Maranda and Reba {Nashville Dog Photography}

December 29, 2020 Heather Nelms

First and foremost, it is my hope that you and your family had a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of Holidays. I know this year has been difficult for many, and I am so grateful to all of you. Furry and human alike, I was able to photograph many hopeful and smiling faces this year. Thank you for sharing your families with me!

I thought it was very appropriate to have the last post of the year be my long time clients Maranda and Reba! They are the sweetest, and this year Liam was able to meet them since their mini was at my home (he LOVES seeing all the doggies that come to the house for minis). Maranda and Reba’s fantastic faces have found their way onto my business cards and several of my sample items. These came from Maranda and Reba’s very first Pets and Their People Photography session with me at Harlinsdale Farms.

Fall is the best time of year for them since Reba’s coat matches the fall leaves perfectly. And just how did Reba get such an iconic name…Nashville’s very own Reba McEntire of course! Reba is a 10 or 11 year old rescue from a no-kill shelter in Western TN, through a Petsmart adoption day in Nashville. She is part pit, dachshund and kangaroo. I have witnessed how high this dog can jump and it is truly awesome to watch. Though she did JUST recover from double back knee replacement surgery, she is doing great! (Yes, she can still do what she loves - jump!)

Maranda says she is "literally the best dog" - easygoing, doesn't bark 99.9% of the time, and gets along with all people and other dogs. Reba is also full of snuggles, loves to sleep in and is the best embodiment of unconditional love, ever.

I hope you enjoy some of my favorites! And from my family to yours…Happy New Year. May this new year bring you and your families many moments of joy and smiles!

~Mandy

Bring Your Pet to Your Next 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!

Amber, Justin and Otis at Ellington Agriculture Center {Nashville Dog Photographer}

December 7, 2020 Heather Nelms

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! I am certainly thankful for each and every one of my clients that have given me the honor to photograph them and their pets during this year. Today I am sharing one of those families: Amber and Justin with their Boston Terrier puppy, Otis who is just seven months old!

Amber and Justin brought this sweet guy home from a family in Kentucky. The top priority when coming up with a name for their pup was that it had to be a name that could have fun nickname choices to go with it. They liked “Bug” and “Otis”, but they knew it had to be “Otis” when they met him. Otis now answers to Otis, Oats, Otis Redding, Hall and Oats, Oats McGoats, and more.

Otis loves people and is very affectionate. He provides lots of licks! He is so playful and friendly and no matter where he goes with his humans, he brings joy to other people around. Otis also loves sitting and laying in human spots, like the couch, a chair, and the bed (especially when he can have his head on either Justin or Amber and have his rear end touching the other person). He does not like it when both of them are not there for him to cuddle up to!

Below are a few of my favorite pics from our session at the Ellington Agriculture Center.

~Mandy

Pets Are Family, Too!

Michelle, Ditch and Chestnut {Nashville Dog Photographer}

November 10, 2020 Heather Nelms

Michelle won this photo session after bidding on my auction item at a fundraiser held by Metro Animal Care and Control earlier this year. Thank you! Michelle is a big champion for dog rescue. She picks up strays and fosters regularly. In fact, these two sweet pups were strays she came across in pretty memorable ways.

Ditch was found (you guessed it!) in a ditch on July 25, 2013. A day that Michelle fondly calls Ditchmas in July. He was with his two sisters, and sadly, they were all dying from Parvo. Ditch was the only one who made it. “When he became mine, he ditched his worst days behind him” Michelle stated. He is now seven years old. He loves humans, tolerates most female dogs, and would really like to be the only male dog on the planet. Michelle refers to him as her Shepshire Chowback because his DNA test showed him as part Chow, Swiss Shepherd, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Chestnut seemingly chose Michelle when she ran in front of her car on Chestnut street in Nashville. She nearly caused a collision with another car! Both drivers stopped and got out, and Chestnut went straight to Michelle and started licking her face. Despite multiple efforts to find Chestnut’s owners, no one claimed her, and Chestnut got to keep Michelle.

At first Ditch wasn’t so sure about Chestnut, but now they are two peas in a pod. These two couldn’t be more different, though. Ditch is serious, smart and very responsible (minus his love for dumping garbage cans), while Chestnut is super silly, not terribly bright, loves all dogs, and loves to counter surf. “I would never have picked either dog out of a lineup, but they are actually the perfect dogs for me!”

We did this session at Ellington Agriculture Center this summer. Check out some of my favorites!

~Mandy