Lilly the ring bearer.

Lilly holds a meeting with the flower girls to go over last minute details...

Game face on...

Success!

I was so happy to photograph the wedding of Polly and Andrew in Little Rock, AR because there were so many cute things about to day! They choose to serve pies instead of cakes, had saw player perform their processional, and even left out a table of board games for all their friends and family to enjoy during the reception. But my favorite was that they got their beagle Lilly to serve as the ring bearer. She did such a great job of carrying those rings down the aisle and then sitting patiently during the service.  It was a great coming together of my worlds (pet and wedding photography). 

P.s.--Another amazing thing about Lilly is that she helped Polly to recover from being very sick two years ago. Polly, who had just come out of a coma, had to recover her muscle strength to walk. Of course, Lilly was insistent that she do this and became Polly's cheerleader and coach. So beautiful!

Kenya and Beckett

Family outing.

Rob and Beckett

Kenya strikes a diva pose.

It was great to hang out with Rob and Kyeh and their dogs Kenya and Beckett at their home near Ballston. They live right next to a park where the dogs had a chance to run around for a while and a nice little stream where they could cool off. I had been thinking a lot about Seattle before the shoot (I was paddling in the ocean around San Juan this time last year) and it turns out they just moved from there. They totally have the relaxed West Coast vibe that makes me think that life is really about being outside with the ones you love. If I had to give out awards for the day, I would give sweet Beckett "Best Behaved" and to Kenya "Future Supermodel." She knows how to work it in front of the camera :)

Get the Scoop.

I got this trailer for the amazing looking new show Rescue Ink (starting on National Geographic this fall) from Daily Dog Scoop.  I met Scoop's owner Lauren while taking pictures at Adam's Morgan Day and I am so impressed at her ability to compile entertaining and thought-provoking pet news from around the world. I'll definitely be checking back in.

ps--I don't know if it's my emotions or the change in the seasons but I teared up a few different times during the trailer.  There is just something about seeing such big tough-looking guys with tiny little kittens--it warms my heart.

More animal cruelty!

Sometimes it's good to have a laugh, even if its at a cute animal's expense

A few faces from Adams Morgan Day 2009

Rodney's Goodbye

Isis and Rodney.

Rodney down by the lake.

Sweet Rodney.

Oh this last photo assignment was a little bit emotional! From the moment I first talked to Isis on the phone about her decision to move to the West Coast and give Rodney to another family (one with acres of land and kids and another dog), I knew it was important to take these pictures. She said that although she knew she was making the right decision, it was still a really hard one and that she wanted these pictures to be a tribute to all the time they had spent together.

The pictures that resulted from the session were all so beautiful. It was one of those sessions where I felt like I could just get out of the way and let the beauty and sweetness of their relationship come across in the pictures. Isis is a lovely lady who knows how to listen to her intuition and follow her heart.

It's a funny cast of characters. Rodney is a sweetheart of a dog who is lucky to have been rescued by Isis (he was past his euthanization date at the shelter) and now to move to a lovely new home. I am photographer who is invited into many of these tender situations and is sometimes able to make photographs that help ease transitions like these.

We talked a lot during the session and Isis and I totally connected on the idea that life works out the way its supposed to and that the right people and animals make their way in and out of our lives when we need them. We just have to keep an open heart in the process. I wish her the best of luck in California and the same to Rodney in his new home.