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It was great to be back at Barkfield Road in East Northport for another holiday photo fundraiser. We didn't do one of these for two years because of the pandemic. This was an event that the former owner Carol loved to do to benefit the Dotty Fund, a charity close to her heart. The new owners Gabriella and Kevin got in touch with me to put on another photo event and I was so excited to be able to do this again. We decided to keep to the tradition of donating proceeds to the Dotty Fund, an organization that helps families who are struggling financially to cover some of their pets' medical bills. 

Apparently Long Island dog lovers were excited about it too, because the event booked up in a matter of days! We had 12 families join us with their pups and they were all so sweet and adorable. So many people said to me that day that their dog was way too excited and there was no way we were going to be able to get a good shot! This is something I hear all the time, and to that I say "watch me"! I've got so many tricks up my sleeve,  (and a huge store of patience), that I'm proud to say I haven't met an animal yet that I can't get a decent photo of. Even the most hyperactive puppy will look at me for a split second, and I've got a trigger finger honed from many many years of experience to catch that split second on camera. Every pup that day did an amazing job and I loved seeing the holidays outfits they came in with. We had two different backdrops and plenty of props that families could choose from. I brought Christmas and Hanukkah props, and one especially adorable Happy Pawlidays banner that my sister Lisa bought me that I was really excited to use for the event. Lots of people chose to incorporate that one and I loved how it photographed. 

Thank you to Gabriella and Kevin for hosting the event and handling the booking for everyone! And thank you so much to everyone who came and purchased prints and cards and ornaments of their adorable pups. I made a donation to the Dotty Fund on Giving Tuesday this year with the proceeds from the fundraiser and they were very grateful for our help. Here are some of the sweet holiday photos we got that day! Happy Holidays, everyone!
photo of a dachshund and a hound mix dog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a Shiba Inu dog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a pomeranian dog in front of a champagne colored sequin backdrop with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a bull terrier dog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a rottweiler dog in front of a champagne colored sequin backdrop with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a hound mix dog dog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a man and woman and their hound mix dog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner
photo of a dachshund dog in a red sweater next to a wooden box with a Hanukkah menorah on it
photo of a fluffy brown dog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a dachshund dog wearing a red Christmas outfit in front of a cream backdrop with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a Shiba Inu dog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a dachshund dog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a boston terrier dog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a rottweiler dog  in front of a champagne colored sequin backdrop with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a fluffy dog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner with a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a pomeranian dog in front of a white backdrop with poinsettias and a Christmas tree in the background
photo of a french bulldog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner with a Christmas tree in the background
closeup photo of a boston terrier dog in front of a Happy Pawlidays banner with a Christmas tree in the background

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​ join my email list or follow along with me on Instagram!

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photo of a kids' toy shopping cart loaded with a stuffed bear, stuffed camera and an oversized tennis ball toy on a gray background
Being a newborn and pet photographer, I try out a lot of products for babies, toddlers, dogs and cats. I also get introduced to a lot more products through my clients. I decided to compile a list of the most useful and interesting products I've come across in my travels. This gift guide will help you get ideas for your loved ones who are moms, dog moms, cat moms, or photography lovers! Enjoy!
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For the Dedicated Dog Mom

1. Dash Express Dog Treat Maker: My dog Gracey has gotten so many tasty treats out of this thing. My nephew and I love making treats for her with this machine. It comes with a recipe book, it's easy to use, and the treats look adorable when they come out.

2. Bully Grip Bully Stick Holder: This thing comes in very handy if you have a dog who loves to chew on bully sticks. I didn't have this for my last dog Basil and he ended up swallowing the small end of a bully stick. It sat in his stomach all night and then the next morning it found its way onto my bedroom floor. Yuck. This offers dogs a grip to hold onto while they chew the bully stick and keeps them from being able to swallow the end of the stick. This gives me peace of mind when Gracey enjoys her favorite chew.

3. Pooping Pooches Calendar 2023: Great for a gag or White Elephant gift, this quirky calendar will make you laugh each month. My brother in law bought me this last year and each time I turned a page, it made me chuckle. Plus, $1 from each calendar is donated to the Maui Humane Society!

