John Muir, a naturalist and champion of keeping the wilderness wild, once said, “Between every two pines, there is a doorway to a new world.”
In the Inland Northwest, the pines reach to the sky like arms outstretched in gratitude for all that surrounds us.
And for those of us who adventure, we discover a new world with every step we take, a new trail on our life’s journey.
The wilderness holds the power to teach us.
Just like our dogs do.
And within that power to teach us, to help us find our next path also lies my power to create the best dog photos for you and your home.
The keys to creating the best dog photos
The landscape of Eastern Washington and North Idaho is rugged and undaunted. From the rolling hills of the Palouse to the lush, glacial lakes hidden among the Selkirk Mountains, it is untamed and wild.
Just like the hearts of our companion dogs, our guardians as we step into the wilderness.
And it is that unfiltered, authentic state, that wildness that will help us create the most amazing dog portraits for your home.
No forced poses, no uncomfortable smiles.
Just you and your dog reveling in this adventure called life, celebrating the grit and soaking in all the essence of the dog life.
With my camera, we transform the raw and chaotic into art.
More than an epic location and top-of-the-line camera gear, though, a few more factors must come into play. Here’s how I create the best dog photos you’ll want to adorn your walls:
1. Mastery of the craft
It isn’t merely enough to understand how the light falls. I have learned how to create the light I need for a bold, vibrant portrait of your dog.
2. Understanding your dog
Knowing your dog’s favorite activities and personality quirks is essential to ensuring what I see in my camera is how you see your dog on a day-to-day basis.
3. Understanding your relationship with your dog
I will tailor your adventure dog session to the type of activities you love to do together. Paddleboarding, skijoring or mountain biking are all adventures I’ve documented for dog lovers. It doesn’t even have to be that energetic, though. A simple day at the lake playing fetch might be exactly what relates your bond.
4. Empathy and patience
Had you met me 20 or 10 years ago, you might have laughed at this point. Working with dogs has allowed me to develop both empathy and patience as skills in my toolbox. Empathy allows me to connect with your dog on a soulful level and see him at his most authentic, while patience lets me immerse myself in the experience and view the world through the eyes of your dog without the pressure of time.
5. A storytelling instinct
At its core, the best dog photos are about storytelling and transforming fleeting moments into a narrative that makes you remember that time, that space, that feeling of being in that shared experience with your dog. Your Adventure Session becomes a chapter in the entire story of your lives together.
6. An unbridled spirit
Standing out in a sea of dog and family photographers in the Inland Northwest requires me to be bold and different. I will jump into the lake or the river and go waist-deep for that epic shot. I will climb a rock and come down bruised and battered … and smiling. I will lie in that field of grass and await the opportunity for your bounding puppy to crash into my and crack my tooth. (For real, that shit happened.)
7. An adaptable mindset
Stuff can go wrong at a photo shoot. Your dog may not be in the most cooperative mood. It might rain (rarely in the Inland Northwest but it could happen). There might be too many other people around. There’s always a chance that Plan B, C or D might have to be put in motion and that’s OK. I have a never-say-die attitude about delivering the best dog photos I possibly can.
There’s an exquisite beauty in the profound connection between you and your dog and juxtaposing it with the rugged landscape of the Inland Northwest means we have just created art.
The kind of art that no one else you know has.
The kind of art that guests in your home will ask questions about.
The kind of art that transports you back to that moment, that special time when the focus was solely on you and your dog and your love.
All around the circle
The Inland Northwest isn’t just a destination for outdoor adventure lovers.
It’s my studio.
A blank canvas to celebrate the perfection in imperfections, the messiness of our adventures and the authenticity of the dog-human bond.
This deep dive into the heart of dog photography is part of the pet photographers’ blog circle and this week we’re highlighting our favorite parts about our jobs. Next up, meet Hamilton dog and family photographer Sharon Canovas of Canovas Photography with her three simple reasons why pet and family photography is important.
Click the link at the bottom of Sharon’s post to continue through the circle. When you find yourself back here to how I get the best dog photos, you know you’re home.
Right where you belong.
And if you’re looking for a place to start your adventures in the Inland Northwest, download my hiking guide:
Find your next adventure
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Whoa! That first image is flipping stunning!
It’s so important to be adaptive. One thing I’ve learned in life is the better your initial plan, the more likely it will be turned upside down.