34 Things My Dogs (and This Business) Have Taught Me by 34

Birthdays have a way of making you stop and actually look at your life. Not in a dramatic way, just in a quiet-coffee-and-reflection kind of way where you think, how did I get here? Last week, I turned 34. And while younger me was convinced I'd have everything neatly figured out by now, life had other plans. Better plans, honestly. The lessons I've gathered along the way didn't come from a classroom or a five-year plan. Most of them came from four-pawed teachers, muddy sessions, and the courage it took to build something meaningful from scratch. So here's what 34 trips around the sun have taught me.

Alysha Priscilla, dog photographer, with her dog Sweet Pea - Alysha Priscilla Photography

Life Had a Funny Way of Teaching Me

When I think back on the past several years, so much of what I know about love, presence, and purpose came directly from my relationship with my dog, Sweet Pea. She came into my life during one of the hardest chapters I've known, and she changed everything. Not in a tidy, Instagram-caption kind of way. In a real, raw, this small creature is keeping me going kind of way.

Building Alysha Priscilla Photography has been its own kind of education, too. Every session, every client, every moment of self-doubt followed by a breakthrough has added something to who I am. We're at the midway point of the year, and I'm feeling reflective. So I figured - why not share what's actually on my heart?

34 Things I've Learned by 34

Some of these are about dogs. Some are about business. Some are just about being human. All of them are true.

A puppy can absolutely change your life. Post for another time, but I am here doing this because of my puppy.
It's never too late to learn a new skill. I got my first camera at 27.
Building a business is much harder - and much more rewarding - than it looks.
Confidence grows every time you do something that scares you.
Dogs have an incredible way of bringing people together.
The best photographs happen between the poses.
Some of the biggest opportunities begin with simply saying "yes."
Every dog has their own personality, and that's exactly what makes them beautiful.
Social media isn't everything. Genuine connections matter significantly more.
Sunrise is worth the early alarm.
Sunset never gets old.
Sometimes the only thing holding me back is...well, me.
A wagging tail can brighten even the hardest day.
Every gray muzzle tells a story worth remembering.
Your comfort zone is a terrible place to grow.
Celebrate every win, even the small ones.
People remember how you made them feel.
The perfect location matters less than the love being photographed.
Dogs remind us to be present.
It's okay to ask for help.
Progress is better than perfection.
Kindness always matters.
Trust your instincts.
Memories become priceless with time.
The little moments often become the biggest memories.
Comparison steals creativity.
Learning never really ends.
Take the chance. Do the thing!
Be okay with hearing "no".
Gratitude changes your perspective.
Every client trusts me with a piece of their story, and that's an honor I'll never take for granted.
I truly believe this dream will become my full-time career one day.
The love we share with our dogs is one of life's greatest gifts.
We never get enough time with them... which is exactly why preserving those moments matters so much.

Close-up portrait of a senior dog with gray muzzle - pet photography by Alysha Priscilla Photography

The Ones That Hit Differently This Year

A few of these lessons feel especially relevant right now, standing at the halfway point of the year with a lot still ahead.

Be true to yourself - but not in a cheesy way

I mean actually do it. Show up as you are. Don't water yourself down to make other people more comfortable. I've tried to contort my work and my voice into what I thought people wanted, and it never felt right. When I stopped doing that, things started clicking. Most of all, be okay with hearing "no" without taking it personally.

Trial and error is the actual method

There's no secret formula. You try something, see what happens, adjust, and try again. That's it. That's the whole process. Whether it's a new camera angle, a new way of connecting with a nervous pup, or a new way of running my business - iteration beats inaction every single time.

Take the risk. Do the thing.

Whatever it is you've been putting off - the session, the purchase, the phone call, the decision to finally get photos taken with your dog - stop waiting for the right time. The right time is rarely obvious until it's already passed.

Dog leaping joyfully during outdoor photography session - Alysha Priscilla Photography New England

Why This All Comes Back to You

Here's the thing I keep coming back to on this birthday. Number 34 on that list isn't just a caption-worthy sentiment. It's the whole reason I do this work.

We don't get enough time with our dogs. We know that going in, and we love them anyway - completely, unreservedly, with everything we've got. And so many of us spend that time watching, feeling, soaking it in, but never quite capturing it in a way that will last.

The camera roll is full. But the images - the ones that truly show who your dog was, what your relationship felt like, how it looked when they curled into you at the end of a long day - those are rare.

That's what I'm here for. Not to just take pretty pictures, but to preserve something real. Something that will matter even more with time.

Intimate dog and owner portrait in natural sunset light - lifestyle pet photography by Alysha Priscilla Photography

Let's Make Some Memories Together

If this post found you at just the right moment - if something in that list of 34 made you feel seen, or stirred something you've been putting off - I'd love to hear from you.

Whether you're in the York, ME area, Wells Beach, Portsmouth, NH, or anywhere in between, I'd be honored to tell your story. To capture the tail wags, the nose boops, the golden-hour walks, and the in-between moments that make your bond with your dog completely irreplaceable.

You can learn more and reach out at alyshapriscillaphotography.com.

Here's to 34. Here's to the dogs who shape us. And here's to finally doing the thing you've been meaning to do.

With so much gratitude,
Alysha

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34 Things My Dog (and This Business) Have Taught Me by 34

34 Things My Dogs (and This Business) Have Taught Me by 34

Life Had a Funny Way of Teaching Me

34 Things I've Learned by 34

Some of these are about dogs. Some are about business. Some are just about being human. All of them are true.

A puppy can absolutely change your life. Post for another time, but I am here doing this because of my puppy.

It's never too late to learn a new skill. I got my first camera at 27.

Building a business is much harder - and much more rewarding - than it looks.

Confidence grows every time you do something that scares you.

Dogs have an incredible way of bringing people together.

The best photographs happen between the poses.

Some of the biggest opportunities begin with simply saying "yes."

Every dog has their own personality, and that's exactly what makes them beautiful.

Social media isn't everything. Genuine connections matter significantly more.

Sunrise is worth the early alarm.

Sunset never gets old.

Sometimes the only thing holding me back is...well, me.

A wagging tail can brighten even the hardest day.

Every gray muzzle tells a story worth remembering.

Your comfort zone is a terrible place to grow.

Celebrate every win, even the small ones.

People remember how you made them feel.

The perfect location matters less than the love being photographed.

Dogs remind us to be present.

It's okay to ask for help.

Progress is better than perfection.

Kindness always matters.

Trust your instincts.

Memories become priceless with time.

The little moments often become the biggest memories.

Comparison steals creativity.

Learning never really ends.

Take the chance. Do the thing!

Be okay with hearing "no".

Gratitude changes your perspective.

Every client trusts me with a piece of their story, and that's an honor I'll never take for granted.

I truly believe this dream will become my full-time career one day.

The love we share with our dogs is one of life's greatest gifts.

We never get enough time with them... which is exactly why preserving those moments matters so much.