About the Project
At the beginning of 2025, I learned about an interesting project hosted by Angela Patrick of Tumbleweed Portraits and Photography. It's a creative collaboration that was open to all PPOC members (Professional Photographers of Canada) to bring together photographers across the country to photograph one single dress. The dress has journeyed across Canada to be interpreted in each photographer's own unique way. The final images will be exhibited online and hopefully for an person gallery showcase.
When I first heard about this idea, I was definitely interested. I'm in no way a fashion photographer, but I love challenging myself and so I signed up!
The Inspo
They very first thing that came to my mind when deciding to take part in this project was that it HAD to include a dog. While I do love shooting many subjects, pets are and always have been my focus. So having an amazing dog was a non-negotiable.
The next thing that came to my mind was the location. This was a country wide project, and Canada is such a diverse place. I wanted to do the shoot in a location that was not only beautiful, but showed a beautiful piece of the prairie landscape that I call home. Cranberry Flats Conservation Area is an amazing natural space just outside Saskatoon and it also has spectacular views of the South Saskatchewan River. This was the first location that came to my mind and I honestly couldn't think of a better spot. And it definitely had to be at golden hour.
The next was who to ask to be my model. I knew it had to be someone I was comfortable working with and directing, especially on a project that's out of my comfort zone. It has to be someone with a dog that was not only cute (obviously), but had a little extra training to pull off my idea in the short amount of time I knew we had for actual shooting time. I had worked with Kendra and Fitz a few times and I knew they would be perfect for the idea I had in my mind. I also knew how bonded they were and I wanted to capture them together in a stunning and unique way for them.
The Shoot
We had the most perfect October day! The leaves were colourful. It was windy, perfect to get the dress moving! We had Brooklyn from Brooklyn Hill's Art Studios come as our assistant to help with placing the 4 meter long train! We waited a little to get the most perfect golden light and once it hit we had to work fast with the sun setting so quickly. Kendra was an amazing model, Fitz was his fun and silly self, and Brooklyn was the perfect assistant.
What I Learned
It's so amazing when the images you have in your imagination come to life. These turned out exactly as I envisioned, and I'm so proud of myself for trying something new. Where I learnt the most was in posing and directing, which are valuable skills to have and can always use practice, no matter what genre of photography you focus on. My number one goal for this project was to learn, and I did exactly that.
As a pet photographer, I'm always talking about getting your pets photographed for cherished keepsakes. I'm always encouraging my clients to also include themselves in their pets session as we have so many photos of our pets but not nearly enough of us with them. These photos turned out to be extra special as Fitz passed away 7 weeks after these images were taken at only 4 years old. It just proves that we really never know how much time we have with our beloved pets. That there's no such thing as getting the session done too soon, but there's a chance it could be too late.
Kendra's Thoughts
"Time is precious. I knew it was coming but I’ll never not want photos with me and Fitz. It’s the same thing when you’re a mom. You take photos of your kids and things but you’re rarely in the photos. Take photos of the moment. Smile at the memories. Hold them close to your heart because one day that’s all you have." - Kendra
