recently i received my first official invite to shoot as media at a live concert event at  Sound Academy hosted by 102.1 The Edge.

as a huge music lover (especially live), having that access, feeling the vibration of the stage, all of the on-stage nuances, the lighting…was a pinnacle moment for me. i can’t wait for the next one!

check out the three bands i photographed and check out their music: Eight And A Half, Dinosaur Bones and the headliner Young Empires. thank you gentlemen for a rockin’ show!

Eight And A Half, singer Dave Hamelin (formerly of The Stills)

we had so much fun at the last Pet Valu event, that we’re doing it again!

on Saturday May 12, 2012 from 11am-3pm i will be set-up at the Grand Opening of the new Pet Valu location in Toronto.

come on down to 184 Front Street East (at Princess Street, Toronto) between 11am-3pm to have a complimentary photograph of your dog…taken by me!

the complimentary sitting allows you a 5×7 print. option to upgrade to an 8×10 print on the day with a $20 donation to the rescue group P.A.W.S (Peoples Animal Welfare Society).

speaking of rescues, this event is the perfect opportunity to bring your foster and adoptable dogs to. we’ll get a great photo of them and i will help you promote them online!

102.1 The Edge’s Melani will be on site broadcasting live from 1pm-5pm.

make-up artist Deyanne Holmes will be offering face painting for children from 11am-3pm.

as well as raffles, prize giveaways and complimentary refreshments… it’s going to be a fun day for the entire family. i hope to see you, your kids and dogs there!

make sure to tell your friends about this event, by sharing this post via email, facebook or twitter (with the links below). the official FACEBOOK INVITE IS HERE. join and invite your friends

COME ON OVER AND JOIN MARCIA LEEDER PHOTOGRAPHY ON FACEBOOK  FOR MORE FUN AND A CHANCE TO WIN AN 11X14 PRINT ENLARGEMENT OF YOUR IMAGE.

i am very excited to be invited out to Alberta for a week in June for a dog reunion and some family sessions. i have one open spot for a session in-between Edmonton, Calgary and Canmore. if you are interested, please contact me ASAP. this open spot will go quickly! please feel free to forward it to any friends you know in the area.

i adore these two regal ladies…Ellanor, the stunning Dorberman, and Evelin, the little rescue from Trinidad.

i spent the afternoon with them, hanging out at their house…chillin’ on the deck, wrestling and digging in the yard and even the promise of a car ride…just a usual awesome day in the life of two dames. Ellanor and her beautiful smile.

Evelin…such a gorgeous girl!

“Let us in!”

my poor Cameron had a bad reaction to flea bites (as you can see in the first photo below). first, i tried a few different natural home-remedies to soothe and heal her skin, but she would scratch, lick and irritate it and the rash would flare up again.

during my online search for more ideas, i came across K9 KLEAR UP (an all-natural skin balm for dogs and cats) and decided to give it a shot.

i topically applied the balm once a day (twice is suggested and ideal).

in the second photo (taken three weeks later) her skin is all cleared-up and her hair (that was patchy from the irritation) was growing back thick and healthy. we both couldn’t be happier!

this was a few months ago and her skin is still 100% healthy today. i recently used it on Tichka’s first hot spot and as hot spots go, it healed up in record time.

K9 KLEAR UP is a natural antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiseptic balm and can be used to heal:  hot spots, chronic skin rashes, cuts and scratches, minor bleeding split pads, skin allergies, burns, bug bites, dull coat, coat growth post-injury/surgery, infections, joint-swelling, acne, dry-itchy skin and more. the ingredients that make up K9 KLEAR UP are:

• shea butter: known for its ability to moisturize and rejuvenate the skin, shea butter forms the base for K9 KlearUp™.
• tepezcohuite: does the real work, helps build new skin and a healthy coat after injury.
• vegetable emulsifier: “smooths out” the shea butter / tepezcohuite mixture, helping K9 KlearUp™ to absorb within about 10 seconds after application (really great for those lickers).
• aloe vera: long-known for its exceptional skin-rejuvenation properties.
• caprylyl glycol: comes from coconuts and has moisturizing properties that help soften and smooth the skin.
• sorbic acid: a natural preservative from the Mountain Ash tree.

if you are looking for a natural way to heal hot spots or any skin irritation on your dog or cat, i can’t recommend K9 KLEAR UP enough! it’s a fantastic product to have on hand in my house.

it gets the stamp of approval from The Ginger Gang.

check to see if your local pet store is carrying it, or you can purchase it online on the K9 KLEAR UP WEBSITE. they also offer a money-back guarantee.

if you have tried K9 KLEAR UP, please let me know your experience in the comments below.

