When patience, timing, and a little magic come together.

Photographing dogs? Easy and fun! They show up wagging, ready to please, eyes sparkling like they already know they’re the star.

Cats? An entirely different story. They prefer to observe, quietly deciding whether or not you—and your camera—deserve their attention. They might even decide they don’t want to show up at all.

I’ve photographed plenty of dogs together—duos, trios, even quadruples—and literally hundreds of solo cats, from the shy and hiding to the confident and cooperative. But this was my first time photographing two dogs and a cat together. Honestly? I wasn’t convinced it could happen.

I went in hopeful for some beautiful individual shots with the possibility of photoshopping them together, and maybe—if the stars aligned—a candid of all three in the same frame.

Meet Peep, Rudy & Izzy

Peep, a gorgeous white Persian, arrived like he owned the place. He didn’t hide or take time to acclimate—he hopped right onto the stage, posed beautifully, and gave me several stunning portraits… until he decided he was done. I figured that was it—his royal highness had retired for the day.

Rudy and Izzy, his Schnauzer siblings, were typical dogs in the best possible way. After a few sniffs and snuggles, they were eager, attentive, and full of heart. They gave me those soulful looks that melt you right into a puddle and happily sat together for some beautiful brother–sister portraits.

By that point, I already had everything I needed—individuals and combinations that could easily be composited together later. But part of me thought, maybe, just maybe, we could get the real thing. Because no amount of Photoshop can replace the magic of a genuine moment.

The Chaos Made It All Worth It

Peep wanted nothing to do with the stage, hopping down every time we placed him back on it. Not even the fail-proof Churu treat could convince him to stay. My bag of tricks was nearly empty—until I tried one last thing: a small, lightweight leash. He wasn’t thrilled at first, but after a moment, he decided to relax.

Mom held his leash (which I later edited out), I lifted Rudy and Izzy back up, Dad waved a crinkly toy behind me, and I made every ridiculous sound I know—and then, just for a heartbeat, all three looked straight into my lens.

CLICK - GOT IT!

One of my favorite images captured everything I love about doing this work.

 And as a bonus, we even managed a family portrait with Mom and Dad, all five of them looking at the camera at once. Talk about miracles!

But I didn’t just get it once. We captured that same magic twice—once in the studio, and again outdoors a week later at Bay Park in Sarasota.

It takes time. It takes patience. It takes an innate understanding of animals—and knowing exactly what you can (and can’t) ask of them.

Why These Sessions Matter

During their image reveal, their mom said something that truly resonated with me:

“I had this image in my mind. I kept trying with my phone and it never worked. I knew I needed a pro, but I kept putting it off because I was afraid it wouldn’t work. But as they’ve gotten older, I realized I had to try—because time would pass and I’d lose the chance.”

That’s what these portraits are really about.

Not just capturing perfection — and the moments that aren’t. The connection, the laughter, the tiny flashes of chaos and the hearts that make every family unique.

Thanks to these portraits, Rudy, Izzy, and Peep’s story — and the love their family shares — will live on every time they walk past that framed portrait on the wall or flip through the pages of their luxury photo album.

Because in the end, it’s not just about having beautiful photos. It’s about holding on to the moments you never want to forget. It’s about keeping them with you — forever

Ready to Create Your Own Timeless Portraits?

Whether it’s a curious cat, a pack of pups, or your whole furry family, I’d love to tell your story—with patience, understanding, and maybe a few squeaky-toy sound effects along the way.

📍 Sarasota • Bradenton • Lakewood Ranch