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Great Photo Sessions with Shy Dogs

Sunday, March 8th, 2020

Do you ever find yourself wanting to have professional photos taken of your dog, but then you aren’t so sure, because your dog happens to be shy or skittish? You might be thinking “what if they don’t warm up to the photographer? What if they are camera-shy and won’t even participate, or they hate the whole experience? Then I’m stuck paying for portraits that I won’t even like!” I’ll let you in on a secret – you aren’t the first person to have these concerns and you definitely won’t be the last! In fact, you’d be in pretty good company amongst my clients. This is a common issue (that isn’t really an issue after all) that many dog parents are concerned about. I’ve got good news for you: I know how to have a truly fantastic photo session with incredibly shy dogs. I’ve studied canine body language & psychology, and I know some of the best ways to work with skittish pets that both keeps them at ease and still captures their personality. You can’t force anything, and I certainly don’t want to force it either – but preparing correctly for a portrait session and giving my undivided attention are keys to getting those natural, fun, “frame-worthy” images!


toy poodle dog


I’m pretty proud to say that I’ve never had a photo session where the dog was too shy to get plenty of portraits. Each and every time I’ve been able to work with a dog to bring out their confidence and create some gorgeous images! (And I’ve been doing this since 2010!) Over the years I’ve developed some tips & tricks to help my photo sessions go smoother while making it a pleasant experience for everyone involved. I want to share with you 4 ways that I go above and beyond to make sure you and your pup are 100% comfortable with me:

First, Let’s be Friends!

Before every photo session we have a consultation, which is basically a meet-and-greet with you and your dog(s). The camera doesn’t even come out! This works perfectly because we meet in a casual atmosphere at my studio with few distractions. Its all about getting to know each other as a friend beforehand so I won’t be a stranger who suddenly shows up at the photo session. Even better: if you’re having a studio session then your dog will be super familiar with the studio environment. We build a foundation of trust and a relationship that is important for setting the tone… and that eventually leads to a successful portrait session!



Big Long Lenses

My absolute favorite lens to use is my L-series 70-200mm f/2.8 IS! For those of you who are like “okay Allison… that means nothing to me”, haha, let’s just say that it’s a super long lens that allows me to stay a long distance away from my client if needed without compromising an ounce of quality. I’m able to put the dog at ease since I’m not hovering over them or in their face, all while still getting those beautiful images you’re hoping for!


san diego boxers in flowers


Introducing the Camera Slowly

I want to provide a calm environment for your pet to ensure a successful photo session. So in order to do that, I introduce the camera verrryyyy slowly. I usually start out with the camera on the ground for the dog to take a look at, maybe sniff around a bit – basically to let them know that it isn’t anything to be afraid of. Next, I let their parents hold the camera and maybe take a picture or two, so the dog can hear how it sounds when it clicks. By doing this, the dog eventually views the camera as not threatening because if mom and dad are holding it it can’t be too bad, right? (It’s all about going at the dog’s pace, not mine!)



Positive Reinforcement

Lastly, I’ve found that positive reinforcement throughout the photo session is such a game changer for the shy, timid dog! The treats start to flow in hopes that the dog will warm up to the idea of being photographed. I’m talking lots and lots of treats. And if your pet is more toy-motivated than treat-motivated we’ll use toys instead! I often don’t make eye contact, come up to the dog, or even pet them at first to keep things calm and any anxiety at bay. Another thing that helps is having mom and dad nearby constantly giving praises and encouragement! If they know their parents are being supportive then they’re more likely to relax and feel safe – which is our goal!


golden retriever picture


“Our dog, Ele, is not as social or gregarious as some dogs and often acts very timid around new people, but Allison was able to work with her to bring out her best and capture what makes her such a wonderful dog (in our eyes) in her gorgeous photographs.  I appreciate the extra time and effort Allison put into our photo shoot and her attention to making the whole experience absolutely unforgettable.”  – Sumrall H.



One of the things I love most about this “job” (sometimes I still can’t believe I’m living my dream as a pet photographer!) is making a connection with my clients, both human and canine. Whether your pet is shy or completely outgoing, I aim to photograph them just the way they are while creating a safe environment. And at the end of the day, it’s all about having fun!

A Little Update on my Pregnancy!

