The weather has finally cooled down and the leaves have begun to change in color to the most beautiful oranges, reds, and yellows. This time of the year is one of my favorites because it adds just another reason to snuggle (not that they needed another!).

After being married for 28 years and having gone way too long without professional photos, these two decided it was time to make some memories with the newest member of their family, an English Cream Retriever named Sampson.

When I envision a session with a puppy, there are many scenarios that come to mind - some disastrous and others are dreamy - and you never know which one you will get. Luckily for all of us, this little guy was such a treat and I'm fairly certain he is actually a model!

We spent the hour chatting and walking around a beautiful section of Busch Wildlife and I was in awe of their love for one another. It is such an amazing gift to be able to witness couples so in love that their smiles are contagious and their joy radiates throughout the entire park.

Being in their presence, I was reminded of an Autumn poem that I stumbled upon a few years ago and I feel the need to share it as a testament to their love and my gratitude for being a part of this beautiful session:

I have never seen a flower blush when I took it's hue

and held it there a prisoner captive to my view.

I have always heard the song that's in the autumn breeze
playing taps in harmony with the forest leaves.

I love the smell of rain that brings the springtime into bud
and swells my love of nature into a teeming flood.

I celebrate the cycle of the daytime into night
and find an equal blessing in the shadow and the light.

I've always felt affinity for all created things
and surrender to the pleasure that their beauty brings.

And though I could spent a lifetime sailing drops of dew
I've never seen a universe as beautiful as you.

I've often sat myself by gentle mountain streams
and overflowed the dams that were holding back my dreams.

I've breathed the scented forest on the mountainside
and washed away my sorrows in an evening ocean tide.

I've laid down in a meadow and debated with the moon
and spent some quiet moments on the surface of Neptune.

I got married to a zodiac with one of Saturn's rings
then spied a super nova and went on a cosmic fling.

I've run away to nebulae in galaxy brochures
and bathed in scenes of wonders on distant planet shores.

Every cosmos in creation could parade before my view
but I've never seen a universe as beautiful as you.

I've never seen a tree once withdraw it's shade
and deny a creature the comfort of its aid.

I've never seen any anger in the sun at noon
when it burns relentlessly on the desert dune.

At sunrise I take an oath to live with all my might
and reinforce my gratitude each and every night.

I could spend some hours riding on a crystal flake
drifting wildly in a gale mindless of my fate.

Many times I've been through trials of wind and rain and snow
then sentenced to the splendors that the seasons show.

And though I've searched throughout creation, I must say this is true
I've never seen a universe as beautiful as you.

-John Wilowski

Of course, there's still a little puppy in him!