Our Family Photos

So two weeks ago we finally got together for our first family picture. Byron and I have not really had any pictures made since our engagement/ wedding photos (almost 3 years now). So we decided it was about time for us to officially have a “family” picture and our fur babies had to be included. This is/was quite a task. We have four fur babies; and they are not all little dogs! We have Aggie (our Great Dane), Drake (our yellow lab), Chance (our Dane/lab mix) and last but not least... little Lola (our Chihuahua).

Aggie: She was a little nervous :(

Drake: He could be a dog model



Chance: He is our foster/rescue and love bug! :)



Lola: sweet little girl!

There was a little debate in my house about whether or not to include the puppies (yes I still call them puppies). I wanted to… Byron did not. He loves our dogs… but he didn’t want to have to hassle with them at a park trying to get them to sit for pictures; which totally makes sense. I on the other hand really wanted them in the picture. I didn’t think our “family” picture would be complete without them. They ARE our family right now in this stage of our life. We don’t have any kids yet… so I REALLY wanted them to be in the pic. Reluctantly Byron agreed.

We both ended up being right… it was crazy… but so worth it! It was crazy getting all the dogs loaded to go. I took Aggie, Drake and Lola in my car (with Lola in my lap of course). Byron took Chance in a kennel in his truck. This was Chance’s first “outing”. Chance was a rescue/foster and had heart worms when we got him. He was on a year of treatment and was recently diagnosed heart worm free. So this was his first time out of the house besides going to the vet or to board. We didn’t trust him in the back of my car with the other dogs. Chance is a runner… I was scared I would open the back door to let them out and he would jump out and run. So he got kenneled separately.

So once we get the location for our photos we get unloaded and we each walk two excited dogs while carrying our props (scarves/buckets etc.) to our first photo destination. Once we reach our first spot we try to get situated and I accidently dropped Chance leash and he takes off. Luckily he didn’t get but like 10-20 feet away. So I slowly walked over there and got his leash and he was back with the pack and we were able to continue taking pictures.

Chance’s leash got dropped again like 20 minutes later. This time he only got like 10-15 feet away. So once again I walked over slowly to grab him and the leash and right before I get to him I quickened my pace just a little…but just enough to make him run! Dangit! So now he is full on running away from me and I have to run to keep him in sight… he pauses for a second and I try to approach slowly… then he sees me and runs again. He stops again about 100 yards from me and about 75 yards from the road. He is scaring me… if he keeps running he could run in to the road and get hit by a car… he has no idea there is a road ahead with cars that could hurt him. I keep calling his name from where I am standing (I am scared to walk towards him because he might run again and is too close to the road for my comfort). Finally he looks at me… and then I do the little “come and get me move” and I turn and run away from him. Success!! He follows me! He is now chasing me… and passes me and runs straight to the photographer and she grabs his leash. Disaster averted!! Whoosh! Thank you Lord!

At the end of the day... it was all worth it! we got great "family" pictures and we are both very glad that we did it!! :) Below are my top 3 favorites! :)

 

 

Do you include your pets in your family photos?