HOUNDVISION DOG PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP - VERMONT
- Amy Hodson
- Oct 25
- 7 min read
FALL MAGIC, SOUL-FIRE AND INCREDIBLE DOG MODELS (PARt 1 of 3)
As a business owner, there are certain things you invest in to elevate your client experience - tools that make your process smoother and more intentional. And as a creative business owner, you also invest in your own growth. Because the truth is, being a creative means never standing still. You're always evolving. Learning. Reaching. Those investments aren’t just about time and money. They’re investments in the dream itself.
Houndvision is all of that - and SO. MUCH. MORE.
Led by three of the absolute best dog photographers in the industry, Houndvision is a one-of-a-kind, immersive dog photography workshop experience. It’s equal parts business coaching, creative inspiration, technical editing, and jaw-dropping photo sessions with dogs that could literally hold a stay in the middle of Times Square. And somehow, all of it fits into three days.
This was my second Houndvision, hosted by Kaylee Greer and Sam Haddix of Dog Breath Photography, and Nicole Begley of Nicole Begley Photography and the Hair of the Dog Academy. This powerhouse trio brings more than just talent to the table - they create a wildly supportive, detail-driven experience. Think: stunning homes in scenic locations, thoughtfully curated photo spots, private chefs for every meal, and some of the most well-trained (and ridiculously photogenic) dog models you’ve ever met.
This year’s location? Vermont. In peak fall. Pure. Magic.
DAY 0: ARRIVAL AND EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR
I pulled up to the house around 8 PM on “Day Zero”, which is what my boyfriend and I call the first day we arrive somewhere on a trip. You know the day: The one before the excitement really begins, where you can feel the excitement in the air. You're SO excited to be there, and SO exhausted from traveling all day. For Houndvision Day 0, the instructors had hot pizza waiting for everyone (bless them - or as Kaylee likes to say, "bless"), and after a warm welcome, we were guided to our rooms. We even had our bags hand delievered to our rooms thanks to valet-level service by instructor Sam Haddix himself.
The energy that night was electric. Over an informal dinner, we started getting to know each other, trading stories and laughs like we were already old friends. After a long day of travel, we all turned in early, knowing the next day would be the official start - and an unforgettable one.
DAY 1: INSPIRATION, SOUL-FIRE AND A PERFECT FARM IN THE MOUNTAINS
We started the morning with breakfast from our private chef, Abbey - and let me just say, this woman is a culinary magician. I’m going to try not to gush about the food too much in this series, but... Abbey deserves all the praise. She cooked every single meal of the workshop - breakfast, lunch, and dinner - and every dish was perfection. If you’re ever looking for a private chef in the New England area, this is your girl.
Once we were properly caffeinated and incredibly well-fed, we dove into the workshop. The morning was all about classroom-style inspiration. And wow - there’s something powerful about hearing your role models speak so passionately about why they do what they do. Their stories, their mindset shifts, their vulnerability... it lit something in me that had been quietly flickering and brought it roaring back to life.
By the end of that morning session, I was full-on fist-pumping and texting Chris at home things like:
“I’M SO GRATEFUL I’M HERE!!!”
“MY SOUL IS ON FIRE!!!”
(Yes. In all caps.)
GOLDEN HOUR AT RIVERLEDGE FARM
Around 3 PM, we headed back to our rooms to prep for the first photo session of the week. Our location: Riverledge Farm in Grafton, VT - a dreamy event venue nestled in a quiet valley, complete with a babbling stream, a classic red barn, and all the Vermont charm you could imagine.
But first, a quick note about how the shooting sessions are structured:
There are nine attendees total, and we split into three groups of three photographers. Each group is led by one instructor. Because there are three photo sessions during the workshop, you get to shoot in a small group with each instructor - which is incredibly valuable and one of the things that sets Houndvision apart.
My shooting partners for the week were Stacey of Stacey Guptill Photography and Missy of Missy Maher Photography. I had an absolute blast with these two - so much laughter and learning packed into every moment. 💖
Our group for the first shoot was led by none other than Kaylee Greer. If you have never watched Puparazzi - stop what you are doing RIGHT NOW and go watch it! You'll get the perfect sense of the overflowing creativity and unbridled joy Kaylee brings to her shoots. Her energy is unmatched and its infectious.
