• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Westway Studio | San Diego’s most adventurous & colorful pet portraits and commercial brand photography

Commercial brand pet photography and rustic-luxury family pet portraits with one-of-a-kind experiences

  • Howdy
  • Blog
  • Family Pet Photography
    • Portfolio
    • Session Details & Rates
    • High Regards
  • Commercial Pet Photography
    • Project Portfolio
    • Photo + Video Dream Team
    • Your Brand Story
    • Commercial Rates
    • Top Mistakes to Avoid
  • Education for Photographers
  • Contact

November 22, 2016 by Terran 2 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving | Take a moment to acknowledge the good

I love Thanksgiving! Few things make me happier than cooking a big dinner to be enjoyed by family and friends. I remember in 2005, I cooked my first Thanksgiving for the whole family. I read cooking tips from everyone from Martha to Emeril and decided to try brining the bird the night before. I mean, hey, it’s just Thanksgiving… go ahead, experiment! You have absolutely no idea what you’re doing, anyway! Thankfully, it was such a big hit, the parents and grandparents agreed that Thanksgiving was now mine for the long haul… and I was good with that.

Every Thanksgiving, I like to reflect back on the year a bit and remind myself that I have so much to be thankful for!

Westway Studio - Skye Valley Ranch

First, I have an amazing family. Greg is always there by my side, supporting me in every way he can. And he brings me food. Good man. Roxy reminds me to get out and play, hike, and chase lizards like they were dreams. And my mom! My mom is the best there is! She worked her butt off to raise me and give me every opportunity available. And now, she does everything from reminding me to step away and take a walk to helping with Roxy when I have appointments that cut into puppy-dinnertime to bringing me Starbucks to running errands when I just don’t have enough time. In other words, she keeps me sane and I am so, so grateful. Then there’s my family back home who text me every day and remind me that we’re not really all that far away. There’s the ranch family who we see on the weekends and get to eat ridiculously sinfully delicious food with. Fried dough stuffed with cookie dough and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, anyone? And my niece, Katie Jo, who brings me so much happiness every time she’s with us… and who gives me an excuse to eat s’mores for breakfast (good s’morning!), lunch (let’s eat s’munch!), and dinner (good s’mevening!).

Westway Studio - senior dog white face in flowers

Next, my clients. Without them this business wouldn’t be, well, a business! From design clients to pet portrait clients, every one of you make the world go ’round. You allow me to live this amazing dream and for that I am forever grateful. I love getting to be a part of your lives and making an positive impact.

Westway Studio Nixon and Lola - country dogs with bandana red truck

And I can’t forget about business partners and supporters! My friend-turned-partner, Allison, and I have some big stuff in the works that we both dreamed about but probably couldn’t have made happen on our own… that’s all coming in 2017. Pittsburgh-pet-photographer-extraordinaire Nicole, who is helping bring my dream of teaching a pet photography workshop to life in 2017… and in Breckenridge, CO, of all places! And of course Loree and Tess, who shout my name from the rooftops, are my trusty booth neighbors at events, and who are two of the best people around.

Westway Studio - boxers - backlit - trees - forest - sunset

Finally, this year in particular, I’m so grateful for the most amazing business branding and marketing coach, Nichole, who is pushing me to answer the hard questions, giving me mountains of homework to do, and is cheering me on as I hit some major milestones and get ready to take Westway Studio to a whole new level in 2017. She reminds me to celebrate my big wins — even if she has to make me! I am one who typically just says “yay!” and moves along toward the next milestone. There’s something to be said for getting to wear a fancy new pair of shoes :) out around town and know that they’re something really, really special.

Westway Studio - Girl and horse - sunset - trees - kiss

What are you thankful for this year?

I want to know! Leave a comment below! :)

Filed Under: field notes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Greg says

    November 27, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    I am thankful for you Terran! You are so talented! Love you!

