I am a dog lover first.
A photographer second.
By some random chance of fate, I was able to combine the two loves into the coolest job ever: A Dog Photographer
I grew up in a family where dogs were always an integral part of our lives and most importantly, members of the family. Most of my childhood was spent with various Basset Hounds of the lovable but extremely stubborn variety. We never had less than 2 at any given time, sometimes 3, and the occasional stray that one of us would bring home for a visit.
After a short stint doing portrait work, which I still love, I realized my true calling is capturing the essence and personality of dogs. Upon reflection, I feel that my time doing portrait work was not wasted. Because of it, my experience with portrait work flows beautifully into working with people and their dogs.
My husband and I are owned by the fabulous Miss Gracie, a 5 year old Great Dane who brings energy and life into our house. You’ll see her around here a lot, she loves having her portrait taken (at least I like to think so). She is a complete Diva and if you stick around long enough, you'll know what I'm talking about!
What an amazing adventure this has been so far. I’m so glad you are here experiencing it with me.
Gracie came home last night from a few days at Grandma + Grandpa’s and the introduction went very well.
She came in, sniffed Maggie, checked out a poopy diaper, stuck her nose up my rear, grabbed her stogey, and laid down.
I would say it was a perfect introduction. I think they’re going to be lifelong friends :)
- Wow...congrats, she is just perfect. Gave me chills to see her. I had a baby 9 months ago and it's amazing how quickly the time has passed. Savor every magical moment. There is nothing like it.
- Congratulations on your new addition Erin!! She's gorgeous. Enjoy every moment with her!
- Congratulations!! She is beautiful!
- Congrats! So much cuteness packed into the little package - concentrated.
- So sweet. Congrats again. :)
- Love that pup. Those baby toes are a delight.
- Congratulations with your beautiful daughter, she really is a beauty. And so nice the introduction with miss Grace went so well
- Looks like everyone is going to get along fine! sweet!!
- congratulations, erin and family!! so excited for you guys!! she is BEAUTIFUL
- Your daughter is beautiful. Congratulations. Looks like the introduction went beautifully. The pictures are lovely. Katybeth
- wow!! she is amazing beautiful little girl!! I am sure they are going to be best of friends!! SO happy for you. Congratulations!!
- I am so happy for you that the introduction went well. I was very excited to hear how Gracie took it.
- this totally made me tear up! so sweet!
- TOO cute! Congrats again :)
- So glad to hear everything went so well, not that I would have thought otherwise. Adorable pictures! Congrats again!
- First of all, your daughters are both adorable. Second, we have the same car seat. :]
- Sooo sweet. Can't wait to see them curling up together. :)
- I'm so happy for you! Congratulations!
- Erin - This is sooooo adorable! Congrats on Maggie! She is precious!
- Awesome!
- Oh! Be still my GRACIE lovin' HEART! SWEET! Sweet! Sweet! Just like I knew it would be. xo
- Perfection! I was so excited to see this first photo of the sisters!
- Awwwww. How precious! Gracie is going to be a great big sis.
Maggie Kristine Vey was born 2 weeks early on August 15 at 8:51 am.
8 lbs 4 oz : 21 1/4 inches : Perfect in every way
I’ll be on Maternity Leave the rest of the year enjoying our little miracle.
We’re kind of obsessed with her :)
- Congratulations! She is adorable.
- Beautiful little girl...Congratulations to you & Erin!
- Oh my gosh she's beautiful- congratulations! Enjoy your time "off" ( as if there is such a thing with a newborn) spoiling and loving that beautiful baby girl! We had just about the same introduction, our dogs smelled my babies bottom and laid down contently as if they just knew the new pack member had arrived and all was well in the world.
- Congratulations! She is gorgeous!
- a pretty baby to love...so nice!
- She is just beautiful!!
- She is precious. Congratulations! All of these new babies in the world and my baby started high school this year. They do grow up. Enjoy her.
- She is soo dreamy!! Wonderful news!
- What a gorgeous bundle of adorable! No wonder you're obsessed. Good luck with your new blessing Erin. :0)
- Just absolutely adorable. Elke
- Congrats Erin! She's beautiful and I love the name Maggie! :) Enjoy your little sweet one and your time off!
- CONGRATULATIONS! So exciting for you. :)
- Congratulations! She's beautiful! I hope she and Ms. Gracie quickly become best of friends!
- I'm thrilled for you! Congratulations. She's beautiful! Gracie is going to love her, too. Sweet blessings to all of you.
