It is always heartwarming when people include their dogs in their engagement photos. However, this is the first time I’ve seen engagement photos that included a dog that didn’t belong to the couple. Thanks to Raleigh wedding photographers Michelle and Sara for sharing this dog-friendly engagement session.
From Michelle and Sara: “Sarah and Dan’s gorgeous American Tobacco Campus engagement session has been one of the sessions that we just couldn’t wait for! Sara and I have known Sarah and Dan for a few years now after photographing Sarah’s sister (Hannah) wedding! When Hannah married her sweetheart Ryan, Sarah and Dan were simply dating at the time; however, we knew! Sara and I just knew that these two were a perfect match for each other. Q, the dog, is Sarah’s sister Hannah’s dog, but oh how Sara loves Q and wanted Q to be in her engagement photographs.”
From Sarah: “My sister, Hannah, was fostering Q (real name Quibit), her sister, and her mother for the Carolina Border Collie Rescue http://cbcr.org/ when she and her now husband, Ryan, first started dating. Unfortunately, Hannah had to cancel a date with Ryan because Q and her sister got very sick with Parvo. Instead of rescheduling the date, Ryan came over and helped Hannah take care of Q. Sadly, Q’s sister died of Parvo, but Ryan and Hannah were able to help nurse Q back to good health. After going through so much with her, Ryan came to love Q dearly and adopted her from Hannah/the rescue. Shortly thereafter, Hannah adopted Ryan for life as her husband. I think it is fitting that Q brought my sister and her husband together and that Dan and I found so much common love with Q.
Q is simply the best dog there ever was. She has helped get me through injury and illness (like providing cuddles on the couch when I broke my collarbone), brings joy to my life with her pensive looks and her lopsided ear, and just seems to get me. I love her as if she were my own even though I am just her aunt.
And I hate to play favorites, but she is by far my favorite puppy niece (I have four from Hannah). Dan took to her so quickly when we first started dating. Q is usually timid around new men (especially tall ones), but she warmed up to Dan almost immediately, and the two get so excited to see each other that it melts my heart. Well…sometimes it just makes me jealous because she occasionally runs to him first, but I will get over that.
It’s hard to answer why we wanted to have Q in our engagement photos. I felt like people might think it was odd, having her be part of them when she’s Hannah’s fur baby. I made sure to ask her if it was okay before we did, and she graciously said yes. Q brings so much joy to my life, and she is truly one of my most special friends, so I felt like she should be part of the wedding or engagement in some way (Dan felt the same). The smiles you see in the photos are genuine, and we had a blast taking the pictures with Q.
I have tried to convince my sister to let me keep Q forever, but she has politely declined; however, Dan and I will cherish these photos for the rest our lives.”
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About Michelle and Sara Photography: Based in Mebane, North Carolina, Michelle and Sara specialize in wedding photography.
The three way kiss melted my heart.
Mine too!
That photo shoot was so nice a caring couple and a cute dog together make a great scene. I love taking pictures of the dogs they are so innocent and loving.
I always love when pets are in engagement photos! They are part of the family, after all. I’d so have our cats in photos if they wouldn’t claw us angrily.
I am loving that you shared this with all of us and that our animals are part of our family. I think it is the best thing to see how close you all are.
I can’t believe that those aren’t their dogs! They seem so natural together. Gorgeous shots.
This was such a pretty backdrop for the engagement photos. They turned out so well and Q seemed happy to be a part of them.
This is super cute! I never did engagement photos myself. Love that they included their pup.
Ohh this is so lovely – I think it is completely possible to bond with a dog which isn’t your own and it is wonderful for the couple to have been able to include a much-loved pup in this way.
What gorgeous engagement photos. I did have to smile though knowing that this precious dog was not even theirs! I wish this couple all the best as they head to the alter and begin a brand new life adventure together!
Ha! Your photos remind me of the photos my brother and his now wife took for their engagement pics! They included their “son” 😉 I mean, you gotta include the whole family, RIGHT?!
I love this photo shoot. I love that she called them the dog nieces! Fun! I love her dress, too.
I am looking at a perfect family picture. The two of you are amazing together. The dogs are super adorable too!
These photos are so stunning! I can’t help myself smiling while looking at these shots! Well done!
These photos are all so beautiful. The dog is very gorgeous as well. I really love seeing photos with dogs in them. They’re all so beautiful to see.
What a sweet story of how they met, and I love that they included Q. into their photos. Job well done capturing all of the subject’s loving nature!
It’s great to see families that includes fur babies in family pictures. They have adorable dogs.
I love seeing engagement photos, especially when couples involve their pets. These photos are so adorable!
This is such a great idea to have your fur baby in your engagement pictures. Love how cute they turned out!