    Reply
  2. Maria Diehl says

    December 2, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    I am thankful that my path crossed the path of the Bayer family and that I’ve lived vicariously through all you think and do in a world that I would not have otherwise known. I’ve always loved animals and your stories make me laugh, cry. smile and enjoy your adventures to the fullest. I am definitely thankful for you.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Home » Happy Thanksgiving | Take a moment to acknowledge the good

Follow our wild, wild Westway adventures as we travel the U.S. in our Airstream

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Footer

Contact

Based in San Diego, CA
May – Aug. 2023: Utah, Wyoming,  & Montana
(858) 848-9378
Email Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
Wyoming better move on over and make some room bec Wyoming better move on over and make some room because Montana now shares my heart. We spent 45 days in the western half of the state this year and I did NOT want to leave.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​On our last day, Roxy and I sat out by the Gallatin River together. I sipped my morning tea, we listened to the birds, and watched a little squirrel eat a nut in the tree next to us. It was pure perfection.⁣ 
My *TWO* Montana blogs are up on my website so head on over to westwaypets.com/blog or click the links in my IG bio!
We're officially back in San Diego but I'm still d We're officially back in San Diego but I'm still dreaming of Utah! Photographing Rey and her mom among the red rocks was one of the highlights of our trip. Rey's beautiful brindle tones worked so perfectly with the red rocks and I just loved the happy, natural smiles both mom & pup had when they were together!
I absolutely loved this peaceful spot in Jackson H I absolutely loved this peaceful spot in Jackson Hole. Down a gravel road, away from the tourist crowds, the Teton range stood nobly in the distance while tall trees, yellow wildflowers, and a friendly little chipmunk called this hilltop home. This was such a special evening and Mother Nature's dramatic sunset is not one I'll soon forget.
Here's a little Montana sunrise sparkle and a big Here's a little Montana sunrise sparkle and a big smile from Henry to start your day!
Hello, Las Vegas! Shutterhound starts TOMORROW!!!! Hello, Las Vegas! Shutterhound starts TOMORROW!!!! I know how hard the conference founders, Kaylee & Sam, have been working to pull this all together and I am 1,000,000% confident this will be an event to remember! I am honored to have been asked to teach two separate classes at the event and am so excited to get up there on stage and share what I've learned over the past 13 years as a pet photographer! Are any of my social followers here at the conference, too? Are you ready to have your socks knocked off????? I am!!!
Who's ready to go have some fun this weekend??? Who's ready to go have some fun this weekend???
We wrapped up this year's road trip in Big Sky, Mo We wrapped up this year's road trip in Big Sky, Montana and this was our final hike. Roxy rode in her carriage and was as happy as a little clam the whole time. She loves being out in nature and I'm just so glad we can still provide her with special outings like this one.
This year's Great American Road trip flew by way t This year's Great American Road trip flew by way too quickly. It feels like we were in Wyoming just yesterday, staring out at my favorite mountain range in awe, and photographing the amazing Harley and his mom.​​​​​​​​​ 
I'm flying out to Las Vegas next week to teach at Shutterhound, *the* conference for pet photographers. I'm excited to see old friends, meet new ones, and teach two classes! I am so honored to be part of the "rockstar speaker" lineup, which includes some of the very best, most iconic, and talented pet photographers from across the globe! Can Vegas even contain so much talent? As the conference founders are telling us, expect your socks to be blown right off more than once!
Montana taught me that I can plan and plan and pla Montana taught me that I can plan and plan and plan — but Mother Nature likes to have a little fun with those who get a little too confident in the weather! ➡️ We got completely drenched at one of our photo shoots this month and it will be one of my favorite memories from our entire road trip!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • The Great American Road Trip Season 2, Part 5: The Finale
  • The Great American Road Trip Season 2, Part 4: Northwest Montana
  • The Great American Road Trip Season 2, Part 3: Wyoming
  • The Great American Road Trip Season 2, Part 2: Utah
  • The Great American Road Trip Season 2, Part 1: The Adventure Begins

All images and written content on this site are Copyright © 2010-2023 Westway Studio.
Nothing on this site may be copied, screenshot, downloaded, or used without the written permission of Westway Studio.

  • Howdy
  • Blog
  • Family Pet Photography
  • Commercial Pet Photography
  • For Photographers
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
GIT ALONG LI'L DOGGIES
Follow my adventures with dogs, travel, and ranch life in the Wild, Wild Westway