CAMERON  - ‘BEFORE’ (poor girlie, with a rash that wouldn’t go away)

CAMERON – ‘AFTER’ (taken three weeks later) using K9 KLEAR UP (her skin irritation is all healed up and her hair is growing back evenly) ]]> http://www.marcialeederblog.com/2012/04/16/product-endorsement-k9-klear-up-skin-balm/feed/ 6 http://www.marcialeederblog.com/2012/04/16/product-endorsement-k9-klear-up-skin-balm/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/marcialeederblog/~3/_IIsaFFg5xs/ http://www.marcialeederblog.com/2012/04/12/pet-valu-march-31-2012-photo-shoot/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:32:50 +0000 mleeder http://www.marcialeederblog.com/?p=8865 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

i hope everyone had a fantastic time at the Pet Valu (Queen and Coxwell, Toronto) grand opening  a few weeks ago…i know i did!  i photographed over 80 dogs, 1 cat and 1 bunny (a few are pictured below).

thank you to everybody who came out and patiently waited in line. an extra shout out to those who came in from out of town! i loved meeting all of you and your animals.

the 5×7 prints are now ready for pick-up at the store (1656 Queen Street East, Toronto). i would love to hear what you think of your image, so please feel free to send me your feedback.

to view the entire gallery of images, you can check it out on Facebook.

also, if you enjoyed the event and your time with me, please send a message to Pet Valu and maybe there will be another event like this one in the future…

WANNA CHANCE TO WIN AN ENLARGEMENT of your dog’s image? get on over to the Marcia Leeder Photography Facebook page and find out how to enter!

UPDATE – April 20, 2012 – find out who won here!

a huge THANK YOU to everyone who entered my ‘Pit Bull Model Search’ in March.

as you can see from the collection of gorgeous faces below, it was a tough decision! not only because the beautiful faces, but the uplifting and intimate stories of how each of your dogs has touched your life and made it better. thank you for sharing your stories and thoughts on the breed ban.

i received entries from all over Canada, the U.S. and even Costa Rica…AMAZING!

so, the dog that is chosen for this model search is (drum roll, please):  SCOUT (his person is Jen)…congratulations, i will be in touch soon!

this is just the beginning of what i hope to be a larger project. just because your dog wasn’t chosen this time, doesn’t mean that you won’t have another chance in the future…stay tuned!

this Saturday March 31, 2012 i will be set-up at the Grand Opening of the new Pet Valu location in Toronto.

come on down to 1656 Queen Street East (right across from the Beach Cinemas) between 11am-4pm to have a complimentary photograph of your dog taken by me!

104.5 CHUM FM’s Blake Carter will be on site broadcasting live from 11am-2pm.

Joanne Cooper of Woof-Fit will be demonstrating workouts for you and your dog from 1:30pm-5:30pm. rescue groups

P.A.W.S (Peoples Animal Welfare Society) and H.U.G.S (Help Us Give Support For Animals) will be on-site with available animals for adoption.

as well as raffles, prize giveaways and complimentary refreshments… it’s going to be a fun day…i hope to see you and your dogs there!

make sure to tell your friends about this event, by sharing this post via email, facebook or twitter (with the links below).

COME ON OVER AND JOIN MARCIA LEEDER PHOTOGRAPHY ON FACEBOOK  FOR MORE FUN AND A CHANCE TO WIN AN 11×14 PRINT ENLARGEMENT OF YOUR IMAGE.

