other side of the camera

It’s no secret that I spend a whole lot of time with my face behind a camera. Here’s what happens when that flip flops 😉 

I hadn’t had professional photos taken of myself and my pup since 2013, and I’ve been putting it off with plans to lose more weight… for far too long. When a dear friend and client suddenly and unexpectedly lost her wonderful 8-year-old Dane, I knew that those extra pounds couldn’t stop me from getting photos with my boy, for fear of ever regretting missing out on them.

I had been talking to my crazy-talented friend Sarah of Sarenae Photography for a few months about getting some silhouette shots with Emmet, so I reached out to her in October to get something scheduled for early November. We started out with some traditional portraits and ended with the silhouettes (which were everything I had hoped for!). Sarah was a SAINT dealing with us for this session. I felt like a nightmare client!

I’ve got to say: I felt compelled to write this blog post with a 100% honest depiction of this process. Even though I do this for a living – doesn’t mean I was prepared for the client perspective at all.

With it being the near-peak of busy season, I didn’t have a lot of time to figure out what I wanted to wear for my session. The week before our session, on a whim, I picked up a purple plaid collar & purple bowtie for Emmet from Three Dog Bakery in Sewickley. My mom was sure he’d look like a girl, but I knew it’d be just dapper enough to work 😉 In order to tie the purple in with my own outfit, I set out on a wild goose chase for the perfect purple scarf. Our session was held on a Thursday. I ran into the mall that Wednesday, on the hunt. Not only did I need a scarf – I also didn’t really have a plan for what top I’d wear. I bought three shirts in two sizes each, since I was heading to a bunch of meetings and didn’t have time to try things on. (Sorry, returns departments at JCP and Macy’s!)

I had some help choosing a final outfit via FaceTime, from two of my most stylish clients 😉 We decided on a gray fitted sweater, with jeans and black high-heeled booties, and – of course – the purple scarf. I also had gotten a cute bomber jacket that I figured I’d throw on for some of the photos, too.

The only thing I was actually prepared to deal with was my hair – I had scheduled a couple of appointments with my amazing stylist, Casey at Revelation Hair Designs. She colored my hair the Tuesday before the session, I went back in for some curls on the day-of. I sent her a text later that night, “Welp, my dog was awful (more on that later) and I’ve got some extra pounds, but my hair is absolutely perfect.” 

As photographers, we are 100% used to being the calm ones, the ones with the patience, and the ones who will reassure you that your kids or dogs weren’t bad until we are blue in the face. Because, as Sarah reminded me: to a photographer, they aren’t! Most people who know me know that Emmet isn’t the picture of the perfect dog – he’s got fear issues, dog-aggression, stranger danger, and he’s an overall basket case. With that being said, he’s a very smart boy, and CAN be very obedient. When he wants to 😉

I remember last fall, I fretted for WEEKS over my promo video shoot, which Emmet was to be a part of. I warned the videographer, and I expected the worst. Of course, that little brat was PERFECT that day, proving me wrong during every moment she was there. Looking back on this recent portrait session and the days leading up to it, I regret being cautiously optimistic due to that experience. I was editing all day (after a morning hair appointment), so I didn’t keep Emmet awake or try to tire him out that day (which is what I always advise clients to do). That led to a super ornery 135lb boy, exploring a new place on a four-foot leash. Let’s just say I didn’t get to wear those heels for more than a few minutes 😉 At least he loved Sarah – *and* her daughter, who came along to help out. Emmet loves kids, so I figured it’d be a great way to make him feel more comfortable and less threatened around someone he hadn’t seen since he was 8 weeks old!

Even though he was certainly not on his best behavior (quite the contrary actually), the session went well because the results were excellent.

The moral of this story is: TRUST. YOUR. PHOTOGRAPHER.

I’ve been in your shoes, I know this can be super stressful – but it doesn’t have to be! Sarah did such an incredible job creating these images and I’m so grateful for them, and for her friendship!