of Dream Dogs Art, blog
Melissa Langer of Pug Notes, blog
Linda O’Neill of Abby Creek Studios, blog
Rebecca Lansdowne of Art Paw, blog
Nicole Mlakar-Livingston of Nicole Mlakar-Livingston Photography, blog
Wendy Crumbley of 2 Dog Studio, blog
Bernie Berlin from A Place To Bark, blog
Anne Leuck Feldhaus of Anne Leuck Feldhaus Studio Ltd., blog
Kathy Weller Wellerwishes Pet Portraiture, blog
AND… as if that wasn’t enough, the Dogs Rule Fatbook was also in the September/October issue of Bark magazine. Hopefully, all of this awesome press will blow the roof off the eBay auction and A Place to Bark will be overwhelmingly surprised with their donation. So, PLEASE keep the November 14th date on your calendar and get ready to win this book!
Cover of the book and list of artists
My art page shows my dog Ella flying an airplane over the annoying squirrels below. My photo page on the back shows Ella with her favorite stuffed toy tied to her bandanna. What dog would be that happy with their toy strapped to their back?
Below are Jill Beninato’s pages. She is so super talented. I have seen some of her other art journals and they are fantastic. Jill is an incredible artist!
And of course, the cover of Bark and the interior page with the write up on Dogs Rule. Images and content ©Bark Magazine 2008
Here is a link to Jamie Pflughoeft’s Blog that has tons more photos of the book. Enjoy!
hi nicole!
it was so much fun being a part of this project. i love the page you made for me.
have a great day!
melissa
Just found your blog, great stuff… can’t believe how many photogs are using this theme (I am too) but there is a reason, it is a really great look and feel. Nice blog.
you girls rule. I love it!
I LOVE your pages! Putting your dog in an airplane — brilliant
thanks for the link girlie! I can’t WAIT to watch the auction! I finally picked up the copy of the Bark just a couple of days ago. Too cool. Hope we get to do it again someday. An annual thing perhaps? Poor Jill, lol!
Thanks for your kind words Nicole and for participating in the project. I love your photos of the book, I need to take some of the auction book soon and get them over to Rebecca…she is going to do a video thingy that should be cool. I hope we can do another collaboration of some sort next year…
Wow - a video! That would be super cool. I am definitely looking forward to doing another project soon.
The dad of these two boys sent me some pictures ahead of our session to let me “know what I was in for.” I’ll tell you what I was in for… a whole lot of fun. These two had tons of energy and were super cute. Beemer is the long haired charmer and Austin is the short haired sleek dynamo.
These three Basset Hound girls were just lovely. They each had such unique personalities and were extremely loving and patient. Two of the girls - Gabby and Daisy were both rescue dogs. They both are blind but you would never know it. Gabby would look right at me if I even breathed in her direction - a very keen girl. Lucy is the oldest of the three but she has a childish smile and a twinkle in her eye that keeps her looking like a young gal.
The most difficult part of photographing pets is when there is a pet that is sick and terminally ill. The urgency to capture this moment in time is overwhelming and the emotions are hard to overcome with every click of the shutter. Gabby, pictured first below, has congestive heart failure. My heart goes out to her and her mom - who loves her dearly.
Beautiful collection of portraits.
These look like paintings. They are soo beautiful Nicole! My favorite photos of yours to date.
The snout diptych just rocks. I love it. You’re really doing some great work here.
Beautiful shots. Love the details, but I especially like the shots on the floor.
Gosh Nicole, these are breathtakingly beautiful. I love the one of the mom sitting in the background. I love all the detail shots too.
These are so cute! I think it’s awesome that you are a pet photographer. We need some people out there promoting our furry little ones!
These are gorgeous photos Nicole. You did a tremendous job of honoring these sweet pups and I’m sure their parents will cherish the shots for the rest of their lives. And I totally hear ya about the sadness of photographing sick animals. But I think there is a lot of joy in celebrating their lives with photography; I can’t imagine anything more meaningful.
