A Scottish Terrier Puppy Session in Golden, Colorado
I've known Wendy for a few years now. I've had the privilege of photographing her whole crew of Scottish Terriers, and she's genuinely one of my favorite people to spend an afternoon with on a trail. So when she told me there was a new pup in the family, I was already excited before she even sent me a photo.
His name is Rusty. He came from Cavern Kennels in Crossville, Tennessee, flew to Denver with a flight nanny from Atlanta in February, and arrived with what Wendy describes as a whole lot of Scotitude. She asked for a sweet boy, and she got one... who also happens to be, in her words, 'a lot.' Red wheaten coat, Hungarian lines, and absolutely full of himself in the best possible way. I could not wait to meet him.
Into the Trees
We started on the wooded section of Lookout Mountain Trail, where the rocks and tall grass gave Rusty about a thousand things to investigate. Here's what most people get wrong about photographing puppies: they assume it's harder because the dog doesn't know any commands yet. My experience is the opposite. Everything is new to them. Every rock, every rustle in the grass, every shadow between the trees. That wide-eyed attention is exactly what you want in front of a camera, and Rusty had it in spades.
Rusty is, by his own reported biography, 'cute, very smart, and A LOT.' After spending a sunset with him on Lookout Mountain Trail, I can confirm all three. Wendy's crew keeps growing, and I love every opportunity I get to photograph them.
The Sunset We'd Been Waiting For
I'll be honest with you. I'd had a rough streak with mountain sunsets leading up to this session. Not everyone knows that you need the clouds in exactly the right position to get that full show of pinks and golds reflecting back down. More than once I'd stood on a trail with a client, waited, and watched it just go dark. No color. Nothing.
So when Wendy and I had gotten most of what we came for, I suggested we walk over to the best viewpoint on the trail and just... wait. We caught up the way you do with someone you've known for years. And then I saw the light start to shift. That's when everything moved fast. Rusty sat right where we asked him to, a few curious passersby caught his attention at just the right moment, and the sky did the rest.
If you're interested in pet photography, reach out. I'd love to hear from you.
Leave a comment
0 Comments