My Top 10 Images of 2025

2025 brought some really bright highs—and some days that asked a lot of me. I photographed dogs for my favorite kind of client (the “my dog is my whole personality” crowd—my people), plus a few big, pinch-me projects, including a custom installation for Boehringer Ingelheim at the Braves Turner Field dugout starring Ozzie Albies dogs and sessions with dogs like Ryder, the Dalmatian you may recognize from Instagram and TikTok. Behind the scenes, I lost my heart dog, Lira, and that grief changed the shape of my year. I also finally got a name for one of the health issues I’ve been battling—cyclic vomiting syndrome—and I’ve been learning how to live and work inside a new normal. The constant thread through all of it: showing up, making art, and photographing the dogs that make a house feel like home. Here are my Top 10 images of 2025—and the stories behind them.

Stoney & Sierra: Pugs on a Vintage Truck for Main Street Auto

Main Street Auto, an Atlanta-based mechanic chain, hired me to photograph a calendar featuring dogs and cars—and I immediately said yes, because what could be more fun? Fun fact: I grew up hanging around the racetrack at Lanier Motor Speedway, where my dad and uncles raced stock cars. These days, my dad works with Bryson Lopez Racing as pit crew and rig driver for their Pro Trucks, Legend Cars, Pro Late Models, and Super Late Models… so this project felt weirdly full-circle.

When we needed a truck with personality at the last minute, we called our friend Stephanie—car aficionado and all-around hero. She rolled up in a stunning vintage blue pickup, plus her “assistants,” Sierra and Stoney. The pugs took one look at the camera, posed like professionals, and basically demanded a spot in the final selects.

Five Black Labs on the Steps (Athens, GA)

I didn’t make a lot of time in 2025 for competition-driven work, but I made one exception. I had a concept in mind for black dogs peeking around the columns on UGA’s North Campus—clean architecture, early light, and that striking contrast you only get with black coats. Donna met me at sunrise (and yes, she brought five dogs—before 6 AM—which is heroic behavior).

And y’all—her dogs? Impeccable. They listened like they had signed a contract. Photographing one dog is an art. Photographing five at once and keeping it all in camera in a single frame? That’s rare.

We created the image I had envisioned at the columns, and we also made this strong, classic group portrait on the steps—five dogs, beautiful expressions, not a single head swap, and a whole lot of trust.

Ryder in the Green: Spotted Dog in Golden Light

I’m a sucker for natural framing, leading lines, and the rule of thirds—and this photo of Ryder has all three working overtime. Ryder isn’t just a long-haired Dalmatian with serious presence… he’s also a dog influencer with 190K+ on TikTok (@ryderthedal), so he’s very used to being admired. We made this image at one of my favorite spots, Indian Creek Park in Rutledge, GA. At the bottom of a very steep hill is a meadow that feels magical: tall grass, perfectly spaced trees, a wooden fence line, and golden-hour light that makes everything glow.

For this frame, I placed Ryder on a small rise so the fence line could lead your eye through the scene and the branches could naturally frame him overhead. Then I held a leafy branch in front of my lens to create that soft green bokeh around the edges—like a real-life vignette—while keeping Ryder crisp and clear in that little window of light.

Finley at Oakland Cemetery: Iconic Architecture

Oakland Cemetery is one of my favorite places to photograph dogs in Atlanta. The grounds are beautifully maintained, full of seasonal flower beds, and framed by architecture that feels timeless—plus it’s often quiet and peaceful, without a lot of distractions from other dogs or foot traffic. When Finley’s mom mentioned wanting unique architectural details for his session, I knew exactly where to take them.

Finley is a tripod Great Pyrenees therapy dog who’s lived in several major cities, including Washington, DC and Atlanta. This session marked a major milestone: he had just completed chemotherapy. Not long after our shoot, his mom received the difficult news that the cancer had returned—making these portraits feel even more meaningful as a celebration of who Finley is.

