She sought solace, as so many do, on a trail in the Rockies. There, with her dog Bear by her side she searched for perspective in the enormity of the vast landscape.  Each step a reverent petition to the expanse to realign her with a semblance of her why in life.  

“Bear saved my life..He makes me feel connected to something bigger.”

Kat Jones

On the secluded trail Bear took paces ahead of her and then she lost sight of him.  She began to tail spin into panic.  Every catastrophic possibility washing over her in a deluge of prophetic tragedy.  A frenzied search began and in that search she found the perspective she so longed for.  In those moments of feared disaster she was reconnected with what mattered most. She remembers, “I was able to focus on how much I loved him and how much life was okay as long as I could find him.”

Around a bend, through a clearing, there he sat; looking out and waiting for her patiently.  

She took a seat next to him and let the waves of gratitude wash over her. “When you’re chasing so much in your life and you’re able to find that moment of centeredness in your life…[he’s] the release that lets me move past the road block…The ability to move forward.  That’s what he’s always given me.” Together they sat and she remembered herself.

“Bear saved my life..He makes me feel connected to something bigger.” Kat reflects a feeling echoed by so many of us who’ve had the privilege of opening their hearts to another soul’s ability to dynamically change our world.

We are currently accepting submissions for feature in volume three of the coffee table book Woman’s Best Friend benefiting Women’s Animal Center. Click the button to submit your story and learn more about the project.

Kristen Kidd Photography is an individual & family portrait photography studio in the North Wales suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We specializes in helping individuals and two-legged & four-legged families stop and reconnect with the love in their lives. We do this through fun and unique photo experiences with custom designed wall art collections.

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Open submissions for volume three of the book launch January 1st.

Women are invited to submit their stories (here) of their dynamic bond with their canine companions to be considered for feature in Volume Three of the book, releasing fall of 2021.  This third volume benefits Women’s Animal Center – a shelter with a unique and rich history as the first shelter in the U.S.. As if that weren’t enough, the shelter was founded by women. 

What follows are a round up of some of our favorite moments and stories from the most recent edition of Woman’s Best Friend.

Every single one of the 47 stories featured in the book are beautiful and important. Each story shines a light on the powerful impact our four-legged family members make in our lives. This collection of stories come together to share common themes on the spectrum of the human experience. They work to eradicate stigmas associated with mental health, breed discrimination, fertility journeys, varying orientations and more. We inch closer to this goal by normalizing the broad ranging arc of the human experience through story telling. These women’s courageous sharing makes it possible for all of us to open up just a little more by celebrating how our pets show up for us every day.

Participate in our upcoming events.

You can support the rescue efforts by purchasing your own copy of the book here. January 15th at 7:00p.m. you can tune in for a virtual book reading of selected stories from the book and participate in the Q&A with myself and featured women. Find our more about this event here.

I definitely think [her happiness] has taught me to embrace the everyday hilarity a little bit more. It’s there all the time. You can get mired down in the nonsense. Seeing her dive into whatever she’s doing – whether it’s rolling down a hill or eating her food or chasing bubbles – she does it without any regard for anyone else – no reservations.

– Sheila Rhodes Delp, Woman’s Best Friend Volume Two

Owen was rescued from a deep dark hole in Puerto Rico and brought to the Brandywine Valley SPCA.

Around the same time he found himself steeped in darkness 1,600 miles away Hannah found herself in her own darkness following the loss of her mother. Upon meeting at the SPCA their connection was visceral and they started the work to help each other rebuild their lives in trust and love.

It’s been a lot of exposing him to the world around him and reassuring him that it’s okay. I think that’s the same message I needed after losing somebody who I care about so much. It’s okay to trust people. It’s okay to love people. Go out and experience. He’s been a big reason I’ve been able to get back out there.

Hannah Caplan, Woman’s Best Friend Volume Two

Liz and Bruce Wayne are winning at life on cuteness points alone.

Liz’s ride or die buddy represents everything warm and fuzzy and fun about our canine besties. Bruce has become a crowd favorite and super star of the project. Their eleven years together represents that joyful legacy in every bond that deserves celebration.

