Hayley | State College pet photography

I ask every client why they are choosing to get professional photos taken of their furry family members now. It’s important to me to know what is going on at this time in their life that prompted them to call me. After all, we don’t hire professional photographers often. Sure, we take photos almost daily with our cell phones, but hiring a professional photographer is generally reserved for special occasions. When Hayley’s family called me, they felt it was important to have a family photo now before it was too late. Hayley is 11 and in greyhound years, that’s getting up there. She’s still healthy and active, but they’ve noticed signs of her slowing down. So we set up a session for this fall. 

Our original date ended up being too overcast and frankly, too warm. So we rescheduled for a few days later when the temperatures dropped to a more typical range. It was a beautiful sunny day and as the earth rotates, I find the golden hour even more spectacular in the fall than in the spring and summer. 

Hayley was a former racing dog who was rescued when she was about 2 years old. Retired because she was too slow, she found her way to PA and into the hearts of one couple. They had dogs before, but Hayley was their first greyhound. It didn't take long before they saw how special this girl is. They doted on and treated her like a princess. Here in central PA, we have a wonderful organization, Nittany Greyhounds, that has found homes for over 1000 retired racing greyhounds. Hayley was one of them. 

Hayley was a little nervous and anxious when she got to the park. Lots of kids were out playing on the basketball court nearby. She wasn’t sure of all the brush under her feet in the field either. So I had her owners walk her around a little bit to shake off some of her nervous energy. Always on alert, it was hard to distract her with noises and flying objects as we tried to get her attention toward the camera. After a while, I swear she felt she was too mature for these kinds of games and tuned me out completely. In spite of that, we did get some great shots of her relaxed and ears perked forward. In fact, I might even go as far as saying she is smiling! 

Hayley's family portrait all hang on the wall next to an older family photo taken when she was much younger. It's sessions like this that I am grateful for being a part of capturing a moment in time that will be cherished for many years to come.