Three Fluffy Spirits: A Great Pyrenees Photoshoot for Tails of the World
Recently, I had the honor of photographing three majestic, free-spirited Great Pyrenees (Alsandir, Amena, and Annora) as part of our 2025 Tails of the World book project, benefiting Freedom Tails Ohio. The session took place at the beautiful Slate Run park—a picturesque backdrop filled with tall grasses, shady trees, and winding trails.
The weather, however, was less than ideal. It was one of those muggy summer days where the air hangs thick around you—sticky, heavy, and clinging to your skin like a damp blanket. Even the breeze felt tired. Thankfully, we always schedule our sessions for the evening, when the sun is lower and temperatures begin to drop a bit, but even then the humidity can be intense. This is one of the reasons we only book outdoor photoshoots in the evenings during the warmer months—to keep everyone as comfortable and safe as possible, especially our furry models. Despite the heat, these gentle giants powered through like the stoic, soulful creatures they are.
At 8, 8.5, and 9 years old, these pups have lived full lives, full of independence, stubbornness, and that endearing Pyrenees charm. Getting their attention was no small task. Herding cats? Try photographing three fluffy, strong-willed dogs who have no interest in your silly camera noises. Still, with a little patience (and a lot of treats and squeaky sounds), we captured some beautiful moments. While we couldn’t quite get a photo of all three of them looking at the camera at the same time, I was able to work a little Photoshop magic to create a final portrait that brings them all together, eyes forward, personalities shining.
The eldest of the trio, a sweet soul named Alsandir, is currently battling bladder cancer. His family isn’t sure how much time they have left with him, which made this session especially meaningful. I can’t express enough how important it is to make time for photos with your pets now. Not when the weather’s cooler. Not when things “settle down.” Now. Because dogs—no matter how large or stoic—never stay long enough. These images will live on, capturing the softness of a tail swish, the glint in an eye, and the bond that no illness can take away.
This shoot was part of something bigger: the Tails of the World book project, a global collaboration of professional pet photographers raising funds for local rescues. Proceeds from this session will help support Freedom Tails Ohio and the work they do to rescue and rehabilitate breeding dogs, giving these dogs a second chance at life.
Three aloof, slightly grumpy, wonderfully fluffy dogs gave us the gift of presence during our hot summer session—and now their family has that gift forever, captured in photographs that will never fade.
Because in the end, the only thing more powerful than time is the memory we preserve from it.