- Congratulations!!!!!!!
- Perfection personified.
- SHE. IS. SO. BEAUTIFUL. :) :) :) congrats again, VEYS!!!! and i am just loving her face. and her mane. and her MIDDLE NAME!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)
- As well you should be, with that sweet little face to distract you! Congratulations to you both, can't wait to see Gracie mothering her. :)
- Congratulations on your perfectly perfect little bundle!
- A million congratulations go out to you!
- Congratulations to both of you... She is adorable...Enjoy your sweet moments...
- Congratulations! What a wonder! Thank you for sharing this special time.
- She is so adorable....Congrats to you guys!!
- She is beautiful!
- She is absolutely gorgeous! I am so happy for you both - congratulations! Hugs and kisses to Gracie too!
- Precious little girl! Congrats!
- Congratulations! What a beauty.
- Oh Erin! The sweetest thing I've seen in forever. Love her little outfit. And I know Miss Gracie is so proud of her little sister. Maggie is precious. xo
- She's so gorgeous- congratulations!
- Congratulations! She's beautiful!
- Congratulations! She's beautiful. Can't wait to see her grow on your blog. Those first few weeks and months are amazing and it only gets better!
- she is just beautiful and her name is darling. Congrats to you and your husband!
- congratulations!
- Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. In every single way. Congrats, Vey!
- Beautiful!!! Congratulations Vey Family. She has lots of hair like my little one :)
- Congratulations to you all!
- She's just beautiful! congratulations to you all!
- Congratulations! I wish you all the very best!
- Congratulations!! She is beautiful.
- Heaven.
- Congratulations Erin, she is absolutely gorgeous. I'm sure you know already, but take lots and lots of pictures. They get big so fast.
- Congratulations! She is stunningly beautiful. Enjoy her every breathe. I will miss your work but hope to see more of her here on your blog. Having your first baby (the four-footed kind) discover your second baby is such a joy! Best wishes to the whole family!
- Erin, congratulations. She is absolutely beautiful and oh so precious. I can't wait to see pics of her with Ms. Gracie!!!
- how gorgeous can one baby be ?
- She is too precious! And over 8lbs at two weeks early, you should be thankful you didn't go full term! ;) Enjoy your little miracle.
- Oh, she is breathtakingly perfect!! Enjoy her and your time off. I'm sure Gracie will be a wonderful big sister (in every sense of the word!)
- I think Daddy's shirt is perfect. I could not be happier for you. :D
- she's perfect:)
- She's absolutely beautiful! Congratulations on the new arrival.
- Oh! Congratulations! She is gorgeous! Enjoy this time, such a delicious time :)
- oh. my. gosh! she is too cute!!! keep the pictures coming :)
- Congratulations - she is SO precious! Drink her up, they are only little for such a short time. Everyone will tell you that but it is so true! Can't wait to see pics of the sisters together :)
- Lovelyy! Is Maggie short for something?
Sometimes I sell images and never know where they are going to end up, but when I sold this image (which is one of my favorites) I knew it was going to go on a book cover. I went on the hunt to figure out which book and ended up at Eve’s Facebook site. We were in touch and she asked if I would like to do a giveaway of her book which features Gracie on the cover.
I said absolutely! So Eve is guest posting today!
To win a copy of the book, enter a comment in the box below by the end of Wednesday 8/18 and I’ll randomly pick a winner!
. . . .
Eve Marie Mont lives with her husband, Ken, and her thirteen-year-old dog, Maggie, in suburban Philadelphia, where she teaches high school English and creative writing. Free to a Good Home is her first novel and was inspired by her love for dogs, shelter dogs in particular.
From Eve:
Whenever I see one of Erin’s beautiful photographs of an adorable canine, I understand why she’s an artist and why the rest of us, despite having more photos of our dogs than ourselves, are just plain amateurs. While I believe my dog Maggie to be the most gorgeous creature on the planet, capturing her essence on camera is another matter entirely. As a thirteen-year-old mixed breed—part Boxer, part Jack Russell—Maggie is spunky enough not to listen to anyone and old enough to get away with it. When it comes to Kodak moments, she is fond of looking coyly at the camera just moments before I take the shot, at which point she will inevitably lean down to lick herself, bite at her hindquarters, or decide spontaneously to jump off the sofa. After years of trying and failing, I finally accepted the inevitable: the only way I was going to get a good shot of Maggie is to take it while she was asleep. So here it is: the best photo I have taken of Maggie.
