A Sweet Angel

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a very dedicated and long-time member of the Arizona Basset Hound Rescue, Betty Briggs. She said that she wanted to get in to have some photos taken of a Basset that she had been fostering for many years, Shannon. She was afraid that Shannon was getting old and not feeling well and that she may not be with us for too much longer. So, I got her in as soon as I could and we managed to get some great shots of her.

Bassets have the funniest body parts. Big, SOFT ears…

Crooked feet…

Their lips curl…

Shannon was a very good model for me that day. Unfortunately that was because she had a hard time getting around. Bassets always look a little sad but I think she was especially sad this day. Perhaps she knew that it was almost time for her visit to the “Rainbow Bridge”.  

Betty contacted me a week after our session to let me know that Shannon had passed away. Many tears filled my eyes as I thought back to our session and how I was sure that she still had a lot of life left in her. My prayers go out to you, Shannon and my thoughts and good wishes go to you, Betty. You were a wonderful dog-mom and I am sure that she is looking down on y0u now with much love and appreciation for taking such good care of her.

You are loved and will be very missed, Miss Shannon.

Photographer Notes:

Photos of Shannon were taken in studio at A Dog’s Life Photograpy. Background: Cheap black cotton sheets, Lighting: 2 Profoto monolights placed 2 ft from subject at a 45 degree angle at either side of subject set at a 1:1 ratio. Aperature: 9, Shutter: 200, Iso: 100. Post-processing – Lightroom: Recovery @ 100% (lights were a little too close to subject and highlights were blown out on the top of the dog’s head. Note to self – lower lighting and error on the side of under-exposure next time with light colored coat dogs) & Clarity +10, Photoshop: Shadow/Highlight adjustment & Unsharp Mask.