WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.789 --> 00:00:06.320 Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs Podcast, the show for dog lovers who 00:00:06.340 --> 00:00:12.000 see dogs not as toys or tools, but wise souls worth our respect and care. 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:14.559 I'm an Herrmann, and I'm your host. 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:20.560 I talk to poor some humans, people who do great work for dogs and their people. 00:00:21.099 --> 00:00:23.360 So come and join us for today's conversation. 00:00:25.709 --> 00:00:27.109 Anke: Hello and welcome, Leah. 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:28.819 Leah: I'm super excited to have you here. 00:00:31.309 --> 00:00:32.359 Thank you for having me. 00:00:33.589 --> 00:00:39.609 Anke: So before we dive into our heartwarming topic, let's share with 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:41.139 people, like, where are you based? 00:00:41.209 --> 00:00:43.549 And so what's your business with dogs? 00:00:44.454 --> 00:00:48.274 Leah: Yeah, so I'm based in Kansas City, Missouri, so smack 00:00:48.274 --> 00:00:50.064 dab in the middle of America. 00:00:50.104 --> 00:00:57.154 That's where I am based, and what I do with dogs is I offer 00:00:57.174 --> 00:01:01.184 something called end of life or celebration of life photography. 00:01:01.194 --> 00:01:09.744 So, uh, lots of senior portraits or, um, medically, you know, they know 00:01:09.744 --> 00:01:14.794 that the end is near, and so I give the gift of photography to the people. 00:01:15.404 --> 00:01:16.854 Anke: Oh, I just love that. 00:01:16.854 --> 00:01:20.454 I mean, especially, I was just mentioning, I've just lost one of mine 00:01:20.454 --> 00:01:25.994 and it's like, oh, yeah, I mean, you literally look at those photos that you 00:01:26.004 --> 00:01:31.134 have and you treasure them in a whole different way, you know, so how, like, 00:01:31.134 --> 00:01:32.624 how did you get started with that? 00:01:32.634 --> 00:01:37.574 Like, did you have like your own or like, you know, how, what made 00:01:37.574 --> 00:01:41.204 you actually begin Start to even, because I think, I don't know, like 00:01:42.904 --> 00:01:46.834 photographing animals, it's like, you know, that's a skill in itself, you know? 00:01:47.014 --> 00:01:52.634 So, and then on top of it, in that sort of emotional moment, so how did you get 00:01:52.634 --> 00:01:56.404 started doing that and what inspired you to offer that to other people? 00:01:59.364 --> 00:02:04.784 Leah: When I discovered photography, I was very interested in photographing 00:02:04.814 --> 00:02:06.214 subjects that were alive. 00:02:06.214 --> 00:02:09.654 So I'm not really a photographer that has ever gravitated towards like the 00:02:09.674 --> 00:02:13.904 architectural or cars or landscapes. 00:02:13.904 --> 00:02:19.124 Those are all amazing, but immediately for me, photography was about connection. 00:02:19.534 --> 00:02:23.064 And photography was about telling the stories of living things. 00:02:23.504 --> 00:02:30.919 And so A lot of my starting to learn was actually photographing my own cat. 00:02:31.099 --> 00:02:36.959 She was a subject for me a lot, whether or not she wanted to be, because it's 00:02:36.959 --> 00:02:42.889 just, there's that connection there, like I said, and I just was enamored with her. 