June and July Favorites

Hello! I hope you’re having a beautiful (albeit a little chillier than normal) summer here in the San Francisco Bay Area! These months have been flying by for me and it’s hard to believe August is just around the corner. 

Read on to learn about an East Bay animal shelter I’m volunteering at, a little trip my partner and I took halfway down the California coast, an inspiring monograph of one of my favorite photographer’s color work, a specialty pet store in Petaluma, and more. 

San Luis Obispo

To celebrate my birthday in early June, my partner and I took a quick trip from Berkeley, CA down to San Luis Obispo to check out “SLO” and the surrounding central coast area that some refer to as “not the bay, not la.” Even though we only had a few days we had a fantastic time getting to explore this spot that sits right in the middle of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Also, I was happy to find that there were so many dogs! It was as if every other person had a dog and brought them anywhere they could with them. The area has a very laid back feel and has lots of different beaches to try out. If you take a trip down there yourself here’s some things I would recommend to see or do: visit the elephant seals in San Simeon, grab a donut from SloDoCo, hang out at Avila Beach, swing by The Madonna Inn, take a walk along Moonstone Beach, catch a flick at The Sunset Drive-In, relax in a hot mineral soak at River Oaks Hot Spring Spa, and enjoy a delicious breakfast at Sally Loo’s.

Petaluma Pet Company

I recently visited this fantastic specialty pet shop after meeting up with local dog photographers, Labs & Co, in Petaluma and wanted to share a bit about it. Petaluma Pet Company offers many dog (and cat) toys, treats, food, outdoor gear, accessories, and just an overall high-quality selection! The owner, Rachel, gave us some wonderful recommendations for a couple of new treats to try; I went with The Honest Kitchen’s Goat’s Milk n’ Cookies and Winnie Lou-The Canine Company’s Greens and Cheddar Pretzels. Minna loves them both and the Goat's Milk n’ Cookie treats smell delicious even to me! Of course I also had to pick up the plush lantern toy from the Camp Corbin Collection designed by my new friends Labs & Co for sustainable and San Francisco based dog lifestyle company P.L.A.Y. It was a hit with Minna as soon as I pulled it out of the bag and it’s definitely her go-to toy these days. The final item in my shopping bag was a mini gourmet cupcake by Sophie’s Sweet Cakes. I got the carrot cupcake with sweet potato frosting and topped with shredded carrot pieces, which Minna devoured with gusto! I also would be remiss not to mention that the shop dog, Tyrion, is such a cutie. I’ll definitely be back, with Minna in tow, in the future!

Website: https://www.petalumapet.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petalumapetcompany/

Jelly’s Place

I recently started volunteering at a local animal rescue and no-kill shelter here in the East Bay. They are a small and passionate non-profit founded in 2017 who work hard to save dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens. In addition to helping local animals, Jelly’s Place also works with partners outside of the US to rescue dogs and cats from the meat trade in China, homeless dogs living in the streets of Mexico, and beyond. So far I’ve been cleaning, socializing the dogs and cats, and fulfilling other administrative tasks, but I also hope to put my skills as a pet photographer to use for them one day in the future. 

Website: https://www.jellysplace.org/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jellysplaceofficial/

The Wilds by Julia Elliot

This short story collection is filled with dark, magical, and quirky tales. I think I was first recommended this book through my Goodreads account, which makes a lot of sense given I am drawn to dystopias, female narrators, a bit of the bizarre, southern gothic style, and macabre humor. So far in the collection I’ve read about a disabled elderly woman living in a senior home where she walks the grounds on robotic legs and undergoes experimental treatment to restore her memories, a world where feral dogs terrorize suburban areas, a not-so-normal spa where individuals go to regain their youthful appearance, and much more.

Vivian Maier: The Color Work

The photo book that’s been hanging out on my coffee table these days is an incredible collection of color photographs from the enigmatic photographer: Vivan Maier. Maier has a pretty unusual story as her incredible work wasn’t “discovered” until after her death. She worked as a nanny in Chicago the majority of her life and took over 150,000 photographs that she showed to no one as she lived a very solitary life. In her old age she struggled financially, and the storage locker that held many of her negatives was auctioned off due to behind payments. Eventually, this giant collection ended up at a thrift auction house where her negatives were discovered by John Maloof. Since then he has worked tirelessly to archive, catalogue, present, and share her work with the public. What’s interesting about this book is that while almost all of her previously published work is black and white, this monograph is a curated selection of her color Kodak ektachrome slides. What I love about her photographs is that you are able to really see the world through her eyes and experience a more creative perspective on everyday life. She was a brilliant photographer and one that definitely inspires me to open my eyes to the details around me. 

Also, if you’re interested in a SF Bay Area dog photography portrait session with me this summer or early fall please fill out the contact form now and we’ll start planning just how to honor your special bond. 

Wags,

Rebecca