The gravity and power of the presence of our dogs during the seminal moments in our lives is captured in Rachael and Grits story.

It’s simply amazing what we can weather with a dog by our side. After losing her partner, Cade, in a farming accident Rachael simply acknowledged, “I’m going to need a dog for this.” Those of us who love our dogs as much as we love many of the humans in our lives and have experienced tremendous loss can relate to Rachael’s sentiments. That agonizing period of her life was the catalyst for bringing Grit into her life. In his entry into her life hope is reborn.

Laura & Dutch are a symbol of the capacity of rescue on a global scale.

Most of us couldn’t point to Azerbaijan on a map, much less know that the capital is Baku and that within that city there is a dire need for the advocacy and rescue of street dogs. Baku Street Dog Rescue is doing their part to show up for these vulnerable pups, finding homes in the UK and US. Dutch is one of these pups. Their journey to each other is the story of one person choosing to do good, followed by one more person and another and another, until lives are changed around the world.

Ginni and Chloe’s story perfectly illustrates the power of our pups to just bring us out of ourselves, elevate every experience and meet us where we are at. Their perfect day starts with cartoons and breakfast in bed. So we brought that to life in their session to celebrate their best selves on their best day.

In Rebecca’s story she shared the intimate choice to pursue motherhood independently and how Lincoln shows up for her on the daily.

This story earmarked the tremendous courage that each woman demonstrates in sharing the intimate details of their journeys. We all want to know we’re seen, heard and loved. Our greatest power is our vulnerability. We discover we are not alone and help others to see they are not alone when we share our truth as we know it. There is no experience under the sun that is entirely novel. There is always someone who has a resonating or correlating truth. We can only know and encounter that truth when we share our peregrination.

Phyllis & Remy’s story of a dog’s unique ability to heal when we find ourselves on the edge is one everyone should read.

He bridged the gap between not wanting to be alive and wanting to live for myself. He’s the middle ground where I had something to hold onto. He protected me when I didn’t know I wanted to be here for myself until I finally figured that out.

Phyllis Spencer, Woman’s Best Friend Volume Two

Sometimes the story of a woman and her dog is the story of family.

The celebration of how a four-legged adoptee can create a family is important to how we define and think about what family means.

Trixie holds us accountable to be our best selves.

Scudder, Woman’s Best Friend Volume Two

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Dakota sat by him, just in arms reach. The walls and shelves that surround us in neighboring rooms were decorated with World War Two era photos of a family members that served in the military. His own history intermingled with the past, weaving a tapestry of years of service.  

I was sitting at that dining room table because he’d called me the day before with a special request. 

Now I was following bread crumbs of his journey to the monument of a story within his heart. This, so that I could see that monument as he saw it, through the eyes of his heart. Only then could I pick up my camera and come do what was asked of me.  

Following the bread crumbs, I asked about a time that Dakota was there for him, really showed up for him in a profound way.

He recounted the time following his military tour overseas. He’d seen war abroad. Now, he was faced with a war within. He was diagnosed with cancer. He was not alone because there was Dakota. Eric remembered the grueling treatments and with gratefulness he could see himself walking through the door of his home following another round of radiation. Always, Dakota was there to greet him. Giving every ounce of love she had in her. 

I asked him to return to that moment of exhaustion, walking through the door and seeing her face in that moment, if there was a word to describe that emotion, what would it be?

“Compassion”, he said with levity. As tears streamed down his face, he stroked Dakota’s soft fur and with his free hand reached for the box of tissues across the table, he had placed there preemptively.  I’d found the monument.  It was tremendous.  

Dakota is Eric’s snow white german shepherd. Compassion is her gift in the 13 years she’s walked alongside him.

Now, he is faced with the difficult decision to make that those of us who have loved a pet for their lifetime experience. It too is a choice of compassion. It is the compassionate decision to say good-bye. Before he let go of her he wanted to immortalized her legacy. This is the tremendous monument, a thank you. He took the day to spend with her and capture their final hours together – hours of joy and peace.  Now he carries a piece of her with him always in gratitude for her years of service.  