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:47.719 And, you know, she's, she's a cat and just like any subject, maybe 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:49.439 not going to cooperate all the time. 00:02:50.019 --> 00:02:54.079 So, uh, it was good practice for me before I actually was able to 00:02:54.079 --> 00:02:55.729 launch my business ten years ago. 00:02:57.099 --> 00:03:02.439 And as I was going on this journey of figuring out, you know, exactly what 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:07.769 I wanted to photograph, what niches spoke to me and I was passionate about, 00:03:08.569 --> 00:03:17.499 um, I very quickly realized that when you have a bond with an animal, Be it 00:03:17.499 --> 00:03:21.389 a dog, a cat, whatever, um, it's real. 00:03:21.389 --> 00:03:26.359 It's, it's real and it's something that is profound in a person's life 00:03:26.579 --> 00:03:31.559 and we take on these relationships knowing that they're finite, right? 00:03:32.069 --> 00:03:36.099 We know that these relationships are probably not going to outlast us. 00:03:36.399 --> 00:03:37.349 our lifetime. 00:03:37.859 --> 00:03:42.479 And so we take in and love these animals, knowing that we are going to have to 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:44.459 say goodbye at some point in time. 00:03:45.069 --> 00:03:53.899 And in the times that I have lost animals, they've crossed over, um, I have found 00:03:53.939 --> 00:03:56.679 that photographs helped me immensely. 00:03:56.839 --> 00:03:59.809 It's just was so special to be able to look back, especially 00:03:59.839 --> 00:04:02.719 even just on cell phones now, it's so incredible what you can do. 00:04:03.239 --> 00:04:08.464 But I didn't really have any pictures of me with It was like, oh, I have 00:04:08.464 --> 00:04:11.674 pictures of the pet, but because I was always behind the camera, 00:04:11.674 --> 00:04:13.204 I didn't have anything with them. 00:04:13.484 --> 00:04:16.104 And I found that that was the case for a lot of people. 00:04:16.604 --> 00:04:19.784 A lot of people wanted a good picture of their pet, but they also wanted a 00:04:19.784 --> 00:04:22.284 really good picture with their pet. 00:04:22.914 --> 00:04:28.059 And Because of the way that end of life can happen with dogs, like, 00:04:28.069 --> 00:04:31.349 it can be scheduled, it can be, you know, you kind of get a heads up. 00:04:31.809 --> 00:04:35.499 A lot of the people that I work with have just received some of the worst news that 00:04:35.499 --> 00:04:36.979 they're going to receive in their lives. 00:04:37.019 --> 00:04:40.179 That they're going to have to say goodbye soon. 00:04:40.569 --> 00:04:47.429 And so, when they reach out, I know that it's like, Okay, my job now is to make 00:04:47.429 --> 00:04:51.264 sure that even though this is going to be an incredibly painful thing, it's And 00:04:51.264 --> 00:04:57.254 even though this is going to be something that hurts forever on some level, like it 00:04:57.254 --> 00:05:04.194 never doesn't hurt, um, I can give them a, I can give them peace in knowing that they 00:05:04.194 --> 00:05:07.494 will always have that image, they will always have that photograph, they will 00:05:07.494 --> 00:05:11.504 always have that special thing where they can go back and they can remember forever. 00:05:12.089 --> 00:05:16.179 Like, that special bond that they had, that relationship, that connection. 00:05:16.659 --> 00:05:20.929 So, that's a very long winded answer, but that's what I do, that's why I do 00:05:20.929 --> 00:05:22.909 it, and that's kind of how I got into it. 00:05:23.669 --> 00:05:24.579 Anke: I love that, I love that. 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:26.179 Do you, like, 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:33.179 you don't sound as if it brings you, like, in the sense that, you know, you 00:05:33.179 --> 00:05:35.474 have to hold a lot of emotion there. 