Ruddy Is Still Smiling at Me
Ruddy had a smile that still makes me smile.
I look at his portraits and see that familiar face, full of personality, and feel the love that comes with knowing someone so well. That’s my Ruddy. My fur-baby. Part of our family and so much of our everyday life.
His portraits bring that feeling into our home. A glance in his direction can brighten my day. Sometimes I stop and look a little longer, enjoying his expression and remembering what it felt like to have him beside me.
That is what I love about photographs. An expression can bring back so much. You recognize the face, and then come the feelings, the stories, and the little things you loved about sharing your life together.
The Life We Share With Our Fur-Babies
So much of loving a fur-baby happens in ordinary moments.
The looks they give us. The ways they ask for attention. The familiar presence that makes a house feel like home. We learn their personalities until we can practically tell what they’re thinking from one expression.
When I look at Ruddy’s portraits, I see the boy I knew and loved. I see his place in our family. I see a life I am grateful we shared.
We lost Ruddy in February 2025. I miss him, and I wish I could reach down and touch him again. But his portraits let me keep seeing that face I love.
Even after he is gone, he is still smiling at me.
And I still smile back.
Artwork That Becomes Part of Your Home
I loved Ruddy’s portraits when he was here. I enjoyed seeing his personality captured and having his artwork in our home.
Over time, those portraits have become even more precious.
I don’t have to search through my phone to find him. His face is right there, part of the space where we live. Some days, seeing him makes me laugh. Other days, it brings tears. There is room for all of that when you love someone.
What comforts me most is how familiar he feels in those photographs. I recognize him. And for a moment, I get that lovely feeling of, “There you are.”
Why These Portraits Matter to Me
As a pet photographer, one of my favorite moments is watching someone recognize their fur-baby in a portrait.
“That’s him.”
“That’s the look she gives me!”
It means we’ve captured something they know by heart.
That is what I want for the families who come to our Franklin studio: portraits that hold the personality and connection they enjoy every day. Artwork they can live with, smile at, and love while their fur-baby is right beside them.
Ruddy reminds me how much that matters.
I am grateful for the life we shared, and I am grateful I photographed him. His portraits continue to bring something beautiful into my days.
That familiar face. That wonderful smile.
My Ruddy, still smiling at me.
If you would love artwork that brings your fur-baby’s personality into your home, I would love to help you create it. Schedule a Discovery Call, and let’s talk about the faces, expressions, and little things you want to remember.
