Bear on Oak Street Beach [Chicago Pet Photo Session at Oak Street Beach]

Have you ever seen a Bear on the beach in Chicago?! If you were at Oak Street Beach recently, you may have witnessed a spotting! This sweet pup Bear LOVES the water so of course we had to take his photos at the beach to show his love for Chicago and Lake Michigan. He ran on the beach with his mom and dad, chased the ball endlessly and loved on his parents. I was so impressed with his ability to find his ball in the crashing waves and his proud face every time he brought it back made my heart burst. I so enjoyed documenting this adorable family’s love for one another, and their love for Chicago.

Pet sessions are curated with your pet, and your family, in mind. We do what they/you all love doing at a spot they love. Sometimes it’s to celebrate a birthday, to announce a new family member or to document the city they love before they move. Or just because you love them so dang much your heart explodes every time you come home and you want to document that love. Every pet session is unique, just like your pet!

Memorial Pet Sessions

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had them, saying goodbye is never easy, and there isn’t any amount of time with them that’s ever long enough. This I know to be true.

Oof. These are hard. I know they can’t stay forever, but it’s still never easy to let them go. The number of end-of-life/memorial sessions I’ve done this past year, and had inquiries for, breaks my heart. Especially as a mom to a 16-year old geriatric pooch, knowing that my time left with her is limited purely based on her age. It’s given me a greater appreciation for every second I get with Emmie Lou. So much so that I’ll stop what I’m doing at home, SO many times during the day, to go in and peek under the covers to say hi & give some love. She spends most of her days lately under the covers in my bed, and is extremely annoyed when I do this to her but I need her to know how loved she is. It’s quite morbid, but I’ve been dreading the second she goes from the moment I picked her puppy body up in my arms and instantly fell in love. I have a hard time with goodbyes in general, but when it’s someone I love so deeply, it’s hard for me not to think of them being gone. It’s just how I’m wired. But I think that makes me appreciate deeper, and take things less for granted.

Watching these dog parents love on their dogs, often times on their pet’s last day on Earth, never gets easy. Especially as a highly sensitive person that feels everything deeeeeeply. But I truly appreciate the fact that I’m able to give these moments to fellow dog parents. My hope is that the photos will comfort you after they’re gone, helping to heal the giant hole they leave behind. I’ll love on your fur baby hard, I’ll hug you tight when I leave, and check in on you afterward. Your pets will squeeze their way into my heart, just like yours, and I’ll tell their story of love and joy. They were here. They were loved. They are your family. They will always be remembered. They make our lives better just by existing. Telling their story through photos is the best way to honor them.

Happiest, Coziest Christmas Wishes To You & Your Loves!

All 2021 sessions have wrapped, Christmas is here, it's officially winter & I’m ready to hibernate ;) Well, except for newborn sessions and some head shots, I’ll be hibernating. I’m extra grateful for you all, in another year of a global pandemic. Every like or comment on my IG, every email response you send, cheering me on when I send out a newsletter, every referral you send my way, every session you have with me, every ounce of support. You all keep me going and I am so so very thankful for you.

While for many of us the holidays may not be (once again) what we planned, I hope you’re still able to find peace, joy and love in whatever you’re doing, and whomever you’re spending time with. And for those of you struggling to find the joy (🙋raises hand) this season - I see you and am sending hugs and love your way. I can't wait for the day when I can actually hug you and your littles again.

As I mentioned above, I’ll be mostly hibernating in January but will be doing so with my favorite girl. My dog Emmie Lou is finally moving to Chicago with me! When I first moved here 6 years ago, I moved into an apartment that didn’t allow dogs so she stayed back in WI with my parents. But this year I became a homeowner (still feels surreal to write that!) and I can call the shots on who’s allowed inside. So here comes Emmie! She can no longer hear, she’s 15, has a bit of a tough time with stairs and I’m removing her from the company of her best fur-friend/roommate Jersey so I’m a bit nervous that I’m wrecking her world. Wish us luck as we adjust together!

As always, thank you for opening, reading and sharing. I so appreciate you!

xoxo, 
Courtney

Here’s a photo of her from when she got to come stay with me for a month in lockdown of 2020. We checked out the tulips on an empty Michigan Avenue, which was one of the strangest Chicago experiences I’ve had.