Dogs and prairies (not prairie dogs)

If you're anything like me, curiosity often leads to a random Google search. Did you know prairie dogs are named after their habitat and warning call? A sound similar to a dog's bark. But they are not a dog, more like a squirrel. Native to the grasslands of North America, they were documented in 1804 in Lewis and Clark's expedition journals when they "discovered a village of an animal the French called the Prairie Dog." Ironically, my photography includes dogs and prairies – not prairie dogs.

You may know me as the pet photographer behind Stan's Photo. But my second passion is photographing the Midwest prairie. A place where I wander and observe nature's beauty and transformation throughout the year. It slows me down to listen to my intuition, preparing me for the unpredictable pace of photographing dogs. So, when a unique moment reveals itself in the studio, I am ready to capture it, like this recent portrait of the bond between the owner and her dog. A spontaneous moment during one of my Dogs of Andersonville sessions.

Now you know my secret. When I am photographing dogs, I may be channeling wildflowers.

I haven't been able to get to the prairie for a while, but I hope to soon. The summer was busy with my exhibit "Dogs: Social Beings." If you have not seen the show, there is still time to view it. It closes tomorrow, at the end of the month, August 30th. 

The Dogs of Andersonville project is also underway and I am photographing and collecting stories. Are you a resident of Andersonville or part of the community with a dog? Join the project and be a part of the venture to record and photograph the Dogs of Andersonville. The story of the social beings that connect us as humans and neighbors and make us one of the friendliest in the world.

upcoming events

SEPTEMBER 9 » Dog of Andersonville Pet Portrait Sessions at RayGun

SEPTEMBER 23 » Mini-Pooch Pet Portrait Sessions at Urban Pooch

BY APPOINTMENT » Pet Portrait Sessions in studio