00:05:35.794 --> 00:05:38.484 You know, well, people come there and they're kind of tender, right? 00:05:41.404 --> 00:05:46.594 Leah: Uh, I do a lot of work around protecting my energy with that. 00:05:46.624 --> 00:05:49.194 I don't take on very many of these a month. 00:05:49.224 --> 00:05:52.904 I have a set limit of, like, I can do four to six a month. 00:05:53.874 --> 00:05:58.544 And, because I do it, um, this is a part of my business that I just do on donation. 00:05:58.544 --> 00:05:59.668 Oh, okay. 00:05:59.668 --> 00:06:06.169 Yeah, so I just require that the people that, um, I take on, that they 00:06:06.169 --> 00:06:10.049 donate to a pet charity of choice, and then I gift them these photos. 00:06:10.569 --> 00:06:12.529 This is just like a goodwill service for me. 00:06:13.139 --> 00:06:17.399 Um, because I don't ever want someone to not have these photos 00:06:17.449 --> 00:06:19.459 because of a financial whatever. 00:06:19.929 --> 00:06:28.089 Um, so I gift them these photos and, Yeah, there's practices that I have in place 00:06:28.089 --> 00:06:31.469 that help keep me afloat, because it is. 00:06:31.859 --> 00:06:35.379 A lot of times I'm walking into their home, because a lot of times at the 00:06:35.579 --> 00:06:39.269 point that the dog needs the photography, it's very difficult for them to move 00:06:39.299 --> 00:06:46.019 the animal, and oftentimes they're uncomfortable, the dog is uncomfortable, 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:51.349 so being able to be in their own space with their own people is a better way for 00:06:51.359 --> 00:06:55.879 me to get more meaningful and connected photos, because the dog isn't as stressed. 00:06:56.944 --> 00:07:01.804 So yeah, I'm walking into, like I said, potentially one of the 00:07:01.804 --> 00:07:03.474 worst days of these people's lives. 00:07:03.474 --> 00:07:04.424 That's what I mean, that's 00:07:04.424 --> 00:07:07.974 Anke: like, Jesus, like that's quite, that's quite the job, right? 00:07:08.264 --> 00:07:15.174 So because, because, you know, on one hand, if the dog's more sort of chilled 00:07:15.174 --> 00:07:20.144 and not as like, you know, I don't know, I would imagine, because I don't know, I 00:07:20.184 --> 00:07:23.464 always find like the puppy is the hardest one to catch, like, you know, because 00:07:23.464 --> 00:07:28.494 just like, you know, so to get, a photo and I totally get this like, yeah, I 00:07:28.504 --> 00:07:33.054 have lots of photos of my dogs, you know, other than the selfie where I'm like, 00:07:33.064 --> 00:07:37.364 somehow we just both have a goofy face because, you know, just to get us both 00:07:37.404 --> 00:07:39.684 in there as long as my arms can reach. 00:07:39.964 --> 00:07:41.084 So it isn't ideal. 00:07:41.114 --> 00:07:42.474 So I totally get it. 00:07:43.364 --> 00:07:46.034 And, and so you have a calmer dog, but then you also have a 00:07:46.164 --> 00:07:49.304 much more emotional person, right? 00:07:49.454 --> 00:07:53.744 Because it's especially when you sort of know that the end's coming, 00:07:53.744 --> 00:07:56.184 it's that anticipatory grief. 00:07:56.184 --> 00:07:59.654 It's almost like you're already a mess when the animals actually still there. 00:08:00.364 --> 00:08:00.574 Yeah. 00:08:00.574 --> 00:08:02.024 So, yeah. 00:08:03.024 --> 00:08:03.534 Leah: Yeah. 00:08:03.804 --> 00:08:10.254 And one thing that I find, though, is in my work, and I'm sure in your 00:08:10.254 --> 00:08:13.684 work as well, it's not my grief. 00:08:15.104 --> 00:08:18.884 And so, all my job is, is to just hold witness to it. 00:08:19.144 --> 00:08:21.854 I don't have to carry it, but I can honor that it's there. 