Fable in Focus

Happy (a little late) Father’s Day to every kind of father out there, including our pet dads.

You know the ones.

The ones who says he doesn’t care if he gets a picture with the pet but then immediately changes his background to it after.

The ones who sleeps in impossible positions so the pet can get a great sleep score every night.

The ones who celebrate the good days, and end up being the one who carries everyone through the hard ones.

The ones who makes up ridiculous nicknames that have nothing to do with the pets real names.

The ones who you catch singing songs that they’ve added the pet’s name into.

The ones who stay strong for everyone when the vet gives bad news, but quietly breaks down later on.

The ones who are ALWAYS the fun parent of the house.

The only one the pet is allowed to break rules with.

The one who loves the pets with their whole heart and whole soul.

We are so thankful for all of the father’s in this world and celebrate you every day.

Some bonds only sisters understand.

These three girls were the absolute sweetest and were so fun to photograph and literally so full of joy and laughter.

One of my own sisters once sent to me “No one will ever truly know you like your sister. They will be the longest relationship you will have from day one until the end.” And you can truly see this in these photos.

I feel so grateful to have captured this genuine bond these girls have and to have included their sweet pups as well. I hope they’ll be able to look back on them fondly one day.

DeLaney : always the main character
Pet lifestyle photographer | Virginia | peony field photoshoot | flowers and dogs | peonies and dogs | wirehaired pointing griffon | Virginia photographer | dog photography | dog portrait

Hitting life milestones with your best friend by your side

The way it sends me over the moon when people want photos during major events or achievements in their life with their pet in them. Katelynn and Peter have such a special relationship so when her mom reached out about senior graduation pictures with the two of them my immediate response was absolutely.

And I mean just look at them! I wish yall could’ve seen how much better trusts Katelynn. He let her pick him up in any means, plop him down wherever, and never fussed.

And boy did I have a talking to with my bunny Thea when I got home to let her know she needs to get her manners straight after witnessing them.

But in all seriousness, I don’t think there is anything more special than our pets being there for us as we go through our life stages and I’m so grateful I got to capture Katelynn and Peter together as they celebrate graduating high school and moving on to the next big thing.
Pet lifestyle photographer | graduation photos | Virginia | bunny photography | rabbit portraits | high school graduate | pet photographer | pet photography | Washington DC photographer |

They’re always where I want to be

We took a mini vacay and didn’t touch a drop of work for once! I have tons of editing to do with a couple of shoots coming up so I will be doubling down here this week and next.

My dogs are my favorite muses and don’t they just look stunning at all beach sunset? 🥺
Pet photographer | pet lifestyle photographer | Maryland | Virginia | dog portrait | dog photography | boxer | pitbull | Australian shepherd | English shepherd | beach photoshoot

So much love for my lens to capture

Amber reached out to me inquiring about a shoot with her family. She had just been diagnosed with cancer and wanted to see if I could take pictures within the next few days before she started treatment, apologizing for the short notice. Of course, I said yes.

After work, I drove up to meet Amber and her family. They were just the sweetest. It really took no effort on my part with this shoot cause they were just so authentic.

Their love for each other shined through.

Oakley and Whiskey also play an integral role in their family. The centerpieces of their family. Amber adores them, she advocates for them on so many levels, and it shows with how much they also look after her.

Not just pets, but they are a support system. Oakley was Amber’s service dog and now Whiskey has the role as Oakley retires into his golden years.

Regardless of if they are service dogs or not, Oakley and Whiskey are the true examples of how our pets are there for us in the good times, the hard times, the life changes, through absolutely everything. They are our stability, our rock, unwavering ad life changes around us. Their presence is healing, it brings comfort, it reminds us love is unconditional as we move through our lives.

They’re the gorilla glue (cause if y’all don’t know, nothing is stronger than gorilla glue) that holds us together through all of our seasons.

I am so grateful I got to meet Amber and her family and capture these moments for them.