They made me weep. Just beautiful. The floor shots are amazing. The light is transcending. I love them all!
Thank you everyone for the awesome comments!!
wow! these are amazing!
this really is a beautiful collection . . i love, love, love the two with the dog lying down. they are so timeless.
The day has come - don’t be afraid… “yes” this is a baby and “no” there isn’t an animal anywhere in this post. If you have ever read my blog intro you would know that this blog would one day show images of two-legged creatures, called…people. Gasp! I know it may be hard to imagine but these are still really lovely portraits and I hope you like them just as much. Once I get my “lifestyle photography” in high gear I will decide how to separate the two (or not) but for now…we will have people and pets living harmoniously under one blog.
So, this is Ruby Louise Jay. She is lovely and you know you want to leave her a comment.
This majestic looking boy is only 1 year old and he has one heck of a lovely ridge on his back. Payton shows all the pride of the Rhodesian Ridgeback line in the way he carries himself and in the soulful look of his eyes.
I absolutely love the first one. It looks like it should be a canvas print.
So glad to have found your blog,I also love the first photo in your lineup, beautiful work!
I love the 4th one. Itportrays the breed traits beautifully.
Lovely images Nicole…I love how you photographed the ridge….it looks almost sculptural if that makes sense.
Wow these are beautiful. The ridge photos DO look sculptural — love the angles and lines.
Nicole,
I LOVE these photos!! My favorite, the one of him touching the water. They are priceless pics, just beautiful.
OMG Payton is gorgeous and so are your shots Nicole! Fergie would love to have him as a boyfriend, although he looks too handsome to be ‘in her league’, lol. Fantastic work as always. Love the sepia on the last shots. Oh- before I forget- I DID get your emails (both of them), and promise to reply very soon!
I totally loved shooting Payton’s ridge - I could have spent the whole day doing nothing but that. Thanks everyone for your comments. Jamie - no problem, I know you are super busy!
That first shot is ‘Wow’! Amazing colours and perspective. My first dog ever was a Ridgeback. I was only a child when she passed, but I still love her.
AH! a RIDGEBACK!! i get pretty excited when i find other ridgebacks!
(…can you tell i just stumbled across your blog today and am very inspired by your photos?? that explains why there are going to be about fifty comments from me in one day…)
Three adorable dogs + two gorgeous cats = a whole lot of awesome images for you to look at. Abby is the beautiful Birman with soft fur. Gabriel is the majestic Ragdoll with looks that kill. Bailey is the sweet Coton de Tulear with the snow white coat. Cody is the super cute Yorkie with sparkly eyes. Last, but certainly not least, Macy is the spunky Yorkie-Bichon mix with the big brown eyes. Enjoy!
So those are my sweet little kids! This is one proud mama! They look great! Good job!
Fantastic photos Nicole! I want a family like that!
Hey Sweetie! Everytime I visit your site I am blown away and amazed at your talent. YOU ARE INCREDIBLE!!!
Beautiful photos! Looks like a happy family to me! Keep up the AMAZING work!!!
kitties and yorkies and kitties, oh my! we should get these guys together with tiggz, brodie and taz and you and I should photograph ALL of them- wouldn’t that be a riot?! Your cat shots are a cut above Nicole. Cat photographer Par Excellence.
I love the pictures of your coton de tulear. I have a little girl Coton and her name is Bebe Darling. I love taking photos of her as well.
She can be seen on http://www.theroyaldog.blogspot.com.
Great, great job ! I love how your coton is groomed !
If you follow my blog you may recognize these two from the Dachshund rescue images I posted last week. I was invited back to the Doggie Deli and Spa to photograph the owners precious new babe Emily and the ever adorable Otis. I am 100% in love with the cuter than cute duck feet that Otis happily sports. I mean I just want to play patty cake with those things…really!