Tuesday, March 19th, 2019

You may have seen the update on my Facebook page, or perhaps you subscribe to The Monthly Bark and heard the news in your inbox. But if you’re hearing this for the first time… surprise! I’m pregnant! :)

At the moment I’m 32 weeks along, which means I’ve successfully survived about 7 months of pregnancy with only 2 to go. (I hear they’re the hardest 2, but hey, after having made it through 7 I’m feeling pretty good!) Our little nugget is a girl (yay!!) and she’s due on May 11th!


I’ve been married to Mr. Shamrell for 9 years now, and although we didn’t always feel ready to have kids – or not both of us at the same time, at least – now we do and our little girl couldn’t have better timing. I have to say that I’ve REALLY enjoyed being married without kids for this long, but we are both very excited & looking forward to this HUGE change in our lives and have nothing but happy anticipation for the future! (Okay, a bit of nervousness too… but it’s all good nerves!) Those 9 years I’ve spent being a dog mom, and loving it – and I believe that our dog Bailey taught me some of the most important skills of how to be a good mother (to any species) that I’ll be able to bring with me into this crazy new adventure. So in the meantime, I’m just trying to brace myself for adapting to a daughter that won’t be potty-trained in a matter of weeks – and can’t be left alone for a few hours at a time – and won’t be able to walk for the next year, haha!

Before getting pregnant, I was never one of those women obsessed with babies/pregnancy/etc. I was never the first volunteer to hold a friend’s baby (I was nervous that I’d drop the poor kid!) and didn’t know anything about what it’s like to be pregnant. So let’s just say it’s been a STEEP learning curve! For example, I’ve learned that the first trimester is 100% sucky (all the crazy symptoms, none of the belly to show for it), the second trimester is relatively easy, and the third trimester is kinda like the first (except now you have a belly). My biggest symptom by far has been fatigue; turns out it’s pretty tiring to make a human being! But beyond that, I’ve been very lucky not to experience any morning sickness, crazy mood swings, swelling/pain in my limbs… and my food cravings have been very mild ever since the first trimester ended. (The only strong cravings I had were for fruit and Taco Bell. Go figure!) So I don’t want to jinx it, but I’ve got a lot to be thankful for… thanks Mom! (And all the other awesome women in my family who handed down their easy-pregnancy genes!)

san diego dog picture


Before I got pregnant, I was super curious how Bailey would do with the experience. One of my clients told me of her two dogs, “One of them totally knew I was pregnant and got very clingy & gentle, and the other one just thought I was getting fat.” Ha! Our experience has been somewhat closer to the latter; Bailey has never been a snuggler, nor has she ever experienced any real separation anxiety, and her personality/habits don’t seem to have changed in any way these days. But she knows I’m pregnant; we’ve been telling her about our doctors’ visits and she’s seen our second bedroom slowly morph into a nursery. She’s a smart dog… I know she knows. (Plus there’s been a couple of days when she just couldn’t stop smelling me; my scent must be changing along with my body & hormones!)

I’ve read up on how to prepare Bailey for her new little sister, and all the best resources say very similar things. First: start with a basic foundation of obedience. The more Bailey knows & is willing to comply with requests like “off”, “down” and “no” the better. Pretty obvious, right? It’s also a good idea to acclimate her to “life with baby” as much as possible – which means I should be playing YouTube videos of babies crying to get her used to that sound, and going for walks with the empty stroller so it’s an easy transition to walking with a baby in the stroller. (It’s a separate discussion of whether I’ll actually follow through with these “good ideas” – I mean, won’t we hear enough crying once the baby is actually here? And how awkward will it be to walk around the neighborhood with an empty stroller?!) Terri Steuben told us that it’s a good idea to talk to Bailey every step of the way, to explain what all the new things are for (in basic terms) and set her up with a bed and water bowl in the nursery so she doesn’t feel like she’s excluded from this new part of our lives. And most importantly, we’ll need to teach the baby to respect Bailey’s personal space once she’s mobile, since then she’ll be crawling around and reaching for anything she finds interesting! Beyond that, we’ll just take things slowly and make sure Bailey is still getting plenty of love & attention so she never feels like the baby has taken her place – after all, she is our first “baby”. ;)

san diego dog skyline


I’ve gotten plenty of questions about what’s happening to my business (arguably my other baby!) with this impending change. So forgive me as I answer those questions here:

~ Of course I’m coming back!!! I have NO intention of closing up shop; I haven’t worked this hard for 8+ years to pack it in now. That’s not even up for discussion. Now, I’ve stopped doing photo sessions at this point in my pregnancy because my sessions are very physical, and it’s hard to get on the ground at a dog’s level with a big pregnant belly in the way, haha! But I’ll be back in action as soon as I feel comfortable, safe and capable of doing so. To be honest, I don’t know exactly when I’ll come back – remember, I’ve never done this before! – but I expect to have a camera back in my hands in mid-to-late summer.

