My Pool has gone to the DOGS!

Several people have asked about my home studio package, specifically the pool options.  Well here is a fantastic shot showing you what it looks like.  We have a rock waterfall that can be used as a launch pad as shown below or the cave under the rocks has a seat and captures the sunlight perfectly!  The privacy wall is painted "Chili Pepper" and creates a wonderfully dramatic background against the Arizona sky.  Monsoon season is the perfect time for this location, the clouds build and create the amazing sky backgrounds!  See for yourself:

Furniture for photo shoots? What do you think?

Z Gallerie has this stunning chaise lounger and I think it is the perfect piece for my desert photography!  This photo does not even come close to reproducing the color which is called Pool.  'Pool' is a medium turquoise hue.  The style is somewhat contemporary but adds slight western charm with shiny chrome nail heads.  I love it, what do you think?

See the entire collection here: http://www.zgallerie.com/images/product/tearsheets/roomview_pauline_pool.jpg

Girls Night Out!

Girls Night Out is more like an all day girls day out!  This is a fun event that revolves around one of my favorite things to do: SHOPPING!  Girls Night Out happens about four times a year at various locations around the valley.  I bought some great jewelry and the cutest flip flops with some bling that you have ever seen!  This was my first event and I went to help out my friend Annie.  Annie is a professional make-up artist and she has developed a fantastic make-up line, Advanced Minerals.  I took some studio lights and my camera and we did some before/after shots.  Annie started her career working as a makeup artist in Hollywood doing film and television work.  Her makeup line is used on the television show NCIS!  All I can say is after a full day of working, my makeup still looks fresh at 11pm!

Come see Annie at the next event November 18 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Resort.  I am going to be there promoting Amy Gayle Photography as well. That may be the perfect place to give away one of those Gina Alexander Bags I have been raving about......

What's in that pet food?

http://doggybytes.ca/pet-food-dogs-breakfast-cbc-doc-zone/5183/

This is a nice article that links to a video about commercial pet foods.  I found it interesting and thought I would share it.  Like most things you have to listen and draw your own conclusions.

Desert Driving

There is nothing better than a drive in the desert to remind me why I love living here.  The colors are amazing this time of year!  Scoping out sites for fall shoots, I can't wait!

My new website is up and running!

http://www.amygaylephotography.com/

It's official, I finally chose a format for my website that I think I can live with for awhile, and I must say it is about time!  I really like the colors on the flash version....go check them out and leave me a message here telling me what you think!

Dining with the Dogs...literally

What a great evening I had tonight!  I attended a fundraiser for a local animal sanctuary, Mingus Manor.  This sanctuary has a great mission:

Mingus Manor Animal Sanctuary exists to provide lifetime care and a safe, loving and secure home for senior and special needs dogs and cats. While still able to lead quality lives, they are unable to find a permanent home due to their age, illness or handicaps. These wonderful creatures will receive food, shelter, medical treatment and all the love and attention they need and deserve for the rest of their lives.

What a wonderful and thoughtful expression of compassion that statement is and when you meet the lady running the show, you know it is from the heart!    That's Karen (the lady running the show) holding the ultimate in cuteness, Gumby. 

Gumby is 6 years old. A local shelter decided Gumby was un-adoptable because of birth defects to his legs. Defects of front and back legs on his right side force him to hop on his 2 left legs. He has 1 leg that is about 2" longer than all his other legs. His defects do not slow him down at all as he runs, jumps and plays like a normal dog - he loves his new toys! But Karen has taken him in and the little guy seemed to have a blast at the event tonight.

The highlight of tonights event was a silent auction, which I contributed to and of course had to participate in by winning an auction item or two.  I offered up a free photo session AND a canvas gallery wrap!  I cant wait to meet the winner and schedule their session.

 I also offered up one additional chance for auction attendees to help out this wonderful cause...at each table were cards with a special offer.  Book a session and 25% of your total print order will be donated back to the sanctuary.  Now that is a WIN WIN for everybody!  You get a beautiful portrait of your best friend while still helping out the fantastic people at Mingus Manor!

Now I can't wait until the 2nd Annual Dining w/ the Dogs happens so I can place some more of those silent bids!

I'm published!

I had a recent photo used in a newspaper article about agility!  This dog is 9 years old and acts like a pup!  She is truly amazing!  Thanks Debbie for submitting my photo with the story.  Gypsy competes in agility and fly-ball dog sports.  She recently completed her MEX (Merit of Excellence Award) which is one of the highest achievements in agility competition.  Congratulations to Debbie and Gypsy on their fantastic achievement!

The pond-ness monster in Pinetop, AZ stalks ducks....

oh wait, that is Zoe, Mason, & Junior Mint.

Ready to dive in...

Phoenix Area Agility Training

My Border Collie Zoe has been learning agility for two years now and has come a very long way, except for the weave poles.  I have tried it all and one thing I have learned, is there is no quick fix in weave pole training.  So tonight I visited a new facility in Scottsdale, Arizona Dog Sports and participated in a weave pole class with Zoe.  This is a 3000 square foot facility that is indoors, air conditioned and has a fabulous padded floor for traction and helps to soften the dogs landings.  There were eight dog/handler teams and the facility was really nice, we all had plenty of room to spread out and practice without getting in the way of each other.  The place is very well lit and has great parking.  All of the equipment appears to be brand new.  They offered channel weaves, gates, & two-by-two's so everybody could see the benefits each style offered to their dog.  In my case, I need Zoe to be faster running through the weaves and we used the unique system of gates to getting her revved up and running through the weaves.  I came away with some great ideas and a renewed sense of what I needed to accomplish in weave pole training.  I am truly excited about this new training location and hope to be a regular visitor over the summer.


For those of you who don't know, Zoe is a rescue dog from Arizona Border Collie Rescue.  The rescue is flooded with dogs at the moment and they have two new momma dogs with 15 puppies between them.  I saw seven of the puppies tonight and all I can say is cute, cute, cute!  They are all about three weeks old. If you know of anybody looking for a great dog, possibly for dog sports....contact AZBCR for details on these little guys.

Zoe, competing at a recent trial:

New Friend

What a great day it turned into!  After a cloudy morning sky we had an amazing mixture of blue sky and huge fluffy clouds later in the afternoon.   I met up with a very active volunteer for AZ Border Collie Rescue (AZBCR) and photographed her two rescue dogs, Indy & Jake.  We went to an area known to locals as the "Jewel of the Desert" or officially Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area.  What a beautiful area!  I can't wait to go back and explore it when I have time.  Indy and Jake were two of the best models I have had the pleasure of working with and both take amazing photographs.  I wanted to bring both of them home with me!  AZBCR saves the most spectacular dogs you will ever meet and today, I met two of the best!  We even met a new friend...Mr Frog and he posed for a few shots as well, hopefully he did not venture into my camera bag and travel home with me.