From our very first email exchange I absolutely knew working with Steph and Steve was going to be a blast! In my contact form there's an option which says "how would you like to be contacted?" Ages ago, as a joke on my very first website my husband put in the option for "interpretive dance". It made me laugh so I kept it there and every so often I'll have a client take me up on it, lol. Steph was one such person and I knew immediately she had a playful sense of humor and this session was going to be FUN!
Wanting to capture their adorable puppers in their prime Steph arranged the entire shoot as a surprise Father's Day present for Steve. When I arrived just as the sun began to stream across their beautiful, park-like back yard I was greeted by the very happy to make new friends Velcro and Shelby! Who happily showed me some of their favorite toys.
While I'm always happy to photograph dogs in their own home, and it's sometimes even absolutely necessary I do get a bit of anxiety. There's always so much unknown about a backyard. Will the light work with us or against us? Will there be enough space and greenery to create beautiful images? But the moment I stepped out onto their deck I could see why Steph & Steve love this place! The sprawling green lawn and white rail fence with beautiful flower beds and even a couple of shade trees made me wish I could bring other clients the photograph in their back yard. Or maybe just hang out for the day in the swaying hammock, truly their own private oasis.
Sweet Velcro is always the life of the party, happy to show you his favorite toys as long as you're willing to keep playing with him. This happy-go-lucky boy only slowed down for some lovin' before he was off again sprinting across the rolling green grass.
Knowing we wanted some great action shots of Velcro meant a little bit of strategy. While the ball is his absolute favorite thing in the whole wide world, it is also and end-game kinda thing. Once he has the ball, nothing else in the world counts and he's not willing about to give it back. Not even to his Momma. So, we carefully hid all the balls away until the very last moments of our morning together. And then, when we knew we had every other shot we could possibly want we let Velcro show off his athletic self!
When I saw this lovely lavender bush I couldn't help but plant Shelby right in the center (after checking that Steph was ok with a little doggy butt-print on her plant). Lucky for me, there was actually a little opening right in the center of the lavender, I suspect this may not have been the first time one of the pups made a flower nest.
Sweet Shelby, the slightly senior member of the pack is normally pretty laid back compared to her brother. But she was not one to be outdone on the action shots and showed off for the camera with some serious zoomies and a joyful roll in the grass.
The only thing slowing these two down was an opportunity for some snuggles. Shelby is quick to alert the family to any potential intruders, whether they be near the house or down the block. But once she's made her presence known she's even quicker to melt into a puddle of love.
One of the most fun things about working with dogs, is that their names often give us an insight into their parents interests. While it's likely that Velcro was named for his tendency to stick very close to Steph, my suspicion was confirmed that someone in the family was fond of classic cars. As we wrapped up our photo session and I asked about any other shots Steve or Steph might like, Steve quietly mentioned that he had a classic truck in the garage that could be cool. Though he followed with, it would take a few minutes to get it out, and before he could even finish the sentence I jumped on "let's do it!"
While I'm generally a "cars get you places" kinda girl. There's just something about the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into a classic. And Steve's beautifully restored pick-up just had to be featured!
Shelby & Velcro's Family Photo Wall
Cheers to another beautiful dog-approved art installation & many more family photos to come!
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