Annie: A Dream Come True at Sunrise

And some dogs are searched for — intentionally, patiently, across time and geography — until the right one finally comes home.

Annie, short for Anniversary, is very much the latter.

Years ago, Suzanne had a Borzoi she deeply loved. When the time came to welcome another into her life, she didn’t just look for any Borzoi. She tracked down the same bloodlines — all the way to the East Coast — and brought Annie home as a 10th wedding anniversary gift.

And that’s exactly why she was such a perfect fit for Love at First Sight(hound).

At three and a half years old, Annie is fully in her elegance.

She is everything you’d expect from a Borzoi — long-legged, soft-coated, regal — and also wonderfully contradictory.

The next she’s looking at you as if to say, “Oh… you want me to do what?”

And beneath that aristocratic exterior is a deeply intuitive soul. Suzanne describes how Annie seems to know when someone isn’t feeling well, quietly coming to lean against them or attempting to become a lap dog (a bold move for a Borzoi with legs for days).

Capturing that balance — strength and softness, independence and devotion — was the goal of our sunrise session.

We met at Prospect Park in Redlands just as the light began to soften the trees.

I chose it for its romantic feel — layered greenery, stone pathways, and pockets of quiet that allow a sighthound’s silhouette to shine. Sunrise sessions are especially beautiful for breeds like the Borzoi. The world is calmer. The air feels still. And the light wraps gently around their coats instead of competing with them.

Annie stepped into that setting as though it had been built just for her.

If you know Borzoi, you know their ears have… preferences.

Flat back is standard. Alert and forward? That’s a moment you earn.

There were a handful of times Annie gave me her full attention — ears lifted, eyes engaged — and I loved watching that spark appear. Those moments speak to trust, patience, and timing.

But what I loved even more was Suzanne’s clarity during the ordering appointment.

While she appreciated those alert expressions, she ultimately chose portraits that honored Annie’s classic breed standard — the relaxed ears, the flowing outline, the unmistakable Borzoi silhouette.

Suzanne selected a 30x24 framed canvas framed in natural walnut wood — a size that allows Annie’s elegance to breathe.

The warmth of the walnut frame complements the sunrise tones and gentle texture of Annie’s soft white coat beautifully. This piece isn’t meant to live on a phone or a hard drive. It’s meant to live on a wall — where Annie’s story can be seen and felt every day.

She also chose an 8x10 acrylic folio art frame with two matted prints — an intimate, versatile way to display additional favorites and rotate them over time.

That’s the heart of what I create for every client — whether you share your life with a carefully chosen purebred, a high-drive athlete, a once-in-a-lifetime rescue pup, a senior soulmate whose time feels precious, or a horse who has carried you through seasons of growth and grit.

Because portraits aren’t just about documenting how they look .

They’re about preserving how it feels to love them .

If you’ve been meaning to create something lasting — something thoughtfully designed for your home and your story — I would be honored to help you bring it to life.

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