A milestone birthday

It’s been a while since I last photographed my terrier mix, Kita. Like many terriers, she has a bit of an attitude, making it tricky to take her anywhere there might be other dogs. If she were in elementary school, she’d definitely be the bully everyone loves to hate. But once you get to know her, she’s actually sweet, funny, and—very much—insecure.

Birthdays provide the perfect excuse for me to update my dog photos. I often use these moments to experiment with new equipment, locations, or techniques. After all, what better models than my own furry family?

That said, Kita has become a bit jaded by my antics with silly noisemakers and promises of “Do you want a cookie?” Still, she perks up whenever she sees my camera bag, knowing it usually means a “walk” and—let’s be honest—lots of cookies!

I have a favorite spot near home that I love for photo sessions. I’ve taken Kita there for hikes numerous times, but this was my first time bringing along my gear. With new camera equipment in hand, it was the perfect chance to practice.

Despite fall being upon us, it’s still warm here in the Sunshine State. The humidity hasn’t quite eased up yet, so we kept our outing short. The hotter it gets, the more Kita's tongue hangs out! She was a trooper as I quickly snapped photos in the golden light of the setting sun. I’m really enjoying my switch to mirrorless cameras, and my 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is quickly becoming my favorite.

While editing these photos, I also rifled through an old drive for another project and stumbled upon some of the first images I took of Kita. It’s incredible to see how much my work has evolved and how much Kita has changed.

Happy 10th birthday Kita!!