I have to admit, Rylee the shepherd mix is one of the sweetest mutts I’ve ever met. She’s absolutely devoted to her parents – in fact, her favorite place in the world is happily snuggled in either of their laps – and her big brown eyes just seem to implore you for love. I had a great time photographing Rylee – and she loved the fact that I was willing to keep my distance, haha! Rylee is a rescue dog with a few leftover psychological issues from her days as a stray, so she was happiest when she could keep her eye on me from a safe distance away. And that’s okay! Over time, she warms up to people and loves getting close with them… but for the meantime, I was especially glad we did a Pre-Session Consultation so I could get to know all of Rylee’s quirks in advance, haha! And I tell you what: in spite of (or perhaps because of?) her shy personality, she turned out to be one of the easiest-to-work-with pets I’ve ever come across! Rylee has an uncanny ability for striking a pose, and my zoom lens replaced the need for close-ups – so all in all, it was a fantastic photo session! (And to be totally honest, my dog is a shepherd mix too, so Rylee already scored a few easy points with me before we even started, haha!)

Rylee is from the other side of the tracks – literally – so we simply had to set up a few portraits on the train tracks at Old Poway Park! Such a perfect spot… and see what I mean about her natural posing ability? ha!

We also found some pretty flowers to show off Rylee’s softer side…

… but honestly, the whole time we were at the park, Rylee was just hoping to spot another dog! She’s super-social with other pups and can’t resist making friends with any that pass by.

Doree & Daniel, thank you for such a fun afternoon (amidst all those prom-goers and wedding guests)! I’m excited to show you the rest of our photos soon! :)