My Floating Photography Studio

Right after sunrise, before Sarasota has had its coffee, I'm already out on the water, pedals turning beneath me, hands completely free, camera up. Not far ahead, a paddleboard wobbles a little as a dog shifts its weight to get a better look at a heron, her person laughing behind her, and I already know this is going to be a favorite image in their gallery.

This is Paddles & Paws. A morning or evening on the water with your dog, paired with a professional photo session that documents your favorite time together, the two of you, out there, doing the thing you love most.

Where the Idea Came From

Several years ago I got my Hobie Lynx kayak, mostly for the exercise. Traditional paddling never appealed to me, but pedaling did, I already loved biking, so using my legs to move the boat felt natural from the first trip out. I fell in love with it fast. Being that low to the water made me feel like part of the landscape instead of a visitor.

What I wasn't expecting was how many dogs I'd see out there. Paddleboards with a dog planted on the front. Kayaks with a pup wedged between someone's knees. No matter where I launched, Sarasota Bay or the Manatee River, on any given day the water was full of people out there with their dogs, and because I can't help photograph every dog I see, I found myself chasing dog photos more than birds or gators.

Then it hit me. These pet parents were living some of the best bonding time they have with their dog, quiet, uninterrupted, just the two of them and the water, and they could never actually get a photo of it, because they're too busy paddling. A traditional kayak means both hands on the oars, it's simply impossible to hold a camera at the same time. You can't steady a paddleboard and hold up a phone either.

But I could. My legs move the boat, so my hands are free the whole time, tracking ears, paws, tails, wakes, and the two of them together, all of it, without ever setting the camera down. My pedal kayak became a floating studio, and I built a very specialized photo session around it, one that finally captures both sides of that morning on the water, the dog and the person who's out there with them.

The Paddles & Paws Experience

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Not Every Dog, and That's the Point

Paddles & Paws isn't for every dog, and it isn't supposed to be. It's for the ones who already know the water, who've had time on a board or in a kayak and are genuinely comfortable out there, tail relaxed, ears up, having fun instead of enduring it. That comfort and the fun they're having is what makes the photos work. I'm not coaxing a pose or an expression out of anyone. He's already there, because he's happy, and what comes out is some of the most authentic work I do.

And it's not only about the dog. Part of what I love most about this session is turning around and catching you too, the two of you sharing this, something you'd otherwise only ever remember and never actually see. You're just as much a part of the story as your dog is.

Paddles & Paws

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The Location I Keep Coming Back To

My favorite version of this session starts at Turtle Beach, late in the day, when the light goes gold and soft. We pedal and paddle out toward Midnight Pass together, dog on boat or board, tail wagging, big smiles, and by the time we reach the sand the light is doing something no studio could fake. That's the surprise people don't expect, this isn't only a water session. We beach the boards, let the dog shake off, run free, play in the ocean, and I keep shooting, your dog and you, side by side. Sand, surf, sunset, water, all in one gallery, all in one evening.

Sarasota Bay, Jiggs Landing, and City Island are regulars too, each with its own light and its own feel. But Turtle Beach and Midnight Pass are where this session shows off everything it can do.

What to Know Before You Book

Sessions run at sunrise or sunset, when the light is softest and the water is calmest. Your dog should already be comfortable on a board or in a kayak, this is a session built around ease, not a first lesson in swimming. Beyond that, we'll talk through the right location for the two of you, whether that's a quiet morning on the bay or an evening out to Midnight Pass.

If your dog already lights up near water, I'd love to hear about your next paddle, and finally have the photo to prove it, both of you in it.Click here for more informationn on a Paddles and Paws Photo Session: