Snowball’s Time to Shine: A Glamour Session for a Dog Ready to Be Loved

Over the past few months, I’ve had the joy of photographing adoptable dogs and cats at the Charlevoix Humane Society. Each session has been a heartwarming experience, but one pup in particular caught my attention. Not through my lens, but through her absence. Snowball had been listed on the Humane Society’s website for quite some time, yet I hadn’t met her in person. I learned she’s been in a foster home for the past year, still waiting for her forever family.

That needed to change.

Through the Humane Society, I connected with Snowball’s foster mom and arranged a special photo session right at their home in Boyne City. This wasn’t just any shoot. It was a glamour session, tailored just for Snowball.

Snowball is deaf, which made me curious about how the session would go. Normally, I rely on sounds to get a dog’s attention once they’re in position. But this time, I had to get creative. As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. What Snowball lacks in hearing, she more than makes up for in focus and charm. With a treat in hand, I could guide her gaze anywhere I needed. And when I swapped the treat for a peanut butter-smeared ice cream cone prop, the results were pure magic. It’s a trick I use when real ice cream isn’t an option, and it works especially well for dogs with sensitive tummies.

Snowball was such a natural in front of the camera that we wrapped up her portraits in record time. After driving two hours to meet her, I wasn’t ready to leave just yet. Even though I knew I had captured portrait gold, I wanted to spend more time with her. Thankfully, her foster mom was happy to keep the fun going. We took a stroll and spent some time in the flower garden, where Snowball truly embraced her inner model. She sniffed blossoms, struck sweet poses, and gave me some of the most heart-melting smiles I’ve ever photographed.

Saying goodbye was tough. Snowball is the kind of dog who leaves a lasting impression. She’s gentle, attentive, and full of love. I truly hope the next time I see her, it’s with her new family, celebrating her adoption with another photo shoot to mark the beginning of her next chapter.

If you or someone you know is looking for a loyal companion, Snowball is ready. Let’s help her find the home she’s been waiting for.

Interested in adopting Snowball? Contact the Charlevoix Humane Society to learn more and schedule a meet-and-greet.

Hello, Northern Michigan. I’m Lila.

When I decided to take my photography hobby a bit more seriously, I enrolled in a Photo 101 class at my local community college. I wanted to understand the basics like composition, lighting, and how to actually use my camera beyond auto mode. Around the same time, I started following photographers on Instagram, hoping to discover my own signature style. Was I a landscape photographer? Not really. Portraits? Nope. Urbanscapes? Still no.

Then I stumbled across an article about a woman in Detroit who specialized in end-of-life pet photography. That stopped me in my tracks. I realized that every single one of my class assignments had featured my two favorite models, Lola the Pittie and Dexter the Rottie. Without even knowing it, I had already found my niche!

I dove headfirst into the world of pet photography. My Instagram feed quickly filled with search terms like petographer and dogographer, and I was blown away by the creativity; everything from outdoor adventure shots to polished studio portraits. Over the next few years, Lola and Dexter became the stars of countless photo sessions, and friends and family graciously let me practice on their pets too.

Fast forward to early 2025. My day job industry was going through major upheaval. Layoffs and early retirements were becoming the norm. In conversations with friends about what we’d do if we suddenly found ourselves unemployed, some talked about learning new skills or crating job hunting spreadsheets. But me? I recoiled at the thought.

Instead, I found myself saying, “If I got laid off, the very next day I’d want to be at a shelter, petting dogs and taking their pictures.” That thought stuck with me. The layoffs came and went, and I was still employedbut I couldn’t shake the idea. If that’s what I’d want to do on Day One of unemployment, maybe it’s also what I should be doing on Saturdays and Sundays.

Enter the all-knowing algorithm. Soon, my feed introduced me to Adam Goldberg, a Florida-based photographer specializing in pit bull shelter photography. I landed on his website, agoldphoto.com, and there it was: a free online course on shelter photography. I signed up immediately.

A few weeks later, I had a backdrop, a lighting setup, and two very patient canine models. Not long after, I booked my first volunteer gig at the Huron Humane Society, followed by visits to Charlevoix Humane Society and Alcona Humane Society.

Now, I’m thinking about the long-term. What started as a hobby has become a passion—and maybe, just maybe, a path forward. I don’t know exactly where this journey will lead, but I’m trusting the process (and maybe the algorithm) to show me the way.

Thanks for joining me here. I can’t wait to share the stories, faces, and wagging tails I meet along the way.