Rachel Sloan Photography

The second year of our Stock the Shelter supply drive has already been a huge success.  My spare room is full of dog beds, towels, blankets, dog food, kitty ltter, and toys for shelter animals.  We recently made the 10:00 news on KNWA, our local NBC affiliate!  Click HERE to read the article and watch a video of the story.

Things have been a little slow here on the blog lately.  I have been making holiday cards and placing print orders daily.  The holidays are a busy time for me.  I’ve got several photo shoots to share with you but I have to wait until after the holidays since many of them are surprises for the recipients.  I wouldn’t want to ruin any surprises!  :)

Just for fun…since I can’t show you any new photos right now, have a look at Neill and I’s first ever holiday card.

We are real married people with holiday cards.  Ha!  I love it.

Last year my best friend Jamie came up with the idea to have a holiday supply drive to benefit shelter animals.  We worked together and gathered items for homeless dogs and cats at FAS.  We took 2 car loads of donated items to the shelter the day before Christmas.  We hope for even more items this year!  Please look around your house and see what you might be able to get rid of.  Clean out your linen closet for old towels and blankets.  The dogs don’t care if their blankets have holes in them, they’re just glad to have a blanket!  If you come across a “buy 1 get 1 free” on laundry detergent or bleach, please consider giving the free one to the shelter.  Also, Walgreens has $10 dog beds right now and I know that some little shelter dog would really appreciate a soft bed to sleep in.  Please see the list below for other items they need.

Give me a call at 479-871-2138 and I will be glad to pick up your donations.  Thanks in advance for your help!

I recently learned about this act from a friend’s blog and I just had to repost.  This is so cool.  I hope it passes!  Click HERE to read more about the Happy Act and sign the petition.

I was on the radio!

I was recently interviewed for a segment on KUAF, our local NPR affiliate.  The topic was “From Unemployment to Small Business.”  I was so nervous about hearing myself on the radio, but my friend Marci did a wonderful job putting this piece together.  She is very talented at what she does, and I am so glad we got to work together on this.  It aired Monday morning on KUAF.  Have a listen HERE!

The voice you hear at the very end of the segment is Macy and Winston’s mom, Jennifer.

Special thanks to Marci and Jennifer!

I’m honored to have photographed Frank Broyles for a feature article in Rural Arkansas Magazine, a monthly publication by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.  Coach Broyles is well known for his work with Razorback Athletics and coaching football for the University of Arkansas.  At 85 years old, he hasn’t slowed down a bit.  He is now working to raise awareness and education about Alzheimer’s.  This is a cause important to Mr. Broyles and his family since he lost his wife, Barbara, to the disease in 2004.  He has published a book called Coach Broyles’ Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers.  The book is full of practical advice and tips for Alzheimer’s caregivers.  Click below to read the article and see a few photos I took.

Special thanks to Amy and Sheila for contacting me to do this.  Sheila – The article is beautifully written.  I’m so glad I got to work with you!

I was lucky enough to get a signed copy of his book!  He knows my grandfather which is why he used my maiden last name.  Oh well…it’s still so cool!

I’m posting this photo as a favor for a good friend of mine.  A friend of hers is taking care of this puppy right now, but she needs a forever home. She is housebroken, well mannered, and listens well. Not to mention she looks adorable! Email me, leave a comment, or call me for contact info.  Please forward this on to anyone you know in NWA who might be interested.  Maybe she can bypass the shelter and go straight home.    Thanks!

Like pizza?  Like helping dogs and cats in need?  Then you’ll love this.  Northwest Arkansas Animal Rescue has teamed up with Pizza Hut to raise money for homeless animals in NWA.  Take this coupon to one of the Pizza Hut locations listed on the first Wednesday of the month, present it to your server, and 20% of your purchase will go to NWAAR.  You eat pizza, and NWAAR receives donations.  It’s simple!  Print this out and put it in your wallet right now!

Bigwag Dog Bakery had a fabulous birthday party last Saturday to celebrate 3 years in business.  There were goody bags, games & prizes, vendor booths, and of course tons of dogs.  The dogs enjoyed “pupcakes” while their humans lunched on burgers and hot dogs.  The weather was nice and the turnout was great!  I think everyone at the party had a good time.  I was lucky enough to photograph the event.  I  met dogs in all shapes and sizes.  Here are just a few of my favorites of my favorites!  Click here to see the whole gallery.

If you were at the party and would like to order prints of your dog, enter the coupon code BIGWAG at checkout for 25% off your entire order.  Also, I am offering Bigwag customers 25% off a photo session with me!

There was a turtle at the party named Bubbles!

This is Lucy, a rescued pug.  She is a regular Bigwag customer.  I got a few photos of her in an outfit her mom had made for her.  I tried to process these with a vintage feel, just for fun.  I’m not sure when the song was written…in the 60’s maybe?

the pupcakes” I mentioned

If you’ve never visited Bigwag, click the image below to see why you should.  Not only do they bake their own dog treats, they also sell leashes, toys, beds, doggie clothing, and more!

(click to enlarge)

Thanks Cary and Erin for having me to your party!

Gabby is famous here in Northwest Arkansas because her parents own the fabulous Lighting Emporium in Springdale.  Lighting Emporium is full of beautiful light fixtures, rugs, home furnishing and other accessories.  Gabby is in all of the TV commercials for Lighting Emporium and she often hangs out in the store while her parents work.  I recently had the opportunity to photograph Gabby with her parents and her 3 dog siblings for a magazine article.  I only needed group shots for the magazine, but I had to get a good shot of the fabulous little Gabby.  Check out  the Lighting Emporium website to watch Gabby’s TV commercials!

My former office was in charge of a renovation at a local church this past spring.  These 2 kittens had been living in the rafters of the Parish Hall which was undergoing construction.  I had heard about these kittens during site visits.  The workers said the kittens would hang around for several days, then disappear for a few days.  I told the church they could call me if they ever saw them again and I would take them to the animal shelter.  Fast forward a few weeks – Someone from the church called me this morning and told me they had caught the kittens and asked if I could come get them.  Of course I did, and now they are living in Tina’s crate in the bathroom (away from the dogs).

Before I take them to the animal shelter…Does anyone in the  NWA area want a kitten?  I would like to find homes for them so they can skip the shelter and go straight to their forever home.  They are very skinny and boney (maybe about a pound), but they seem healthy and alert.  They eat solid cat food and drink from a water bowl.  I’m no expert on sexing kittens, but we think they are both female.  They are so adorable!  Email or call me if you are interested.