Stacey, Armando & Seve {Nashville Dog Photographer}

On the blog this week is an adorable family session with Stacey and Armando and their sweet black lab, Seve! I had so much fun taking their portraits at their new home in a beautiful new neighborhood where every street has a farm animal name! 

Seve is a little over 3 years old and has quite a unique story! One of Stacey's friends worked at Murphy Road Animal Hospital and when a puppy came into the clinic with swimmers syndrome (a difficult scenario that often requires lots of physical therapy to overcome), a woman who overheard the situation asked that they call her before deciding to put the dog down. Long story short, she rescued him and with the help of her friends and a physical therapist, he was able to retrain his muscles and become healthy. When she could no longer keep him, Stacey and Armando brought him home and he's been there ever since!

Seve is named after the famous Spanish golfer.  Seve (the golfer) was known for being a fighter, too, so it fit with the puppy's saucy personality and his backstory very well!

Seve absolutely loves food and playing chase, although he isn't much a fan of kids or flea medicine time. Stacey's favorite thing about him is how much he enjoys going with her on car rides and she loves that black labs are smart, loyal and easy to train.

I'm sure you'll fall in love with his charming smile! Just take a look at some of my favorites below!

~ Mandy

Bring Your Pets to Your Next Family Portrait Session!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!

Cat Rescue with the Beagle Freedom Project {Nashville Cat Photographer}

One of the most heartwarming parts about my job is capturing significant and meaningful moments -- and the cat rescue with the Beagle Freedom Project was all of that and more.

I had the opportunity to photograph these adorable cats being rescued from a lab. Unfortunately, all kinds of animals are still being tested on today. That's why it's so important to look for cruelty-free products. If you aren't sure how to know which products don't test on animals, you can check out resources like the Cruelty Cutter app and One Green Planet.

The Beagle Freedom Project (BFP) rescues any and all kinds of animals from labs like this one. I've also been lucky enough to work with this organization before when I photographed foster pup Lucky!

We also had an amazing singer assist us that day: Meghan Linsey! Not only was she a runner up from Season 8 of The Voice, but she's also an ambassador for BFP and a big advocate of cruelty-free products.

Many of the cats were scared and most were super friendly -- they simply needed some love. All of the cats involved are up for adoption (and several have been adopted already!). If you are interested in adopting one of these cats, you can learn more about the process by going to the Beagle Freedom Project website.

Two other great organizations were also involved that day:
Friends of Hannah Rescue and Hairy Moose Pet Retreat

Please join me in supporting these organizations or spreading the word so that we can find loving forever homes for these animals!

~ Mandy

Adopting a Cat? Capture the Moment on Camera!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!

5 Unique Proposal Ideas for Pet Owners

Asking the love of your life to marry you is an exciting (yet sometimes intimidating!) question. Once you decide to propose, it’s important to consider how you’ll go about doing so! After all, this should be a memorable and romantic gesture -- shouldn’t it be something your partner will remember forever?

If you are struggling to come up with the right proposal idea, but you know your other half loves animals, consider involving your furry friend in the process! Check out a few of these pet proposal ideas to give you some inspiration!

1. The Four-Legged Ring Bearer

Is your pet well trained? Consider tying the ring to your dog or cat’s collar! And if you’re worried about the ring getting lost, you can try ring boxes, pillows or pouches to hold the ring in place.

2. The Puppy Proposal

Have you been talking about adopting a new puppy? Giving your soon-to-be-spouse a dog and a ring on the same day is a sure-fire way to melt their heart! How can anyone say anything but a definitive “YES!” to a puppy proposal?

3. Have Your Pets Ask For You

Another great idea is to order a new collar or tag that pops the question so you don’t have to! Many places allow you to create a custom order, which you can engrave with, “Will you marry me?” It’s also something that the love of your life likely won’t expect!

4. Dress Them Up

If your pet doesn’t mind wearing new things, you might consider dressing them up with a bowtie and placing the ring box next to them! This is a fun idea for an at-home proposal when your partner isn’t looking. Then you can call them into the room for a little surprise!

5. Involve Other Animals!

Looking for a few extra options to consider? Take a look at these examples of how you can involve other animals outside of your home!

• Use a trained owl to deliver a special package

• Sign up for a behind the scenes tour at your local zoo or aquarium

• Use your home’s fish tank to hold the ring in a treasure chest

Getting ready to propose? Capture the moment with Mandy Whitley Photography!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!