I’m a pretty strong believer that our four-legged babies are as much a part of the family as the ones who share your last name. They’re an important piece of the legacy these photos leave. Feel free to bring your fur-baby – just remind them to leash their owners! 

Here are three reasons to consider including your pets in your next family photo session:

01. They’re a part of your story. The moment our pets walk into our lives, our lives change forever. They teach us so many life lessons in such a short period of time and they stand loyal by our sides through all of our life seasons. From 8th grade until my adult years, our Australian Shepherd/Husky, Max, was a part of my story. From chasing him around those 5 acres in Northern California, to taking my senior pictures with him when I graduated high school, through my socially awkward phases and seasons of growth, he was there. And he continues to bring us joy when we relive sweet memories by looking at photos of him.

Not long after Max passed away, we met Nani at the local pet shelter. She’d arrived as a stray and had been there about a month, waiting to be claimed. At first my heart was still pretty raw from the loss of Max, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for another dog so soon. But my sweet husband asked me to just consider meeting her. So we went. And the moment they brought her out I knew we wouldn’t be leaving alone. Nani’s been a part of our story for 7 years now – that’s right, she’s older than our kiddos. And the memories we have with her are plentiful. Even more special is the fact that our kids get to have memories with her too. 

02. They’re family, too. Whether they were your first baby or an addition later on, the moment you bring them home, they become your family fur-ever. Like I mentioned, Max was like our child, and treated as such. We devoted all of our time and attention to making sure that his senior years were full of love and happiness. And we love our Nani-girl in the same way. 

03. They’re creating their legacy. The sad and unfortunate truth is this: we only get a short time to love on them. Photograph their personalities, document how much they loved you, how loyal they were to you and your kids. Take photos and videos of the funny things they do. Show the world how they were a part of this life season. Because someday, these photos will mean so much to you and your family.