You’re the moon

The hardest decision I have to make with every shoot is which photo I am going to use as the cover photo when I post. Y’all make every photo turn out so well that I struggle with it.

Jess and Havoc were no different; they couldn’t take a bad photo if they tried.

The dense fog made these even more cinematic and I’m thankful that we got to shoot in conditions most people probably would’ve steered clear from. But honestly, how perfect was the weather for these two?

I got to hear Jess and Havoc’s story during these shoots, my favorite part of every shoot I have. Jess was working as a vet tech when a German shepherd “breeder” brought Havoc in. He was a runt and refusing to eat so he wanted him euthanized.

Jess asked the vet if she could keep him instead. The breeder signed Havoc over and now look at him. He is basically a wolf, stunning, healthy, huge, and so incredibly happy with Jess.

I don’t believe in coincidences. Everything happens for a reason and everyone and everything has a purpose. Havoc was meant for Jess and vice versa. Meant to be is a real thing.
Virginia Pet Lifestyle Photographer | pet photographer | dog photographer | dog portrait | Maryland photographer | DC pet photographer | dog and owner photos | black German shepherd | shenandoah national park |

Happy Memorial Day 🇺🇸

As we all enjoy making good memories with our family and friends today, please to a moment to pause in silence for the memories of those who didn’t make it home and their families and friends.

I am forever grateful my dad made it home from every deployment after 30 years in the army and made it out of the pentagon on 9/11. I’m grateful my husband, who medically retired from the army, made it home from his deployment.

I know the stress and strain of waiting for someone who I love to come back home. Trying to live a normal life while being in the dark of what’s happening overseas and I feel so deeply for those who didn’t get to have that first embrace at the airport when they did get to come home.

The ones who had to tell their children, their mom or dad wouldn’t be able to tuck them in again. The ones who passed before their parents did. The spouse who got the call or a knock on their door and now they have to navigate life without their other half. The friend who was ready to have that beer with their buddy and now they raise their glass to memorialize them instead. The ones who pets had to be rehomed and live in confusion cause their person wasn’t coming back.

This day is to keep their memory alive. To honor the ultimate sacrifice they made and the loved ones left behind.

Have fun, be safe, take a 30 second silence for those who can no longer make memories with their loved ones to honor their memory.

It’s all in the details
Pet lifestyle photographer | Virginia pet photographer | pet photography | dog portrait | dog photos | couples photography | dachshund |

I have the sweetest story for yall from this shoot.

So this shoot was actually purchased as a Christmas gift by Paige’s daughter (not her granddaughter pictured). When she inquired about the gift she wrote “I want to get a photo session for my mom & step-dad with their recently adopted dog Finn from the SPCA. Finn has absolutely changed their lives.”

When I arrived at Paige’s home for the actually shoot in April, she had hand written very specific shots she wanted. I was caught off guard at first cause I’m used to give direction. But as we went through it, I realized why she did this….

We got to a part where she had written down “Walking outside with Finn.” Paige’s husband asked “Where do you want me to walk Finn?” And she said “The same place you do every day.”

Then we got to one where she wrote “Finn at window.” When we got to it, I noticed he had a bed propped up on it and Paige said “He sits there every single day and looks out the window.”

At that moment I realized, they were recreating everyday moments of Finn and with Finn they wanted captured to be able to look back on as the years went by. My heart burst a little bit at this realization. She wasn’t posing him for the perfect photos, but rather wanted photos that meant something to them and them only.

To add to their story, they let me know that they weren’t supposed to get Finn. They lost their dog of 16 years and thought they would never be able to open up their hearts to another one after the heart break. They even shared pictures of their past dog, a literally white version of Finn.

They went to the SPCA one day just to look at a different dog who had already gotten adopted by the time they got there. Then they saw Finn, he was matted, not super clean, with overgrown nails but she said they knew they had to have him; so they brought him home.

According to them, he has been the most perfect addition to their home ever since then.