Cause for Paws {Nashville Pet Event Photography}

January 23, 2024 Heather Nelms

I just want to say that I am so grateful to be part of such a great community of animal lovers. Not only do I get to photograph pets and their people, I have had the opportunities to give back by doing photography for local pet charities, including events for the Pet Community Center and Agape Animal Rescue. I really love being able to support the local pet charity community through my work!

On the blog today, I get to share an event I did in October called Cause for Paws which benefits the Nashville Humane Association (NHA) at the Belle Meade Country Club. (You can check all the photos here on the Cause for Paws website). The Nashville Humane Association is “committed to finding responsible homes, controlling pet overpopulation, and promoting the humane treatment of animals, all while supporting pets and pet-families in our community.” Please check it out if you are interested in adopting a pet, they have a wonderful facility in Nashville. For the event, NHA brought adoptable puppies for the guests to love on and potentially adopt!

The event always has a fashion show, and this year the designer, Shoshanna, showcased some of the beautiful dresses in her collection.

And a big congratulations to the 2023 winner of the Julia Colton Award for Excellence in Animal Welfare to Kimberly Wise. Ms. Wise is the President of the Pedigree Foundation, and also Senior Manager of Foster Programs at Greater Good Charities. Congratulations Kimberly, we are all so grateful for the great work you do!

Enjoy!

~Mandy

nashville humane association cause for paws event

belle meade mansion paws for cause event

pedigree foundation at cause for paws event

Here is a list of other vendors involved in the Cause for Paws pet event:

Hair and Makeup: Aubrey Heller

Titos Vodka

Contact a Premier Pet Photographer for an Event in Nashville!

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!

Paws to Remember Vendor Spotlight with Maryglenn and Major {Nashville Dog Photographer}

December 21, 2023 Heather Nelms

This week on the blog is Maryglenn and Major. I actually just did this session at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park, and a few days later Major passed away. It seems I have had a lot of clients doing end of life sessions throughout this past year, and Maryglenn is no stranger to the heartache the loss of a pet causes. It is no wonder we bonded (I see her at all the rescue events I photograph) with what she does as an animal advocate and because of what she does with her company, Paws to Remember. More about the great work she is doing in a bit but first let’s celebrate the life of sweet Major.

Major was an Old English Sheepdog and lived to the age of twelve and a half. His full name was Majordomo Billy Bojangles “Major” Warnock, named after a character in a Grateful Dead song, “Alabama Getaway”; character named Majordomo Billy Bojangles. (Maryglenn is a huge Deadhead).

When I asked what Major loved the most, Maryglenn responded “I honestly think it’s me.” (I have no doubt about that). He hated the garbage truck… “loathed, abhorred, and abominated the sound it made.” Her favorite things about him were that he is the sweetest dog and that his temperament was like a teddy bear. Her husband once described this cute dog as “nothing more than a bunch of wool wrapped around a big heart”, and Maryglenn thinks this is so accurate. “Major is pure love” and has been a faithful, loving and loyal companion. Maryglenn loves the Old English Sheepdog breed because they are smart, beautiful, fluffy, a little goofy, sweet, and so, so loyal.

Before Major, Maryglenn an Old English Sheepdog named Garcia. (Yes, after Jerry Garcia). The vendor spotlight is for her company Paws to Remember that formed after her precious Garcia passed away in 2011. “…nothing—absolutely nothing—could’ve prepared me for the anguish, the heartbreak, the profound, almost all-consuming sorrow of losing my beloved Garcia…Even in the depths of my grief, and even when I felt terribly alone, I knew I wasn’t the only one who had, or would, struggle so mightily after the loss of a pet. An idea began to form and while it took nearly 8 long years, I finally decided to do something about it.”

Working through the Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement, Maryglenn completed her certification to become a Pet Bereavement Counselor and spent time interacting with grieving owners and learning more about the pet aftercare industry. She also became an ordained minister and Pet Funeral Officiant. And then, Paws to Remember came to fruition. This is a pet aftercare business that serves grieving pet owners in their time of need. It provides such services as: pet memorial services, celebrations of life, and funerals; pet bereavement counseling on both a group and individual basis; and assistance in creating meaningful memorials and tributes.

Since conception, Maryglenn has eulogized and celebrated companion animals from cats to Chihuahuas, counseled owners who’ve just lost pets and those whose pets have been gone for years, talked to pet lovers, veterinarians, specialists, and business owners about loss, about grief, and about grace.

“My advice for anyone struggling with the loss of a pet is this: know that you’re not alone, know that what you are experiencing is normal—and know there is help available. Pain is normal and inevitable—but misery is optional. Even in grief, we can make a choice to dwell on the sadness and sorrow and let it torture us and rule our lives—or we can take steps to heal from it. Help is available.”

Please check out these sweet photos of Major and Maryglenn!

~Mandy

Old English Sheepdog with owner at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park

Woman and Old English Sheepdog looking at camera in field

End of life photos with Old English Sheepdog and owner

woman giving her Old english sheepdog a kiss

Contact a Wedding Photographer in Nashville, TN!

Waggy Tails Dog Boarding and Daycare {Vendor Spotlight}

September 20, 2023 Heather Nelms

September is almost over, and back-to-school is in full swing. I thought it might be a good time to share some photos from an event I did at Waggy Tails Pet Center. Waggy Tails provides doggie daycare, boarding and dog training. They even offer bath and spa options while the pups are in their care. What makes their place so different from other dog care centers: “It’s quite simple actually – We love on your fur babies just as much as you do! That’s a bold statement and we don’t take it lightly. They give us unconditional love and we do our best to return that to them!”

Be aware that if you are looking for doggie day care, boarding, and/or spa treatments from Waggy Tails, they will soon be rebranded as UnlshdK9 and will be expanding the business around Nashville. Right now, there are two locations in Franklin: One is off of Columbia Avenue and the other is off of Hwy 96.

The amazing staff and I had a lot of fun wrangling the dogs in for the back-to-school photo ops. I appreciate all the staff did to assist with putting on this event that was just for the pups!

I hope you enjoy our back to school pups!

~Mandy