The Power of a Portrait

Sandra Ferguson Photography
Oct 2
2 min read

Just had a puppy bath. Approximately 10 weeks old Goldendoodle — 10 weeks old - Goldendoodle - Ziggy

Why do you take so many photos of your dog? We take pictures of what matters most, what makes us laugh, what makes us whole, what we never want to forget.

Thousands of snapshots, tucked into our phones like love notes. “That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.” “I can’t believe they did that.” Sound familiar?

We’re not just snapping pics, we are holding memories.

Goldendoodle about 3 months old. Old Golden Retriever 10 years old — Approximately 3 months old, with his older brother.

They’re only with us for a chapter. But oh, what a story they write.

The puppy mayhem. Wild zoomies. Morning snuggles. The chaos that makes you laugh. We teach them obedience, they teach us to laugh & have fun.

Puppy with Mom. Chocolate English Creme Goldendoodle. Always take photos with your pets. Hire a pet photographer to capture these images. You will treasure them. — Approximately 6 months old

We adore those grown-up years. Your loyal shadow. Faithful friend. The heartbeat beside you, sharing life. They teach us unconditional love and things they didn’t know they were teaching us. (for me photography and patience).

One day we look and we see the beginnings of white frosty face. They are wise beyond their years. They have slowed down. They don’t always catch the ball. They sleep more and more. Their hearing fades. We get those long soulful stares, that only your heart knows.

Pet photography is not about the perfect shot. It’s how we honor the ones who changed everything, without saying a word.

I have photographed pets at every stage, newborn, newly adopted, abandon, hurt, sick, full of wiggles, aging gracefully and end of life. The photos are proof they lived. Proof they loved unconditionally. Proof… they were loved immensely.

12-year-old Goldendoodle Ziggy Ferguson poses in a red bow tie, showcasing his frosty face and soulful expression during a studio portrait session at Sandra Ferguson Pet Photography in Memphis, TN. — Ziggy Ferguson - 12 years old

I know with my whole heart what happens when pet portraits become more than art.

One day, you’ll walk out of the vet with a collar in your hand. No leash tugging. No tail wagging.

Ziggy’s framed collar—a quiet goodbye after his final vet visit. This is a cell phone pic. However, Pet photographers in Memphis, TN like Sandra Ferguson capture these tender, unforgettable moments.

Just silence.

In that moment, everything aches and your heart is shattered. The routines, the empty bed, the toys & bowls are put away and your home is empty.

But that photo?

Ziggy Ferguson, 12-year-old Goldendoodle and heart dog, honored as Employee of the Month and top executive model at Sandra Ferguson Pet Photography in Memphis, TN—Ziggy Ferguson - his legacy. Moms forever heart dog.

It’s not just a picture. It’s love you can still feel. The messy, beautiful memory. The story that mattered. The heartbeat that hasn’t stopped. That’s the power of a portrait.

It will hold everything. The dog that holds your heart.