Mirror Image K9 Masterclass

It is such a cool environment. It is not just educational but inspiring and fun. There are people who are new to the world of training their dogs and then there are other dog trainers who are always looking to learn more or to just deepen the connection with their dog by either implementing more structure or by actually managing a little less. People come from as far as Pennsylvania, Ohio and California for the weekend with their pups to do hands on training. This is not just for the big dogs but also for the little ones. Seeing people being so committed to not just their dogs but to the bond they are building and deepening is so incredible. This workshop is ‘only’ 3 days but you see a difference between the dog that showed up a little insecure on Friday vs the dog that is now surrounded by other dogs and can make a better decision for himself just 2 days later.

Having trainers explain more about the internal struggle the dog is experiencing is so interesting and so often the exact opposite of what I think is going on…

If some dog owners could just have an ounce of willingness trying to understand how their dog thinks and feels in certain situations, I think we would have a lot less people who experience serious issues with their dogs that often ultimately lead to the dog being surrendered to the shelter or a rescue.

You are taking on a being with a personality, with feelings, emotions and their quirks. We cannot expect them to know what is expected of them in certain situations if we have not done the work trying to explain it to them in a language they understand.

If you have read this far (thank you) and you are having issues with your dog that have led to you wanting to give up and surrender it, please don’t. Please get in touch with a trainer (I will ALWAYS send you to MIK9) and learn to understand why your dog is behaving the way he or she is and what you can do to make life a little easier and less stressful for the both of you. I promise you that in the process of all of this, you will strengthen the bond between you and your loyal companion and you will one day ask yourself how you could have ever even thought about giving up on your dog.

And if you are wondering when the next masterclass will be held? Unfortunately not until October of 2027. But until then, follow them on Instagram and give their podcast ‘Think like a dog’ a listen.

2025 Recap and thoughts for the new year

This year I allowed myself to try different things regarding photo sessions. The fall mini sessions were quite successful but personally, it felt very rushed to have 10-minute sessions back to back.

Very often, when people book the Pittie session which is about 40 minutes long, it takes EVERYONE, the dogs included, about 10 minutes to just settle in and loosen up in front of the camera. I don’t think 10 minutes is fair to the dogs who have no idea what is expected of them. They don’t know what it means to have a camera in their face and some are even scared of the camera and its sounds.

Thinking more about this and wanting to offer shorter sessions, my plan in 2026 is to offer 20-minute sessions once every other month (maybe more frequently depending on demand), clustered on one day. These days will go out in the newsletter each month and people can sign up for them if they want a shorter session, if their dog just can’t make it through a 40-minute session, or if a longer session just doesn’t fit into the budget.

Also, in the new year, I would love to work with more businesses who are all about dogs. May it be the pet boutique or the veterinary office that is looking to refresh their website images or step up their social media game. If you are or know of a great business that is all about dogs that would benefit from this, let me know.

With all of this being said, the one thing that will not change is my involvement in volunteering my time to shelters and offering my photography to them as well as foster dogs around me.

Bring your dog to work day: A photo session offer!

Tired of the same old Friday pizza party? Why not celebrate your amazing team and their furry best friends with something truly special?

I’m offering exclusive on-site photo sessions for your employees and their beloved dogs! Imagine professional, heartwarming portraits that capture the unique bond between your team members and their four-legged companions. It's a fantastic way to boost morale, create lasting memories, and celebrate the joy that office dogs bring to your workplace. This would also be a great gift to your team for the holidays ;)

What's included:

• Professional Photo Sessions: Individual mini-sessions for each employee and their dog(s).

• High-Quality Digital Images: Each employee will receive a selection of beautifully edited digital photos.

• Convenient On-Site Setup: I will bring my studio to you, making it easy and stress-free for your team.

Replace the pizza boxes with priceless memories for the team that works hard for you each day.

Partnering with Good Dog Veterinary Care

I recently had the pleasure of partnering with Good Dog Veterinary Services for another special photo session. We captured their amazing vets in action, checking teeth, paws, eyes, and everything in between.

It was amazing to see how gentle and caring the team is with every dog. From routine checkups to those sweet in-between moments, you can truly see the trust between the vets and their patients.

And yes, there were thankfully plenty of dogs involved (because we all know, if there weren’t, I wouldn’t be doing it :D). I was lucky to photograph some adorable pups during their visits and highlight the incredible care they received.

You will see loads of the hundreds of pictures we took on the Good Dog Instagram feed and if your dog needs a vet who treats them like family, Good Dog Veterinary Services is the place to go. I highly recommend them!!