00:08:22.374 --> 00:08:26.909 And I can ask the good questions, I can ask, like, tell me, Tell me things 00:08:26.919 --> 00:08:28.199 that you love about this animal. 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:29.909 Tell me a funny story. 00:08:29.969 --> 00:08:32.349 Tell me, like, the first time you met them. 00:08:32.379 --> 00:08:35.909 Like, let me hear about this life. 00:08:35.949 --> 00:08:42.919 Let me give you a space to share whatever you're comfortable with sharing 00:08:43.259 --> 00:08:45.079 while I photograph you and your pet. 00:08:46.099 --> 00:08:48.609 Um, and just, like I said, hold witness. 00:08:49.474 --> 00:08:52.654 And honor the fact that this is a beautiful thing. 00:08:52.654 --> 00:08:54.424 This is a beautiful relationship. 00:08:54.454 --> 00:08:58.584 This is a wonderful blessing that these people have had. 00:08:59.344 --> 00:09:03.364 And I just want to get a sense, and that helps me get a sense too, of 00:09:03.364 --> 00:09:05.604 like, oh, this is who this person is. 00:09:05.694 --> 00:09:08.264 And that helps inform my photography too. 00:09:08.264 --> 00:09:10.554 I'm like, okay, I know better how to pose you. 00:09:10.554 --> 00:09:13.894 I know better what to ask of you based on how you're sharing with 00:09:13.894 --> 00:09:16.794 me and where you are emotionally. 00:09:16.794 --> 00:09:19.944 Like, do I need to take a little bit more time? 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:23.099 Is this something that's like, oh, I need to do this really quickly 00:09:23.099 --> 00:09:27.989 because this is falling apart right before my very eyes, you know? 00:09:28.729 --> 00:09:36.189 Um, so I think that is a good way to put it, just with the 00:09:36.189 --> 00:09:38.379 emotional part of it, you know? 00:09:38.599 --> 00:09:42.209 Anke: Yeah, it reminds me a little bit of my mom's a nurse, right? 00:09:42.209 --> 00:09:45.354 And so there's that sense of like, Yes, you're there, but you 00:09:45.354 --> 00:09:47.384 don't have to carry it all, right? 00:09:47.384 --> 00:09:50.214 So, so yeah, that makes sense. 00:09:50.484 --> 00:09:55.524 So do you have people who kind of keep coming back, you know, when 00:09:55.524 --> 00:09:57.064 people have more than one animal? 00:09:57.074 --> 00:10:00.634 Like, have you ever, have you had clients who've been back several times for this? 00:10:03.444 --> 00:10:04.424 Leah: Thankfully, no. 00:10:07.064 --> 00:10:11.954 Thankfully, not everybody's having all of their, uh, pets pass away so quickly. 00:10:12.344 --> 00:10:17.364 One thing, too, that happens often Is where I'll come into the home. 00:10:17.514 --> 00:10:20.904 And the other animals, if there are other animals, will also be present. 00:10:20.904 --> 00:10:23.274 And a lot of times they're in the shoot as well. 00:10:24.264 --> 00:10:24.474 That's nice. 00:10:24.474 --> 00:10:29.124 I think there's like a, yeah, so I think perhaps there has been less immediacy 00:10:29.564 --> 00:10:34.724 for it because they have had photographs with the animal and oftentimes when 00:10:34.724 --> 00:10:38.714 I come into a home that has an older pet, they've already brought in a 00:10:38.714 --> 00:10:41.974 younger pet or there's a staggered age. 00:10:42.724 --> 00:10:45.744 So it's um. 00:10:46.329 --> 00:10:47.729 It's not something that I will write off. 00:10:47.749 --> 00:10:53.964 I have had one repeat, but I think it's I think it's a goodness. 00:10:53.964 --> 00:10:58.664 I think it's a kindness that I haven't had to go too often. 