I am always intrigued by how one thing leads you down a path to another and how creativity connects things and people and events in your life . . . My daughter got the part of Dorothy in the school play. A pretty big deal to any mom and especially me So as soon as we got her costume, I sent out a message to my friends and fam letting them know that I needed a “Toto” to model for a photo session. Because what self respecting animal nut like me would do a portrait of Dorothy without a good Toto as a sidekick ?! One of my good friends, Cindy Scott of Dogs, Etc. has a dog named Bosley and he is always up for attention.

Sophia and Bosley He is right at home in my studio and the lap of pretty much anyone
Then when I looked at the site of one of my favorite local rescues, FOCHP, I saw a puppy who was practically a dead ringer for Toto! They were calling him Scrappy. I called and asked if I could borrow Scrappy for a couple days. Since Scrappy was small (about 12 lbs) and part Cairn Terrier (which was the breed of the real Toto) I thought he’d be a good fit with Sophia my daughter.

Sophia and Scrappy/Toto in the shot I liked best. I made this into a poster for her.

Scrappy is now called Toto by the folks at FOCHP. Toto/Scrappy is a phenomenal dog. He is a 4-6 month old puppy and he is good with dogs, cats, kids and everyone!! Unbelievably he has been with FOCHP for a little over a week and has not been adopted yet. Anybody want a perfect little dog (red shoes not included) If you are interested in adopting him contact FOCHP.org. Since Scrappy/Toto is a rescue dog “looking to find his way home” I took some photos of him by himself so that FOCHP could use them to get him adopted.

And then I thought, hey, this image would make a great promotional ad for “Adoptions” and so it is. If you are a magazine or other form of media that would like to use this ad as a PSA to promote pet adoption please contact me at info@lisascarsi.com.

So what have I learned . . . sometimes it is good to start at the beginning and just follow the yellow brick road.

Lately I’ve been doing so many adorable canvas wall clusters. Here is one for one of my pet clients. The pieces are 2 11″x14″ and 2 14×14″. The doggies are named Zachary (the boy who is not always an angel but sure looks cute with wings . Sophie who has the big eyes, and Zoe who looks smashing in the red feathered hat. (Yes, Karen the pieces are on order. Can’t wait to see them in person!)))

All the pets in this video are looking for homes. They are being fostered by the good folks at Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets (FOHCP) but they sure would like “fur”ever homes. If your home is full, would be kind enough to share this video far and wide so that these babies will find families to love for “always”.

Lisa Scarsi takes all sorts of pictures, but one of her most-special specialties is pet photography. And, during the month of February, booking any sort of photo session with Lisa Scarsi Photography will help a particular pet in crisis.

Lilly is a homeless, 6-year-old Pomeranian with a bladder stone. She lost her human companion to cancer six months ago, and has spent the past five months at Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets. She will eventually be looking for a new family to love and be loved by, but not before she has surgery to have the bladder stone removed.

Lilly is friendly to humans and dogs, alike. (Cats, not so much.) At only 5 lbs., she would would make a great companion for the right feline-free person or family. But that bladder stone — which can’t be shrunk via medication — is threatening both her life and her chance to find her new forever home.

The surgery and aftercare will cost between $800 and $1500.

And that’s where Lisa Scarsi Photography comes in. Book a photo session with Lisa Scarsi Photopgraphy during the month of February (whether for pet photography, maternity photography, family portraits, senior pictures, or just to get professional pics of your kids), and 30% of your session fee will be donated to Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets to help with paying for Lilly’s much-needed surgery.

As much as Lisa would love to take your picture, she’d also like for you to know that donations can made directly to FOCHP, too! Click here, if you simply want to donate to Lilly, or contact Lisa Scarsi Photography at (714) 255-1382 (click here to email) to get great photos while helping a great dog!

Donations can also be mailed to:

FOCHP
26423 Scott Road
Menifee CA 92584

No donation is too small, but don’t forget to mention Lilly in the memo line on your check!