~ During my “maternity leave” I won’t be doing any photo sessions, but I will be reachable by email to book sessions for after I’m back in the studio. I expect that my schedule in the late summer and fall will book up quickly – after all, the last few months of the year have always been my busy season, and all the sessions I would normally book in the spring & early summer will have to wait until after I’m back from maternity leave… so it’s likely to be a packed rest of the year! (Which means you should get in touch with me NOW if you’re thinking of booking a session this year! Visit my main website and fill out that contact form at the bottom ASAP, since I’ll be giving priority to the earliest inquiries!)

~ Attention past clients: with all the downtime of maternity leave, something tells me I’ll get a little bored. And you know what I do when I have nothing else on my plate? I plan promotions & sales! So keep your eyes peeled on your inboxes for something fun & exclusive, just for you. :)

~ Attention commercial clients: ditto the previous comment! Although I won’t be out there shooting, I have THOUSANDS of stock images in my archives that would love to find a new home on your website/social media/product packaging.

dog looking at san diego


A few more thoughts on the personal side of things:

~ Just laying on the couch and feeling her kick is my new favorite thing. 

~ I don’t drink coffee or eat sushi, so a lot of the typical “hard to give up” foods don’t actually bother me. I’m feeling much more deprived for wine & beer, as well as cookie dough and caesar salad (both of which have raw eggs, boooo.)

~ Any hesitations I used to have about eating whatever food & snacks I want? Gone! Poof! I could get used to this… pass the Ben & Jerry’s please! 

~ No, we haven’t thought of a name for her yet – still working on it!

~ I never thought I’d say this, but it’s actually been kinda fun to watch my midsection grow to the size of a basketball! Haha!

So thank you for all your support – and an extra thank you to the amazing people who have sent me cards and/or gifts!! I often refer to “the Allison Shamrell Photography family”, and you’re proving (again) that it’s not just a saying. Here’s to that family, as it grows this year by one very special little girl!

2018 Pet Industry Trends – Courtesy of Reviews.com

Friday, April 20th, 2018

Hey everyone! I have an exciting blog post for you today: it’s a guest article! My friends at Reviews.com offered to share some great information with you, and I think you’ll find it incredibly useful! Enjoy!   – Allison

 

Our pets are the light of our lives for obvious reasons; they make us laugh, they protect us, and of course unconditionally love us. So of course, we’re so excited to learn of any new trends for of furry friends. There are obviously some trends and fads that can be too much (I’m looking at you pet hair dye), but there are some really incredible new ways to take care of and spoil our pets. Ultimately the most promising services help us treat our pets like family without overly inconveniencing ourselves. Some of the services and products most exciting to watch for are pet insurance, pet tech, pet care for while you’re away, and dog food meal delivery.

 

Pet Insurance

pet insurance industry

We love our pets and would do anything to keep them safe and healthy, but that $1,000 emergency vet visit bill still really stings, no matter how much we love them. Luckily, one new trend for the pet owner community is pet insurance. There are pet insurance agencies popping up, all designed to create custom policies and coverage options for your cat or dog. We have insurance for ourselves and most things we love (cars, homes, etc.) – why wouldn’t we have insurance for our pets? It’s a really great opportunity to have a little financial coverage for emergencies. If you’re unsure if you need pet insurance this is a great article to read. If it’s right for you, and you want to check out your options this is a great place to start.

 

Pet Tech

pet techphoto of pet tech

Devices, robots, and automation of everyday products is changing the way we take care of our pets. Pet trackers help us know how active our pets are, where they are, and where they’ve been. Just like we do for ourselves with our own fitness trackers. Automatic treat dispensers with a camera and screen or speaker allow us to talk to and see our pets, giving them treats while we’re at work or away from home. iFetch helps keep our pups who seriously like to play active when we don’t have time or away from home. There is no end to what can’t be made easier for pet owners and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

 

Pet Care While You’re Away

pet care industry trend

The hardest part of vacationing can often be finding care for our pets while we’re gone. Kennels and boarding can be really expensive, stress out your pet, and it can be hard to find one that is entirely comfortable for both you and your pet. DogVacay and Rover are new options for dog boarding, house sitting, drop in visits, walks, or doggy day care. These services screen all of their ‘hosts’ and ‘sitters’ and provides information, pictures, bios, etc., finally making your time away from your pet significantly less stressful.