00:10:59.784 --> 00:10:59.844 I'm 00:11:00.604 --> 00:11:03.674 Anke: thinking like, I lost my first dog about coming up 00:11:03.674 --> 00:11:05.684 to three years ago, you know? 00:11:06.364 --> 00:11:10.894 And so if I'm just imagining like if I live nearby you, I would go, Oh my 00:11:11.114 --> 00:11:14.094 God, I'm like, I want a photo with Leo. 00:11:14.134 --> 00:11:20.114 And so now two years later, the other one went and I'm like, I'll be back for sure. 00:11:20.114 --> 00:11:20.484 You know? 00:11:20.824 --> 00:11:21.874 So it's almost like. 00:11:24.634 --> 00:11:27.914 Like that, that image I have with this one, I was like, I wouldn't want 00:11:27.914 --> 00:11:32.424 to deprive, you know, like, I don't know, I would definitely want to have 00:11:32.744 --> 00:11:36.464 another one, you know, unless you're no longer in the area or don't do 00:11:36.464 --> 00:11:38.004 that work anymore, like, I'd be back. 00:11:39.014 --> 00:11:45.484 Leah: Yeah, I think too, it depends on how many animals you have as well, right? 00:11:45.514 --> 00:11:49.144 A lot of people have just a dog, like they just have their one dog. 00:11:49.424 --> 00:11:53.274 And it's their whole life, or they have the one cat, or they have, you 00:11:53.274 --> 00:11:56.694 know, their hamster, or whatever it is, but they don't typically have, 00:11:56.994 --> 00:12:00.224 I grew up in a home with many, many animals, so this is very strange to me 00:12:00.224 --> 00:12:01.534 to be like, oh, you just have one pet. 00:12:01.534 --> 00:12:05.314 Um, wow, how simple for you. 00:12:05.854 --> 00:12:10.184 But also, I, I acknowledge that it's like, that's a, that's a huge commitment, even 00:12:10.184 --> 00:12:12.874 just one animal is a huge commitment, so, 00:12:13.804 --> 00:12:15.064 Anke: um, yeah. 00:12:15.859 --> 00:12:20.249 I mean, to be honest, like I find, I find actually having, I mean, I don't 00:12:20.599 --> 00:12:26.809 like, I've had three is the maximum I've had at one time, you know, so I had 00:12:26.809 --> 00:12:30.319 one and then the second one, the third one, one went, then another one came. 00:12:30.319 --> 00:12:34.079 So it's been between two and three, but I've found that the two 00:12:34.079 --> 00:12:39.349 times I've lost one, like having the others has been such a hell. 00:12:39.869 --> 00:12:42.869 Like, Oh, I would, I think this would be like 10 times worse. 00:12:43.854 --> 00:12:47.484 This had been my, my only, my only dog, you know? 00:12:48.434 --> 00:12:50.084 Leah: Yeah, absolutely. 00:12:50.534 --> 00:12:51.714 They, they help. 00:12:51.714 --> 00:12:54.164 Yeah, 00:12:55.224 --> 00:12:59.384 Anke: and it's interesting to see how the other two sort of adjusted 00:12:59.384 --> 00:13:03.484 the situation now, like how one turned into the office dog, right? 00:13:03.834 --> 00:13:07.284 Because, yeah, and she never used to, so it's almost like they 00:13:07.284 --> 00:13:09.334 try and fill, fill that void. 00:13:09.384 --> 00:13:10.894 Like it's really, yeah. 00:13:11.949 --> 00:13:13.289 Leah: It changes the dynamic. 00:13:13.529 --> 00:13:14.889 Anke: Yeah, no, no, totally. 00:13:14.889 --> 00:13:17.579 It's like really kind of weird. 00:13:17.659 --> 00:13:18.379 Yeah, it's weird. 00:13:20.079 --> 00:13:21.179 Leah: It is weird. 00:13:21.609 --> 00:13:26.549 But again, that kind of just goes back to what I was saying about how unique 00:13:26.549 --> 00:13:28.899 and special each relationship is. 00:13:28.939 --> 00:13:35.389 Each pet, parent, The pets with each other, like, they do have such 00:13:35.389 --> 00:13:37.599 personalities and they're so unique. 