🐶 Dog Days of Summer 2.0 | More Than a Pet Portrait—A Day to Give Back

There is something incredibly special about the bond between a person and their dog.

They don't care what kind of day you've had.

They don't care if your hair is messy, if you've had a rough week, or if life hasn't gone according to plan.

They're simply happy you're here.

They greet us with excitement, comfort us when we're hurting, celebrate the smallest moments, and love us without expecting anything in return.

At Sage River Photography, we often find ourselves wondering...

What if our community loved one another just a little more like our dogs love us?

What if we celebrated each other's victories?

What if we checked on our neighbors when life became difficult?

What if we supported the organizations that quietly work every day to help people through some of life's hardest moments?

Because we believe that's what makes a community truly beautiful.

And that's exactly why Dog Days of Summer exists.

💜 Our Mission at Sage River Photography

Photography has never been just about taking pictures.

It's about preserving memories.

Building confidence.

Celebrating families.

Honoring every stage of life.

But beyond all of that...

We believe photography can be a force for good.

One of the core values of Sage River Photography is simple:

Help should always be within reach.

Everyone deserves hope.

Everyone deserves kindness.

Everyone deserves a community that shows up when they're needed most.

Whether it's helping someone through a mental health crisis, providing support for children and families, offering healing through equine therapy, or simply reminding someone they are not alone, these are the things that create stronger communities.

When we have opportunities to use our photography to support organizations making a difference, we don't hesitate.

Because giving back isn't something we do once in a while.

It's part of who we are.

Dog Days of Summer is one of our favorite events because it combines everything we believe in:

Love.

Community.

Connection.

And giving back.

🐾 Join Us for Dog Days of Summer 2.0

We're honored to once again partner with Sierra Shadows Lavender & Honey for one of the most beautiful community events of the summer.

Bring your four-legged best friend and enjoy a professional portrait surrounded by gorgeous blooming lavender while supporting incredible organizations serving Northern Nevada.

📅 Event Details

Saturday, July 18, 2026

7:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Sierra Shadows Lavender & Honey

729 Indian Trail Road

Gardnerville, Nevada

Registration is free.

A recommended minimum donation of $20 will be collected during the event, with proceeds supporting local nonprofit organizations.

📸 Professional Dog Portraits in the Lavender

If you've never seen dogs exploring fields of blooming lavender...

You're in for something special.

These portraits are designed to be quick, fun, and relaxed.

Whether your dog is full of energy, incredibly photogenic, completely goofy, or needs a few extra treats to cooperate, we'll capture the personality that makes them uniquely yours.

Our goal isn't perfection.

Our goal is capturing the love you share.

Because years from now, these portraits won't just remind you what your dog looked like.

They'll remind you how they made you feel.

❤️ Supporting Organizations That Strengthen Our Community

This event is about so much more than photography.

Every donation helps support organizations that work tirelessly to care for members of our community.

This year's participating organizations include:

• Austin's House

• Kids & Horses

• Suicide Prevention Network

Each one serves people in different ways, but they all share one thing in common:

They remind people they don't have to face life's challenges alone.

When you participate in Dog Days of Summer, you're helping those organizations continue their incredible work.

That's something we're proud to be part of.

🐶 What Our Dogs Teach Us

Dogs have an amazing way of bringing people together.

They start conversations between strangers.

They make us laugh when we need it most.

They remind us to slow down and enjoy the simple moments.

Most importantly...

They love without conditions.

Imagine if we lived just a little more like they do.

Imagine offering encouragement instead of criticism.

Choosing compassion before judgment.

Checking on someone who's having a hard time.

Supporting local organizations that help our neighbors heal.

Building a community where people know they matter.

That's the kind of community we believe in.

One where kindness spreads.

One where people lift each other up.

One where help is never out of reach.

Dog Days of Summer isn't just celebrating our love for dogs.

It's celebrating the kind of love they inspire us to share with everyone around us.

🌿 Lavender Season Is Pure Magic

Lavender season only comes once a year, making these portraits even more special.

The vibrant purple fields at Sierra Shadows Lavender & Honey create one of the most breathtaking natural backdrops in all of Northern Nevada.

The soft colors, peaceful atmosphere, and beautiful scenery make every portrait feel timeless.

It's one of our favorite places to photograph every single summer.

✨ Want Even More Lavender?

Dog Days of Summer features quick fundraising portraits, but if you're dreaming of a full portrait experience, we also offer a limited number of Lavender Mini Sessions each year.

These sessions are perfect for:

• Families

• Couples

• Children

• Seniors

• Maternity

• Pets

• And anyone wanting to celebrate this beautiful season.

Because lavender blooms for such a short time each year, these sessions fill quickly.

If you'd like first access to booking announcements and VIP scheduling, be sure to join the Sage River Photography VIP Group, where we announce new sessions before they're released publicly.

📷 About Sage River Photography

Located in the heart of historic downtown Gardnerville, Sage River Photography is a boutique portrait studio specializing in creating heirloom artwork for families, newborns, seniors, maternity, boudoir, pets, and every chapter life has to offer.

Our mission has always been bigger than photography.

We exist to preserve legacies.

To celebrate connection.

To build confidence.

To create artwork that tells the story of the people you love most.

And whenever possible...

To use our talents to strengthen the community that has supported us for so many years.

Because we believe beautiful portraits become family treasures.

But kindness...

Kindness creates stronger communities.

💜 We Hope to See You There

Whether you're coming because your dog deserves their moment in front of the camera...

Because you love the lavender...

Or because you simply believe in supporting your community...

We hope you'll join us.

Together, we can create beautiful memories, support incredible local organizations, and celebrate the unconditional love our dogs show us every day.

Here's to wagging tails...

Blooming lavender...

New friendships...

And a community that continues to choose compassion, generosity, and hope.

Because just like our dogs remind us every single day...

Love is meant to be shared. 🐾💜