The Copper State Scent Work Club trial came together for me almost by accident. I had reached out to Aleks to see if she knew of any events coming up, and she connected me with this one. It was only a couple of weeks away, and before I really had time to overthink it, I was booked to cover my very first scent work trial.
It was AKC Scent Work, and it all happened in one busy day with multiple levels running. Buried, advanced, master. I felt like I was everywhere at once, camera in hand, trying to keep up with the energy around me. It was fast-paced, with dogs moving in and out of the search areas, handlers working their timing, and that electric sense of anticipation every time a dog started searching.
For me, the most exciting part was realizing how much I enjoyed photographing it. There is something special about scent work. The dogs are completely in their element, focused and confident, while their handlers try to read them and trust what they are saying. Capturing those moments, whether it was a quick alert or the pride on a handler’s face, made me want to keep doing more.
By the end of the day, I was tired but happy. And then came the moment that stuck with me: I was asked if I could cover their next event, an NACSW trial in March. That felt huge. My first ever scent work trial had already led to another opportunity, and it felt like the start of something important in my photography journey.