Cutie Paws Brand Session

I love working with local Atlanta pet brands, and Cutie Paws is a favorite. This image from our content session is the kind of storytelling moment I’m always looking for: Chance the doodle in crisp focus with that “come on, you’re invited” look, while behind him the scene melts into a soft, joyful blur—Heather playing with Shiney the Boston Terrier in the afternoon sun at one of Atlanta’s beautiful dog friendly apartment complexes.

That’s the brand in one frame: dogs having fun, handled with care, and people who feel instantly safe. Cutie Paws Pet Sitting & Dog Walking is warmth + professionalism—with a side of play.

A Love for a Lifetime

I rarely include people in my Top 10 photos—because for me, the main story is almost always the dog. But this image earned its spot this year. Sweet Echo is deeply loved by her mom, and her mom is deeply loved by her dad—and the whole frame feels like something you’d want to bottle up forever. Echo is adored, and you can feel it: the quiet kind of love that lives in small gestures and familiar closeness.

The best part? It happened by accident. I usually prompt, “snuggle your dog and kiss their head,” but this time I wasn’t clear. Dad leaned in to kiss Mom’s forehead instead of Echo’s… and honestly, it was even better. There’s something especially tender about a little senior dog being the center of her parents’ world. Echo stays right at the center, held by the love around her—exactly where she belongs.

Tiny Dancer: Tibetan Spaniel Puppy

I love photographing puppies. If you wait until they’re “trained,” you might miss the best part—the phase where their personality is the whole show.

Zoomies.
Blep tongues.
Tiny airborne moments.
Maximum chaos.

Chime (a Tibetan Spaniel puppy with zero hesitation and a whole lot of joy) gave me this frame, and it’s impossible not to smile.

Wildflower Puppy: Hap at Indian Creek Park

Another puppy made the list this year. Hap had only been with his family for a short time when I met him at Indian Creek Park—at the luckiest time of year. Every few years, the stars align and the rain hits just right, so the meadow doesn’t get mowed and the wildflowers absolutely explode. It’s one of those blink-and-you-miss-it seasons, and I try to photograph as many dogs as I can during that golden window of yellow blooms and early-summer light.

And then there’s the miracle inside the miracle: a puppy, still, thoughtful, looking right into the lens. This frame feels like that hinge moment between spring and summer—when the world pauses, the light softens, and you get one quiet second before life goes full-speed again.

Pure Joy: Golden Retriever Roll + Tennis Ball

I think what I needed this year more than anything was joy—the kind you only see in dogs: unbridled, uninhibited, totally unself-conscious, and completely in the moment. That’s what this photo is: a golden retriever belly-up in the grass, paws in the air, tongue out, smiling like she just won the lottery… with the tennis ball close enough to keep an eye on, obviously. No second-guessing. No performing. Just full-body, right-now happiness.

If I could sell this feeling, I’d retire tomorrow.

Sansa: Fine-Art Equine Portrait on White Background

The final image on this year’s list is Sansa on white. Horses are fine art, and a simple background lets them be exactly that. I love photographing them on black or white because it strips everything down to what matters: the intelligence in the eyes, the elegance of the pose, the curve of the neck, and the way light sculpts muscle into shape. It’s timeless, minimal, and powerful—like a portrait you’d expect to see in a gallery. A portrait that deserves a wall.

So that was 2025: chaos, hard days, beauty, grit, belly-up joy, and a whole lot of dogs. The most meaningful photos aren’t the ones that prove everything is perfect—they’re the ones that prove love is still here, right in the middle of real life. Every image in this list has its own story, but they all share the same thread: dogs being fully themselves, and the people who show up for them. I’m grateful for the clients who trusted me, the animals who made me laugh, and the moments that reminded me why I keep doing this. If your dog is your whole personality too (welcome), let’s plan something for 2026—and make sure your favorite photos live somewhere better than your camera roll.