The Thieret Family {Southeast Missouri Family Photographer}

On the blog this week are Nicki, Jeff, Jake and Zach Thieret - along with their sweet pups, Pepper and Axyl. Nicki and I have been friends since kindergarten, and I love photographing her family! Her kids are practically grown, so not only did I get the entire family for photos, but we did Zach’s senior portraits the same day. We did these at my favorite spot in Daisy, Missouri at the old family farm of my great aunt & uncle.

Nicki and Jeff’s first son, Jake, is 19 and a junior at Southeast. He is currently studying Computer Science and Cyber Security. He is their resident computer guru and Nicki says he’s the most humble and kind person she knows.

The younger son, Zach, is 17 and a senior at Saxony Lutheran High School. He will be headed to college in the spring. Though he is sure to be a quick study because after a two week quarantine due to COVID, he became a whiz at solving the Rubik’s Cube. He’s available for parties!

The family’s oldest dog, Pepper is a seven year old Westie. She loves to let the family know when anyone is walking in the neighborhood or if a squirrel in the backyard. Pepper also enjoys going on walks and saying hi to the other neighborhood dogs. She is quite the social one! While in the house, she is content to sit in a chair, right next to Nicki.

Axyl is a three year old lab/mastiff mix. He is mostly laid back, but has learned how to spot walkers and squirrels, thanks to his sister. The UPS and FedEx folks are getting to know him, but Nicki still goes out with him to be sure they know his name and that he is very friendly. He is a rescue, but not from an organization. He was born to a family who could not keep him and Nicki and Jeff asked to be considered for his forever home, which happily they got to adopt him. The Thierets adopted him after their first lab/mastiff mix, Cooper, passed from cancer. Ax is large, goofy and as sweet as he can be!

Enjoy some of my favorites from our session.

~Mandy

Have pets you adore? Bring them to your family photo 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!

The Dizmon Family {Nashville Pet Photography}

On the blog this week are Katie, Charles and their two Aussie pups: Booker and Wren. We did our photo session at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park in Brentwood, TN.

Booker and Wren are Australian Shepherds. Charles got the name Booker from one of his favorite games - BioShock Infinite. Booker is one and a half, but still believes he is a small puppy the way he will forcibly flop in your lap when you are on the ground with him. He won’t do this for just anyone, though. He can still get nervous around new people even though Katie has been socializing him by taking him everywhere. (She has even taken him to work with her every week!) However, gain his trust and Katie says he will greet you with “the most excited wigglebutt.” His absolute favorite thing is tennis balls, car rides, and any and all food.

Booker’s sister, Wren, is a not quite one year old. Katie named her after Wren birds. She said she knew she wanted to be able to utilize the name of the bird in someway eventually because she remembers growing up with the Wren birds always making nests in her garage. “We would keep an eye on them constantly.” So when they got a female dog, it just seemed fit. Wren loves carting around a fuzz ball. It’s too big for her, but she doesn’t care…she absolutely loves it! She also loves under the collar scratches and will seemingly melt into your arms for them. Katie loves her soulful eyes that just begs for anyone to pay attention her. 

So why Aussies? Katie actually grew up with Aussies since she was just a little girl. She had always known she would have another one someday, as she loves how trainable and friendly they are to their owners. After getting married and getting a house with a fenced in yard with plenty of room, it was time to make that happen!

The Dizmon family were troopers because it rained TWICE during their hour session, BUT I love how much variety in lighting we had because of it - evidence that you don’t need a sunny day to get great pictures! Take a look at some of my favorites!

~Mandy

Include Your Pets in Your Family Photos!

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!

Danielle and Bruce Wayne {Nashville Pet Photographer}

Today’s blog is a little different. I wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate the life of this handsome golden retriever, Bruce Wayne.  He passed away a few months ago, but I still wanted to honor him and his person, Danielle, by sharing some of my favorites from their last photo session.

Bruce Wayne was an 11 year old retriever who LOVED people. He would walk in to Yappy Hour like it was his own personal cocktail party and greet each guest like they came just to see him! Originally, Danielle had wanted to name her dog “Batman”. However, she thought it might sound silly if she was running around a park yelling for “Batman”. So next best choice: Bruce Wayne. The name suits him, as he lives up to the regal name 100%. 

Aside from loving people, Bruce Wayne also loved the water. They lived in California most of his life, and he would swim in the ocean jumping over waves or take a dip in her parents pool. He was often found sitting in the pool on the steps. Though, one thing Bruce was not a fan of - skateboards. They were too loud for him, but luckily Nashville does not have as many as southern California.

Bruce Wayne was loved through and through by Danielle. When I asked her what was her favorite thing about him, she responded, “There isn’t a darn thing I don’t love. Even his farts are adorable. The way they always surprise him. It’s pretty charming.” Another thing: Bruce Wayne can open gifts! Danielle loved watching him unwrap his presents, and how cute he was when he pulled at the wrapping paper to get to his gifts out. He would get on a roll at Christmas and start taking gifts from the tree that might not be his! “Gosh it’s so cute.” 

In fact, Danielle says Bruce Wayne got cuter every morning! “I asked him his secret for years, but really every morning I wake up and he did it again! Even cuter then the day before. It’s incredible.” She feels he was her perfect real life teddy bear.

Danielle rescued this handsome fella from the Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue. “You wouldn’t think so because he is so handsome”. The process she had to go through was quite extensive: a test/essay, an in-home inspection, and then getting approval just to get on a wait list. Finally, after two long months, they called her about a puppy. He had already belonged to another family, but after buying him at puppy store, they wanted to return him because he kept crying. He ended up at a shelter for a few hours before the rescue got him. He was only 6 weeks old when this pair met for the first time!

Danielle loves golden retrievers because they are so smart, friendly and sweet. There is never any concern when approaching a Golden, you know it’s always a sweet dog. Bruce Wayne was the epitome of all these great traits. 

~ Mandy

Pets Are Family, Too!

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!