for those who didn’t catch Bridie’s sneak-peek earlier, this is Bridie …
cairn-terrier extraordinaire …
… sweet old lady … but don’t call her “old” to her face or you might just get the cold shoulder!
feisty and spirited like any terrier worth their salt …
… but mostly what you should know about Bridie is that she is loved beyond any measure known to man.
when i received mom Harriet’s phone call, as with most of my initial contacts from clients, our conversation centered around the logistics of scheduling and the shoot, the possible locations, the dog, etc. but Bridie’s situation was different … as a senior dog struggling with Cushings, there was plenty to discuss — health, diet, vetting — but most importantly, how to fit Bridie’s shoot into an already crammed summer schedule. always with cases like this — seniors, failing health, etc. — i make room. but when Bridie ended up in the hospital the day before our shoot, in renal failure, i wasn’t certain i’d ever have the pleasure of meeting this sweet girl.
fortunately, that terrier spirit is strong — as i know well myself — and i should never have doubted the eventuality of Bridie’s shoot, even if we did have to postpone it for a few days to allow her to recover enough.
we started in the park … a good long walk …
with enough rests in between …
and then home, where i probably had the most fun with Bridie and the variety of textures and colours around the house.
we needed to take a short break for Bridie’s dinner and meds …
where she waited patiently … sort of …
then back outside …
i loved the back deck and hillside, all dark and dramatic … and Bridie was on the lookout for racoons. probably the same ones that crossed my path as i drove off much later at dusk.
in spite of being in renal failure, Bridie could still be roused for a good game of ball.
and then more resting. after all, a girl this gorgeous does need her beauty rest.
but it didn’t take much to get her up and going again.
… especially the promise of the neighborhood cat! a terrier’s work is never truly done.
and finally up to mom’s office, where Bridie spends most of her days, and where i, at long last, released her of her modeling duties once and for all.
thank you, Harriet and Tom, for a memorable afternoon and evening. and thank you, sweet Bridie, for being you, for hanging in there, and for loving your humans so utterly and absolutely.
11 Comments
Great shots, Illona! What a great spirit in that dog!
Lovely shots of a cutie! My faves are the look-up from among the red-shoe-clad feet of her humans & the shot of her head from behind–love those dark ear-tips
Do you think they bought that carpet (in the last shots) for the way it complements her coat??! (if so, good plan in my book!)
Lovely shots – I love how you capture the human-animal bond so beautifully. They all tell such a sweet story!
sigh. being the owner of a cairn terrier (MOKI) myself, this post made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. absolutely wonderful images, illona.
a cairn terrier and a ball are matches made in heaven. not matter how tired they may be, there is always still time for the ball.
thanks for starting my day off with a smile.
I absolutely adore your shots!! I would love to bring my dog to do a photoshoot if i live close by, but i’m on east coast US…bummer!
Oh, how I love Cairns and Bridie is a doll. Gorgeous shoot, Illona!
omg the first picture of Birdie with the ball is just fantastic! I just love the senior shoots
My family’s first dog was a Cairn Terrier, Skylar. He was 14 yrs when he passed and it happened very quickly. (24 hours) I wish I had great pictures like these to remember him by. My thoughts are with Harriet and Tom.
This gave me goose bumps. Such loving care taken to capture the essence of this wonderful little dog. Well done illona and please give my best to the Bridie’s people. They are lucky to be owned by such a plucky little dog!
These are so beautiful and moving! They made me tear up and wish I’d known and been able to hire you to take photos of Meg when we still had her and she was able to walk around. What a treasure for this family.
Beautiful photos and story. My beaglet has Cushings; I’m taking all the time in the world to take as many photos as I can of her silly face.