Meet Lemmy.
Just look at this magnificent yellow beast. Woof.
I met up with Lemmy and his parents at Occoquan Regional Park on a cold day in December. As with most cold days in December, this one featured a gray sky, but, no worries, Lemmy was our focus here. I had scouted out the park prior to our session and identified a few good areas for photos. This was my first photography session here, and I’ll definitely be returning and suggesting it along with my top photo spots in Northern Virginia. It’s a perfect location for dog portraits or family photography.
Occoquan Regional Park is right across the river from the town of Occoquan. It features The River View–an event space that’s perfect for weddings–batting cages, boat and kayak rentals in the summer, a tasty restaurant called Brickmakers Cafe, hiking trails, and a memorial to the suffragettes who were imprisoned at the nearby Lorton Work House Prison. Historical note: many of the female prisoners were forced to work making bricks in massive kilns, one of which is still standing on the site. It’s a stark reminder that many of the rights that we take for granted were only gained after a lengthy struggle. I’m sure we’ll stand up and fight if those now-foundational rights are threatened. But I digress.
The park has some great water views, which are perfect for solo dog portraits or shots with the whole family. I got loads of great photos with Lemmy’s parents, but they’re shy and didn’t want to appear here, which I’m totally cool with. If you want to stay off my website, then you shall stay off my website. I always respect the privacy of my clients!
Check out Lemmy running through the fields. He might be 10, but he still has some impressive speed in those legs. I love taking action shots like these. They make me feel like a photographer for National Geographic (cue Nat Geo theme song).
Lemmy was on his best behavior throughout our shoot and only went on one short side quest looking for squirrels. The photo of his mom carrying him back towards us is adorable, I promise. Capturing little moments like that are often why sessions like this one are so fun for everyone involved.
There are plenty of spots here for scenic couples portraits or a family photo session. The big fields would be perfect for kids to run around and play. Lemmy sure liked them!
Smile for the camera!
If you’re ready for the best photos of your dog that you’ve ever seen, be sure to visit the contact page and fill out the form to book a pet portrait session.