Official Photographer
2026 National Derby Championship Photography Headquarters
The 10th Anniversary National Retriever Derby Championship, October 5 to 10, 2026
Sedalia, Missouri
A NOTE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Every mark. Every retrieve.
Everything in between.
Congratulations to the National Derby Club on hosting ten years of National Derby Championships. I'm honored to be the official photographer for this year's milestone championship.
Whether qualifying is a dream come true or this is your tenth year on the line, you and your dog worked hard to be here. I'm not a field trialer, but I've been photographing sport dogs since my first National Hunt Test nearly twenty years ago, and I've spent my a large portion of my life training, showing and photographing Labradors. Since 2021 I've been behind the scenes at the National Derby with Hannah Wren, creating her signature collages and packages. This year I get to serve you at the line instead. Watching these athletes run their hearts out never gets old, and I love turning it into art you'll want on your wall.
So this week, run your dog, have fun, and give it everything you've got. I'll be at the line capturing the drive and the moments you'll want to look back on for years. Plan for a portrait or two of you and your dog along the way. Every image goes into your dog's own gallery, and you'll find the links down below. Your dog's photos are in good hands.
Betsy Arellano
How It Works
Three things to know for National Derby Championship Week.
NOW
Get on the list
I'll send an e-mail once galleries start loading and to give you any details about sales or specials.
Monday, October 5
Stop at the Portrait Station
Dog and handler, owner, friends, whoever is part of the team. Five minutes as you come back from the first series, and the portraits land in your dog's gallery.
Through OCtober 18
The Derby Special
Watch your e-mail for a special promotion the first week the gallery is live to make the most of your purchase!
Artwork & Portraits
The pieces people order most.
Dog & Handler Portraits
A few minutes after you come off the first series. I'll concentrate on getting a beautiful portrait of your dog and of the team to commemorate your time at the Derby.
Signature Collage
A 16x20 metal piece built from your dog's best frames of the week. Museum-grade, ready to hang, and made to outlast the truck.
Photos by Hannah Wren, Design by Elizabeth Arellano.
Derby Book
An 8x8 lay-flat book, twenty pages, up to fifteen images, designed for your dog. The whole week in your hands, from the first series to their last bird.
Larger sizes and more pages available.
Pricing
Every mark. Every retrieve. Artwork created for your dog's week at the National.
Finished, Champion, and Legacy include All My Dog's Photos at the Derby Special price through October 18.
Lustre, mounted on board, ready for your own frame.
Designed from your dog's best frames of the week. Choose the size and the surface.
Single image, metal or canvas. Want it framed? Ask, and I'll quote it.
Collages, books, and ads are proofed within 10 business days of your order. Retouched images and prints go out in order received. Need it sooner? Add rush.
For the one who doesn't want to leave a single photo behind.
Every image of your dog from the gallery, in high resolution, ready for you to print and share.
Adding a Derby Book or Signature Collage? Take $100 off.
Includes print rights up to 11x14. Standard price $895.
Digital downloads are color-corrected and finished as a gallery. Anything printed, whether a print, wall piece, collage, or book, is individually retouched before it goes to the lab.
Sign Up For The Notification List
Fill out the form below and you'll be the first to know when Galleries go Live and updated on any offers.
I won't sell or use your information for any other purposes.
Published work
My photography has been featured on the cover of AKC's The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd Edition, AKC Family Dog, Canine Chronicle, Dog News, and publications worldwide. I've also photographed conservation milestones, including the famous cloned Przewalski's horse, Ollie, at just a few days old!
I started photographing my own dogs — because they meant the most to me.
I'm Elizabeth. Dogs have been my best friends since I was eleven. My current crew includes Fred, a 15 year old Border Terrier who feels like he's been with me forever and somehow no time at all. I know exactly why you want these portraits. That's why I do this.
My work has been featured on book covers, in dog industry publications, and in magazines worldwide. But what I love most is being part of your story. Whether I'm wrangling kids and dogs who won't sit still or photographing a champion at the top of their game, I treat every session like it's going on a cover. Same focus. Same care. You deserve nothing less.
My clients tell me I capture their dog exactly as they see them. And I hear it all the time: "I can't believe you got that." Even when the dog had other plans, you'd never know it from the final image. I'll guide you, adjust as we go, and stay patient until we get exactly what you're looking for. The result? Portraits that stop you in the hallway.
I'm based in North Texas and photograph sessions throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, including Highland Park, Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Denton, Southlake, Flower Mound, and Colleyville — plus Ann Arbor, Michigan and anywhere else the work takes me.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most sessions are outdoors at a location that fits your family and your dog. I'll help you find the perfect spot. Studio portraits also available.
Most sessions run about an hour, sometimes up to two. We're never rushed, but we won't drag it out if you or your dog aren't having fun. The best portraits come from happy people and dogs.
That's my specialty. I thrive in chaos, and some of my best photos come from sessions where the owner swore their dog wasn't cooperating. I've got tricks up my sleeve and a bag of toys to keep everyone interested. I promise we'll get something beautiful, and you probably won't even remember your "naughty" dog once you see the final images.
Same approach. I'm patient, I go with the flow, and I capture real moments — not forced smiles. Some of my favorite images come from the chaos.
Absolutely. I photograph everything from single portraits to full litters and your whole family with all their pets. The more, the merrier!
I'm based in North Texas but travel nationwide for show dogs and special sessions. I'm also frequently in Michigan and on the East Coast. If you're outside my area, let's talk - I love to travel for the right project.
Fill out the contact form and I'll reach out within 24 hours. I prefer a quick call to talk about your vision and answer questions but we can also do things through e-mail. After we decide what we are doing, we'll schedule your session and you'll pay your retainer.
You'll see your images at a reveal session that can be booked 3–4 weeks after your session. This is where we'll go through everything together and purchase your favorites for artwork.
Rush processing is available upon request.