I do think, however, that I managed to capture some of Maggie’s spirit in the fictional canine character of Zeke in my upcoming novel, Free to a Good Home, which features Erin’s Gracie on the cover. Erin has been gracious enough to offer a giveaway of my book on her blog, so thank you to her and to Gracie!! If you’d like to read a sneak preview of Free to a Good Home, please click here.
- Your pictures are goregous. Do you just take a lot of pictures of the dogs at once and then pick out the best or wait for the perfect moment. I would love to win this book. I have heard a lot about it.
- Love your site! I can't get enough of your photography. Just beautiful!
- Would love to read this - beautiful cover!
- My three month old daughter is just like Maggie- all smiles before the camera comes out and then always a serious face when the camera appears. One of these days I'll catch that gorgeous smile!
- hehe, i think you might be a little busy to pick a winner :) Congrats again!
- The part on Kodak moments hit close to home with my dogs!
- Love the cover. Think I would love the book.
- Who doesn't love a book about dogs???
- Wonderful picture of sweet Gracie. Can't wait to read the book.
- Anytime I try to capture my Cock-a-poo Buddy all I get is a blur.
- The book sounds so good! I love any book that features a dog. :) Love your photograph on the front - it looks beautiful!
- This looks like a wonderful book! We just got a puppy 2 months ago and I've had the hardest time getting a good picture which really does him justice!
- Just wanted to post :) Your photography is beautiful!
- Gracie is so cute and your photography is wonderful :) Hope I win!
- I would love to win the book to. I fancy myself, fancy being the key word, an amateur photographer and my rescue dane, Bella is my favorite subject! Bella and I have spent 7 years togethre and she has seen many foster pups come in and out. She has been the only foster to unpack her bags permanently and I am so thankful for the day she came in my life. Okay, I'll stop promoting how great my pup is:) http://www.flickr.com/photos/38053501@N02/sets/72157623424631375/
- Love your work. Thanks for the giveaway!
- Gracie you look fabulous in the blue room. What a beautiful cover model you make (again!)
- Pick me, pick me!
- Looks lovely.......
- How exciting that Gracie is on a book!! Thanks for a wonderful contest!
- I can never get a good picture of my dog either.
- such a great way to help each other out! :-)
- Beautiful pics (as always)! Congratulations on your book Eve, it sounds like a lovely story.
- My mini dog NEVER sits still for a pic, either! She looks charming right up to the point that I press the shutter button...at which point all I end up with is a blur!
- I just found your website and love your photos of Gracie. I've been a cat person all my life, but am now considering getting a dog.....
- that books sounds really good!! crossing my fingers!
- What a beautiful cover girl! Congrats Gracie. This book looks lovely, as an owner of a previously sheltered Jack I would love to read this.
- What a wonderful idea for a book and what a wonderful choice for cover girl. My labby babies were shelter dogs and I couldn't have picked more perfect companions if I had special ordered them. And since I don't twitter...WELCOME MAGGIE VEY!!!! All the best to you, your Mom, Dad, family and of course your lovely BIG SISTER! Puppy kisses for everyone!
- I would love to win a book with Gracey on the cover!! I know I just saw a book on dog training that I figured was your photo...If I'd known that you didn't know where your photos were going I would have sent you a link! This novel sounds like fun and I love "first" novels by authors. P
- There is a book in my local bookstore that I think is Gracey on the cover and everytime I pass by it I accidently yell out... "gracey". Then have a whoops moment because I really do yell it and I am sure the women next to me thinks I am a total loon.
- Ooooh, this is exciting! The novel sounds fantastic and I can't wait to read it. I love the photo, too!
- Eve - Maggie looks like one of my 1st dogs, Tippy. Congratulations on your novel. This must be an exciting time for you. You have a beautiful photo for your cover.
- Thanks for all the lovely comments about the book and the photo! And thanks again, Erin, for participating in the giveaway. You have such a wonderful group of warm and welcoming dog-loving fans!
- beautiful sleeping pup!
- This photo makes me want to go hug my dog. Beautiful!
- That picture of Maggie is gorgeous. Love the way the sunlight is bathing her in its warmth.
- That image of Gracie must be a universal favorite, and how wonderful for it to be on a novel about rescues (presumably). That pic Eve caught of her precious Maggie is no joke either. Beautiful. I'll look forward to the book, whether I win it or buy it ;)
- Love the cover!