 

Dog Food Meal Delivery

pet food industry trend

We all want to feed or pets the absolute best, but sometimes the absolute best can be really difficult to find time to shop for, prepare, and serve to our pets. Luckily, just as meal delivery has sky-rocketed for humans, it also has for our pets. But this is even better, because it’s delivered to your door ready to go, no prep necessary! This is the perfect option for any pet owner that really wants to take care of their furry best friend but might simply not have the time to go shopping for and make a new meal every day. If this service is something that excites you, check out this resource to see your options.

dog food pet trend

 

 

Photo credits:

http://appcrawlr.com/ios/dogvacay, https://www.reviews.com/pet-insurance/, http://gadgetynews.com/furbo-networked-camera-remote-pet-treat-cannon/, https://barkpost.com/pet-insurance/

Introducing Murphy & Porkchop, the newest “Spokespets” for Tender & True Pet Food!

Thursday, January 11th, 2018

Are you ready? Are you sitting down?! This announcement is a big one…

I’m incredibly thrilled to share with you that I’ve accomplished one of my biggest goals for my business – and simultaneously, two of my clients’ pets are FAMOUS!

Several months ago, I was contacted by the marketing team at Tender & True Pet Nutrition. They were looking for fresh, new imagery for their new flavor of dog & cat food, and asked if I had any photos that might fit their specifications. (I practically had to stop myself from laughing – with over 7 years of photography sessions under my belt, there are very few image specifications that I can’t meet!) So after sending them a gallery with dozens of photos to pick from, the people at Tender & True made their selections – and I’m incredibly proud to present you with the newest packaging that will be gracing the shelves of pet food stores in just a few months!

 

pet food picture

pet food photo

 

These pet food photos came from real, unscripted photo sessions here in San Diego. Murphy is the gorgeous golden retriever, whose photo I captured during a mini-session (!!) in Balboa Park. (Yes, the ocean was digitally superimposed into the background. It is a salmon-based food after all, haha!) And Porkchop is the Maine coon, whose photo session took place at his house (alongside his feline brother, Applesauce) in northern San Diego. Unfortunately Porkchop isn’t with us anymore, sadly… but regardless, both of their families are thrilled to see their pets immortalized in print!

You can buy Tender & True at Whole Foods Markets, various local pet boutiques (like Howlistic and Buddies & Babes here in San Diego!) and online at chewy.com. And if you’ve never heard of Tender & True before now, check out their gorgeous new website and get a feel for the care & attention to detail that goes into their products. I’m truly proud that my work is helping advertise their food!

And – if I may – I’d like to point out that this proves what I always say: I don’t work with professional models! I bring out the beauty and “inner model” in regular pets that have zero prior training. Neither Murphy nor Applesauce had any previous experience being in front of a camera, besides their parents’ cell phones. And yet look what we created!! We turned newbies into pro models. And that’s why I believe it’s worth hiring a professional – whether you want photos to hang on your walls or to feature on your company’s dog food – because a professional will be able to bring the best out of any pet.

Anyways… back to popping the champagne! :)

 

Free Guide to the Best Dog-Friendly Spots in San Diego!

Thursday, October 26th, 2017

When I first moved here with my husband & our dog, we didn’t know anything about San Diego. I’d never been here before and didn’t know Ocean Beach from Oceanside. I was entirely clueless – so I decided that needed to change! I got outside and started to visit different neighborhoods, find my new favorite restaurants, sample some of the country’s best craft beer, and (of course) find the best places to spoil my Bailey. I found a lot of incredible businesses & places, each of them so uniquely amazing that I found myself wanting to stop by on an embarrassingly-frequent basis.

But what good is that information if I’m hoarding it alllllll to myself?

So I’ve decided to share all my favorite spots with you!

 

san diego guide

 

Yahoo!!! Click on the preview above (or click here) to get my exclusive list of favorites! It’s a compendium of San Diego’s best parks, beaches, breweries, restaurants, boutiques and coffee shops to enjoy with your 4-legged friends (in my opinion, at least). I hope you LOVE them as much as I do, and if this guide inspires a fun outing with your dog, I’d be thrilled to hear about it! (Perhaps post a photo on Instagram and tag @sandiegopetphotographer to let me know?!)

Enjoy the guide – and drop me a line if I left out your favorite place(s), since I’d love to keep on exploring America’s Finest (and Dog-Friendliest) City!  :)

 

 

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