4. Dog Smart Composite Interactive Treat Puzzle Dog Toy: This is a level 1 dog treat puzzle, perfect for beginners to these kinds of interactive toys. I bought this for my dog Gracey and it was fun teaching her how to get to her treats. This can also double as a slow feeder if you put dry kibble in the holes. I feed her her dry portion of food for the day in this for some mental stimulation.

5. Foldable Pet Ramp: This is good if you have a big dog you like to bring on adventures, or if your senior dog is having trouble getting in and out of the car. I bought this for my dog nephew Ash when he was getting older and having issues getting up and down my back porch steps. It folded up nicely when not in use and provided some good traction for him.

​6. Do Not Knock Sign: I have a dog who has assigned herself the role of neighborhood watch, and she's identified the following crimes that my neighbors regularly commit: walking past our house, pulling in and out of their driveways, getting their mail, existing on their own property. But the absolute worst offense anyone could commit in her eyes is to knock on our door. I wish I had this sign when my nephew was a baby because every single person who came up to our door would set off a barrage of barks that would wake him up from his naps. This would have come in handy!

Bonus Stocking Stuffer idea:
Dog Shaped Cookie Cutter
Personalized Dog Paw Ornament
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For the Crazy Cat Mom

1. Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Dog & Cat Fountain Raindrop Design: Dogs will love this too, but cats especially prefer their water to be flowing over still. This one is stainless steel, so most of its parts are machine washable and it's very easy to use. My pets love this fountain. My cat Charlie prefers to drink from the top bubbling part of the fountain, and my dog Gracey likes to drink from the bottom part of the basin.

2. Flopping Fish Cat Toy: At first, my cat Charlie was totally freaked out by this flopping cat toy, but quickly he learned to love it. It looks realistic, is activated by touch so it won't run all day and bother you, and it's rechargeable by a USB.

3. On2Pets 2 ft Mixed Maple Cat Tree: This cat tree and scratching post is fun for kitties and adorable to look at. A lot of cat trees are very basic, but this one is so nice looking it can be a part of your decor!

4. Custom Pet Phone Ring: Another one you could get for dog or cat lovers, this is for the pet obsessed owner. The inside of their phones are filled to the brim with pet photos, so why shouldn't the outside of their phones reflect that too? I get a lot of compliments on this phone ring whenever I'm around other animal lovers.

5. Kitty Face Magnetic Bookmark Set: If you know someone who likes to curl up with their cat and a good book, they'll love this magnetic bookmark set with assorted adorable little kitty faces.

6. Kitty Cape: This cape is just too cute. I know a lot of cats don’t appreciate clothes, but this one is pretty loose and may not bother them too much. If you can get them to wear it for 5 minutes for a photo, I consider that a win!

Bonus Stocking Stuffer Idea:
Cat Shaped Cookie Cutter
Catnip Infused Felted Balls
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For New Moms and their Beautiful Babies
1. Camera Teether: I often put a camera teether in my newborn clients' packaged orders as a gift. The one I typically buy is no longer available, but this one is very similar. Made of soft food grade silicone, this is a machine washable, nontoxic and absolutely necessary when those poor babes are cutting their first teeth!

2. Baby Shusher: Listen, the voice is creepy at first, but I'm telling you, this thing works. My sister gave me this when my nephew grew out of the need to use it and it's become a staple in my studio. I used to constantly shush the babies to quiet and calm them, and I don't have to utter a peep anymore. The baby shusher does it all for me!

3. Electric Baby Nasal Aspirator: AKA "The Boogie Sucker". This thing is very helpful for stuffed little noses. Machine washable tips make this a sanitary option and very easy to clean. A must for cold and flu season.

4. Flappy the Elephant: This Gund classic is both musical and plays an interactive game of peek-a-boo with babies. My nephew loved this toy!

5. Bath Color Tabs: In my experience, kids never want to get in the bath and once they’re in, they never want to get out. These color tabs will help you convince them to get in, and I usually tell my nephew once we’ve added so many that the bathwater looks like mud, it’s time to get out!

