I love dogs.

If you know me at all - like, even just met me - then I've probably mentioned that I'm a mom to 3 kids and I've got a few dogs. I don't know why, but these just happen to be the two statistics that seem to come out in social situations. Those two points certainly summarize why I'm always covered in hair and random debris and explain why my home is in the state it's in (littered with toys, peanut butter, goldfish crackers, and some dirt). Raising both kids and dogs requires high levels of love, patience, dedication, and selflessness, character traits I'm proud to say I try and exude. So I hope that, if anything, my affection for motherhood and pet rearing says something about the kind of person I am.


Recently, our family lost our very best friend when our dog, Lucy, passed away. While our kids only knew her for a handful of years, Matt and I loved her long before they ever came along. She was our girl. Our first baby. My running buddy and Matt's hunting companion in the field. We got her the summer before our wedding as a sweet little puppy from a newspaper ad. That little brown pup shared our most important moments with the two of us. Marriage, first home purchases, bringing home new pups, bringing home new babies, more home moves, the "toddler" eras, more new pups: She handled it all with grace. There was never a time she wouldn't jump at the chance to take a car ride or go for a walk, run, or especially a hike at the game lands. Never so much as a grumble when a baby stumbled over top of her in those early walking days. She'd readily fill in when our daughter needed a patient for her vet kit, and she'd happily share the couch and serve as a pillow for a little head to rest on. Hunting for birds, though: That was her happy place, right alongside my husband. They say dogs are color blind but I'm pretty sure one of her known colors had to be blaze orange because the moment my husband put it on, she was up like a flash and waiting at the door. She was smart as a whip; a friend that could read us like a book; a shoulder to cry on when we were sad or worried; a pair of velvety soft ears to snuggle when you just needed a hug; a "once-in-a-lifetime" dog.


The reason I say all this is because clients will often come to me asking whether or not they should bring their dogs to a session. And anytime I get the question, I always enthusiastically say "YES." For one, I love dogs. So bringing your dog just gives me an excuse to snuggle a new fluff, but two - dogs are part of our families. We only get them for such a short window of time, and they loyally, joyfully walk alongside us through some pretty monumental moments in our lives. I can say with 100% certainty that nine years with our Lucy was certainly not long enough, and while I've got many photos of my own that I took of her over the years, I regret that I don't have any of her with us as a full family.


If you're thinking about bringing your dog(s) to a session, I'm a dog-friendly photographer who will always encourage you to do so. That being said, bringing a dog along isn't without its concerns. Some tips to make sessions with pups go easier include:

  • Bring a friend or family member along to help out with your dog: Inevitably, there will be pictures taken WITHOUT your furbabies during a shoot. Having an extra hand available to hold a leash or take them for sniffs while we get a few other pictures is always helpful.
  • Exercise your pup beforehand: A tired dog is usually less likely to be totally nuts during a session, so a good romp beforehand can go a long way.
  • Bring some "enrichment:" If your dog appreciates a frozen kong filled with peanut butter and treats or their favorite chewy, bring it. It will keep them busy and distracted during the time when I'm photographing without them in the shots.
  • Treats please! Bring some small, pocket-size treats along. This is particularly helpful when I'm trying to coerce them into a certain position or seated pose.

If you're looking for a dog-loving photographer to capture your next family shoot, please reach out. I'd love to meet your WHOLE family, furbabies included!

In memory of our sweet girl, enjoy a combo of doggy photos I've taken of our own pups and client pups over the years!