In January of 2019 Philadelphia photography studio Kristen Kidd Photography launched a project that received an overwhelming response. The Woman’s Best Friend (WBF) Coffee Table Book project was started to support Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue. The profits from the sales of every single book go directly back to the rescue. The project sought to tell of the dynamic bond between women and their canine companions while poking fun at the masculine trope; “Man’s Best Friend”.

I wanted to create a tome that directly opposed this feeling of isolation and created a community of inclusion and understanding.

Woman’s Best Friend was born following two years of photographing women and their dogs. During that time I heard innumerable harrowing accounts of four-legged family & friends showing up for their humans in ways that other humans could not. In our darkest times they’re there for us, unconditionally and without judgement time and again. On our best days, they’re there to elevate and celebrate with us. I wanted to create a testament to these stories.

Also, just enjoy some adorable photos of magical dogs and powerful women living their best lives.

Forty women and their dogs are featured in this beautiful, fine art 12×12 hard cover. Each story celebrates the life changing joy of welcoming a dog into one’s family. This collection of stories also stands up against a myriad stigmas associated with depression, anxiety, infertility, grief, breed discrimination among other important issues. This book is full of hope, resiliency and life.

No matter your life experience you’re not alone.

Here on the blog, in the coming weeks leading up to the official book release we’ll feature some of the photos from the sessions featured in the book. We’ll also feature one of kind blogs with some of the participants that could not be featured in this edition of the book.

Pre-sale releases today. Your purchase will help save the lives of countless homeless dogs. Stand along side these women and pups and stand up against stigma. Stand up for compassion and empathy. Also, just enjoy some adorable photos of magical dogs and powerful women living their best lives. Order before July 31st and receive your copy at the book release party on September 7th (otherwise you’ll have to wait until after the party and who wants to wait?!). Reserve your copy now and save $25.00.

Your purchase will help save the lives of countless homeless dogs.

The post Kristen Kidd Photography’s Dog-themed Coffee Table Book Benefits Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue In Perkasie appeared first on Lux Summit Studio.

Don’t miss a great time at these back to back rescue events! I’ll be there with multiple opportunities to win a $500 gift certificate towards a photo experience and one big $1000 gift certificate towards a photo experience.

Also, at this event and at this event only, save $450 on on a photo session when you purchase a $500 gift certificate for $50 (think Groupon). You’ve been wanting fall photos or thinking early for Holiday photos or the perfect Holiday gift. There’s no better time than here and now. See you there!

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The post This end of life pet photo session will break & warm your heart appeared first on Lux Summit Studio.

These are a few of my favorite moments from recent sessions. Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing more stories of each of these sessions. I felt I didn’t want to move on until I fully honored, with undoubtedly insufficient words and prose, the love that’s captured in these photos. I hope you enjoy these moving, fun and often hilarious pieces.

Over the past few months I’ve learned to keep a box of tissues close while I talked with dog parents about their fur babies. Listen, I know some of you are cringing at terms like “dog parent” and “fur baby”, but the sentimentality for the care takers of these mutts runs so much deeper than any silly terms we may try to ascribe to it. We grapple to adequately express what these beasts mean to us, but we fall short. The truth is there are no words that do it justice, but that’s part of the point. They don’t need words to show us every ounce of their tremendous love. Why would we be so naive to think we’d find enough words to express how that unconditional love makes us feel?

That’s why I threw myself into this adventure of capturing the relationship between these humans and their canines. It’s the most exquisite and important part of pet photography. Yet, I find the market remains saturated with pet portraits of pups all stoically poised and perfectly composed on a white or black backdrop. I often think, “That’s a beautiful picture, but it tells me nothing about the dog’s unique personality. Nor does it capture the love of their family.”

Family lifestyle photography has grown in well deserved popularity. We should be asking what makes a family tick and setting ourselves to capturing their intrinsic essence. It’s no different with our pets. The beauty of the pet is in context with the adoration the dog and his human hold for one another. That adoration is displayed uniquely and should be honored in a unique photo experience.

So, I have my tissues handy as I chat with pet parents about the dog that got them through the divorce or greeted them with he same unconditional love no matter how shitty they felt or their day was. Or the mutts that came along in their darkest hour or simply bookended an era of their lives (as David Sedaris so eloquently said) with warmth and goodness.