- Loved the preview of the book! I'm fostering a 12-year-old shih tzu who's also has quite a lot of spunk!
- Both of our boxers love to lay on our guest bed and look out the front window. Love the cover, can't wait to read the book.
- This is the perfect picture for that caption!!! The book cover is beautiful!! Would be honored to have a copy! Amazing work!
- The cover photo reminds me of my Boxer. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks!
- I enjoyed reading the preview and love forward to reading your book. Hope I win.
- That beautiful Gracie of yours speaks volumes...without words! Perfect image for the cover of the book!
- Your photo is beautiful- congratulations on your book!
- Such a beautiful book with a beautiful dog on the cover!!! And yes, Maggie does fall into the "beautiful dog" category without any fail :) Would be honored to win the book! :) Great job Erin, Gracie, Eve, and Maggie!!
- Love the book cover. Looking forward to reading it. Maggie looks so sweet and Gracie is beautiful as always.
- that's a great picture of maggie! at least you can get one of her sleeping. i swear chase never sleeps. i slowly reach for the camera and his head pops up. damn herding dogs are always on the alert!
- What a great photo for the cover and I would LOVE to win the book!
- Oh, Maggie is precious! (And Gracie is looking gorgeous, as always).
- Phew..I thought you were giving Gracie away when I read the title in reader !!! 2nd book that Gracie graces the cover--wow she's becoming a star
- The cover is awesome. My dog does the same thing as Eve's! Unless someone ELSE is taking his picture. Can't wait to read the book!
- I love people who love dogs - shelter dogs, in particular!
- What an adorable little picture!!! Love the book cover, too :) Hope I'm the winner!!!
- OMGoodness! I thought for a minute you were trying to find Gracie a new home!!! Not Funny!! Heart attack over here. I would love to win a copy of the book .. and thanks!
- Aww thats so nice of you!
- I would love to have some inspiration!! I love finding books like these! I'm always looking for new inventive ideas from other wonderful photographers to help me become a the photographer I'm hoping to be some day.
- I love your work and thanks for the giveaway!
- What a lovely book, I'd love a chance to win it.
- That is a great picture of Gracie and I love the sleeping picture of Maggie.
- Beautiful book, I would love to have a copy!
- Great photo for a book cover! I love seeing your images of Gracie. Very cute image of Maggie as well!
- I love your pictures and Gracie!
- Love that picture of Gracie & I love that picture of Maggie too!
- Your work is absolutely amazing! I love seeing all of Gracie's silly poses and faces.
- Thanks for contiually warming the cockles of my heart with your images of Miss Gracie (and other subjects). You're both lucky to have found each other. I'm a mom to a 1.5 year old Puggle (mix of pug & beagle) and cannot imagine my life without Norman. Similar to what Eve Mont stated above, I try, mostly unsuccessfully, to capture Norman's moments of greatness. Your pictures inspire me to continue on my quest of getting the perfect shot. I'd love the opportunity to win and read Ms. Mont's book.
- Your photos of Gracie have given me a whole new respect for Great Danes! I recently found myself hustling after one going in the opposite direction just so I could ask the parents if I could pet her!
- Love to see your work getting so much press, Erin. And of course, I LOVE seeing as much Gracie as I can! I'm now off to read the sneak preview of the book! :)
- Love that image of Gracie. My 5-year-old Maggie (cocker spaniel) in suburban Philadelphia would sure like to have a copy of the book!
- Gracie is becoming one very famous dog thanks to all your amazing pictures of her!
- I simply adore Gracie and I love the photo on the book. I am huge lover of all four legged critters but particulary my own 2 labs who complete me. I would love to win the book!
- Books about dogs are guaranteed to make me cry (happy or sad tears) and stick with me forever. Which means I'll only be able to handle reading it once! But then force everyone I know to read it too.
- Awh, that image makes a perfect cover for the novel. The dog (Gracie) appears to be waiting for the right family to walk up the sidewalk.
- I love that photo also! It's always cool to be in a bookstore and see a dog you "know" from online.
- OH...I would love to win a copy of this book. I could have swore I saw an image of Gracie the other day in a book at my vets office. There was the legs of a Dane and a Chihuahua in the image...
- A second book cover for Gracie! I have the first so the second is a must! and a book about a Dane... sounds like my kind of book!
- I would love to win this! GREAT, GREAT PHOTO. Glad to see it on a book cover :)
by Erin
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