Annette and Dan and I did this session for their engagement photos on the worst rainy day of the season to date — and it was simply beautiful. Outside the dark and dramatic clouds lowered above the bright green fields, while inside the fireplace crackled. Irmi at The Mansion at the Bayou, where Annette and Dan will host their reception on December 19th, was kind enough not only to let us use the mansion for these shots, but she also lit the fire, placed candles, brought bolsters and pillows for the “lying on the floor” shots, and generally made sure we had everything we needed.

And then there was Phoebe! Poor little Phoebe, who trembled like a leaf in the presence of strangers, who couldn’t look a stranger in the face, much less one pointing a camera at her. I had Annette and Dan lie on the floor and slide Phoebe toward me, and shot after shot what I got was a dog looking wide-eyed and terrified and dashing back to the safety of Dan’s arms first chance she got. Until, finally, with this shot, we got what we needed: she paused just long enough to yawn. But to my lights, the yawn looks like a clear and joyful endorsement of the coming marriage of Annette and Dan.