I AM THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MY ‘PIT BULL MODEL SEARCH’ IS NOW ON! 

although we are making headway around the world and even here in Ontario, in respect to repealing the ban on pit bull type dogs under the Breed Specific Legislature (BSL), there is still a long road ahead.

last year i was lucky to be one of the professional photographers selected to submit images for The Unexpected Pit Bull 2012 Calendar. if you have a copy, check out October! if you don’t…it’s not too late to order yours.

i have a few exciting projects in the works that will help showcase the amazing dogs that you know and love in a positive light.

if you are interested, available and able to get yourself  to Toronto (March/April – exact date TBD) for a photo shoot with Marcia Leeder Photography, this is what you have to do to enter:

COPY AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, WRITE YOUR ANSWERS, ATTACH UP TO THREE PHOTOS AND EMAIL TO: model@marcialeeder.com

1. what is your name, location and telephone number? (due to the current breed ban in Ontario, for the safety of the dogs, the one chosen for this shoot must already be living in Ontario. if you are outside of Ontario, i would still love to hear your story. who knows where this project will take me).

2. what is/are your dog(s)’s name, age and breed (staffs, pit bull types and all dogs banned under BSL are welcome)?

3. what are the qualities that makes your dog(s) unique (ie. character traits, tricks, things that make you laugh)?

4. how did your dog(s) come into your life (ie. rescue, puppy mill)?

5. how has your dog(s) changed/enriched your life and your family?

6. what is the most difficult thing you face on a regular basis having a pit bull in your life?

7. what would you say to someone about your dog to help change their mind about the Breed Specific Legislation?

Please also include up to 3 photos of your dog(s) in your email and use the subject line ‘Pit Bull Model Search’.

*due to the current Breed Ban in Ontario, for the safety of your dogs, the one chosen for this shoot must already be living in Ontario.

*the photo shoot will take place in Toronto (exact date TBD) 

*submission closes on Friday March 23, 2012

*winner will be announced by Monday April 2, 2012 – FIND OUT WHO WON HERE!

*comments below are welcome, but for your own privacy and security reasons, do not copy and paste your answers there.

i look forward to reading all of the submissions…and remember to:

PLEASE PASS THE LOVE ON! if you know of any friends or family with loving pit bulls, please email, Facebook it and Tweet it.

JOIN  MARCIA LEEDER PHOTOGRAPHY ON FACEBOOK for more daily smiles.

today i spent the day at Queen’s Park (Toronto) for the rally to Support  Bill 16 (Hershey’s Bill), as well as watching the proceedings live in the house of legislature.

although it wasn’t my first time on the grounds of Queen’s Park, nor inside the building, it was my first time inside the gallery. i found the process fascinating and it gave me an empowering feeling to know that i can be a part of a change for an issue i am passionate about.

Bill 16 is a tri-party private members bill, brought forth by PC MPP Randy Hillier (and co-signed by NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo and Liberal MPP Kim Craitor). it is a bill to repeal Ontario’s Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) that was brought into effect in Ontario in 2005. in short BSL is a ban on pit bull-type dogs, but in the big picture it is a ban on our basic human rights.

today hundreds gathered at Queen’s Park, wearing their yellow scarves, to support Bill 16.  many prominent people, both from the dog world and the political world, spoke out in support of Bill 16. the energy of the crowd was positive and the sun was shining.

after the rally, the bill went before the house. and after a lengthy debate, i am happy to report that it successfully passed second reading with a vote 51-26. i actually had goosebumps and a lump in my throat as i watched every single PC and NDP member stand strong together during the vote.

the next step for Bill 16 is to go on to committee. to find out more about the process on how a bill becomes law in Ontario, please check out this link.

to watch partial video of the proceedings please click here or you can find the entire transcripts for today’s debate here.

the fight isn’t over yet, but it brings hope to everybody who has put their blood, sweat and tears into fighting this unjust ban.

to find out more about Bill 16, how to get more involved, sign the petition and add your support please visit Bring Back The Bulls. if this issue is important to you, please contact your local MPP to find out their stance on Bill 16.

today i realized first-hand that YOUR VOICE CAN BE HEARD and that every single person CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE when they put forth the passion, time and action.

Emcee Selma Mulvey of the Dog Legislation Council of Canada (DLCC) got the rally started by setting the tone with positive energy and some comic relief.

the energy of the crowd was positive and uplifting as MPPs came out to address them.