Catsby+Catalie+Aristocat // A Raleigh Cat Photography Session

Yes, you read that title correctly: A Raleigh Cat Photography Session. MY DREAM. Photography is fun but photography involving petting cats is even better. And photographing cats named entirely with puns is EVEN BETTER THAN THAT. For those who aren’t aware, I’m doing a fundraiser during the months of January and February for Safe Haven for Cats, a Raleigh non-profit no-kill shelter for feline friends. They rely on donations and volunteers to keep their shelter running, and I believe in what they do (it’s also where we adopted our own fuzzbucket cats so I’m a little biased). Because they rely on donations and I wanted to give back, I’m giving 50% of my photography fee to Safe Haven for all cat sessions at the moment, and I’m so glad that Liz and Mitchell participated!

Liz is related to the fab couple that is Dottie and Jon (she’s Jon’s sister) and I’ve worked with her before at a few family related weddings! Liz is just incredible – hilarious and generous and loves her cats. Turns out that her boyfriend Mitchell is the same way. Liz said that Mitchell would prefer an entire farm full of cats if he could, and I 100% agree and will ask them to live there if they ever make this cat farm a reality. All of their cats are rescues and are absolutely gorgeous. Catsby is the gray+white longhaired cat who has a constant look of, “WHAT?!” but is very friendly and outgoing. Aristocat is the ragdoll cat who is so gorgeous but also insaaaanely friendly and outgoing. Part of this might have to do with the fact that I gave her treats upon my arrival but she’s truly a gentle, loving cat. The middle child is Catalie, all black, who was not entirely sure about the whole thing but came out for a fewwww pictures before returning to hiding underneath the couch (2/3 cat wins ain’t bad). I absolutely love working with people who adore their animals at this level, and it was a delight working with Liz and Mitchell. Thank you guys so much for having me in your home and participating in the Safe Haven fundraiser!

  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Cat portrait photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Long haired gray and white cat
  • Long haired gray and white cat
  • Long haired gray and white cat
  • Ragdoll cat
  • Long haired gray and white cat
  • Ragdoll cat
  • Cat portraits Raleigh NC
  • Long haired gray and white cat
  • Ragdoll cat
  • Long haired gray and white cat
  • Long haired gray and white cat
  • Long haired gray and white cat
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham
  • Pet photographer Raleigh Durham

At Home with Dena+Richard // A Family Session

Oh boy oh boy oh boy. Fall is our favorite. And it’s even more our favorite when we walk up to a house to photograph a family session and a six-year-old werewolf answers the door. Meet Dena (mom), Richard (dad), Abi (Pocahontas), and Jacob (werewolf)! They spent their day-in-the-life family session carving pumpkins, doing dance routines in the living room, splashing in puddles, and exercising some serious restraint in not cuddling their cat Snickers too hard.

The first thing we noticed is that everyone was American except dad who had an awesome British accent. So naturally we asked how he found himself to be living in North Carolina with a werewolf and a Pocahontas and it turns out that him and Dena were pen pals when they were young! Legit pen pals! Anyone who’s probably borderline thirty and older remembers this… but you used to be like, “Oh hey, I wonder what it would be like to exchange letters with kids in other parts of the world and hear about their culture and country. Let me get involved in a group that exchanges addresses with other kids!” At the time this was completely normal and safe, but it turns out that you learned less about culture and countries and more just about how middle school actually sucks no matter what part of the world you live in. But anyway, that’s how they met, and eventually when they were in college they actually met in real life, and now they both live in NC with their kids and cat and this one other cat that isn’t actually theirs but comes around a lot. They like the Counting Crows surprisingly as much as we do (a rare breed).

Abi and Jacob are seriously good, polite, well-behaved children who actually seem to enjoy each other’s company despite being relatively close in age and a boy and girl (the only sign of dissent was a large poster hanging from Abi’s bedroom door that said “Unless Emergency DO NOT come in NOTICE NOW” that she informed me was directed at her brother). At one point Abi was using a suction-cup bow and arrow set while Jacob got out his rubber-band gun, and nobody aimed their weapon at the other’s head, which I found incredibly impressive. So A+ parenting, Dena and Richard! We enjoy your crew immensely.