Holly & Delsie

When I begin any portrait session, I like to start shooting right out of the gate. This is to warm people up and to get them used to the camera in their face for an hour or so, but these shots are rarely the ones that are purchased, or even edited. As couples, babies, children, families start to ignore the big black camera pointed in their direction, they start to act like themselves again... and that is what I'm watching for. Thoughtful photographs of people being themselves tell stories, like an illustrated journal entry.

In my opinion, that's the whole point.

This weekend, I had the privilege (and I don't use that term lightly) to spend some time with Holly and her service dog, Delsie. (Holly also brought along a clan of ridiculously good-looking nieces and nephews.)



This is Delsie.


Though I'd never before done a shoot with a subject of the canine variety, I quickly learned that the technique need not change: just watch closely, and keep shooting. Within a few minutes, I began to see the things that made Delsie special, and her relationship with Holly so unique and intimate.



It's difficult to put into words what it was like to watch these two working together, and to explore the love



between a girl and her dog.