MJ Pawtography

MJ Pawtography Liz Schmuck is a professional pet photographer that specializes in outdoor portrait style work.

06/17/2026

Most people think an Artisan Session is just a mini session.

but they really are so much more...

These limited-edition experiences are designed for pet parents who want something more intentional, more meaningful, and more personal than a quick photo opportunity.

Each Artisan Session is a curated 30-minute experience focused on the connection you share with your dog. You'll receive a guided image reveal featuring 3–6 handcrafted portraits and the opportunity to transform your favorite moments into artwork created specifically for your home.

✔ Perfect for dogs of all personalities
✔ Leashes are welcome and professionally retouched
✔ No pressure for perfect behavior
✔ Limited spots available at each event

If you've been wanting to experience what makes an MJ Pawtography session different, an Artisan Session is the perfect place to begin.

Which upcoming Artisan Session theme are you most excited about? 👇

🐾 Black Hawk Historic Site
🐾 Miss Effie's Garden
🐾 Vander Veer Botanical Park

What an incredible weekend at the QC Pet Expo!We saw so many familiar faces, met countless new friends, and spent two da...
06/15/2026

What an incredible weekend at the QC Pet Expo!
We saw so many familiar faces, met countless new friends, and spent two days surrounded by people who love their pets as much as we do. Mary Jane certainly enjoyed all the treats, attention, and head rubs from vendors and attendees alike!

One of my favorite parts of the weekend was hearing the stories. Stories about rescue journeys, lifelong companions, new puppies, senior dogs, and the special moments that make our pets such an important part of our lives. It was a wonderful reminder of how deeply animals connect our community.

We also had the opportunity to meet so many passionate pet business owners and advocates who are working to make the Quad Cities a better place for pets and the people who love them. The support, kindness, and enthusiasm throughout the event was truly inspiring.

As a pet photographer, I feel incredibly fortunate to spend my days helping families preserve memories with their companions, but events like this remind me that it's about so much more than photographs. It's about celebrating the bond we share with our animals and building a community that values them as family.

I genuinely hope this expo becomes a cornerstone event for the Quad Cities and helps grow an even stronger, more pet-friendly community for years to come. A huge thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, sponsored, organized, and supported the event. We can't wait to see how it grows next year!

Now we'd love to hear from you:

🐾 If you attended, what was your favorite part of the expo?

🐾 If you didn't attend, what kept you from coming? Didn't hear about it? Had other plans? Was there something you'd like to see added in the future?

🐾 What would make next year's event even better for pet parents and their companions?
Share your thoughts below—we'd love to help make next year's event even more amazing!

🐾 QUAD CITIES PET EXPO IS ALMOST HERE! 🐾If you love pets, this is one event you won't want to miss. From vendors and dem...
06/12/2026

🐾 QUAD CITIES PET EXPO IS ALMOST HERE! 🐾

If you love pets, this is one event you won't want to miss. From vendors and demonstrations to rescues, activities, and everything in between, the Quad Cities Pet Expo is packed with fun for animal lovers of all kinds.

While you're there, be sure to stop by the MJ Pawtography booth and enter for your chance to win one of TWO Artisan Photography Sessions!

Each winner will receive:
📸 An Artisan Session
🖼 A personalized Reveal Session
✨ One high-resolution digital image with print release

Artisan Sessions are special event-style photography experiences offered throughout the year and are a wonderful way to celebrate the companions who make life better every day.

Come say hello, check out some beautiful artwork, and enter to win!

Who knows? Your dog could be the next one featured in a stunning portrait.

🐶 See you at the RiverCenter for the Quad Cities Pet Expo!
📆 Saturday June 13th & Sunday June 14th from 10am - 5pm

THIS WEEKEND the QC Pet Expo kicks off and I am so excited to meet all the pet lovers in the QC area! The event is still...
06/10/2026

THIS WEEKEND the QC Pet Expo kicks off and I am so excited to meet all the pet lovers in the QC area! The event is still accepting contestants for their two contests. Dust off your creativity and enter!

