I’ve been seeing stuff here and there professing that today is “film day.”

I have been a photographer since before the advent of digital, when film was the only medium, so I have to chuckle just a little about this.

Back when I earned my degree in photography, film was all there was. 35mm, 2 1/4 square, 4×5 view camera format, and chromes…..or slides…or nothing now. Yes, digital was talked about, but it was one of those things that you thought….”I’ll believe it when I see it.”

My husband and I spent 17 years photographing weddings…..with film. We could not look at the back of the camera after each shot and say, “Oh, lets do that again…” Nope, it had to be right the first time. And, there is nothing like getting that roll of processed film back and seeing things that you actually forgot about during the crazy day of shooting a wedding! Gratifying doesn’t even begin to describe it.

I started my Cool Pets business shooting strictly black and white film. I swore, I would never go digital. Yet, now I struggle, not only to find the black and white film I love, but to get it processed in the traditional “dip and dunk” fashion. Since I started my Cool Pets business, I have seen several labs discontinue processing and printing black and white film.

Maybe I’m dating myself….showing my age. I don’t know…and frankly, I don’t care. Because, I know in my heart that I started at the beginning. I learned from the absolute best, and I cherish the days of film; not because they are something I “admire as a novelty,” but because they are something I lived through, LEARNED FROM, and I know, like the back of my hand.

Please visit my Cool Pets site. You’ll see only film images there.

But, for a peek….here are a few images of Charlie – such a cool guy – all in black and white film. My favorite…Fuji Neopan. :’(

Usually we are rushing around, last minute, frantically trying to get a Halloween costume together. I wasn’t much for Halloween when I was younger. Honestly, people in costumes freak me out. So do scary movies. Except Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’m a huge Buffy fan.

Anyway.

This year, the costume of choice was a corpse bride. So, we looked online at the costumes offered in the stores and found them to be a bit uninspired. We had ideas, but didn’t know how to bring them to life. Fortunately, we knew someone who could! My wonderful friend, Nancy’s wonderful sister Debbie is amazingly talented with a sewing machine (and knitting needles), and she was kind enough to create the most spectacular dress. It was a bit corpse bride – straight, elegant, fitted – and a bit of fluff – tulle and sparkle. In a word, it was perfection!

A few accessories, and a little makeup and we were ready to go…early!

So, off to the graveyard we went.

Ooh, this could be my favorite. I’m channeling my inner Stevie Nicks here. “Intense, silence as she walked in the room. Her black robe trailing Sister of the Moon.” Oh how I love that song!!!

Last night was a very special night. Very special indeed. It was graduation night. Eryn, my oldest daughter, walked up on stage and accepted her high school diploma. It was a gorgeous night here in the Perkiomen Valley, and our high school stadium stands were filled to the brim with proud parents, grand parents, friends and relatives…myself and my husband, Eryn’s sister, Camryn, my mom, my husband’s dad and his wife included. It was a beautiful ceremony held outdoors in the football stadium…just like in the movies!

High School graduation is such an exciting time. A time to embark on endless opportunities, and to basically start fresh! This fall Eryn will be starting her college career, and I am so proud and excited for her. Of course, I will be with her every step of the way, just like always, whether it be by email, text, facebook or phone. But, be there, I will.

Many of you know Eryn. She has been my assistant from day one of my Cool Pets business. Lots of you may remember her as the little 10 year old helper who has such a way with animals. She’s been calm, and soothing to some of the shyest dogs. So, it is truly fitting that she will be studying to become a veterinarian.

How wonderful these 18 years have been. I can’t wait for the coming years to continue to accompany her on her life’s journey.

So, this week’s face appropriately belongs to Eryn.

I love you Eryn. Congratulations on a wonderful accomplishment.

Here is a highlight from last night.

As the graduation ceremony was coming to an end, I could hear many people in the stands asking if the graduates were going to throw up their hats….just like in the movies!! The last speech ended, they moved their tassles over to the other side of their caps and then the students began to head out. But, instead of walking straight out of the stadium, they moved out into a large circle. When everyone was in place, the class president walked into the center of the circle and lead the class as they threw up their caps in celebration.

Chills, I tell ya. Chills.

Part one:
I have been using Facebook for quite some time now. Just a personal page with lots of friends and family to keep in touch with. The Facebook network is growing and growing, with lots of groups and fan pages to join. I didn’t really see the need to have a fan page…I mean, how many web presences (is that a word?) does one need? Websites, blogs, twitters, facebook fan pages….it’s never ending. However, just for fun, I created a fan page…the Susan Dodd Photography Fan Page. And, then I forgot about it. Until one day, a fan appeared. I was shocked! I didn’t know the page was even public. It had no content, how could this be? So, I quickly added some content. And then, more fans joined, and more! Wow! So, I invited some friends to join…and they did! This was so exciting for me! Fans! Fans are cool.

So, now, I’m inviting you to join. You don’t have to, of course, like I said, it’s just for fun. But if you feel inspired to become a fan, go ahead over here…Susan Dodd Photography Facebook Fan Page…and join!

I’m not sure where I will be taking this fan page. But, it might be exciting to see! So, thank you, for being fans!

Part two:
This year I was a little late sending out our holiday card. I wasn’t going to send one at all actually. I had absolutely no ideas and virtually no time. But, at the last minute…well, after the last minute…an idea came to me. So, I took some photos, and made the card. I didn’t send out a ton, so I wanted to share it here on the blog for everyone to see!

Merry Christmas everyone! In honor of this special day, I’m posting not one, but ALL of the Dodd animals. That’s right! You finally get to meet all of them….in one post!!

Clockwise from the top left….introducing…

Kovu, Savannah, Dolce and Briggs!

Happy Holidays to you! Hope this day finds you warm, safe and happy!

All images ©Susan Dodd

I know exactly what they are going to say. It will go something like this. “You took all those pictures of our faces, and this is what you post??”

So? I think it’s cool!

Ok, ok, here’s one of the front. Happy?

All images ©Susan Dodd