Kristen Kidd Photography is an individual & family portrait photography studio in the North Wales suburb of Philadelphia, Pa. We specializes in helping individuals and two-legged & four-legged families stop and reconnect with the love in their lives through fun and unique photo experiences and custom designed wall art collections.

The post Hatboro Pet Photo Session appeared first on Lux Summit Studio.

This project was born out of the moving stories women were telling me before their photo sessions. Every session is preceded by a pre-consult – a time to discover why their photo experience is deeply and uniquely important to each person. Time and again women approached me to be photographed with their dogs. They shared how their canine companion was there for them unconditionally and without judgement. Their dog BFFs changed the course of their days whether it be with a doggy kiss to start the day or a happy greeting at the door after a long hard day’s work. They intuitively stuck by them in their grief or made them laugh when laughter seemed like an impossibility. Through depression, anxiety, divorce, death, rape, loneliness and a million other trials and tribulations woman after woman shared how their dog saved them.

It occurred to me that we always talk about “Man’s best friend” and “A boy and his dog”, but what about “Woman’s Best Friend”? Thus, the first seeds of the book project were germinating.

I knew I wanted to elevate the status of our relationships with our pets in a profound way – to give a platform to the celebration of how much they mean to us. We still live in a world in which there’s stigma attached to loving your pets as much as you may love a human. Where there’s a stigma, I want to eradicate it with empathy and compassion. We cultivate empathy and compassion when we give a voice and space to those effected by the stigma. So, the plan was simple. Share these stories.

Every endeavor at Kristen Kidd Photography is designed to benefit and engage the greater community.

The women who submit their stories and participate in the project receive the full, unique experience that every family and individual receives with a session at Kristen Kidd Photography. Their experience is complete with an opportunity to design their own personal wall art. Partners in the project know that their participation is not only giving them the experience of a lifetime, but creating something bigger than them, that includes them, celebrates them and in turn testifies to the importance of all of our bonds with each of our pets.

The profits from the sales of each book go directly to Harley’s Haven Rescue. These stories are saving lives because without these stories there is no book. Without this book, there are no profits to donate to Harley’s Haven.

Finally, each person who invests in purchasing this beautiful book is choosing to celebrate this testament to our bonds with our four-legged family members. In doing so they take another step closer to erasing the stigma all while supporting the tireless work of Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue.

The photo experiences tell the stories.

The stories create the book.

The book supports the rescue.

None of it can happen without you.

Share with friends, participate, donate, buy the book.

Join the movement.

Click below to get all the details and submit your story.

The post The Woman’s Best Friend Coffee Table Book appeared first on Lux Summit Studio.

Our favorite destination is the Gwynedd Preserve, a natural lands trust laced with broad paths weaving through vast fields, into deep woods and across dense meadows. We take our two dogs with us. Our first dog Hudson is tethered to my husband on a hands free leash and our younger dog Nito is tethered to me.

The Preserve is heaven to us. It’s a best kept secret in our community. We often see other people with their dogs. Though the signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash”, they can’t help but release them. I get it.

There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path.

The pure bliss on their faces is enough to put any pet owner in their own state of bliss by proxy. However, this habit has been a pet peeve of mine for a while. On New Year’s Day my pet peeve erupted into a call to action.

We were at the farthest point of the preserve. There was no one else around. Then, Dave calmly said to me, “Kristen there are dogs behind us.” I looked back to see two large dogs (75 to 100 lbs each) and one small dog, all together on the path watching us from behind. They weren’t on leash. No human was in sight with them.

There was reason to be aware, but no reason to be fully alarmed… until they started pursuing us.

In a full run the largest dog approached Dave and Hudson first. It mounted Hudson which triggered a fight. Nito howled and I stood back, completely disarmed. There was nothing I could do without escalating the situation further. Then the second largest dog came toward me and Nito. I yelled at the dog, “Go!”. He got the message and turned in the opposite direction, but the largest dog was still scuffling with Hudson.

