being a photographer of children and pets is a very joyful profession. it’s been a busy summer so far (knock on wood). i  couldn’t ask for a better way to start out the day than going to a park in the wee hours of the morning with a coffee and some water and playing with children and their moms. sometimes capturing some of the most precious moments… sometime’s i can hardly believe my eyes (or my camera’s eye).

lately i have been thinking more and more of what brought me here.. and my thoughts always go back to kramer.

kramer was my  dog who passed away this past february. he helped me become an adult, a photographer and now a wife.

i met kramer in NY about 9 years ago and he changed my life. i rescued him at barc shelter in brooklyn but it was really him who was doing the rescuing.

now 5 months since his passing i’ve gotten married and have somehow acquired 2 of the wildest worst behaved pups in the universe (i love them to tears, but god, they are BAD). admittedly, i have had some difficulty getting back to photographing dogs, (it still tugs at my heartstrings) and though i didn’t  think life possible without kramer, because of him, it’s better than ever imaginable. thank you kramey, i wouldn’t be here had we never met.

kids of summer:

(an article that just came out )

By Amanda Degard

Sabrina Helas, Los Angeles photographer of pets and children, along with 36 other artists from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, has contributed cat- and dog-themed artwork and photographs to the 2009 edition of Paws for Charity Art Book Project. 

Paws for Charity Art Book Project is an effort put together by Sara Harley, founder of Paws for Charity. All proceeds from the book sales go to the Avon Crusade for Breast Cancer. 
Harley originally contacted Helas to see if she would be interested in contributing to the project. “Naturally I was honored to be asked to be a part of such an amazing collaborative, and knowing that 100 percent of the proceeds were going to be donated to raise funds for breast cancer just made it so much more,” Helas says.

Each image in the book has its own story. Throughout the year, these back stories will be published on the Paws for Charity blog,PawsForCharity.Blogspot.com. On the blog you can also find information on how to submit artwork to be considered for the 2010 edition of Paws for Charity Art Book Project. 

The book can be purchased online atBlurb.com/bookstore/detail/606337.

A few months ago the talented Sara Harley asked me to be apart of a wonderful project which was very close to her heart, It is called “Paws for Charity Art Book ” The goal was to bring artists together to raise funds for breast  cancer. After all her hard work the book is complete and ready for purchase. The proceeds of this book will go to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.

Thanks to Sara, 37 artists came together to make it happen those artists are:

• AllisonFPhoto
• Autumn Sun
• Benedetta Bozzo
• Blenda Tyvoll
• Bonz Photography
• Brooke Churchill
• C.Wade Photography
• Cabin Press Studio
• Cameron Graves Hayden
• Cookies and Water Photography  (me)
• Dogs by Wags
• Duffett Folk Art
• Erin Johnson Photography
• Gary Heller Photography
• Gigi Leonard
• Heath Photo
• In The Meantime
• Jennie Huettel
• Julie Magers Soulen
• Karen Davis
• Lemoncholys
• Melissa McDaniel
• Miriam Mas
• MKC Photography
• NMD Photography
• Nutsy Coco
• Once Upon A Blue Crow
• Out And About With Your Dog
• Pawzitiveart
• Photopia.etsy.com
• Picanco Photography
• Rachel’s Studio
• Soul Humming
• Urban Junkies Photography
• We Three Cats
• Wood And Pixels
• Zmac Photography

If you would like to purchase this book please click on the image!

if you would like to read the official press release you can click here.

“The Whole Planet Foundation’s mission is to create economic partnerships with the poor in those developing-world communities that supply Whole Foods Market stores with products. Through innovative assistance for entrepreneurship – including direct microcredit loans and tangible support for other community partnership projects – they seek to unleash the energy and creativity of every human being they work with in order to create wealth and prosperity in emerging economies.

Whole Planet Foundation, is a private, nonprofit organization established by Whole Foods Market, which provides grants to microfinance institutions in Latin America, Africa and Asia who in turn develop and offer microenterprise loan programs, training and other financial services to the self-employed poor.”