Join the fun at the QC Pet Expo on June 13 & 14
✨ Pet Lookalike Contest - Saturday, June 13th @ 1pm
✨ Pet Costume Contest - Sunday, June 14th @ 1pm

Winners EACH day will take home a prize! 🏆🐶🐱

We will also have some prizes of our own to give away!

Sign up now using the link below ⬇️

✨ Not every photography session is the right fit for every dog—and that's okay.One of the questions I hear most often is...
06/07/2026

✨ Not every photography session is the right fit for every dog—and that's okay.

One of the questions I hear most often is:

"What's the difference between an Artisan Session and a Signature Session?"

While both create beautiful artwork and celebrate the pets you love most, the experience is very different.

🌸 Artisan Sessions are shorter, themed experiences held on select dates at carefully chosen locations. Think flower gardens, historic properties, seasonal settings, and other unique backdrops. They're perfect for social, easygoing dogs who are comfortable in new environments and for families looking for updated portraits in a stunning setting.

🌲 Signature Sessions offer a larger final gallery and are completely customized around your pet. We choose the location, pace, and experience based on their personality, comfort level, and story. These sessions are ideal for everyone, but add an extra layer of flexibility for shy, reactive, senior, or high-energy dogs who may need extra time.

The most important thing to me isn't filling a session date—it's making sure your companion has an experience they'll enjoy.

As I begin announcing my upcoming Artisan Sessions for late June and July, I wanted to share this guide to help you decide which option may be the best fit for your pet.

❤️ Because beautiful portraits start with a comfortable, happy dog.

If you're unsure which experience would be best, send me a message. Tell me a little about your pet and I'd be happy to help you choose.

🐾 Calling all Quad Cities pet lovers! 🐾If your camera roll is 90% pets, if you know every dog in your neighborhood by na...
06/02/2026

🐾 Calling all Quad Cities pet lovers! 🐾

If your camera roll is 90% pets, if you know every dog in your neighborhood by name, or if you can't walk past a furry face without saying hello... this event is for you!

MJ Pawtography is excited to be attending the first annual Quad Cities Pet Expo at the RiverCenter in Davenport, and we'd love to see you there.

Join us for a weekend celebrating everything we love about pets, featuring:

🐶 Pet-focused vendors
🐱 Educational seminars
🏆 Fun contests and activities
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly entertainment
❤️ Support for local animals, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Humane Society of Scott County

📅 June 13 & 14
⏰ 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets $8 for 13+ Children 1-12 $3
📍 RiverCenter | Davenport, IA

Stop by the MJ Pawtography booth to say hello, chat about your pets, and learn more about our photography sessions. Whether you're a dog person, cat person, horse person, or simply an animal lover, this is a weekend you won't want to miss.

Who are you bringing with you? Tell us below! 🐾👇

There’s something so special about getting to photograph not just one dog in a family… but watching that family grow ove...
05/21/2026

There’s something so special about getting to photograph not just one dog in a family… but watching that family grow over the years. 💕🐾

When Kim reached out to tell me they had added a new puppy to the crew, I was SO excited. After already photographing sweet Frankie and Andy, I knew little Clare was going to be something special. The original plan was to wait until fall for her session, but honestly? Those puppy days go by far too quickly.

So instead, we decided… why not both? 🌷🍂 A spring puppy session now and another this fall as she grows into a young lady.

And oh my goodness, Clare was everything puppyhood should be—soft, curious, wiggly, full of energy, and just the sweetest little soul. While she loved exploring the tulips, she also needed a little confidence boost during parts of the session. We took things slow, followed her pace, celebrated the small moments, and made sure she always felt safe and happy. Because the best images don’t come from forcing perfection… they come from creating an experience where dogs can simply be themselves.

