Listen to this blog post:
I prayed for snow.
OK, OK. I am not a religious person. I barely class as “spiritual.” So praying might be a stretch.
Let’s say that I sang “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” all the way to Leavenworth, Washington, one weekend last month.
And given that my talents are limited to photography and writing, I’d say “singing” is a stretch, too.
Maybe I was caterwauling. Only small dogs could hear some of the notes I was hitting.
Personal projects and hanging out in dog-friendly Leavenworth
I’d only been to Leavenworth once before: around the same time last year. It rained then too but not as much as it did for this trip.
Leavenworth is enchanting. And very importantly, dog-friendly.
Its Bavarian-inspired architecture attracts visitors from all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The charming atmosphere of the town nestled in the Cascade Mountains was actually a strategic initiative to revitalize the local economy.
The pedestrian-only streets are typically packed with people and, if you can get there in the right season – i.e., the not-rainy season – you can feast on great food and locally brewed beer on dog-friendly patios.
It’s a glorious destination for outdoor adventures. Epic hiking is right at your doorstep and if you’re a real daring soul, you can stand in line and get incredible views of the town from the Alpine Coaster at the Leavenworth Adventure Park.
Not for me, thanks. I’m the kind of gal who likes to keep her feet on the ground.
And a beer in her hands. The beer would spill on a roller coaster, I think.
Besides, there was more afoot than hiking and roller coasters this year.
Three amazing dog-friendly locations near Leavenworth
When I returned home from Shutterhound, an educational conference dedicated to dog photography and only dog photography, I set my mind to dedicate myself to two personal projects:
- A top secret adventure that is going to make your heart swell, I promise.
- Help the dogs and cats at Companions Animal Center in Hayden, Idaho, find homes.
Our local shelters are full. No, they’re bursting at the seams, because people are surrendering their pets at an unprecedented rate. If the shelter says “we can’t take your dog, we’re full,” people leave the dog behind in the parking lot anyway. Or take it to one of the several popular dumping spots in the area.
It’s heart-breaking. To help, I’ve been trying to get all the shelter dogs and cats great images so people will see on the facility’s website and social media feeds happy, smiling dogs out for a walk, rather than sad, stressed-out fearful dogs trapped in a kennel.
That is their reality for hours and hours every day, though.
It’s what I feel I can do to give back to the community that has helped me build my business as a dog photographer.
The other personal project has similar goals: to give back to the community. This one has a stronger message, though, that connects women to their dogs in a way that gives thanks to our canine companions for showing us who we are.
After my trip to Leavenworth last year, I had two locations planned for special project shoots and picked a third out of thin air.
I scheduled my model sets — one woman and her dog — and headed west with my friend/assistant Cat for a November weekend around Leavenworth.
It rained the whole friggin’ time. Like, not just sun showers and moody clouds. I’m talking rain, grey skies, more rain and friggin’ downpours. We got soaked three times and dried out three times before the day was over.
Aside from my personal project shots, I made sure to get images of just the dogs (and Bella at each location because she was there, too … duh!)
1. Peshastin Pinnacles State Park
You know I love a good shot of a dog on a rock. Peshastin Pinnacles, a 34-acre day-use park, has the most unique rock formations of sandstone and conglomerate rising out of the earth. Hiking trails wind their way around the base and up the sturdier ones, treating visitors to views of the entire world below them.
My friend Cat and I got there ahead of our models and went for a pre-hike hike. We found an incredible space to set up shop for an epic shot. I had Cat take a prep shot with her phone of how I wanted the space to look.
The sun was breaking through clouds on the horizon and the light was just … well … amazing.
We went back down the hill, slipping and sliding through the sand in the rain. We checked our trail maps for an alternate route and once our models arrive started to ascend the hill again.
The alternate route took us straight up to the Trigger Finger. As I was checking my trail map, Cat yelled out, “Ang, turn around.” I did and I knew we were right where we needed to be.
This is Ares, a white husky who fills his mama’s heart with joy and confidence and love. When you see them together … oh my.
I waited until I knew I had the image I wanted – plus some – and then I put Bella in the right position to get my one shot of her.