So, it’s a new year 2012. We all lived through Christmas and the hustle bustle of the holidays. As I look over 2011 and what the year meant to me, I said one thing to someone else and it turns out it’s really good advice for me (and maybe for others too). Follow your heart. It’s easier said than done of course . . . but when you do, or more appropriately stated when you let yourself, things have a way of just falling into place. In the spirit of following my heart I’ve made some New Year’s resolutions to keep me on the path:

1. Spend more quality time with my kids, husband, friends and fur-kids. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the “chores” of life you forget how much fun it is to just chill and make chocolate chip cookies with your peeps.
2. Do more good stuff for charities. When I can make even the slightest of difference in someone’s life, I feel so much better. I have a plan in the works. A way for my photography to help more non-profits. I’m really excited about it. More to come on that later . . .
3. Get organized, re-purpose/donate stuff I don’t need, and streamline processes. Clearing a path so that I don’t get tripped up in the “unimportant” along the way.
4. Take better care of me. Yep. I said it. This past year I was sooooo busy with my business and many other things that I did not carve out enough time for yoga and walking.

That’s my plan for 2012. I’m writing it down, slapping a little sparkly heart sticker (that my daughter gave me) on it and posting it on my wall, right above my 30″ computer monitor that I stare at all the time!!

Happy New Year everyone!!! 2011 was an amazing year for me professionally and personally and I’m hoping that in 2012, I will continue to follow my heart (with a side of chocolate chip cookies ‘ta boot).

Don’t wait in line at the mall, boogie on over to the studio for some Fun with Santa. Yes this is THE man and he’s he’s coming over to take “present” requests, check his list and, if weather permitting, perch your kid on his Santa Cycle. I’ll be taking photos of the fun for the “best time ever” you/your child/your pup will have with Santa. Booking appointments for Sunday, November 13th from 11-4:30 so hop on it or you’ll miss out on the fun. Sessions will be private 20 minute sessions and you will get a 5×7 print and a small branded file for intenet sharing. Cost $100 Call 714 255-1382 to reserve your session. (these sessions are designed for one or two children or one pup-for larger groups call the studio to discuss options)

Yep, we’re doing some mini sessions at the studio for Halloween !! I wanna see your costumes!! Best costume of the day will win a $50 print credit too!!!
Call the studio to reserve your spot. They’ll go fast!!

I’ve been working on calendars this year and the first one is called Furry Faces. This calendar contains a whole year of adorable furry faces that I photographed pro bono to help get these pets homes!! It is a CD Jewel Case calendar (5″x 5.5″) so it will fit nicely on a desktop or counter and the images/pages sit in the CD case holder. The first edition of this calendar was printed as a fundraiser for FOCHP (Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets). I work with a few rescue groups but most of my rescue portraits are of FOCHP pets. The good news is all proceeds from the sale of this calendar will go to FOCHP to help them save even more pets next year. So buy it and get your friends to buy it (and their friends too). You’ll have cute Furry Faces to look at all year (to be specific . . . over 20 pups and 2 kittens). You can feel good about helping to get more rescue pets good homes. AND there is no reason to feel sorry for the pets in the calendar because due to the incredible efforts of the amazing rescue volunteers at FOCHP  most of these furry faces are now  living in a loving home (I think everyone but the last bumper crop of kittens has a home.)   How’s that for a warm fuzzy?!   If you are interested in adopting a pet go to your local rescue or shelter! There are tons of furry faces who would love to meet you!!  Next year,  I would love to expand the distribution of the Furry Faces calendar to help as many rescue groups and shelters as possible.  We could also use some local businesses to sponsor the printing of more calendars so that even more funds can be raised!! If you are with a local Southern California business and would like to help sponsor the calendar’s printing cost please contact me!! (my personal piggy bank is running low

A while back I started a folder I named “Bloopers” and after a few weeks I forgot all about it. If things don’t have a deadline or a pulse, sometimes they slip my mind. Plants never make it long at my house. Today I came across the folder and some of these are just so funny I had to share. Hope they make you giggle a bit and want to hug your dog, cat, kid or random stranger. I thought I’d add the pets comments . . .

“Seriously, who picked out this outfit?!!”

“Does this background color make my butt look big?”

“I may look cute but I could mess you up!”

“I just peed on her backdrop . . . shh, don’t tell.”

“Mmmm, the top of your head tastes fabulous!! What WERE you rolling in?”

Here is a sweet little angel I photographed while I was visiting family in upstate New York. We had great light outside so we took this little cutie out in the grass and used all natural light. She was the happiest little girl during the whole session and she had us all completely wrapped around her fingers (when she wasn’t chewing on them) Thanks for spending time with me & my camera little Corina. You are absolutely beautiful!