Then came the reveal appointment… and this message from her mom absolutely melted me:

“We recently had Clare’s photos taken by MJ Pawtography, and when the images first popped up on the screen… I cried. 🥹💕 Somehow, Liz Schmuck captured not just how adorable our little girl is, but her sweetness, curiosity, sparkle, and personality too... 🌷🐾 Thank you, Liz, for giving us memories we’ll treasure forever.”

And truly… that’s why I do this. Because puppies don’t stay puppies for long. But these moments? These memories? They deserve to last forever. ✨

🐶 Tell me below — what’s your favorite thing about the puppy stage? ⬇️

Some sessions start with a simple “I don’t think my dogs would love that…”Winter was one of those.Megan reached out want...
05/01/2026

Some sessions start with a simple “I don’t think my dogs would love that…”

Winter was one of those.

Megan reached out wanting updated portraits of her pups — Nina, Tuuli, and Ozzy — but the idea of standing out in the cold, waiting their turn… yeah, not exactly their thing. (And honestly… fair.)

So instead of forcing a season that didn’t fit them, we pivoted.

Into the studio.

Now, I’ll be honest — this pushed me a little outside my comfort zone. Studio work has never been something I’ve heavily promoted. My style leans simple… clean backgrounds, intentional light, letting the little details and personality do all the talking.

No distractions. Just them.

And wow… these three delivered.

Nina with her quirky charms.
Tuuli bringing that puppy energy.
And Ozzy… stealing the spotlight like she was born for it.

Every expression, every tilt of the head, every tiny detail we never want to forget someday — it all came to life in a way that felt so them.

I can’t thank Megan enough for trusting me, trusting the process, and gently nudging me outside of my usual lane. Because sometimes that’s where the magic is waiting.

And in the end, she didn’t just get photos…

She added something new and beautiful to their story.

So many families wait for the “perfect time.”But if you’ve lived this life long enough, you already know—there’s always ...
04/15/2026

So many families wait for the “perfect time.”

But if you’ve lived this life long enough, you already know—there’s always something.
And somehow, the “perfect time” never really arrives.

This is your reminder that you don’t need perfect.
And the best part? Your dog doesn’t care if everything is perfect.
They just want to be right there with you.

Celebrate this chapter of your life.
The loud, messy, beautiful one.

That’s what these sessions are about.

Full of noise, movement, and the little moments you don’t think much of now… but will miss more than you expect later.
A dog weaving through every image like they belong in the center of it all. Kids climbing into laps without asking. Laughter that doesn’t wait for anyone to be ready. That’s the part worth remembering.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about photos because you’re worried things won’t look “posed enough” or “perfect enough”… That’s exactly who these sessions are for. They’re calm, guided, and easy—built around connection, not performance. You don’t have to manage the moment. You just get to be in it.

Because years from now, it won’t be the posing you remember…
It will be the feeling of being together.

✨ Now booking a limited number of family sessions
🐾 Dogs are always welcome

Send me a message when you’re ready, and we’ll start planning your story.

So many pet parents tell me,“We’ll get to it eventually.”Eventually when life slows down.Eventually when work isn’t so b...
02/20/2026

So many pet parents tell me,
“We’ll get to it eventually.”

Eventually when life slows down.
Eventually when work isn’t so busy.
Eventually when the house is cleaner, the dog is calmer, the timing feels perfect.

But here’s the quiet truth…

Eventually shows up faster than we expect.

One day you notice the muzzle isn’t as dark as it used to be.
The walks are a little slower.
The naps are a little longer.
Their body carries the beautiful wear of years filled with love and adventure.

And suddenly you realize — time has been moving the whole time.

These images aren’t just for today.
They’re for the day when you miss the weight of their head in your lap.
When you try to remember the exact shape of their ears, the sparkle in their eyes, the way they looked at you like you were their whole world.

Photographs are how we hold onto those details when memory starts to soften.

Your dog is worth remembering — in every stage.
The wild years.
The steady years.
And yes, the slower years too.

Don’t wait for “eventually.”
One day, you’ll be so grateful you didn’t. 🤍

Message me today to start your photography journey!

Address

Moline, IL
61265

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13097378579

Website

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