00:13:38.049 --> 00:13:42.499 So being able to photograph that just always made sense to me. 00:13:42.569 --> 00:13:44.639 It just always made sense to be like, oh, of course you 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:45.709 want a picture with your dog. 00:13:47.329 --> 00:13:47.569 Like, 00:13:47.689 --> 00:13:50.419 Anke: so, so how does that, like, how does that work? 00:13:50.419 --> 00:13:50.619 Right. 00:13:50.649 --> 00:13:54.789 So if somebody comes, so you were saying like, just something, I'm just sort of 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:56.469 thinking of something you said earlier. 00:13:56.479 --> 00:14:02.689 It's like, well, depending on the situation, So you, it'd be like a regular 00:14:02.689 --> 00:14:07.869 photoshoot in the sense that you kind of give some ideas of where to put, you 00:14:07.869 --> 00:14:11.739 know, like what I'm going to do now, like you'd probably stand there with your 00:14:11.739 --> 00:14:13.879 dog and so is that, is that difficult? 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:19.699 Or do people just catch, catch on or, or do the dogs help or how would you decide? 00:14:20.554 --> 00:14:23.024 on the composition that we've gone for today. 00:14:25.424 --> 00:14:29.204 Leah: When a pet parent reaches out to me through, typically through 00:14:29.204 --> 00:14:30.954 my website, I have a form on there. 00:14:31.974 --> 00:14:35.084 I get a little bit of information from them immediately. 00:14:35.584 --> 00:14:39.764 And one of those things is, how soon are we saying goodbye? 00:14:40.024 --> 00:14:41.624 Like, what is our urgency level? 00:14:43.074 --> 00:14:47.684 Um, and there are some people that are like, hey, we got a cancer diagnosis and 00:14:47.684 --> 00:14:51.834 we know that we've got maybe six months and we want the photographs before. 00:14:52.319 --> 00:14:53.239 They go downhill. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:57.199 And then other times I'll get a message just like, We are going to 00:14:57.199 --> 00:15:01.699 the vet this afternoon, is there any chance you can come before? 00:15:02.569 --> 00:15:04.799 And sometimes I can, sometimes I can't. 00:15:05.739 --> 00:15:10.619 Um, you know, I do what I can, but I am one person. 00:15:11.549 --> 00:15:16.379 Um, so that informs a lot of the posing as well. 00:15:16.709 --> 00:15:22.339 Um, When I'm going into the home, which is like, typically where I do 00:15:22.339 --> 00:15:27.229 the shoots, as I said before, I send, if we have some time to prep, we have 00:15:27.289 --> 00:15:32.449 a little bit of a window, I provide resources too to help them prepare. 00:15:32.449 --> 00:15:36.559 I'm like, hey, Have their favorite bed available, have some of 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:39.239 their favorite toys, have things that are meaningful to you. 00:15:40.199 --> 00:15:43.189 It's better if we're by a window, somewhere with a good light 00:15:43.189 --> 00:15:44.639 source, if that's possible. 00:15:44.689 --> 00:15:47.819 Make sure that like the room is fairly tidy. 00:15:48.729 --> 00:15:50.469 Um, we don't have to go everywhere. 00:15:51.099 --> 00:15:54.679 If you prefer to be in your yard or on your front step, if you don't want me 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:58.649 in your home, I respect that, but just kind of the same thing, like just make 00:15:58.649 --> 00:16:02.324 sure that The background's a little bit cleaned up because you will like 00:16:02.324 --> 00:16:04.254 the pictures more if it's that way. 00:16:04.834 --> 00:16:06.334 And I give them agency in that. 00:16:07.214 --> 00:16:10.194 And then I also will send them a questionnaire. 00:16:11.004 --> 00:16:14.814 I send a brief questionnaire that asks, Are you comfortable being in the photos? 