Phillip Nicholas expands his photographic focus to pets

We first profiled photographer Phillip Nicholas when he’d just landed in Menlo Park after living outside of Yosemite. While there he’d honed his landscape photography skills.

He was teaching — another passion — at the Aperture Academy, which he continues to do. But some days he has open hours. Inspired by his next-door neighbor, a dog walker/sitter and the parade of canines that pass by his home daily, he’s now doing pet photography.

Phil offers both home-based sessions and those photographed outdoors in nature. He took Franny (pictured above) out to Arastradero Open Space. “There are a ton of good trails that are dog friendly,” he said. “We went right before sunset so the light was really beautiful and golden.”

While dogs can be coaxed into sitting for a portrait, cats are trickier. “Toys and catnip can help, but a lot of the time I just follow them around until the do something interesting.”

More photos and information about Phil’s services are available on his Fluff and Fur website.

Photo of Phillip Nicholas by Irene Searles (c) 2014; photography of Franny by Phillip Nicholas; used with permission