It’s true. They won’t be with us forever and there will be others that will take their physical place, but there was only one of that dog. You know, your dog, during that time. The one that knew you like you were then and loved you no matter who that person was. The one who kept all your secrets and whose fur soaked up your tears. The one who you never felt stupid wrestling or singing or dancing with. The one that you loved in that very specific way. The one that gave you that gift that you needed everyday to get you through. That dog only lives once and there is no replacing that emotional space. All the more reason to capture that finite moment and anchor it in your heart and home.

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I want to tell you story about a boy and his dog, but I can’t tell the story of a boy and his dog without first telling you about a girl and her dog, Harley.

As a child Beth loved animals, as many children do, but in the journey to adulthood, she decided to set about becoming a veterinarian. As with all pursuits worthy of anyone’s time; there was difficulty, worry and doubt. She wondered if she could succeed.

Then she met an obstinate mutt without a home. She snuck him into her dorm, named him Harley and promptly fell in love with him. He became the first dog she every owned, the first dog that ever owned her, the first animal to ask all of the world she could possibly give. She fell in love with saving the helpless, homeless and unloved in the animal community. She fell in love with becoming a doctor that mends and protects the ones that unconditionally love us. She embraced it all – the pain of limitations to how many can be helped and saved, the victory of the ones that can be saved, healed, nurtured, given a home and the journey to becoming the best she could be at helping as many in need as possible.

Harley was the catalyst – the alpha. He affirmed the desires Beth held deep inside and propelled her to persevere. He inspired the rescue she founded that bears his name, Harley’s Haven. Over 500 rescues later, 100 of which Beth, her husband Tom and, eventually, son Connor fostered. After thirteen years, he’s still the same inspiring curmudgeon and, undoubtedly, still the alpha, keeping everyone in line. As Beth shared with me, “ Harley is my man. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a pain in the ass. I’m his person. He’s my dog. He gives me confidence.“

Harley has marked the era of time (as all of our beloved pets do) – the time when Beth and Tom met, fell in love, united in marriage and when their son Connor entered the world. He marks the years Connor has grown amongst the 100 foster puppies and their other dogs; Sawyer and Fiona. Here in lies the great importance of bestowing the honor of immortalizing the Harley’s of the world in photographic beauty and celebrating them with space amongst the other precious memories of our lifetime that we so readily display.

It is no wonder that Connor has made his proclamation that he too wants to become a veterinarian. Recently he asked for his own puppy. With resounding support Beth and Tom agreed and vigilantly kept a close eye out for a foster pup that would match well with Connor. Croy entered as one of the 100 fosters and never left. Beth describes the bond that developed between the two as unparalleled amongst the many dogs that have graced their home. Connor learns the ropes young. He walks Croy, feeds him, dotes over him, and molds him into his best friend, in the way that only a dog can be.

The next chapter has begun. A boy and his dog, begun by a girl and her dog. Before there was Connor and Croy, there was Beth and Harley. *

*I’d like to take a second to acknowledge Tom’s often (literally) unseen hand in all of this. He manages to evade my lens often (Though I might be wearing him down. We’ll see next time.). It is my experience that behind those taking on great endeavors such as founding a dog rescue and establishing a veterinary practice, is someone who, like a pillar of strength, has, undoubtedly, got your back. Tom strikes me as that guy. So, while this was a story about a girl and her dog and a boy and his dog; these things find their place because of the beautiful family unit that is Tom, Beth and Connor.

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A few weeks ago I photographed for an event that benefited Home At Last Rescue (HAL); the rescue where we adopted our beloved Hudson. This event provided an extremely affordable means for families to receive photo sessions with their dogs in the beautiful setting of Graeme Park in Horsham, Pa. All of the proceeds went to the rescue. Myself and a second professional photographer donated our time and five images to HAL and the families that participated.

It brought me immense joy to hear the stories of the pups swooped out of disaster and into endless snuggles, treats and walks. My heart was brimming over to capture these families.

I cannot wait until this event comes around again and when it does be sure to mark your calendar. I assure you, you won’t find a better quality product for a better deal. Plus, you can rest in the confidence of knowing that you not only invested in the preservation of a memory of your pooch and family, but also that every penny went to support a helpless creature hanging on the thread of existence.

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Absolutely elated to be a part of this worthy cause!
For an amazing price, you can have your photos taken with your dog in beautiful Graeme park and all of the proceeds go to Home at Last Dog Rescue.
Please consider scheduling your session.

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