From Coeur d'Alene to the National Stage: Best Life Photography Featured at International Art Gallery Showing September 2026

Best Life Photography | Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

There are moments in life that stop you in your tracks — moments you want to freeze, hold onto, and remember forever. Ironically, as a photographer, I spend my days helping other families capture exactly those kinds of moments. But this September, I got to experience one of my own.

Best Life Photography was selected as a Featured Artist at an International Art Gallery Showing in Springfield, Illinois — September 15–16, 2026.

I'm still pinching myself.

A Room Full of Extraordinary Artists

Walking into that gallery felt surreal. Photographers had traveled from across the United States, from Canada, and as far away as Australia to share their work on a single, unified stage. Every image on those walls represented someone's dedication to their craft, their vision, and the stories they've chosen to tell through their lens.

And there I was. a boutique portrait photographer from a small city in northern Idaho right alongside them. My piece for the show was a large-format pet portrait of Petunia — a close-up of this beautiful girl, rendered in fine detail on metal. Every whisker. Every soulful eye. Every strand of that scruffy, irresistible fur. It's the kind of image that makes you stop mid-step and just feel something.

That's the whole point, really.

Where It All Started: Pooch Playoffs

What makes this story even more meaningful is where this portrait came from.

This image was originally created through Pooch Playoffs — my annual pet photography competition and community fundraiser right here in Coeur d'Alene. Dogs compete for the title of top pooch, their families cheer them on, and a portion of the proceeds go directly to Companions Animal Center. It's one of my favorite things I do all year — pure joy, pure community, pure love for our four-legged family members.

What started as a celebration of local dogs and a way to give back to animals in need ended up on the walls of an international art gallery alongside photographers from around the world.

That's not lost on me. Petunia's portrait was created right here in our community and traveled to Springfield, Illinois and held its own next to some of the finest photographers working today. Community-rooted work can rise to any stage. I believe that with my whole heart.

Why Pet Portraits Matter as Fine Art

I believe — deeply — that photographs aren't just images. They are heirlooms. They are the things you reach for in a fire. They are the faces you look at when words aren't enough.

Our pets are family. Full stop. And they love us without condition, without agenda, without a single bad day directed at us. A fine art pet portrait honors that bond in a way that a phone snapshot simply can't. It belongs on your wall. It belongs in your home. It belongs in your story.

When I submitted this piece, I wanted to show the art world what pet photography can be when it's treated with the same intention and artistry as any other portrait genre. I'm proud to say — the response was everything I hoped for.

What "Year 2 Featured Artist" Means to Me

This wasn't my first time at this show. Being invited back as a Featured Artist for a second year is an honor I don't take lightly. It means the work is resonating. It means the storytelling is landing. And it means that what we're doing here at Best Life Photography. This whole mission of creating heirloom artwork that fills homes with warmth and connection , is being recognized far beyond the borders of Kootenai County.

That's humbling. And honestly? It's motivating in a way I didn't quite expect.

Bringing It Home

Every session I book, every family I work with, every pet I photograph, it all feeds into this larger body of work I'm building. The goal has never been just to take nice pictures. The goal is to create something that outlasts the moment. Something your grandchildren will look at one day and say, "That's her. That's him. That was them."

If you've been thinking about a pet portrait — or a family session, a senior session, a newborn milestone — this is your sign. Life moves fast. Our animals age faster than we're ever ready for. Don't wait until the perfect moment. Make this the moment.

Let's Create Something Worthy of Your Wall

I'd love to tell your story the way I told this one — with care, with intention, and with the kind of artistry that turns a photograph into a legacy.

Ready to book your session?