Well, it's a new year. 2008 let our camera lenses see more than ever before, with a variety of people, pets, products, and National Parks. Even the Yucatan. Now to see if I can out-do myself? Might be tough, but it's unquestionably going to be fun trying!

At left is the cover of the Birds USA annual, featuring a few of my parrot shots from the past year. Annual issues are fun to score a shot for the cover as they're on news stands for 12 months, and it's inspiring to walk past your images for that long a time. Keep your eyes peeled.

Pet photography makes up a good portion of my business, defintiely a niche. How did it start for me? That story goes back to my first paying freelance job, ever. I was in Chicago, and a stock company gave me a job for a greeting card company. They needed a dog...in a specific pose. So I open the letter, very excited (my first freelance photo job!) and see the details of the assignment, complete with a crude sketch. Imagine the look on my face...

I had to scour the local parks, awkwardly approaching people with their dogs, asking them if I could follow them a while to get the shot. I had the stock company's letter and the sketch with me as proof that I wasn't just some lunatic, but still, I was turned down a few times, go figure.

Anyway, I was recently in the NYC offices of Avanti, signing another 5-year license for the shot you see here (it's actually a composite, the dog replicated in Photoshop). Seems this is one of their best-selling Father's Day cards, and they want to do another print run! Hilarious, and excellent. The inside of the card reads, "Thanks dad - for teaching me to aim higher." Special thanks to Bridget at Avanti for the hospitality, grand tour, and laughs.

That said, my connections in the pet industry have grown as a result, of course. To the point that my likeness is being used as a squeaky dog toy. I'm a zombie, and my skin glows in the dark. I'll make grunting sounds to excite my four-legged "owner" into chewing me to pieces.

At left is the concept art, and the first 3-D prototype is due in anytime. I'll give you an update then, but in the meantime, smile and laugh with me. You just can't make this stuff up...and I must say, I definitely didn't see any of it coming on my 7th grade career aptitude tests.

Happy new year!