This week I was fortunate to have a photo shoot with a gorgeous fluffy, white Samoyed puppy named Galaxy. It was my 5th time photographing a Samoyed.

These dogs are just delight to photograph and their “Sammy Smile" never disappoints.  The Sammy Smile refers to the slightly upturned corners of the Samoyed's mouth which definitely matches their happy, good-natured personality.

I’ve read that the Sammy is a talkative breed, with a fondness for communicating with its humans with howls or barks. This is something I can attest to since both of the Samoyed puppies that I have photographed spent some time barking during their session.

Their history is interesting too. I learned that they were bred and raised by the Samoyede people on the Taimyr Peninsula of Siberia. They were working dogs who pulled sleds, herded reindeer, kept their people warm during the cold winter months and protected the Samoyede against predators.

These dogs are really amazing to photograph. Their stunning, fluffy white fur pops out against the background and they literally glow!  And that Sammy smile is so endearing.

Nine month old Galaxy came for his dog photography session in the beautiful fall colours that Toronto offers.  The location at Aga Khan Museum offered so much more than just fall colours. The gorgeous architecture and gardens were great to work in.

Galaxy is such a playful, confident boy, although at one point he was a little mischievous and took off when we removed his leash for the action shots! We were in a completely enclosed area so he couldn’t get far. It was so much fun to work with him, and to see his personality as we went along. I think his name is so appropriate - he’s like the brightest star in the galaxy!

Here are a few photos from his session at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.