Tail of 20 Cities: Mandy Whitley Photography in Franklin, TN {Nashville Dog Photographer}

I’m so excited to be participating in Rover.com’s Tail of 20 Cities, celebrating my amazing clients and unique city along with 19 other photographers from around the world. Take a look at the other photographers participating in the Tail of 20 Cities Photo Journey here,  and feel free to join in on the fun by posting a photo of your pooch repping your city with hashtag #RoverCities on social media.

My family LOVES Franklin, Tennessee. It has the best main street — complete with restaurants, shops and a refurbished old theater. Many of the shops and restaurants have dog bowls out all the time and most are dog friendly! Franklin also has a greenway to walk with your pup, a dog park and plenty of activities you can bring your dogs to, including all the events on Main Street. My personal favorite is the annual Pumpkinfest!  

Franklin is also part of the Mars petcare initiative, Better Cities for Pets, which lists all the pet-friendly businesses in the area. It is also home to one of my favorite pet-friendly wedding venues, CJ's Off the Square! 

I've done many photography sessions in and around the Main Street area of Franklin and I always love taking my clients there. Here are a few of my favorites from the Kemp family session with their sweet rescue pup, Sadie. The Kemps are also the owners of the fabulous pet parent t-shirt company Winks & Whiskers. They met me in Franklin where we wandered down Main Street and the alleyways for the best spots!

~ Mandy

Bring Your Pets to Your Family Portrait Session!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!

4 Ways to Include Your Pet on Your Wedding Day {Nashville Wedding Photographer}

*This article was also featured on the CJ's Off the Square blog.

I love it when my couples include pets in their wedding day. After all, they are family too! Here are a few tips on how to include them in a stress free way.

1. Find a Pet-Friendly Wedding Venue

Not all venues are pet friendly so make sure you ask before you book if you want to include your furry friend. Even if the venue is pet friendly, make sure they are pet friendly to the extent you need them to be. If you want your little pup with you while you are getting ready, but the venue only allows him to be outside, it might not be the right fit for you.

2. Designate Someone to Be a Pet Handler

The best advice I can give is to find a pet handler for your wedding day, since it really helps takes the stress off you! This can certainly be a guest, but it must be someone who won’t be in any of the formal photos so they can handle your pup without worrying about getting dirty, and they will be able to take them home at the appropriate time.

3. Include Pet Decor

You can add an additional touch of pet love by adding pet decor in your wedding. You could have a pet related theme on your invitations. At the wedding you can add a take-home treat table, or you could even have a 'dog park' set up for your pup and any of the guest's dogs that attend your celebration! Consider including your pup in your engagement photos and display them at the wedding location as well.

4. Know Your Pet

Not every dog is up for a wedding celebration. Some pups get nervous in crowds and just aren’t going to be a good at walking those rings down the aisle. Please don’t try to force your pup to participate when you know they won't enjoy it. If I’m talking about your pup (and don’t worry, I have one of those as well) and you’d really like to include him/her, consider having that friend we talked about bring them in for a few photos with just the two of you!

Hire a Premier Photographer for Your Pet-Friendly Wedding!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!