I’m a Spokanite through and through. Thick and thin. Born and raised. In deep snow or the hot rays of a smokey August sun. It is home and I love it.
I’ve lived in several houses throughout Spokane County in my nearly 38 years. And, I’m about the leave another one for a new home over the hill and to the west near the Bowl & Pitcher. It is a bitter sweet time because it was in our current home that I began my journey as one of Spokane’s first pet photographers just over 5 years ago. I’ve far outgrown the little office I share with my husband. The new house will have a place of my own!!! I will miss the prairie but I’m looking forward to the change.
Much of the landscape around the Five Mile prairie (where I’ve lived for almost nine years) became incorporated into my budding portfolio in the earlier years and continued to this day. My dearest image of my time in dog photography recently came with the morning beauty of a rare hoarfrost. It comes on thick and magical up here on the prairie. There is nothing like it. A true winter wonderland. I had taken my heart dog, Bron, out in it to see if we could catch a bit of that magic. It surpassed my expectations and the image went on to appear in Kris Krocker’s KXLY News weather report that week. I ordered it in a large metal print which will hang prominently in my new office. I will definitely miss the beauty of this frost. It doesn’t occur in the lower elevations very often.
We also have the most wonderful park up here with hills for the kids to sled down, paths to walk through the field, and little nooks to photograph sweet dogs. One of my dog training clients had a photo session with me here. We caught the type of image that I love best: connection. I will miss this park being so close to home.
And, then there has been the handy conservation area at the bottom of Five Mile, Holmberg Park. The most recent session there was right before we were hit with 14 inches of snow. It would have fit the mood for sure with two Malamutes but I was glad to not have to crawl in deep snow. Although, I have finally gotten around to buying snow pants. It’s about time. Holmberg will still remain on my location list but it won’t be quite as convenient.
Home is certainly where the heart is and my heart has not changed with my incredibly fulfilling profession. While I will miss “home”, our new place will have so many amazing benefits that I can’t wait to pass on to my clients. That office space I mentioned will be all set up for viewing consultations and apart from my noisy pair of grade school boys. No more meeting at coffee shops and lugging around my plethora of samples. I can show my clients how amazing images can look on walls! And, there is a wooded trail system next to the Spokane River that is literally only a block away. So, while it is going to be a crazy month ahead of us with moving, it will be a great adventure! I’m sure I will be quickly calling it, “no place like home”. If you would like to see other images from around my hometown, check out my portfolio page for more.
Today’s blog post is part of my Project 52 group, a very talented collection of photographers from all over the world. Please head over to see more “no place like home” posts by checking out Terri Jankelow professional pet photographer specializing in lifestyle pet photography in the Greater Toronto Area and South Florida.
Congrats on the new digs and your own office! I don’t know about you but, even as a born and raised Canadian, I’m about done with this snow.
I love that image of the hoarfrost. It’s the real deal.
Thank you, Angela! It seems like it is taking forever for the closing date to happen. I think the snow is so tiresome this year because it all dumped on us in 3 weeks. Seems better when it is spread out over the Winter, lol.
The photo of Bron and the hoarfrost is lovely. What a beautiful area you live in. Wishing you all the best with the new digs.
Thank you, Colleen!
Wow congratulations on the move Rachel! I absolutely adore that first hoarfrost image… amazing… and being an Aussie I’m so jealous of your snow! The other three are also stunning, and I enjoyed the insight into your local areas. I’m sure your new home will be settled into very quickly and I look forward to seeing photos from there in the future.
Thank you so much, Jo! I am also looking forward to seeing what I can create in the new place.
Color me green with envy over your nearby location choices! Beautiful images and good luck with your future reveal sessions, you’re going to love being able to do them in your new office where you can display all your samples.
Thank you, Tracy! It will be so much easier to show everything in one space rather than lugging all of my heavy products around with me. I can’t wait!
Congratulations on your move! It’s exciting! Love the first image – that’s one of my favorites of yours. They are all beautiful!
Thank you, Darlene!
Congrats on moving – I’m sure having the new office space will be a wonderful thing! I love your images, the first one is beautiful! The others are beautiful in their own way – best of luck moving!
Congratulations on your new space. I love love love that first image! Beautiful!