00:16:15.369 --> 00:16:18.419 Are you comfortable with any level of emotion being shown? 00:16:18.429 --> 00:16:20.829 Do you not want pictures where you're emotional? 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:23.239 Do you just want the smiling photos? 00:16:23.249 --> 00:16:24.219 Do you want it all? 00:16:24.589 --> 00:16:27.779 So I communicate all of that before I'm even in the space, 00:16:28.479 --> 00:16:32.749 which helps me know as I'm going in what they're comfortable with. 00:16:32.769 --> 00:16:34.524 And I think it helps them feel comfortable with it. 00:16:34.524 --> 00:16:35.419 It helps them to even think 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:36.259 Anke: about it, you know? 00:16:36.444 --> 00:16:40.924 I think, yeah, definitely, I like those ones, like, oh, that, that makes so much 00:16:40.924 --> 00:16:45.094 sense, because you normally don't run around thinking about that, you know? 00:16:45.764 --> 00:16:46.174 Yeah. 00:16:47.644 --> 00:16:51.104 Leah: So I think it helps them prepare and helps them think about it in a good 00:16:51.104 --> 00:16:54.264 way, where they feel more calm and relaxed when I'm in the space, because they know 00:16:54.264 --> 00:16:59.324 that I've already heard a lot of concerns that they may not even know that they had. 00:16:59.654 --> 00:17:01.274 I've anticipated that for them. 00:17:02.194 --> 00:17:02.684 Um. 00:17:03.574 --> 00:17:07.484 And then from there, we just kind of see how the dog's doing. 00:17:07.534 --> 00:17:12.474 They, the, the dog, the subject, really does control a lot of the, 00:17:13.324 --> 00:17:15.894 um, progression of the shoot. 00:17:16.294 --> 00:17:22.654 And We just see how they lead and just kind of pay attention to them. 00:17:23.374 --> 00:17:23.954 Anke: I love that. 00:17:24.354 --> 00:17:25.534 That's just so beautiful. 00:17:25.834 --> 00:17:26.104 Yeah. 00:17:26.394 --> 00:17:31.534 And I think for you, for you, it's kind of like from a photography angle, probably 00:17:31.834 --> 00:17:35.854 more difficult than if somebody comes to your studio, you know, like, okay, your 00:17:35.864 --> 00:17:39.704 hair is a mess, let's put some, you know, but it's just less, you know, and also if 00:17:39.704 --> 00:17:44.329 you were in somebody else's environment, you know, I did, I've done like, um, I 00:17:44.329 --> 00:17:48.539 had a virtual photo shoot like during the pandemic, you know, where it was 00:17:48.549 --> 00:17:53.769 like, I was like, Jesus, that was like, and the photographer like said like, 00:17:53.879 --> 00:17:55.839 okay, give me a walk around your house. 00:17:56.324 --> 00:17:57.444 Like with the camera before. 00:17:57.594 --> 00:18:02.834 And so he, and he spotted locations that I never thought of, you know, but it's 00:18:02.834 --> 00:18:06.374 like, it's really hard when it's like in somebody, like in another space that you 00:18:06.374 --> 00:18:08.274 don't know, and the light's kind of weird. 00:18:08.364 --> 00:18:12.734 And so I think it's like a double whammy in terms of difficulty, right? 00:18:13.244 --> 00:18:13.434 Yeah. 00:18:13.434 --> 00:18:15.004 But it's, it's so rewarding. 00:18:15.004 --> 00:18:15.614 I just love it. 00:18:16.324 --> 00:18:16.854 Beautiful. 00:18:16.994 --> 00:18:20.134 So where can people get in touch with you? 00:18:20.144 --> 00:18:22.694 You know, where's that website where you have people, when people get. 00:18:25.414 --> 00:18:31.084 Leah: Yeah, my website is an abbreviation of my name, so it's lgemrick. 