Nicole, Jared & Nash | Pet Session

Past Sessions
Written By Jamie Pankow

Have you ever wondered what it would take to make me say my job is easy? It would take a couple like Nicole & Jared with a dog like Nash.

When Lida, Founder and Operator of Roancher Ranch Draft Horse Rescue, reached out to me in need of a very special gift for her soon to be daughter-in-law, I knew it was going to be something special. Lida wanted to gift her loved ones a portrait experience that would celebrate the animals in their life and that is exactly what we did.

Meet Nicole & Jared. A newlywed couple with a genuine passion for animals, especially the special furry members in their home. Nicole reached out to me shortly after sharing that she wanted to focus the majority of her portraits on their dog Nash, but she would love to have one or two photos of her 15 year old cat, Phoenix. Without skipping a beat, I told her I was 100% on board with this idea and we began planning their perfect portrait experience.

Knowing that we would be graced with the beautiful Fall scenery of Western New York, I wanted to make sure Nicole and Jared stood out in all of the right ways which is why I encouraged a neutral color scheme with a rich pop of maroon. I always try to avoid loud patterns when it comes to designing the wardrobe for a session so we agreed that Jared should wear a nice pair of jeans, solid button down and boots of course! Nicole’s outfit inspiration was to give their portraits a pop of color with her neutral shirt and a maroon cardigan with jeans to tie the entire look together.

Once we established what to wear for their portraits we moved on to the stars of the show, Nash and Phoenix. Nash (Nashville) was adopted from Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue, based in Amherst NY in February 2022 after being rescued from a high kill shelter in Georgia. Phoenix was adopted from Wyoming County SPCA (Attica NY) in 2008 and has been well loved by Nicole ever since.

Nicole shared that Phoenix was a senior cat and his lack of enjoyment traveling in a crate but also wanted to have a little more space for Nash to stretch his legs and capture a variety of portraits. Without question, we agreed that it would be best to keep Phoenix in a familiar and happy environment at home for his portraits and then we would travel out to Roancher Ranch for their portraits with Nash.

When I arrived at Nicole and Jared’s home, I was immediately greeted by a black and white bundle of joy ready to show me each and every toy in the house, that would be Nash. After my welcome committee settled down, Phoenix, an orange and white domesticated cat, came out to investigate.

One of my favorite things about Phoenix was the stunning color of his eyes and his calm personality. We kept things simple by laying out a black blanket in their yard and let him do his thing, being an indoor/outdoor cat, Phoenix was incredibly disciplined in staying relatively in one place. Nicole had mentioned how photogenic her cat was and shared endless photos with me prior to our session.

I am convinced Phoenix determined that he would not, under any circumstances whatsoever, look directly at my camera no matter how many weird sounds and moves I made, just to see if I would break. Jared jumped around, Nicole dangled toys and I pulled every trick I had out of the bag but it became clear that this was his world and we were just living in it.

And that is okay because we all had a good laugh at the many faces and poses of Phoenix, but for Nicole, we captured something that will truly last a lifetime for her. You see, Phoenix is not just a cat, he is a best friend and confidant throughout a large portion of Nicole’s life and she wanted something truly special.

“Phoenix is my special boy. I’ve said since day one, they’ll never be another like him. He is my shadow and has always been the worlds biggest mama’s boy. He was much more playful and active in his younger years. In his current retirement age, he prefers naps and food. He wasn’t too keen on his brother at first but is now frequently caught curled up right next to him on the couch.” -Nicole

As we wrapped up our time with Phoenix at the house, we ventured to Roancher Ranch, a draft horse rescue in Varysburg, New York to shoot the remainder of their session. As we drove up the driveway and crested the hill we were met with a stunning splash of Autumn colors all across the tree line and a nearing golden hour.

To say this backdrop was a dream location is an understatement.

We began with Nicole and Jared with Nash front and center sitting or standing completely still like a statue whenever I needed him to. I was speechless with how incredibly disciplined he was. We began wandering in and out of the meadows and trails around the property with a silent team of horses curiously watching. Nicole and Nash shared genuine laughs and were such a natural couple to work with because not only could you see the love they share for one another, but you could also see the beautiful world they have built for Nash.

One of my personal favorites from this session is when Nash simply looks up at his family. His face says it all. For Nash, this is his entire world. It is his home, his happy place, a sanctuary where he knows what it’s like to be loved.

“Nashville is a perfect mix of playful and cuddly. He loves playing with his toys, especially fetch or anything with a squeaker. He loves all people - from kids to adults as well as other dogs. His sense of social skills is absolutely amazing. He will rough house with mom but be gentle and careful around kids or his senior brother.” -Nicole

couple-with-black-and-white-dog

As we wrapped up our time in the Autumn meadows of Wyoming County, we shared funny stories about our pets and the importance of what we had created that evening. Needless to say, it was my absolute pleasure to get to know a couple as genuine as Nicole and Jared with a dog like Nash.

“Jamie was incredibly thorough, knowledgeable and most of all patient. I was determined to get at least one good photo of my Phoenix. He was anything but cooperative. Jamie was so patient and helpful. The result was a photo I will cherish long after I have to say goodbye.” -Nicole

What breed is your dog?

We did an Embark DNA test on him after adoption and found out that he is 10% Lab, 45% Pitbull and 45% American Bully.

What are your pet’s favorite treat?

  • Nashville loves milk bones, peanut butter and his favorite - Pup Cups from Yummies Ice Cream Shop in Warsaw.

  • Phoenix is spoiled rotten and will eat anything you offer him. His favorites are popcorn, cheese and hot dogs!

Do you have a go-to place when you want to take your dog out?

Jamie Pankow
Previous

Deanna & Lucas | The Nunda Ranch Proposal
Next

Griswold Goldens | Branding