Meet Christina Cookson of Wag Your Tail Photography in Downtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Cookson.

Christina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
After graduating college, I was torn about my direction in life. Succumbing to some family pressure, I ended up in law school. I practiced law for several years on the East Coast, always feeling like there was something better suited to my personality, passion and dreams. In 2008, life presented an amazing opportunity to move to Colorado and embark on a new journey. I packed my car and headed West. As soon as I moved to Colorado, I was overcome by its beauty. I immediately purchased my first fancy camera and shortly after my move, I got a husky puppy, Newton. While I was an adult in my early 30s, Newton was my first dog ever. With Newton by my side and my new camera around my neck, I headed out into the mountains. Photography instantly became my favorite past-time, and Newton my instant best friend. After a few years, life took me and Newton back to the East Coast and back to the law. My passion for photography and pets did not wane, however. I continued honing my skills and taking photos of Newton, as well as other family and friends’ pets, in my free time. Then, in 2014, my now-husband pushed me to start a pet photography business part-time, and Wag Your Tail Photography was born. Working full-time as an attorney, it was hard to imagine how I could possibly add photography sessions to my already stressful schedule, but I was determined to at least try. Weekends quickly started to fill up with pet photo shoots, and I was instantly energized and excited. Pet photography gave me the creative and artistic outlet I was yearning for. In 2018, after many months of dreaming and planning, my husband and I packed our bags and our two huskies, Newton and his new sister, Maya, and drove cross-country to Denver, our new home. Wag Your Tail is now my main focus, and I could not be happier. The lesson I have taken from all of this is that you are never too old, or too far-removed from your goals, to pursue your dreams. You owe it to yourself to give it a shot.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Working 80+ hours a week as an attorney, I was mentally and physically worn out. Adding one to two photo shoots a weekend, plus the pre- and post-session work that goes into every session pushed me to my limits. There was also a steep learning curve I had to deal with in owning my own business. The ebbs and flows of entrepreneurship were very different from my steady and reliable position as an attorney. Earning a new client when you are self-employed is an incredibly powerful and empowering gift. Learning to be patient for that gift is a struggle, but a struggle well-worth it. The key is to ride out those periods of disappointment and keep your vision and goals clear. All good things will follow.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Wag Your Tail Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Wag Your Tail Photography specializes in pet photography. Our motto is “Furkid Love”. To many of us, including myself, our pets are our children. My vision is simple: Join together the beauty and joy of the four-legged love of your life with a sense of artistry and creativity. I love all pets… dogs, cats, pigs, horses, rabbits, birds, you name it! If there’s one thing my clients always comment on is how much they love the color, emotion and personality my photographs emote. I think bringing out the unique personality in each pet, as well as the connection they have with their owners, is one of the most important aspects of pet photography. Otherwise, it becomes just another picture of a pet.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My goal is to not only be a staple photography resource for pet owners in Denver but also to be a voice for pets and their owners here in Denver. There are many pet (and particularly dog) ownership issues on a legislative level that need to be addressed in Denver, and Colorado, as a whole, and I hope to use my legal background to effect some positive changes in that area if at all possible. Of course, being a nationally-recognized influencer in the pet photography community is on the list too!

Pricing:

• 1-Pet Package – $325
• 2-Pet Package – $375
• Customized packages available.

Contact Info:

• Address: Denver CO
• Website: https://wagyourtail.photography/
• Phone: 3039315420
• Email: wagyourtailphoto@gmail.com

Image Credit:
Wag Your Tail Photography

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