6. Fisher-Price Magical Lights Fishbowl: This was another favorite of my nephews when he was a baby. So much so, that I can still sing the songs to this day. And honestly, not bad tunes!
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For your Shutterbug Friend
1. Capturing Couture Camera Straps: I like scarf straps for my camera because it's a little softer and easier on the neck when my camera starts to feel like it's 100 pounds toward the end of a session!

2. Backdrop Clamps: These are great to keep fabric backdrops wrinkle free and in place. They attach to the side of your backdrop holder and clip to your backdrop and can be adjusted to the desired tautness you need.

3. Hot Shoe Level: This sits in the hot shoe of the camera and helps you stay level for horizontal shooting. This is especially helpful for landscape photography. It also serves to protect your hot shoe contacts and keep them in tiptop condition.

4. Photo Prism: This prism can be shot through, held in front of the lens and used to create interesting colors and reflections in your composition.

5. Flex Tilt Tripod Attachment: This gives you more flexibility with the angles you can shoot from when your camera is attached to a tripod!

6. Dust Blower: This blows air to gently clean the camera's very sensitive components. A special valve keeps dust from being redeposited onto your camera.

I hope that helps you check off a little bit more of your holiday shopping list this year. Thanks for reading and happy holidays!

If you’d like more blog posts like this hitting your inbox, sign up for my email list here!
Happy Shopping!

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I was so happy to work with the West Babylon Public Library for a fall pet portrait program this year. This was my first time doing the program at this library but we had so much interest that the library had to open up more spots several times! They had a beautiful fall display set up for patrons and their pets! It looked fantastic.

​We got a ton of dogs, some cats, a ferret, a family of 5 Guinea pigs, and even a bunny rabbit! If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ve probably heard me saying I’ve been wanting to photograph a bunny for so long and I’m so happy I finally got to! Her name was Honey Bunny and she was adorable and so fluffy, I couldn’t stop petting her. Thank you SO much to the library for putting together a fantastic day, and to all the patrons who came with their pets. We talked about doing a summer program next year, so stay tuned for that! Here are some of the adorable photos we got that day! 
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a bunny rabbit in a basket
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a black and white long haired dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a cat
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a collie dog
color collage photos of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and 5 different guinea pigs
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a small brown dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a small white dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a ferret
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a dachshund and pitbull dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a Pequest Pekingese dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and two spaniel dogs
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a french bulldog and golden retriever dogs
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a boston terrier dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and two people with their cat
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a German Shepherd dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a grey bunny rabbit
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a German Shepherd dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a brown dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a mother with her two children and small dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a french bulldog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a woman with her dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a golden doodle dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a black and white dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a young girl with her dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a girl with her golden retriever dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a woman with her golden retriever dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and two golden retriever dogs
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a small white dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a small grey and white dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and an owner with her mixed breed dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a small brown dog
color photo of a fall display with hay bales, mums, pumpkins and a grey and white dog

To be notified of all the events I’m participating in,
​ join my email list or follow along with me on Instagram!

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We had so much fun at our Fall/ Halloween photo event that we’re doing it again for the coming holidays! Come down to Barkfield Road in East Northport, NY on Sunday, 11/13 for holiday pet photos. Winter, Christmas and Hanukkah sets and props will be available. A portion of the profits will be donated to the Dotty Fund, which provides financial assistance to families who need help paying for their pets’ medical care.

Half hour mini sessions are a $25 sitting fee, which will be waived if you order over $25 of photo products. 4x6 prints will be $10, 5x7s will be $15 and 8x10s will be $20. I’ll also be offering holiday, Christmas and Hanukkah cards in packs of 25 for $40. Metal ornaments will be $35 and image cubes will be $50.

The event will be from 11am-4:30pm. We’ll only be offering 9 appointments that day so book your slot soon! Please call Barkfield Road at (631)651-9292 to book your appointment!


Barkfield Road holiday pet photo session event flier

​​Reserve your spot by calling Barkfield Road at (631)651-9292!

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This session was a gift from Janelle's husband Richard, to showcase her strong bond with her sweet pup Louie! I love when people give the gift of photography. It always ends up being such a special gift because it's both an experience and the end result of getting beautiful photos with the ones you love most. Janelle is so close with her boy Louie, she described him to me as the love of her life. I totally understand that feeling! They've been through so much together and it was amazing to hear a little bit about their story. Louie is not only her companion and pet, he's her hero. 

