Spending a perfect fall afternoon with Blake and Angelica and their two dogs, Killua and Hunter, was nothing short of inspiring. Blake, a professional dog trainer with Sit Means Sit North Idaho, brought his expertise to the session, but it was the joy and connection between this family that truly stole the show.
Going into the session, I had some trepidation. In past experiences working with dog trainers, their dogs often seem to always be "on," making it easy to capture regal poses but harder to show their true personalities.
When Angelica mentioned that Killua loved protection training and tug play, I knew we had to incorporate that into the shoot. Killua, as the star of our session and the 2025 North Idaho calendar cover dog, naturally took center stage. His breed and disposition can make him edgy in new environments, and while he posed handsomely, it was clear this big boy was feeling a bit tense. So, we took a play break!
As soon as Blake brought out the tug toy, Killua seemed both relaxed and more intensely focused at the same time. Like, he thought "ok, now I know what we're doing here". In an instant, this imposing mountain of dog transformed into a playful, wiggling 2 year old. Watching him light up during tug-of-war was incredible, and it gave me the opportunity to capture his inner joy and true spirit. I felt genuinely honored to witness a side of Killua that's generally reserved for his close family.
As we continued through one of my favorite locations, Corbin Park, the session unfolded beautifully. The boys’ superb manners made my job a dream. It’s not often I get to say, “can he turn his head a little to the left?” and have it actually happen! Their intent focus on Blake & Angelica, standing just behind me, allowed me to create more stunning shots than I even knew what to do with.
Hunter, the happy-go-lucky Golden Retriever, brought his own charm to the session. Not only did he show off his handsome profile, and trade-mark Golden Retriever smile, but he also wowed me with his patented handstand.
His cheerful, playful nature balances Killua’s stoicism perfectly, and their interactions were heartwarming to witness.
Blake and Angelica were equally a joy to work with—adorable, comfortable in front of the camera, and so clearly connected to one another and their dogs. Their ease and affection made every moment feel authentic and fun.
We wrapped up the session with some truly expert-level fetch. Killua held his position while Blake lined up behind me, to create an awesome head-on action shots. When released, Killua took off like a rocket, going from a perfect sit to full speed in an instant. I was so mesmerized by the display of speed and power that I forgot to hit the shutter! It took a few more tries, but we finally nailed some perfect action shots. Hunter, not to be outdone, demonstrated equal focus and training, transitioning effortlessly between playful abandon and calm composure.
Not only was I awed by their well-mannered pups, but I was also sold on enrolling my wild child, Freki, into training with Blake. I'd been dragging my feet on professional training (that we very much needed) for fear of losing the boundless personality of the Freki. But seeing Killua and Hunter demonstrate the possibility of balance between playful abandon and necessary calm gave me the confidence to commit.
By the end of the day, I was breathless—not just from the action but from the moments of pure love and connection we captured. Blake and Angelica’s bond with their dogs is something truly special, and I feel so honored to have been able to document it. Thank you, Blake and Angelica, for letting me be a part of this unforgettable afternoon and for inspiring me to embrace the possibilities of having a well-trained dog with joy and personality intact.
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