The American Staffordshire Terrier is one of those breeds that people aren’t always sure about. Is it a terrier, even though it’s so big? Is it a pit bull, even though it has a different name? Well, if I learned anything from my recent photo session with Marley the American Staffordshire Terrier, I can tell you this much: they’re beautiful, patient, sweet dogs that are completely dedicated to their owners! Marley is a 9-year-old Amstaff mix here in San Diego, and I absolutely loved photographing her because she was up for anything! She’s incredibly calm, just content to be close to her mom – and by “close” I mean “right next to and literally on top of her if at all possible”! She kept me laughing, every time she crawled into her mom’s lap and did her best to take off alllllll her makeup with licks & kisses. It was absolutely adorable!

We started our session in the studio – and I’m loving Marley’s deep brindle color against the black background! Not to mention her inquisitive look, as if she’s saying “Mom? Am I doing this right?”

Then we visited Marley’s house, where it was promptly time for belly rubs on the bed. Obviously.

… and belly rubs were soon followed by snuggles on the couch. I’m telling you, this is one snuggly dog! (Is that an American Staffordshire Terrier trait too?) And doesn’t she look pleased with herself?

Later that afternoon, though, the clouds rolled in and things weren’t looking too pretty outside. But Marley loves the beach, and we knew a few photos in the sand would be the perfect way to finish our session – so we waited a couple of days until the sky cleared up and gave us a pretty, sunny background! It was definitely worth the wait! (This is one of several reasons why I limit the number of sessions I book per month… because being flexible according to the weather is so important to make sure my clients get the best-looking photos possible! This image just wouldn’t be the same with gray sky & gray water.)

Yeah…  worth. the. wait.

Sarah, I’m so excited to show you the rest of our photos! Give Marley a hug for me in the meantime, and I’ll talk to you soon! :)

Tags: pet photography, pets, photography, San Diego, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography