Happy New Year!! Here is a look back on 2015 in review. 2015 was an amazing year for me and I'm so excited to see what 2016 brings. 2015 was my first full year offering See Spot Run Pet Photography and I am so grateful that I have been able to pursue my dream of becoming a pet photographer. Prior to owning this camera, I didn't even know I wanted to be a pet photographer. Discovering this new passion at this point in my life is amazing!! In 2015, I took a lot of classes from The Photo Classroom, I've read a lot of books and I've watched a lot of youtube videos (mainly on photoshop and lightroom editing.) A local photographer, Sarah McGraw of McGraw Photography (McGraw Photography website) referred me to Australian photographer, (Charlotte Reeves Photography) who offers pet photography education. Through Charlotte I connected with a facebook group of pet photographers that has been an amazing learning opportunity. In April 2016, I will get to meet Charlotte when I attend a pet photography workshop facilitated by her and 2 other professional photographers. I'm so excited about 2016! I practiced my photography on several of my client's dogs. I am so fortunate to have so many dogs and cats to photograph when I am pet sitting. Ginger is one of the first dogs in 2015 that I photographed. While pet sitting with her, I brought an assistant to help me photograph her (one of my neighbor's daughters, thanks Shana and Emma!) This is one of the photos from that day and still one of my favorites from 2015.

In March, I was invited to a 14th birthday party. This is Elliott. First of all, she is a black lab which is possibly my most favorite breed. Even more importantly, Elliott knew my Buddy (who we lost in Sept 2014.) Buddy was our first black lab (hence my love for black labs.) I have loved all of our labs but Buddy was a really special dog. Luckily for me, another favorite photo of mine that I've ever taken was of this special girl, Elliott. The 2nd picture is her enjoying her frozen yogurt... she says YUM!

Until April, I'd not photographed a dog I didn't know. That changed when I met and got to photograph Joey. Some of these photos were taken indoors which is also something I don't normally do. I was pleased with the results.

This beauty is Sunny and I spend a lot of time with him when his family travels. He is a dream to photograph.

In July, I turned 50. I wanted to go somewhere fabulous and somewhere it wasn't going to be hot and humid. I chose Banff and Banff did not disappoint. The entire trip was amazing. Highlights included meeting up with a local photographer, walking with wolves and touring a dog sledding facility. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the trip (and choosing these was difficult!)

In early October, Don and I traveled back to southern California where we lived for 3 years. I love going back there, mainly because it is so pretty and because the weather is always fabulous. Here are a few favorite shots from the trip which of course included a stop at the Huntington Beach Dog Beach. It is just a few steps from the Huntington Pier and the waves were huge on this day!

In October, I was invited to photograph an event called 2015 Barktoberfest at Social Pet, a doggie day care and training facility in Pineville.

In November, a dog trainer Courtney Wise with Off Leash Dog Training asked me to photograph her dogs. As a new photographer, let me just say photographing a dog trainer's dog is a dream come true. I have really wanted to post the picture of "A Boy and His Dogs" but Courtney used it as her Christmas card so I resisted posting it until now. It is also one of my most favorite pictures I've taken this past year.

I briefly met this next dog Sonny at Barktoberfest. Sonny's dad Jay brought him there and when Jay's mom contacted me in November about photographing Sonny so she could surprise Jay with pictures of his dog for Christmas, I was beyond excited. My favorite picture I took all year, came from this session at Freedom Park. And I fell in love with Sonny.

So here is 2015 in Review. I'm excited to think about what photos I'll get to post throughout 2016 and which photos will make my 2016 Year in Review. HAPPY NEW YEAR!