When Mokoya, a long haired german shepherd, jumped out of the car to survey the new landscape of rolling dunes and lapping waves along the lakes edge, my eyes lit up. Mokoya was strikingly beautiful, and I was exhilarated for the opportunity to photograph her!
Her coat was lushly soft, perfectly groomed so it would swish this way and that as she trotted through the dune grass. Her long tail draped behind her, its fluffiness resembling a fox’s tail. And her quietly protective instincts for her family showed through her facial expressions, eye movement, and energy level as the kids appeared and disappeared in the swaying dune grass.
We began photographing Mokoya in the dunes, hiking the trails, stopping to photograph portraits that captured her personality and featured her unique beauty. We made sure balance the session between poses and play, keeping young Mokoya content to listen to cues and enriched with the freedom to explore on her own.
We ended our session along the shores of Lake Michigan. After photographing her fluffy and well groomed coat, we were delighted to let her investigate and play in the shallow waters, photographing action shots of her curiosity and iconic shepherd trot reflected back up from the wet sand.
Mokoya was sandy and soggy when I asked if I could entice Megan, Mokoya’s owner, to sit into a couple of photographs with her. She obliged, and with little direction needed, I photographed their unbreakable bond and the loyalty each had for the other.
It was another successful dog photoshoot at the Muskegon State Park! I couldn’t have asked for a better and more enjoyable family and dog to work with, and I am excited for future photoshoots with Mokoya! I’m already dreaming up locations I want to photograph her in… but for now, enjoy a handful of my favorite images from her session!
