I am first and foremost an animal lover. My first dog was a German Shepherd named Heidi. She was my best friend and playmate. Unfortunately, the only photograph I have is a grainy out of focus polaroid of she and I in my plastic play pool. It is an inauspicious picture of seventies vintage with little detail except her big body over my tiny one lapping up the water! I see that old picture and wish I had one of her when she was looking at the camera and showing her beautiful brown eyes and prominent wet black nose. 

I started out drawing and painting in high school and I soon learned while I had an eye for the beautiful or compelling but I did not have the talent to get it on the paper. Fortunately, my high school had fantastic arts programming. I discovered I could use my vision in photography. Back then, everything we learned was on film and we did our own developing and printing. I learned very quickly to get the photograph correct "in the box" (camera) or there would be no way to recreate it. The digital photography advancements have made it possible to take more pictures, but I still hold to the premise to get it correct in the camera. 

For many years I have done landscape and nature fine art photography. I earned my degree from Appalachian State University and University of North Georgia. Both campuses taught me a deep appreciation for the scenic beauty of the mountains. While I do enjoy a quiet hike, I really missed working with people. I prayed for new inspiration and low and behold my inspiration came in the form of a 8 week old black lab pup named Millie. She was a "problem" puppy. She chewed everything in sight and loved everyone she saw way too much. She destroyed furniture, shoes and camera equipment . She rendered me house bound and on guard most of her puppyhood. One day,  I was nearly at my wits end and my 3rd emergency vet visit for eating an inedible item, when I realized other people had crazy funny pets they love as much as I love Millie. Why not photograph them and remember the pure joy pets bring us? Combine two loves into one endeavor.