Reflections & Revelries - When Photographer Friends Visit

There’s something truly special about having friends who not only share your life but also your passion. It’s one thing to have people who support you, but when those people understand the intricacies of your creative journey - the late nights of self-doubt, the relentless pursuit of perfection, the thrill of capturing a moment just right - it’s transformative. When a friend who gets all of that comes to visit, it’s more than just a get-together; it’s a celebration of shared dreams, a reminder that you’re not alone in this beautiful, crazy journey. The energy is different, deeper, and somehow even more joyful.🥳

When Heidi, a fellow dog photographer, and her husband Brian came to town, it was more than just a visit - it was an opportunity to dive deep. We’ve both been part of the 52Frames community, and this week’s theme was Water. But our creative spirits weren’t content with just one challenge; we also brought in the themes of “Night” and “Reflection” from our Unleashed Education courses.

We couldn’t resist the idea of shooting at our town’s vibrant color-changing squirt park. With its playful atmosphere, it was the perfect setting to capture something truly unique. We found the perfect model in Drift, a dog who lives for water and adventure, and together with Drift’s awesome dog-mom, we set out to create magic.

The technical challenges were abundant—between the shifting lights, the water, and the unpredictable nature of photographing a lively dog at night, we had our work cut out for us. But the camaraderie, the laughter, and the shared creative energy made it all worthwhile. In the end, it wasn’t just about getting the shot; it was about the experience, the connection, and the joy of doing what we love with people who truly get it.

“Catch My Drift”:

The behind the scenes (BTS) look of how I created it:

And now here’s more about our time together! Queso enjoys when people visit. Especially ones that bring him new toys. 😍 The goodies were numerous – a flying mallard, a bottle of Unleashed Barkonnay, a flat rabbit, snacks, and an adorable bag to keep it all in! (Note the shoes on top of the crate in this photo, lol. If you leave footwear on the ground in our house it migrates. 🤣)

After the welcome ceremony, we went to a local joint to grab a bite. Tailgate Tavern has a dog friendly patio, so Queso got to come too!

And, because we’re dog photographers, after dinner we headed straight to a session – with Queso! He doesn’t particularly look like he’s having a blast in the these behind the scenes photos, lol, but keep scrolling to see one that Heidi captured! So much fun.

Photo credit: Heidi Adler Photography

While they were here, Heidi and Brian decided to rent a Tesla for their adventures, and let me tell you, it was like watching two kids with a new toy. Heidi affectionately dubbed it "The Spaceship," and it lived up to the name in every way. The sleek touch screen controls felt straight out of a sci-fi movie, and there was definitely a learning curve - every trip was an experiment in futuristic driving. But the real fun was in the ride itself; that thing was zippy! 🚗💨 We found ourselves laughing as we zipped around town, the car practically begging us to push it just a little bit faster. By the end of the visit, I think we all kind of wanted to trade in our regular rides for a ticket to space.

We took it out to dinner.

After dinner, it was back home for cuddles by the firepit. Queso is definitely enjoying all the extra attention. 😆

After a whole day without a photo session 😅, Heidi and I couldn't resist heading out with our cameras the next morning. This time, I left my camera behind and fully embraced my role as Queso’s dog mom. It was a refreshing change to step out from behind the lens and simply be present, watching Heidi work her magic. I got to enjoy the moment, guiding Queso into position and seeing the shoot unfold through a different perspective - one where I could savor the experience without the usual pressure of capturing the perfect shot.

Heidi was on a mission to capture the perfect product photo, so we packed up some toys and Queso’s life vest and made our way back to the creek. Everything was going smoothly until we had a little mishap with Queso’s purple holey ball. I threw it into the creek for a retrieve, and it sank to the bottom! Even though Queso is usually all about diving in to retrieve rocks or sticks, he took one look at that ball and decided it just wasn’t worth the effort. 😂 I guess we’ll chalk that one up as a casualty of the creative process!

Photo credit: Heidi Adler Photography

Because purple holey ball was gone forever, we moved on to the aforementioned mallard. What a cool toy!! You put your finger in the beak, and then with the other hand you can pull back on the tail, and it SLINGSHOTS out. And because she’s an amazing photographer, Heidi managed to capture the exact moment it catapulted!

Photo credit: Heidi Adler Photography

And look at these super fun frames she took of the watery retrieve 😁:

Photo credit: Heidi Adler Photography

Photo credit: Heidi Adler Photography

And because we briefly thought a bathrobe could serve as her “Product” image, the required post-session-photographer-with-model image includes Queso looking less than thrilled again. LOL.

Once back home, Queso sought comfort in the arms of Brian - the indignity of wearing clothes was simply too much to bear. (Note that he brought his mallard along. 🥰)

The next day, I got to play assistant to Heidi on a session near Boulder. But first, she had to let Queso know that he would be alright home alone for a few hours – cue the belly rub and ear massage.

