About My Agreements

Why I Put Our Understanding in Writing

When you trust me to photograph your dog, your dog show, or your special event, you are trusting me with something that matters to you.That matters to me, too.

My photography has always been about more than taking pictures. It's about the dogs we love, the people who love them, the moments we share, and the memories photographs allow us to keep.

That's why I now believe every photography relationship should begin with something simple:Clear communication, mutual respect, and a written understanding.

A Lesson I Learned the Hard Way

For a long time, I believed a conversation and a handshake were enough.

I trusted that when people talked about an arrangement and agreed on what was expected, everyone would walk away with the same understanding.

I still believe in a person's word.

I still believe in a handshake.

But experience taught me that good intentions aren't always enough.

In the past, I photographed events without having every part of our arrangement in writing. At the time, I didn't think I needed to.

Unfortunately, I learned the hard way why I did.

When expectations aren't written down, people can remember conversations differently. Questions can arise afterward about compensation, travel expenses, responsibilities, photographs, image usage, delivery, or what was supposed to be included.

What began with excitement and good intentions can suddenly become uncomfortable.

That was a difficult lesson for me.

And yes, it hurt.

Photography is personal to me. I put a lot of myself into my work, so when a misunderstanding happens, I don't simply put away my camera and forget about it.

I think about what I could have done differently.

Eventually, I realized I had a choice.

I could allow a difficult experience to make me less trusting and less willing to give my heart to my photography...

or I could learn from it.

I chose to learn.

This is probably the most important thing I want my clients, dog owners, show committees, clubs, and event organizers to understand:

When I ask for a written agreement, it does not mean I don't trust you.

It doesn't mean I want our relationship to feel cold, overly formal, or impersonal.

In fact, I see it quite differently.

A written agreement helps protect the handshake.

It protects our conversation.

It protects what you expect from me.

It protects what I expect from you.

And ultimately, it protects both of us

.Before I photograph an event or portrait session, I want us to be comfortable discussing everything that matters—including the photography being requested, compensation, travel or lodging expenses when applicable, image usage, responsibilities, delivery expectations, and any special arrangements we've made.

Then we put that understanding in writing.

There shouldn't be uncomfortable surprises afterward.

I don't believe photography should feel like an assembly line.

Every dog is different.

Every owner is different.

Every show is different.

Every event is different.

And every portrait has its own story.

That's why I approach my photography on a case-by-case basis.

A local portrait session may have very different needs from a multi-day dog show requiring travel.

A club may need something completely different from an individual owner.

One client may simply want beautiful photographs of a beloved companion, while another may be looking for wall art, gifts, show photographs, or something especially meaningful to their family.

I want to listen first.

We can talk about what you're hoping for, what I can provide, what costs or expenses may be involved, and anything else that's important to either of us.

Then we put our agreement in writing so everyone knows exactly where we stand.

Having contracts hasn't changed why I photograph dogs.

I still want to shake your hand.

I still want to talk about your dogs.

I still want to laugh with you ringside.

I still get excited about that beautiful expression, special win, funny moment, or quiet connection between a dog and the person who loves them.

I still want to hear the stories behind the dogs I'm photographing.

And I still put my heart into my work.

The difference is that now I also protect that relationship by putting our understanding in writing.

Not because I care less.

Because I've learned to care enough to protect both of us.

I can't change the decisions I made in the past.

I can't go back and create agreements that should have existed before certain events.

And I don't want to spend my life looking backward.

What I can do is learn.

What I can do is grow.

And what I can do is make sure future clients and organizations know exactly what they can expect when they work with me.

Going forward, my dog show, event, and portrait photography arrangements will include a written agreement appropriate to the situation.

Some agreements may be very simple. Others may need to cover additional details.

But the purpose will always be the same:

Clarity. Honesty. Fairness. Respect.

Dogs don't stay with us nearly long enough.

They become part of our families and part of our lives. They make us laugh, comfort us when we need them, accomplish things that make us proud, and leave us with stories we'll tell for years.

Sometimes a photograph I make today is simply someone's favorite picture of their dog.

Years from now, that same photograph may become one of their most treasured possessions.

I never forget that.

Being trusted to capture those memories is something I will never take for granted.

So when I ask you to read and sign an agreement, please don't see it as a wall between us.

See it as the foundation beneath us.

It's my way of saying:

Let's communicate openly.

Let's understand each other.

Let's respect each other.

Let's put our promises in writing.

Then let's put the paperwork away.

Let's enjoy the dogs.

Let's enjoy the day.

And let's create photographs that mean something.

Because when everything else is stripped away, that's still what photography is about for me:

The dogs.

The people who love them.

The moments we can't get back.

And the photographs that help us hold onto them.

Thank you for understanding why I've chosen to do things this way—and thank you for trusting me with your memories.

From my heart,

Bobby