Zettersten Family {Nashville Dog Photography}

This week on the blog, I get to share a record for me of the largest puppy I have ever photographed! Yes! You read that right…the St. Bernard photographed below, is just a puppy! He is only six months old. His sister, who is seven years old, is another big dog breed - a Bernese Mountain Dog.

Johanna and Rolf Zettersten brought their sweet pups to my home in College Grove for their photo shoot. Winston is the St. Bernard and was named Winston because he “just looks like a Winston” and after Winston Churchill. Their Bernese Mountain Dog was named Scout (a girl) after the character in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Both Winston and Scout love everything. While Winston is still navigating kids, Scout is just happy to be alive. However, she doesn’t like thunderstorms.

Johanna and Rolf love to watch Winston grow, as he is changing everyday. They love discovering the world through his eyes. “He is such a happy little boy.” The Zettersten’s say Scout is just the most loyal, loving creature. When asked about why they love the breeds of their pups, their response was “We love big dogs and we can not lie.” In all seriousness, both pups are gentle giants with an even bigger capacity to love unconditionally.

I can’t end on a much sweeter note than that. Hope you enjoy checking out some of my favorite photos from their session!

~Mandy

Have pets you adore? Bring them to your family photo 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!

The Berny Family {Nashville Pet Photographer}

Happy New Year everyone! From my family to yours, I hope you enjoyed your holidays and are able to move into 2022 with peace and love.

The session on the blog today took place at the Berny’s farm in College Grove. I have some pet faces to share today that are a little different from the norm…a cow and a bull! You also get to see four sweet pups captured in the photos below.

But first, the humans, which include Doug and Tracie with their kids; Hannah, Abby, and Blake. Blake is with his wife Savannah and they are adding a baby boy to their pack May of 2022. How exciting!

Now, about the dogs. All four of the pups you see are English shepherds. Belle is their first English shepherd and is 10 years old. They got her from a three generation farm and named her after the Disney character in Beauty and the Beast. Belle loves being in charge and prefers rules and boundaries. She respects them, too! She loves to fetch with great intensity and gets pretty sad when it is time to put the ball or stick away. Belle is the poultry and livestock work-horse. She puts the birds in at night, will play games of chase with the horses, and is affectionate to all…including the animals she watches over and herds. She is both protective and nurturing and joins her family on whatever task is at hand. At the end of a work or play session, she is content chilling out right by her humans’ side.

Hank is 8 years old and was re-homed with the Berny family. Hank’s name came from the children’s book series, “Hank the Cowdog”, and his personality is certainly a fit. Hank is most content to be right next to you, will lift his paw for attention or to be petted. He is very affectionate. Hank is the protector of the farm; animals and people are under his supervision. “He has no fear and is fiercely protective of his farm and inhabitants.”

Scout is two years old and is Belle’s baby sister! Scout was a name that seemed to fit her curious and inquisitive personality. She is still a puppy in many ways and has many of the same characteristics as her older sister; loves to fetch, loves to cuddle, and loves to make the family aware when something is out of order.

Last but not least of the Berny dogs is Murphy! Murphy is Blake and Savannah’s four year old pup. She was named after a movie character in the couple’s favorite movie, Interstellar. Murphy is the daughter of the lead character played and called “Murph” for short. Blake and Savannah frequently find themselves quoting the movie…”Come on Murph!”. Murphy loves to cuddle, eat snacks, and play fetch! She hates her paws being touched and does not like being left alone! “Murphy is amazing! She is a calming presence, always glad to see us, and is full of joy anytime we mention going on a walk.”

The best thing about English shepherds is that they love to play, but are also content just resting. It is great to have a dog that loves to rest at the end of a long day.

Hope is a Yearling Registered Fleckvieh Simmental Heifer. She was the Reserve Grand Champion Fullblood heifer at the Jr. Simmental Eastern Regional show in 2021. Hope is an extremely docile girl with great genetic potential and will be utilized in the Berny’s breeding program. Fleckvieh’s are an old line of Simmental cattle that were developed for their combined traits of milk production, draft animals, and beef production.

Lastly, meet Sinatra, a Yearling SimAngus Bull. Sinatra is the first bull calf that was bred and born to Abby’s show heifer “Misty”. He has an impressive set of expected progeny differences (EPDs) with great genetic strengths in calving ease, future milk potential of his daughters, growth and docility. He will initially serve as a herd sire to breed some of our heifers but will eventually find a herd of his own with his strong genetic foundation.

Hope you enjoy some of my favorites!

~Mandy

Contact a Pet Photographer in Nashville, TN!

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!

The Fair Family {Nashville Pet Photographer}

Meet The Fair Family…the humans are Deb, Rob, Ian and Deb’s mom, Ayako. I have gotten the pleasure of photographing this family before! Please check out their first session here: https://mandywhitleyphotography.com/blog/the-fair-family-nashville-dog-photographer

We did this session last fall at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park with there three super adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel pups!

First, we have Tug McGraw Fair, the newest addition to their family. He’s ten months old and a rescue from The Cavalier Rescue in Alabama. He’s a Blenheim (chestnut and white color) Cavi and was a breeder release because he wasn’t thriving. He is a bit of a peacock and 100% boy. A destroyer of toys, and he lives true to his namesake – he loves to play tug of war with his toys and his hoomans. He’s going to be another tiny like Chloe (keep reading). “Tug is keeping us active and he is just such a funny little man!”

Next, there is Lily James Fair, a nine year old ruby colored Cavi. She was adopted from the same rescue in Alabama as Tug. Lily was being sold along with her mate at a garage sale and as rescued. Thank goodness, as she would have died if not for Cavalier Rescue! She’s the hunter, Guardian of the Fair Galaxy and a tom boy. She often likes to leave her family members special gifts on their back porch and will have that innocent look in her eye – “Look at what I brought you. Don’t you like my gift?” The Fairs love that Lily is the “teacher” of the pack and keeps the other two in line.

Last but not least, Chloe Stella McCartney Fair is a five year old ten pound Princess Pawfect Ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Yet another rescue from Cavalier Rescue in Alabama! “Chloe is our tiny but Mighty Cavi” (weighing only three pounds at five months of age!). She is a Guardian of the Fair Galaxy right along with Lily. Fortunately for the Fairs, she was rescued after being discarded by a puppy mill. Chloe is a total cuddle bug and is the one that senses when you need that special puppy love.

Each dog kept their first name that was given to them at the rescue. “I’ve always believed that the names the rescues gave them was for a reason.” The second name for each pup was after a celebrity. The Fairs love this breed so much, especially because they are so sweet, gentle, and they are little cuddle bunnies who always look like puppies.

Enjoy some of my faves from our session below!

~Mandy

Have pets you adore? Bring them to your family photo 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!