Animals don’t care that we have a plan. They don’t know we’re trying to catch the prettiest light, that you carefully chose what to wear, or that everyone would really appreciate it if they would just stand still and look in the right direction for five seconds. Sometimes they arrive ready to cooperate. Other times, they need a little while to investigate the camera, check out the location, watch everything happening around them, and decide whether I can be trusted. That’s wh

We’re pretty good about taking pictures when something big happens. A new puppy comes home. You bring home a new horse. The kids have a big show. Somebody wins something. There’s a birthday, a graduation, or one of those moments when everyone knows to pull out a phone and take a picture. But I’m not sure those are always the photographs we end up loving the most. Sometimes it’s the ordinary ones. The horse standing at the gate waiting for you. The dog asleep upside down on th

One of the questions I get asked most often is, "What time should we schedule our session?" My answer is almost always the same: It depends on the light. When you're photographing outdoors—whether it's your horse, your dog, your family, or your livestock—the quality of the light makes a bigger difference than the camera I'm holding. The Magic of Golden Hour If you've ever heard photographers talk about "golden hour," this is why. Golden hour happens shortly after sunrise and

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to compete at the National Cutting Horse Association's International Circuit Finals in Fort Worth, Texas. If you've ever hauled into Will Rogers Memorial Center with a horse you've spent months—or years—preparing, you know it's hard to describe the feeling. There's excitement, nerves, pride, and just a little bit of wondering if all the work you've put in is going to come together when it matters most. I had only just started in Cutti

For years, Brett and I have worked side by side behind the camera at Diamond Double S Photography. Lately, he’s been pouring that same creativity into writing novels and screenplays. When he was invited to do an author interview, it was the perfect excuse to turn the camera around. I wanted to create portraits that reflected both sides of who he is. A Journey Through Words and Images Brett has written western mysteries, adventure stories, and books for young readers. But befo

Some photographs are about where they've been. Others are about who they are. As much as I love photographing dogs out in a field, on a trail, or standing beside the people who love them, there's something special about a black background portrait. It strips away everything except what matters most. The dog. No distractions. No clutter. No wondering where your eye should go. Just a portrait that lets their personality take center stage. One of the things I hear most often is,

Let's get one thing out of the way right now: your dog does not need to be perfectly trained to have beautiful photos taken. One of the most common things I hear from clients before a pet photography session is, "My dog won't sit still long enough." The truth is that most dogs won't sit perfectly still, and that's okay. Some of my favorite images have come from wagging tails, goofy expressions, and those crazy little moments that show that big personality. However, a little p

So here we are in Texas in July and go figure...ITS HOT. Its way to early in the year to start spending multiple days hiding from the...

There is nothing better than being in the outdoors. The sights and sounds of nature seem to speak to us on a completely different level....