After that was taken care of, we headed north and met the biggest dog I’ve ever seen in my life: Sunny, a 170 pound great dane – mastiff cross. 😮 When we pulled up to the house, Sunny was sitting in one of those yellow chairs casually looking out the window, and we could tell how big she was from outside and I about lost my mind with happiness.

And then the most ridiculous photo session commenced, complete with tea and Sunny wearing a Sharks hockey jersey. 🤣

After that silliness was concluded we went outside for some more natural portraits. Just LOOK at this beauty Heid created!!! 🔥😍

Photo credit: Heidi Adler Photography

After days of nonstop adventures, we finally decided it was time to slow down and enjoy some quality time at home - like, we didn’t leave the house. 😝 Heidi’s husband, Brian, who co-owns Crux Winery, treated us to a personalized wine tasting right in our living room. He guided us through a variety of their wines, sharing the stories behind each bottle, which made the experience all the more special. Our friend Laura elevated the evening even further with an incredible spread displayed on charcuterie boards, one of which was crafted by our son Porter’s roommate, Casey. (You can spot his beautiful board in the photo - it’s the one that looks like a tree. 🧡) It was the perfect way to unwind and savor the company of good friends.

And for all my fellow 52Framers out there, this one’s for you: a snapshot of three passionate Framers—Heidi, Anna, and me – brought together by the challenges that keep us inspired week after week. 🤍

As the evening wound down and most of the guests had departed, our core group gathered for one last toast. Then, the night took a lively turn with impromptu ping pong and darts battles. 🏓🎯 (I’ll spare you the evidence of our antics - let’s just say the photos and videos are as wild and blurry as the memories, lol.)

The aftermath - a lot of wine was consumed!! 🍷😅

And just like that, our time together came to an end. Heidi and Brian headed back to California, leaving Queso a little lonely and missing his friends. They were truly wonderful and fun houseguests, and their visit brought so much joy to our home.

Back to photography… I thought I might be able to improve upon my water concept, so I reached out to Drift’s mom to see if she’d be up for another round at the squirt park. She agreed, and we gave it another go. Unsurprisingly, I faced the same technical challenges as before, but this time I was down a brain and a set of hands without Heidi’s help. Despite the hurdles, I managed to capture this fun shot of Drift with her reflection - - proof that persistence (and a little bit of doggy patience) pays off.

“Adrift”

More about Drift, straight from her mom:

• Her personality: “Drift is very unique, I think! She is what I call neuro-spicy. She is always happy and her tail never stops wagging – except if you sneeze, cough or yell. That makes her very upset and she will come and lay herself across your chest, lick you, then get up and quickly leave. Also, if you touch her even in the slightest way, it activates her “ON” switch! Beware!”

• Why a lab: “I have always loved animals, but was more of a horse kid growing up. But when I realized horses were not in my budget as an adult, I decided that dogs would be good instead! My family are duck and pheasant hunters and my mom competed in hunt tests with her Labs, so I naturally gravitated towards the breed. Labs are truly all-around dogs who can do anything and do it with a smile!”

• Her name: “We struggled with picking a name that one of our friends in the dog community hadn’t already chosen. My husband came up with Drift and it was something we could both agree to. No special significance but it is fairly unique.”

• Favorite toy: “Drift’s favorite toys are a flat furry squirrel and fox. She loves to retrieve them, but even more she likes to lay on her back and hold them in her front paws while she “nurses” on the feet/legs. Honestly, it’s slimy and gross but it makes her happy.”

• Session prep: “I made sure to wear my water sandals and shorts since I knew there would be water! My advice is to consider the location and terrain, have lots of high-value treats and be prepared to periodically give your dogs a break. Being a professional model is hard work!”

• Session challenges: “The splashing water was a challenge. While Drift loves water, she didn’t like being sprayed in the face, so we had to try to position her so it wouldn’t bother her.”

• Mood of photos that represent her best: “Drift is a big personality and has a dramatic flair – but most of her photos that aren’t her sport photos are very quiet and sweet (she is good at posing still), but I think this one really gives her presence and alludes to the personality behind the pose! The purple color and the water columns really make a statement. I think someone commented on my Facebook post that it reminded them of a red carpet event and I thought that was a good perspective.”

• Bonus info: “I think the challenge of the public presence, the moving and splashing water and the changing color of the fountains – they were all so difficult to navigate! Thankfully, Drift was so focused on the squirting water that she didn’t really care one bit about the other people or dogs that were around. I loved your patience and Drift loved your treat pouch! Absolutely everyone loves the photo! It’s so dramatic!”

Additional images from Drift’s sessions:

Ginger Wick Photography is an award winning dog photographer specializing in creating beautiful custom artwork of dogs & their people. Based in Parker, CO serving the Denver area.