The Story Behind Renavia Photography
If you’ve ever wondered how Renavia Photography came to life… it didn’t start with a camera...It started with a dog.
It All Began With Peanuts
I’ve loved dogs for as long as I can remember...honestly, since I could walk. Some of my earliest memories are filled with dog snuggles, training in 4h, learning tricks, going for walks, and lots more. Our first family dog, Peanuts, wasn’t just a pet… he was part of everything. He was there in the background of childhood moments that, at the time, felt small...but looking back now, meant everything and that’s where it started.
It's not where photography started but the understanding that dogs aren’t “just dogs.” They’re a part of your life story.
This was me and Peanuts.
Where Photography Entered the Picture
I didn’t pick up a camera because I thought I’d turn it into a business one day. I started in Grade 7 as a hobby.
At the time, it was just curiosity, learning, experimenting, figuring things out as I went, but something about it stuck. I loved being able to freeze a moment...something that would’ve otherwise passed by without a second thought.
Still, back then, photography and dogs were two separate parts of my life.
I had no idea they would eventually be combined.
This was my first photo of our family dog Shyloh with my new DSLR I had bought.
The Moment It All Came Together
About two years ago, everything clicked. Dogs had always been at the center of my world. Photography had always been something I loved and I realized…why not combine the two?
That’s when I started dog photography and I haven’t looked back since. The truth is, photographing dogs isn’t just about getting a “nice photo.”....it’s about capturing who they are. The little expressions, the personality, the things you don’t even realize you’ll miss one day....that’s what matters and that's what I get to capture.
The Name “Renavia” (And How It Actually Happened)
The name Renavia has a story of its own, and it’s probably not what you’d expect. I knew I wanted something personal, and my middle name, Renae, felt like the right place to start...but on its own, it didn’t feel complete. So, like most people do when they’re stuck, I looked around the room and that’s when I saw a Nivea lotion bottle. For some reason, it just worked for me. Renae and Nivea turned into “Renavea,” and while I loved the idea, I wanted the spelling to feel simpler and easier to read. Changing the “e” to an “i” gave me “Renavia,” and that was it. No big strategy, just something that felt right in the moment. Also my name first name "Chantell" is hard for people to spell correctly so we had to choose something else haha.
My very first logo design. It's rough I know...
What Renavia Photography Means Today
Today, Renavia Photography is about more than just photos, it's about celebrating your dog for who they are, their personality and flaws, everything that makes them well them. I'm not big on presets and slapping a photo together as fast as possible. I edit each photo like an art piece and treat it as such. No mass production here, just lots of care into each and every photo. Just like your dog deserves to be remembered.