We met at a local park to take a little hike in the woods. The whole family came along for the ride, but this day was just about the special bond between Janelle and Louie. I love the way his beautiful cream coat looks against the dark background of the trees and plants. Louie was such a good sport, jogging when we asked him so we could get action shots, sitting and laying when we wanted portraits. He also posed really well with Janelle for some sweet shots together. I was so glad to be able to capture some beautiful shots of this special pup for his biggest fan to cherish.

Here are some of my favorite photos of Louie from our session!
color full body vertical photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail
color photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail in profile looking up at his owner
color vertical close up photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail
color photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail with his owner
black and white photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail
color close up photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail
color horizontal photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail
color photo of a cream golden doodle dog running in a dog park
color photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail running toward the camera
color photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail sitting
black and white photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail with his owner
color photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail sitting against a gate
color photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail walking away from the camera
color vertical photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail
color photo of a cream golden doodle dog on a forest trail walking away from the camera

​​Get in touch to book your pet session today! Email me at laurapeaphotography@gmail.com or call (631)256-7476.

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I’m so excited to be coming back to Barkfield Road in East Northport for the first time since the pandemic started! I’ve missed doing photo events there so much. It’s such an amazing pet store! You need to visit if you're a Long Island dog lover! They’re putting on a Fall puppy parade around the square they're located in and a costume contest. The winner will receive a gift basket with goodies from the store and a gift certificate for a free half hour session and a $50 print credit from me. The event will be on Sunday, October 16th from 10am-1pm and will be sponsored by Primal Pet Foods! Look out for PSLs for the pups made with their pumpkin spice goat milk!

After the costume contest, I’ll be taking photos of pets inside the store! Fall or Halloween props and a backdrop will be available. Photo appointments will start at 10:30am!

These will be quick 10 minute sessions where we take a few photos and pet parents can choose their favorite ones and order 4x6s, 5x7s and 8x10s. There won’t be any sitting fee and product prices will be as follows:
4x6s: $10
5x7s: $15
8x10s: $20

You can be in the photo with your pet or it can be their time to shine on their own. Spots may go quickly so call Barkfield Road at (631)651-9292 to sign up!

​Here are some Fall pet photos I've shot in the past!
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Call (631)651-9292 to reserve your spot today!

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It's such an honor to be nominated for Best Pet Photographer on Long Island. This is the third year in a row I've been nominated, and each time it happens, I get such a shock. My business is very high touch but pretty low volume. I work very closely with just a small number of clients a year to create a really custom experience for those who choose to invest with me. So the fact that enough people took the time to nominate me to get me on the ballot really means so much to me. Thank you so much to everyone who nominated me!

If you'd like to vote for me, you can do so once a day per email address at this link!

VOTE HERE!

Scroll down in the pets category to get to the subcategory of pet photographer! For now, my business name is spelled incorrectly as "Laura Pea Photograghy" but you know who I am haha!
​You can vote once a day until December 15th. Thank you so much!
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My mom is a retired librarian who worked at my local library for 45 years, so I feel like libraries are a second home to me. That’s why I love working with libraries here on Long Island to run pet portrait programs for their patrons.

I’m adding another one to my list this year! I’ll be at the West Babylon Public Library on October 22nd from 1-4pm in their outdoor garden area to take photos of your furry friends. We have a rain date of October 23rd in case of inclement weather. Participants will receive a free 8x10 and digital file of their photo!

This program is open to patrons of all Long Island libraries.

Get all the details and register here!

Below are some photos I've gotten at past library pet portrait events. I've had people come with dogs, cats, rats and hamsters so far! I'd love to see some more different animals dropping in too! One person signed up with a snake once, but they couldn't make it and I was bummed. I keep hoping someone will bring a bunny for me to photograph, but no luck so far! Fingers crossed :) Hope to see you there!
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Want the one on one treatment for your pet?
Get in touch to book your session today!
​Email me at laurapeaphotography@gmail.com or call (631)256-7476.

