Being a Dog Photographer
Have you ever wondered what on Earth would make someone want to be a pet photographer?
Why do I do what I do? It's a common question that can make you pause and question, well, everything. Despite the notion that photographers might become obsolete with the rise of camera phones and the challenges of turning passion into profit, why choose to risk it all to capture moments with other people's dogs?
- Love for dogs
- The sheer enjoyment of the job
- Passion for visual art
- The incomparable happiness of capturing the perfect shot for a client
- A profound sense of fulfillment unlike any other job
I suppose these are all perfectly legitimate answers depending on who's asking. But one day I was nudged to go a little deeper. In exploring my purpose on this planet the question kept creeping in. ...but WHY do you do what you do? And none of my usual off the cuff answers seemed to quite quell this nagging question.
"Your why shouldn't be because of you, it should be about the people who need you" echoed in my earbuds from a Fearless Motivation track.
Then one day it echoed in my heart...
I do this because I know the pain of losing a soul-dog.
The kind of dog who's more than a pet. The dog who rampages into your life at warp speed and leaves you exhausted and wondering what havoc they'll wreak next. And yet you can't remember what life was without them. The only being on the planet that can wake you from a sound sleep just for attention...and you smile instead of fling a pillow.
The dog who rides shotgun,
co-pilots life, and walks beside you on every twist in the road. The dog who's soft fur seems capable of soaking up an endless amount of tears when no one else is looking. The dog you'd consider bartering your own years just to buy them a few extra.
Over the years I've wept for a few soul-dogs.
And in the wake of that empty place I've clung tightly to their photographs; looked longingly into those mischievous eyes. And smiled as each photo roused a joyful memory of that one time the dog (insert every crazy story from eating the Thanksgiving turkey to killing the dreaded sprinkler beast).
And over the years I've photographed hundreds of other peoples soul dogs.
Sometimes early in their journeys, but often near the end. I can't begin to express the gravity of knowing you are a part of someone's best friend's last adventure. The last photos to carry on their soul-dogs legacy of love.
Reading the tear-filled messages from clients saying goodbye to their soul-dogs touches me so deeply. While I can't magic wand and take away their heartache, as much as I wish I could, I do find solace in hearing that the photographs capturing their beloved pet's personality provide a gentle salve for their broken hearts. Though I can't erase their pain, I'm grateful to be a part of offering support during such a difficult time.
And so I realized my why. My true, deep in my soul, no fluff WHY.
Because I don't have a magic wand, but I do have a camera. If a photo I took can ease someone's broken heart even a fraction, then that's why I will keep rolling in the mud (hoping it's mud), trudging into the frozen creek, and standing on my head to snag the perfect dog's POV.
"This was a sad day because I knew I only had about 20 hours left with Shylo, but they made beautiful family photos too. If you're considering this, do it. Kris is a different kind of person that can do this. Truly an Angel!
-Thank you so much Kris! Love, Lindsay, Cooper and Tucker"
"This photo shoot meant the world to us, and was such an important opportunity for our family to come together once more to help say our goodbyes. We had been working up the courage to help Tegan transition, but George's cancer diagnosis came just days before we had to let him go. The morning after these pictures were taken, we made arrangements for our two sick pups to walk together across the Rainbow Bridge. Our hearts are broken with this double loss; words simply cannot express our gratitude for Furever Friends and Kris' willingness to meet with us on our very short time line to accommodate. Our lives are richer because of our dogs' presence in them! The only thing I would have done differently is to have done more family pictures including our three dogs when we still had the opportunity; this situation came up out of left field and completely took us by surprise. " -Laura
"Hello Kris, I just wanted to thank you again. We will be saying our final goodbyes to Tik-tik at the end of the month and two of your photos will be adorning his urn box. The pictures on our walls get nothing but praise from friends and family and they insure his memory will live on. Through tears of both gratitude and sorrow I say thank you."
-Rebecca H.
Losing my Shadow was one of the hardest experiences of my life...
My soul dog was a little red Husky named Shadow. She came into my life like a wrecking ball and was my constant companion for the most complicated decade of my life. She effortlessly climbed chain-link fences and chewed through rose bushes when left to her own devices. Once helped herself to an entire Thanksgiving turkey while the family was facing the other way snapping a quick photo. With all her chaos, I wouldn't have traded a single moment with her.
She rode shotgun in my Jeep as we criss-crossed the country trying to find our place in the world.
She snuggled under my arm every night like a living teddy bear. Once stopped a car-jacker in the middle of the night. And her rabbit-like fur soaked up a thousand tears from every broken heart. And when I lost her, I felt completely lost myself. Even though she's now been gone longer than she was with me, her portrait still hangs on my wall to remind me of a million memories with my canine co-pilot.
It’s why I’ll continue to prioritize Legacy Sessions, —because these moments matter.
Plan your dog's Legacy Photo Session...
I understand how precious and fleeting this time can be, so I do everything I can to accommodate these requests, even on extremely short notice.
I dedicate my work to the dogs who leave pawprints on our hearts and the people who love them.
