Your dog's story deserves to be told

Your photography experience is thoughtfully designed around you & your dog.
Every step is intentional, comfortable & focused on creating artwork you'll smile at daily.

The Love Your Dog Experience

I've designed every step to be comfortable and clear so this a joyful and stress-free experience for you. I rely on my professional learnings to carefully craft your total experience — from how we plan your session to how you see your images for the first time.

What does this mean for you? It means you can focus on what matters: spending meaningful time with your dog while I capture the magic. And afterwards, no surprises, no confusion, just a smooth journey to artwork you'll treasure for years to come.

From our first conversation to the moment you hold your album or hang your beautiful wall art, you'll feel supported and excited. You're never left wondering what happens next.

It starts with a conversation. We'll spend 20-30 minutes together—by phone, video call, or in person—getting to know each other and your dog. If we meet in person, it's a wonderful chance for your dog and me to become friends before the session. No awkward first hellos on the big day! This is also where you share anything that makes your dog unique — whether they are deaf or hard of hearing, have mobility limitations, or need time to warm up to strangers. We’ll talk through what works for them so the session day feels safe and comfortable for everyone.

During our planning conversation, we'll talk about

1

Let's Plan Together

  • Who will be at the session (people and dogs)

  • Your dog's personality—are they playful? Gentle? Ball-obsessed?

  • What they love most: specific treats? Playing Fetch? Belly Rubs? Running?

  • Any special health or diet considerations

  • What moments matter most to you

  • Where you envision artwork in your home— specific walls that might be perfect for a statement portrait, a gallery arrangement that works with your layout, a shelf in your office, or the right surface for an album or folio box

  • Location and scheduling that works for you

Based on your vision, we plan images that will fill your home with joy for years to come.

This conversation is where I learn how to capture your dog's spirit. By the time we wrap up, you'll feel confident about what to expect, and I'll understand exactly what matters most to you.

If we decide we're a great fit, here's what happens next:

  • Complete a short questionnaire to help me learn more about your dog, your goals for the shoot, and your vision for the beautiful products we'll create together. Even if we’ve had a planning conversation, take your time with this —you may have thought of new ideas afterwards. It’s fun, not a test!

  • Review and sign a simple contract

  • Pay the $350 session booking fee to reserve your date

Your session fee is applied as a full product credit when your artwork order reaches $1,500 or more — so it's not a cost, it's a head start.

2

Your Session Day

Most sessions last between 1-2 hours, but we're never rushed. If your dog needs breaks, we take breaks. If they're still having a great time and we're capturing magic, we keep going. This is all about quality, not speed.

What to Expect

We'll capture your dog being a dog: running, playing, resting beside you, sitting pretty for treats, and maybe catching them! If your dog loves catching balls, by all means, let's see them fly! These are the moments that matter. The connection you share. Sure, you'll want a formal shot or two, but we aim for natural, comfortable moments—not awkward staging with forced poses.

Especially if you're the one who normally takes phone snapshots of your dog, this should be a treat for you. You'll finally get to be in the photo with your best friend! This session isn't just about your dog — it's about your relationship.

There will be plenty of treats (and some silly noises) to keep your pup engaged and entertained — and looking at the camera. At times, you'll be asked to stand directly behind me so we capture your dog's soulful eyes looking at you.

Others have asked about ….

  • Absolutely — some of the best portraits happen when dogs are in motion. Running, leaping, spinning for a treat, flopping down for a belly rub. We're not chasing perfect stillness, we're chasing your dog — exactly as they are. The planning conversation helps here too. When I know what makes your dog light up, I come prepared with the right tools, treats, and timing to capture their best moments.

  • One of my clients said it best:

    "Cheryl was totally up for the challenge, and more importantly, she had a plan. We started weeks in advance with a muzzled walk so CB could meet her and get comfortable. Cheryl has this amazing ability to read dogs and earn their trust — it didn't take long before ClaraBelle decided she was acceptable company. On shoot day, we started with the muzzle, took everything nice and slow, and followed her lead. Eventually we switched to a long lead — because magic exists and those can be edited right out of photos! And guess what? ClaraBelle crushed it. Like, 'who is this dog?!' level crushed it. Moral of the story: if you've got a people-selective pup, don't count them out." — Lori, ClaraBelle's mom

  • Absolutely. During our planning conversation, you'll share anything that makes your dog unique — whether they're deaf, hard of hearing, have mobility challenges, or need extra time to warm up to strangers. We design the session around what works for them: visual cues instead of verbal ones, slower pacing, shorter bursts of activity, whatever helps them feel safe and comfortable. Every dog deserves to be photographed on their own terms.

Location Flexibility

You can choose from a variety of parks and locations I have already scouted, or suggest your favorite park or hiking spot or location that's meaningful to both of you - I’ll check it out to understand how to take best advantage of the site’s character. Each setting offers different possibilities for capturing your bond. If you prefer to photograph at your home where your dog is most comfortable, we should have our planning conversation at your home during the same time of day as our session will be.

And yes, it's Seattle—if weather looks questionable, we'll reschedule. Your session fee is fully transferable to your new date.

“EggNog was special in SO many ways—my deaf, non-hearing heart dog with a presence you couldn’t ignore. He was a total magnet for the camera, and Cheryl captured that spark perfectly. She followed his lead, used gentle visual cues to connect with him, and gave him the space to just be himself. The result? Photos that hold every bit of his magic—images I’ll treasure forever.”

— Lori, Eggnog’s mom

3

The Reveal & Design Experience

This is where the magic comes to life! About 1-2 weeks after your session, we'll meet for a private reveal appointment where you'll see your images for the first time on a large screen, where you can really appreciate the details, the emotions, the moments we captured together. You'll choose what to do with all the images you love during this design session.

How It Works

We'll start with a slideshow that highlights the wonderful time we shared (I’ll have tissues handy). Then we'll go through your images together, and you'll select your favorites and decide which images work best in each location of your home.

I'll be your guide to create exactly what you want. My job is to ask: "How can I help you get what you love?" Whether that's a stunning canvas for your living room, a collection of prints for your gallery wall, a luxurious album to hold in your hands, a folio box or desktop stand so you have flexibility in what's on display, or a combination of these. You’ll see and touch different options that will make your decisions easier. We’ll even use the large screen to preview your portraits in a variety of sizes. And we’ll match the artwork style to your décor.

Once you've taken care of all your favorite images, you'll place your order. I'll provide an estimated delivery window, updated once confirmed with the lab.

One more thing worth knowing: your session booking fee is applied as a full product credit when your artwork order reaches $1,500 or more.

You can explore product details and investment information on the Artwork page.

Ready to create something beautiful together?

Let's start with a conversation about your dog and your vision. No pressure, just planning.

Let's Talk