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I first photographed this beautiful family in 2018, and every year since then I've had the honor of being a part of documenting their family's memories. When I dropped off their products from this session, mom Sarah showed me the many places around their house where my photos are displayed. It meant so much to me to see that!

​This last session was done to commemorate their youngest James' first birthday. We decided to do it at a local dog-friendly park so that their furry eldest child (Benjamin Franklin, a consummate professional), could join in on the fun. James takes after his family in that he can pose with the best of them. We joked that with his suit and bow tie, he looked like an adorable tiny Godfather.

Older twin siblings Nathaniel and Caroline blew me away with how well they behaved. They were about 2 months away from turning 4 at the time we shot this, and they listened so well, I was thoroughly impressed! As long as we allowed them to do the occasional silly shot, they were game for anything. You'll see one of those shots in the slideshow below. I love showing these types of photos to clients because (though I am -AHEM- a serious artist and professional businesswoman) I am at heart a very silly person myself.

As a small business owner, when clients come back repeatedly, it's such a gift. To have clients who book every year and really show their appreciation for what you do, I can't tell you how much it means! Here are some of my favorite shots from our session!
photo of a one year old baby boy dressed in a suit and bow tie sitting on a blanket on a forest floor
photo of two four year old twin brother and sister with their one year old baby brother sitting on a bench in a wooded park
photo of a one year old baby boy dressed in a suit and bow tie sitting on a blanket on a forest floor with brown craft letters that spell out the word "one"
photo of two four year old twin brother and sister sitting on a bench in a wooded park
photo of two four year old twin brother and sister with their one year old baby brother sitting on a blanket in a wooded park
black and white photo of two four year old twin brother and sister sitting on a bench in a wooded park making silly faces
photo of two four year old twin brother and sister with their one year old baby brother and airedale terrier dog sitting on a blanket in a wooded park
photo of a one year old baby boy dressed in a shirt and bow tie sitting on a blanket on a forest floor in front of a dock
photo of two four year old twin brother and sister sitting on a blanket in a wooded park
photo of a four year old girl smiling standing in a wooded park
photo of a four year old boy smiling standing in a wooded park
photo of a one year old baby boy dressed in a suit and bow tie sitting on a forest floor
black and white photo of two four year old twin brother and sister  hugging on a blanket in a wooded park
photo of a one year old baby boy dressed in a shirt and bow tie sitting on a blanket on a forest floor in front of a dock
black and white photo of two four year old twin brother and sister with their one year old baby brother sitting on a blanket in a wooded park

Get in touch to book your session today! Email me at laurapeaphotography@gmail.com 
​or call (631)256-7476.

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Sadie's dad Daniel got in touch with me because he received a gift card from a friend for this session. I love when people give the gift of photography, so I was excited to meet him and his pup! He and I discussed a few options for where we wanted this shoot to take place, and he kept going back to how much he loved the view in his backyard! That worked perfectly, because dogs are usually the most relaxed and at ease on their own turf!

Sadie is a beautiful Vizsla with a gorgeous deep red coat and such a sweet personality. She had fun running around the pool, playing ball in the yard and exploring the dock behind their house. She's a young dog so she had a ton of energy! We got plenty of action shots, but she also posed beautifully alone and with Daniel. You can tell from their photos that they have a very strong bond! Sadie looks at him like he hung the moon, it's so sweet to see!

Here are some of my favorite photos from their session!
color close up photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water
color photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water. She's sitting on a patio couch
color photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water. She's sitting on a patio couch
color photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water. She's sitting on a patio couch with her owner
color profile photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water
color photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water. She's sitting on a patio couch
color photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water. They're sitting on a bench on a dock
color photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water, taken from behind
color photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water. She's sitting on a patio couch as the sun sets
color photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water.
color photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water. She's running alongside a pool
black and white photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water. She's sitting on a patio couch
color photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water. She's standing on the lawn
color photo of a red vizsla dog in her owner's backyard on the water. Her and her owner are posing behind a pool

​Get in touch to book your pet session today! Email me at laurapeaphotography@gmail.com or call (631)256-7476.

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Laura Paesano
Long Island, NY

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