After we arrived at the site and greeted our models for the day, Kaylee said, “We’re starting in the creek right now - let’s go!” And once we got there? No explanation needed. The lighting was perfect. It was peak color in Vermont, and the late afternoon sun was filtering through golden leaves like a dream.
Meet the Models: Quija, George and Goose (with a surprise image including Taxi and Nym!)
Our first model was Quija (pronounced like the board game you played in the 90's at sleepovers with your girlfriends trying to communicate with souls on another plane), a stunning 10-month-old Dalmatian with a powerhouse skillset. It was evident from the first push of the shutter that her mom, Meghan, has done some incredible work with this little lady. Quija not only knew ALL of the basics, but she could also hold her stay off-leash and knew some impressive tricks! One of those was having her rear up on her back legs to hit a target, which made for some show-stopping shots of water droplets bursting into the air. It was amazing!
Behind the scenes (BTS) of how the above image was made! 👇🏻
As always, I’m drawn to dogs-in-their-environment scenes. There’s something about capturing Mother Nature's beauty with the dog that just speaks to the nature-lover in me. So when it was my turn to select a post for Quija, I positioned her for a few beautiful panoramic shots, including some of her glancing back over her shoulder. Just look at those soulful eyes and speckled ears framed by fiery foliage.
A few more of Quija posing like a pro in the creek are included below.
Next, we swapped in George, a gentle giant of a Great Dane. His mom Janet is also a pet photographer, which meant she was a pro at reading our signals and helping us get the perfect pose. We captured images of George in the stream, then moved to a fence line with gorgeous light. I particularly loved his stoic frame with this sidelight in the autumn colors.
Did I mention that George is a celebrity? This handsome boy has done commercial work for multiple brands and is even featured in the new Apple virtual reality displays! Head to the store and ask for a demo to see a gorgeous image of him taken by the one and only Dog Breath Photography.
Here are some more images of big boy, George!
From there, we wandered toward the barn - but got delightfully distracted by about ten other perfect Vermont scenes.
One of those distractions? Quija again, this time posing on a little farm road with a stone wall and classic little red barn in the background. It felt straight out of a storybook.
Eventually, we made our way to the big, iconic red barn. While we were crossing a big field, Kaylee flipped on the barn's fairy lights - just in time to catch the golden hour. We worked multiple angles, soaking up every bit of the glow.
Then came the magic moment...
The “Dog Pile” Finale
Kaylee suggested we try a "group photo" of all four models. It was amazing! She also suggested that we try a dual-dog portrait of Goose (a boxer) and Quija, who happen to be besties in real life. Their moms are close friends, and these two dogs have practically grown up together.
We wandered over to where Nicole’s group was photographing Goose and - instantly - everyone piled in. It turned into a spontaneous, joyful “dog pile” of photographers, all trying to capture the connection between these beautiful pups against the glowing Vermont backdrop.
It was pure magic. The perfect ending to a beautiful, soul-stirring session.
Just ONE more photo!
I know I said the "Dog Pile" was the finale... but I lied. 🤣 If you've ever had a photo session with a photographer - literally ANY photographer. You have likely heard this phrase, "Oh wait!!! I've got one more idea!"
Well, that is EXACTLY what happened here. I had already put my gear away, because it was pitch black out. The sun had LONG setted... when I looked behind me and Sam had pulled out the Ice Light - a continuous lighting wand. The group had Quija lit up along the fence line and was photographing her with the fairy lights in the background.
I ran to go get my gear.
When I got back, we were swapping Quija out with George - and Nicole was counting down the amount of time we had left before we had to get back to the house for dinner. We had 5 minutes!
I had been dreaming of a wide-angle, symmetrical shot with the red barn since we arrived... and this was my chance! The group had George set up in a lovely pose so they could photograph the fairy lights behind him... then it was my chance. I asked Janet to line George up in a very specific spot infront of the barn, and had about 30 seconds to capture my shot.... and although this isn't my usual style - I think it turned out very nicely.
It was time to head "home" for dinner, where Chef Abbey WOW'D us with her incredible cuisines.
Stay Tuned for Part 2…
Coming up next: two more epic sessions, more amazing dog models, and more hands-on mentoring in a small group setting by the best in the industry. Plus, more from Chef Abbey (because yes, the food deserves its own shoutout again).
Until then—thanks for coming along for the ride. ❤️🐾📸
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