To the One Who Started It All

There are some stories that shape your whole life, and mine begins with a fox red Labrador named Bailey. If you know me, you know he wasn’t just my dog; he was my shadow, my muse, my best boy. The reason I picked up a camera. The reason I fell in love with photography.

Bailey came home with us in March 2014. My husband (then fiancé) and I had only been in our house for four months, but it felt empty. Something was missing. And then came Bailey – small, clumsy, full of life. The second he stepped into our home, I knew we’d never feel that emptiness again.

Later that year, when I graduated, my husband asked what I wanted as a gift. Without hesitation, I said a camera. Not for anything grand – not for landscapes, or portraits, or anything artistic. I just wanted to take pictures of Bailey. I wanted to freeze time, to hold onto every moment of him growing up, to keep a piece of him forever.

And that’s exactly what I did.

For years, Bailey was my whole world behind the lens. I’d take him on adventures around Aberdeenshire, seeking out the perfect backdrops, the softest light, the places where he could just be – ears flopping in the wind, eyes full of mischief, tail wagging like he didn’t have a care in the world. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those moments were shaping me into the photographer I am today. He was teaching me how to capture love, connection, and the fleeting magic of a moment.

He was more than just my best boy; he was my greatest teacher.

A dream model

Bailey wasn’t just any dog when it came to photos; he was trained for them. He could sit from a distance, tilt his head with a simple trigger word, move forward, lie down, stand to attention, and stay perfectly still until he was told he was free. A dream model. There will truly never be another dog like him. Whenever I needed a bit of creative spark, he was there – lead and camera in hand, ready to shoot. He was always a very willing subject.

Then in January 2019, we welcomed our son into the world, and suddenly, I had two best buds to photograph. Bailey took his new role in stride, becoming the most patient and loving companion to our little boy. Watching their bond grow, capturing their friendship in photographs – it became a whole new passion of mine.

It was around this time that Bailey’s talents as a model led him to an exciting opportunity; he became a model for Dogrobes. That simple collaboration ultimately introduced me to a photographer named James Kelly, marking my first real insight into what photography could truly be. And then, during lockdown, when James was running a course called The Business of Photography, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. It was the beginning of turning my passion into something more.

Bailey and I attended photography courses at local academies, giving students the opportunity to photograph a live subject. Ever the professional, he stood proudly as the kids lined up with their cameras, patiently posing as they learned how to capture light, angles, and focus. And of course, he always received his beloved ball for a job well done. He was a gentle giant, always eager to please, always raring to go on his next adventure.

How Bailey Helped Me Find My Path

When I first picked up a camera, it was Bailey who sat patiently in front of it – my first ever model. Day after day, he’d let me practice, adjusting my settings, finding the right light, and learning the little nuances that made all the difference. He was my constant through the frustration and the triumphs, giving me the quiet confidence to keep going.

Without realising it, those afternoons spent photographing Bailey weren’t just moments of practice – they were the beginning of a dream. He helped me believe in myself, taught me to see beauty in the everyday, and ultimately, he opened the door to what would become my career in photography. Every session, every wedding, every family moment I’ve captured since carries a little piece of him with it.

Bailey wasn’t just the dog who loved me – he was the dog who led me here.

The day that I’ll never forget

Then, on July 18th, 2024, we received the devastating news that Bailey had cancer.

The terminal diagnosis shook me to my core. I was heartbroken. My ever-there, always-willing best friend was failing before my very eyes, and there was nothing I could do about it. But Bailey, in true Bailey fashion, took it all in his stride. He wagged his tail until the very end.

Ultimately, we had to make the hardest decision of our lives; and we decided to give him one last good day, and let my boy go out on a high.

We spent the weekend visiting all his favourite places for a walk and had a family movie night where he curled up with our son on the sofa, just like he always had. We took our final walks over the Lido and Ugie, letting him take in the sights and smells one last time. And, of course, we played with his beloved ball- for one last time.

I couldn’t stand watching my boy suffer, and I wanted him to go with dignity. I held him to the very end, whispering how much I loved him into his ear.

And then, just like that, my heartbeat was gone.

I can’t put into words what that kind of loss feels like. How you keep reaching for a presence that’s no longer there. The deafening silence. How the camera, once my greatest joy, suddenly felt too heavy to hold. But if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s this: I am endlessly grateful for every single photograph I have of him.

Photos are proof that they were here, and they were loved.

Because photos are more than just pictures – they’re proof that they were here. That they were loved. That they changed your life in ways you never could have imagined.

This is why I do what I do. Why pet photography isn’t just a job to me; it’s a way to help others hold onto the ones who mean the most. Whether it’s the clumsy paws of a puppy, the wise eyes of a senior dog, or the unwavering loyalty that only a pet can give, these moments deserve to be captured.

Bailey, my boy, you started it all. And for that, I’ll love you forever.

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📍 Based in Aberdeenshire, I specialize in pet photography, capturing the love and connection between pets and their families. If you’re looking for a pet photographer in Aberdeenshire to document your four-legged best friend, I’d be honored to tell their story.