 I am donating a shoot to this amazing cause. If you would like to bid on it or any of the other wonderful donations please email 

 Ashley.Eaton@wholefoods.comor Kimberly.Patton@wholefoods.co

 or go down to the Thousand Oaks Store:

 740 North Moorpark Rd 

 Thousand Oaks, California 91360

  You can cast your bid until March 20th

The beautiful and talented  Moira McLaughlin’s blog Dogs Art Today turns two!! Her blog is amazing, and I highly recommend it to any and ALL dog lovers and lover of the arts in general.

In honor of the birthday  she has a “gift for one lucky reader, a Valentino Pug poster.  This amazing prize was generously donated by the producers of Valentino: The Last Emperor, a documentary directed by Matt Tyrnauer that follows the Italian designer for the final two years of his celebrated career.  The film is also billed as a love story about Valentino and his business partner of 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti.  And, from what I can tell, it is also a story about two men and their love for their five Pugs who jet around the world with them as one big glamorous happy family.

This poster is now a rare collector’s item as they were initially distributed for publicity purposes only, and now have been discontinued.  I think it is a magnificent combination of art, beauty, fashion, history, and dog love.”  <excerp from Dog Art Today>

To win it simply  tell Moira why you love Pugs, or why you love Valentino! To read more go to:

http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/art/2009/03/celebrate-dog-art-todays-2nd-anni.html

Its been so long since my last blog entry.. I, in a way “checked out” for a few months. My beloved friend and companion, love puppy Kramer was diagnosed with cancer and passed away on my birthday (Febraury 7th) it blindsided me and took ahold of me like I couldn’t have imagined, all I could do was be with him and take care of him the best I could. We saw three amazing doctors through out his illness, an oncologist, a western vet and a holistic vet, all who cared for him and helped me care for him till the day he died. We didn’t hold on to him too long but be didn’t give up on him too soon either. He let us know when he ready to go and we listened. My dog Kramer taught me to be a better human, and I will always love him and will always be grateful to him for that.
Being a pet photographer I am lucky to have many pictures of my love and I often look at them. Sometimes I cry and sometimes I laugh, it is priceless. I feel so blessed to have known and loved him and have been spoiled by him. When I look at the photos of Kramer I get to remember and it’s almost as if he’s back for that instant and I am so grateful for that, so grateful in fact that I really want to extend this gift to others.
If you or someone you know has a dog that is ailing and due to the economic crisis can’t spare the extra expense of hiring a professional pet photographer. Please email me, tell me your circumstance and if you are in the Los Angeles area (or can get here) I will shoot your dog for free. I will try to do at least 5 shoots. My email address is shelas@cookiesandwaterphotography.com

http://cookiesandwaterphotography.com/

Kramer thanks you for loving your puppy friends

The votes have been counted and the winners have been announced!

I am happy to say that both of my businesses, Milk and Cookies Photography & Cookies and Water Photography have placed in the top 5 of their category. (YAY!) M&C was 3rd and C&W was 4th. If you consider how large Los Angeles is and how many incredibly talented photographers weren’t even nominated this is quite a feat and I am grateful and honored beyond belief. Thank you for the nomination and thank you for those of you who took the time to vote for  me!! (the check is in the mail)  ;)

http://myfoxla.cityvoter.com/winners/best-of-the-la-hotlist/2328/shopping/portrait-photography?place=3

http://myfoxla.cityvoter.com/cookies-and-water-photography/biz/85750

the min-pin.

click on the picture and you will experience a fear that you haven’t  tapped into since you discovered Freddy or Jason ..

(wink wink)

Happy Halloween! 

enjoy!

I am honored to be a featured dog artists in the amazing Mod-Dog Blog today. In their own words “Mod-Dog is modern art for modern pets.” 

This blog has their finger on the pulse of all things that are fresh and modern for our pets. So as you can imagine I was thrilled to be interviewed by them!

 Thank you Kari Finkler for featuring me!

I was asked to participate, along with some other very talented pet photographers, in a special television broadcast. It’s called “Four Plus Two: Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart”  it airs on WGN nationwide tomorrow October 25th. Check your local listings to see what time it airs near you.

The premise of the show focuses on the numerous studies which support the strength of the human-animal bond and the positive effects that pets and people have on each other. It is being sponsored by Purina and Kroger which will be contributing $100,000 to animal welfare organizations around the country. Make sure to check it out!!