00:18:31.134 --> 00:18:37.694 com, and so e m e r i c k, and on there, you'll see the different 00:18:37.694 --> 00:18:38.954 types of photography I do. 00:18:38.954 --> 00:18:42.304 There is a set of There is a specific tab for the End of Life, 00:18:42.304 --> 00:18:44.194 Celebration of Life pet sessions. 00:18:44.464 --> 00:18:47.154 You can go there, read a little bit more about what I do, what 00:18:47.154 --> 00:18:50.324 I offer, and how I go about it, and why I'm passionate about it. 00:18:50.334 --> 00:18:51.464 See some of the photos. 00:18:52.254 --> 00:18:57.044 Um, and then also, you can find me, there is a network, a national 00:18:57.044 --> 00:19:01.294 network, now that I am part of, that is an end of life pet photography. 00:19:02.914 --> 00:19:04.684 And it's called the Tilly Project. 00:19:05.344 --> 00:19:06.374 T I L L Y. 00:19:06.574 --> 00:19:07.464 The Tilly Project. 00:19:07.464 --> 00:19:11.124 And they are a place that a lot of people find me through as well. 00:19:11.849 --> 00:19:14.849 Anke: Oh, that's awesome because that will also open up for people 00:19:14.919 --> 00:19:18.939 who were not in the area because I guess it's like, yeah, it's local. 00:19:18.939 --> 00:19:21.779 It's like you with your camera, like you can't come and 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:23.619 photograph me in Spain, right? 00:19:23.829 --> 00:19:27.749 Leah: Yeah, it's, it's an amazing thing because I do get, I'll get inquiries 00:19:27.749 --> 00:19:31.819 even from three, four hours away and I'm like, I, I don't, I can't do it. 00:19:31.849 --> 00:19:32.769 I'm so sorry. 00:19:33.239 --> 00:19:37.179 Uh, but I can refer them to that website and say, Hey, you can 00:19:37.179 --> 00:19:40.769 search in your area on this site and maybe there'll be something. 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:41.649 there. 00:19:42.209 --> 00:19:45.529 Um, so it is, it's a very cool, very cool thing. 00:19:46.229 --> 00:19:47.209 Anke: Yeah, that's fantastic. 00:19:47.209 --> 00:19:50.719 So we'll pop the links in, in the show notes, if you're listening 00:19:50.769 --> 00:19:54.799 and it's below the video, if you'll be seeing it in the newsletter. 00:19:54.949 --> 00:19:56.049 So thank you so much. 00:19:56.379 --> 00:19:57.439 This is just delightful. 00:19:57.439 --> 00:20:00.449 And I've, I've seen the photos, they're just adorable. 00:20:00.449 --> 00:20:04.579 And so thanks for coming and sharing that passion with people. 00:20:05.209 --> 00:20:06.609 Leah: Ah, thank you so much for having me. 00:20:06.609 --> 00:20:07.919 It's been a great conversation. 00:20:08.809 --> 00:20:10.519 And I hope no one ever needs my services. 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:14.189 Anke: That's kind of the funny thing, like, I hope you won't need me. 00:20:14.789 --> 00:20:16.389 Leah: Yeah, please don't reach out. 00:20:19.349 --> 00:20:19.749 I love 00:20:19.749 --> 00:20:19.979 Anke: that. 00:20:20.569 --> 00:20:20.819 Leah: Yeah. 00:20:22.131 --> 00:20:23.361 Thanks so much for listening. 00:20:23.881 --> 00:20:28.181 If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe, and leave a review so 00:20:28.281 --> 00:20:30.061 other dog lovers can find the show. 00:20:30.851 --> 00:20:34.341 If you haven't already, head over to soul touched by dogs. 00:20:34.771 --> 00:20:40.341 com and sign up for weekly doggy cuteness tips, recommendations, and personal 00:20:40.441 --> 00:20:42.811 stories to warm your dog loving heart. 00:20:42.811 --> 00:20:46.541 And if you know a pawsome human you think I should interview, 00:20:46.961 --> 00:20:48.101 I'd love an introduction. 00:20:48.581 --> 00:20:50.411 Email me at Anke. 00:20:50.681 --> 00:20:54.916 That's A N k E at Soul touched by dogs.com.