I’m sitting here feeling like my heart grew three sizes, Grinch style, after getting the final numbers from this month’s rescue dog fundraising. I knew we did well, but I didn’t realize just how much this community showed up for this Calgary dog photographer and our local rescues until today.

When people ask what makes a portrait feel personal, my answer is always the same: let your dog be a dog. That’s where the real magic happens. Some of my favorite images were snapped mid-squirrel chase, during a surprise flop into a lap, or in that split second of pure joy that no human could ever stage.

That’s exactly what a dog photography gift does. It gives the recipient permission to indulge in something deeply meaningful, a luxury they might never buy for themselves, but will never ever regret.

Let’s be honest, when it comes to gift-giving, we’re all just trying to avoid being that person who brings another candle or a “Live, Laugh, Love” mug. So here’s a thought: what if your gift actually made someone cry? You know, in the good way.

Let’s be honest, no matter how many years we get with our dogs, it will never be enough. They fill our lives with so much love, laughter, and loyalty that saying goodbye never feels possible… until suddenly, it is.

As a photographer (and a deeply devoted dog mom), I’ve learned something that hits deep: sometimes the most meaningful pet photos aren’t always taken in celebration, but in quiet gratitude. Gratitude for the love that’s still here, right now.

As many of you know, I recently closed a massive chapter of my life, 22 years as a flight attendant. I grew up with my colleagues, watched their families grow, and witnessed every CEO of that company come and go. My last flight was from Dublin to Calgary, on the exact date of my hire 22 years ago. Call it manifestation, kismet, or just really poetic scheduling.

Ah, Calgary winters - the time of year when your dog gives you the “I’m going to poop inside today mmmkay?” Look while you question every life choice that led you to owning a house in a climate where the wind hurts your face, when the temps drop below -20°C, outdoor adventures become a hard pass for our short furred babies, but that doesn’t mean your pup has to be cooped up inside (or worse, zoomie-deprived).

It’s hard not to see echoes of this past in today’s crisis in Turkey, where new laws targeting stray animals have been passed under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In Turkey, stray animals have long held a special place in the culture, celebrated as street companions and treated with affection by the people (fed, sheltered and citizens even coming together to pay for veterinary expenses). But now, under a law passed in July 2024, all strays must be brought to shelters, vaccinated, and, if they exhibit any signs of terminal illness or aggression, euthanized. Dogs that remain healthy and adoptable have just 30 days to find homes-that is if they fall under an "acceptable breed" (this is a whole different post).

the little voice in the back of my head is always saying, no one is going to pay you to do this for a living, are you crazy? who would invest this much in their dogs outside of yourself? ever hear of a starving artist?

well folks... let me answer those questions for you (and partly for my own self soothing). let's talk about that little dirty subject that everyone loves to hate talking about: money.

first off, we are creating and curating memories.