Maternity Photos With Her Best Friend: Because He Was Family First

There are maternity sessions that celebrate the baby who is coming.

And then there are maternity sessions that also celebrate the family that is already here.

When Ashley planned her maternity portraits at Knoxville Botanical Garden, she knew exactly who needed to be included: Rudy.

Rudy is her nine-year-old service dog, an Australian Shepherd who has been by Ashley’s side since he was just three months old. Long before there was a baby girl on the way, there was Rudy.

He has grown up with Ashley, worked beside her, loved her, watched over her and become part of the everyday rhythm of her life.

So yes, this maternity session was about the little girl Ashley will welcome in October.

But it was also about the big brother.

The First Baby Has Four Legs

Dog people understand this immediately.

Sometimes the dog really was the first baby.

You worried about him when he was little. You celebrated birthdays. You bought too many toys. You learned every expression and every odd little habit. You rearranged plans around him. You probably have several thousand photos of him on your phone.

Somewhere along the way, he stopped being “the dog.”

He became family.

For Ashley, Rudy’s role is even more important. As her service dog, he has spent nearly nine years doing what he does best: staying close to his person.

Now his family is about to change.

Soon there will be tiny socks, baby blankets, late-night feedings and a brand-new little human who has no idea yet that she already has a very experienced big brother waiting for her.

Telling the Whole Story

Knoxville Botanical Garden gave us a beautiful setting for the session: deep summer greens, winding paths, old stone walls and quiet garden corners. Ashley’s pink lace gown stood out perfectly against all that green.

But some of my favorite photographs are the quieter ones.

Ashley looking down at Rudy.

Rudy looking back at her.

The two of them sitting together on the stone steps.

And, naturally, Rudy deciding that one particular kiss required his immediate participation.

Those are the images that tell the story.

Years from now, Ashley’s daughter will be able to look at these photographs and see more than what her mother looked like while waiting for her.

She’ll see what her family looked like.

She’ll see Rudy.