My initial idea was to have the pictures done at our house, around the property. But we kept having to postpone week after week due to rain, which happened every Friday like clock work! The last time, it was Thursday and already clouding up. I called York photography to see if they maybe had an opening that Saturday, as it looked like a window of sun was being forecast. Craig York explained they would be at their other studio in Columbia, and then half-jokingly said we could come there if we wanted. At this point, I'd already gotten the dogs groomed, my eyebrow's waxed and picked out the outfits (which were meant for March but by this time in April-May were probably already too warm) and found the props I needed and all sorts of other fun stuff that we needed in order to be ready for the photos. I had no desire to put it off yet another week, especially having to re-groom the dogs. Chris and I decided a change of location would not be a bad idea! When I called Craig back to find out where the nearest pet-friendly hotel was, he offered for us to bunk in with them. I was a little shocked - did he realize the amount of fur that traveled with us but inevitably never made it back home again? He was totally fine, they loved the dogs from when they had met them at our planning meeting a few months prior. Well, this would be an adventure!
Travel day, and nothing comes off without a hitch in the Jensen household! Our car had like zero oil in it, which Chris just happened to check while we were filling up with gas. Our timetable was completely out the window by the time we sorted out THAT mess. After texting the Yorks that we were late (I know what you're thinking: shocker!), we finally got on the road about 1 or 2 in the afternoon. The drive to Columbia was a little over 3 hours - not too bad for sure once we finally got underway. I was touching up makeup as we were pulling into the tiny town close to the coast. By the time we found their little studio down by the river (but we AZ folks call it a lake), we had to hit the ground running! Lean on this tree, squeak toy for the dogs to look at the camera, smile, smile, kiss, smile. The dogs did great, but after about the 5th time Karen York tried the squeak toy, Soo was on to her. She was completely unimpressed, and let Karen know she knew it was a fake and she was tricking her by posing with her back to the camera. It took some cajoling, but we got her back in place and finished up the rest of the pictures.
Craig was talking dinner plans as we started packing up and heading back to their house (only a few doors down from the studio and the lake house where were shooting). I started to get nervous. It sounded like some sit-down affair. I had imagined sitting outside somewhere with the dogs on a patio and watching the sun set over the water. Turns out it was Karen's mother's birthday. The whole family was going out to celebrate. This caused some concern, and if you know my dog Soo at all, you know exactly why! The York's didn't seem phased one bit, because of course they were fooled by all the good behavior during the shoot. Little did they know. I was insistent that we were not leaving the dogs in the house, even though they most graciously offered with no reservations at all. Finally we decided upon the kennel outside in the yard. We left dinner in the cage for them, but as we pulled away I admit I was a bit worried. That Soo, she could be mighty concerned when I left her places she wasn't familiar with. Dinner was delicious, and we both thoroughly enjoyed the company. The family was so welcoming to us, just good people! Arriving back at the York's, we found Soo standing out in the yard, and Cody still in the kennel like the good boy that he is. I just knew she would try, and I can't say I was surprised that she succeeded in getting out of that darn fence! The York's thought she had climbed it, but upon further inspection she had dug a small hole and bent the chain link fence at the bottom and somehow squeezed out. Good thing we were in a rather rural area and there really wasn't much trouble she could get into on her own. And Cody is our life saver, being he was still in the kennel, Soo stayed close by him. Well, at least terrible damage was not done, as we have seen with this crazy dog in the past. All was easily fixable and we had a good laugh.
It turned out to be a fun adventure, and the pictures came back just as beautiful as we had thought they'd be.
Family Photos
Special Anniversary Shots
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