Then, I could see the owner yards away. He had no clue what was transpiring. I screamed for him to collect his dogs. He had his dogs back in his possession after a very long moment or two. He headed in the opposite direction. Somehow everyone walked away unscathed. I was livid. He put all of us in such a dangerous position. It was nothing short of a miracle that no dogs or humans were hurt in the altercation.

People, please keep your dogs on a leash in public when the rules say so. I know this is an extreme set of circumstance. I can hear you saying, “I would never be so far away. My dog is so nice. Everyone love my dog!” I’m sure, but still. Please keep your dog on a leash and hear me out. There are two main reasons to do what the public signs are telling you.

Reason number one: Your dog’s friendly greeting can be a trigger for many humans.

In my previous life as a social worker, I assisted individuals with achieving their daily goals within their community. Sometimes this meant things like exercising via walks in the park. Many of the people I supported struggled on a daily basis with catastrophic anxieties, fears and myriad of traumas. One such man walked multiple times a week in the local park and had a fear of dogs. Despite signs clearly stating “all dogs on leash”, well meaning park patrons would let their sweet pups run free and when they inevitably approached us with wagging tales, the pet owner would call out “He’s friendly.” Well, that’s great, but my friend here is terrified.

As pet owners we believe our pets are the best pets on the face of the earth with the power to melt away anyone’s fears and trauma.

Stop it. That’s our personal, individual truth about the love we have for our pets. That’s not everyone else’s truth. So, while it may not be relatable to envision someone who doesn’t absolutely love dogs, or more specifically your dogs, respect this possibility and keep your dog on a leash.

Reason number two: Your dog’s friendly greeting can be a trigger for many dogs.

In my previous life as a snarky pet owner, I thought “How sad.” when I encountered a dog with behavioral issues of any kind. In my own mind, I had a solution for all of them that was ridiculously over simplified and lacked perspective. Then I adopted my problem puppy and with him came a dose of reality. Queue a montage of two years of behavioral therapy, intense training, medication and monitoring. What has resulted from our perseverance is a well adjusted and happy dog that requires extreme structure and two very humbled pet owners. Like any living thing with anxieties, traumas and fears; the end game wasn’t for him to be “cured”. Instead we grew to understand his struggles, mitigate and help him cope and sometimes overcome. We’ve worked endlessly to build security and trust. This is only one example of billion variations of needs a pet may have.

So, while it’s awesome that your dog is friendly and free roaming, not every dog can safely take part in your dog’s friendliness.

Unsolicited greetings from unleashed dogs to leashed dogs can easily trigger fights when one doesn’t understand the history of the dog their greeting. The unleashed dog may not have technically started an altercation (made the first growl or lunge) the pet owner of the dog that’s off leash can still be at fault. For your dog’s well being and the well being of all dogs, it’s important to keep your dogs leashed. Some dog owners are working hard to create a safe environment for their anxious dogs to enjoy the world around them fearlessly.

Listen, if you’re on private property, or public property that indicates that your dog can be off leash, have at it. If you want to liberate your pups please do so in a safe place like a large, fenced-in back yard or (theoretically safe) dog park. Otherwise, if the signs say “dogs on leash”, please help us all stay safe and keep your beautiful, friendly dog on a leash.

The post Keep Your Dog Leashed: Thoughts From One Friendly Pet Owner To Another appeared first on Lux Summit Studio.

Please come by the Brandywine Valley SPCA and get your best friend. They’re waiting for you. If you’re wondering who these pus are, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for names and further contact info. Or you can start your furry friend search by reaching out to the BVSPCA.

The post The Brandywine Valley SPCA Pet Photo Session appeared first on Lux Summit Studio.

Guys! Come run with me!
Also, stop by my booth at the fall fair that follows the run (same location). I’ll be taking complimentary snap shots of you and your pups! Plus, I’ll be running an exclusive offer at this event only: $50 for a $250 luxury gift certificate! Pay $50 and you’ll reserve your claim on a portrait session of your choosing. Following your session, you’ll have $250 to spend toward your beautiful wall art that you design at your very own design consult. Ooh la la!

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