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An Action-Packed Session with Evie & Owen, Aussies from San Diego

Tuesday, September 15th, 2020

I’m thrilled to be able to share a new and FUN session with you, featuring two of the sweetest Aussies! Meet Evie and Owen! Evie is the older sibling while Owen is the puppy, and that certainly comes through in both of their personalities – but they have more in common than they have differences, and both of them were very happy to be out and about for their photo session. I can’t say that I blame them, I was just as excited – this was one of my first sessions since March when I could finally be behind the camera again! :)

We started off at Coronado, in order to create a portrait with the San Diego skyline in the dogs’ background. I’m happy to say that after a bit of getting used to the pier, and realizing that good obedience would earn then lots of treats, the dogs were happy to pose for us! And after just a few photos, the “stationary” portion of the session was over already – because we packed up and headed to the beach, where these Aussies came ALIVE! I’d venture to say that the beach is their happy place. :) And while they’d never actually been to the particular beach we visited in La Jolla before, you would have never known – they knew exactly what to do! No sniffing around and getting a feel for the place was necessary; they knew sand + water = fun. They were like energizer bunnies – no off button! It was great to see them have so much fun running around, and as a result we have a lot of action photos of these pups. I’m betting they would have played all evening if we would have let them!

Evie & Owen have an incredible bond, too. They are both social dogs and wanted to say “hi” to other dogs we saw at the beach, but what blew me away was how they always happily came back to each other. They truly enjoy each other’s company and are just adorable companions.

This photo session was a great way to start getting back into the swing of things! We had such a nice afternoon and it was just a perfect reminder of why I do what I love.


Let’s start with one of my favorite images – with the San Diego skyline! (With a photo like this to start off with, come on, you know we had a great session!)

aussies in san diego


I could watch them run around at the beach all. day. long.

aussies at the beach


A pet photographer’s dream, these two!

aussies running


And as much as I loved photographing them as a pair, their individual portraits came together beautifully as well. I’ll include a couple here for an extra-large sneak peek than what I normally do, since I know their parents have been waiting patiently for this blog post! Evie gave us no shortage of outtakes…

aussie tongue


… and Owen was extra-curious about the treats we brought!

aussie close up photo


Dianne & Ann, thank you for such a lovely time! I cannot wait for you to see the rest of our images!

The Oceanside Aussies, Crystal & Sky

Saturday, June 27th, 2020

This is an exciting post, because it’s the first post-COVID session I get to blog about! I’m so happy to share one of my very first photo sessions back, especially since it features these two adorable Australian shepherds, Crystal and Sky! Sky is a 1-year-old, 70-lb welcoming committee who just can’t help but love everybody. He’s a big, bouncy boy! His older sister, Crystal, is on the complete opposite of the spectrum in many ways – most noticeably in energy level. She is 15 1/2 years old, taking things at a slower pace, and is unfortunately battling bone cancer – which ultimately was the reason for this photo session. I made sure to give her plenty of extra attention and to make her feel as special as possible. Both of these Aussies are such sweethearts!

Crystal and her mom’s bond is indescribable. They have been very close since day one (literally) and I’m so glad I was able to witness their connection. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a bond that strong before, and let me tell you – it was truly beautiful! I wanted to be with them and soak up their calm, peaceful energy all day. We decided to have the photo session at their home to make it as easy as possible for Crystal. And thankfully she rewarded us with some lovely poses & expressions while she relaxed in the backyard & garden.

Sky, on the other hand, wanted to take things a bit faster! He wanted to show me around the whole yard and run around for a bit. Plus he was quite put out when it was Crystal’s turn for photos – I mean, it’s confusing why you have to share the spotlight when you’re that handsome. It was a bit of a challenge to balance their different energy levels, but we made it work just fine. And I think it’s safe to say that the Aussies’ favorite part of the session was when the Vienna sausages and goat cheese came out! Neither dog seemed to mind working for those, haha!


This is Sky. Look at that handsome boy… such a good dog. Even if he is a little silly. :)

aussies


Aussie running photo


And this is Crystal. See her one blue eye? What a special girl.

Aussies close up


Aussie dog photo


This turned out to be such a lovely afternoon. Dori, I’m excited to share all of the images of your beautiful Aussies with you very soon!


Maple & Waffles – Their First Session of “The Puppy Plan”

Sunday, June 21st, 2020

This is a rare kind of blog post! I don’t normally share “sneak peeks” for my Puppy Plan clients – but then again, most Puppy Plans don’t get interrupted by coronavirus! I am so disappointed that this pandemic has interrupted my time & planning with several amazing clients – and certainly not least of all on that list are Maple & Waffles, adorable Maltese puppies from San Diego. This boy-and-girl sibling pair are the CUTEST little fluffs, and we visited Windansea Beach for our first session in the Puppy Plan. While they were a little trepidatious about the water (hey, I don’t blame them, Maltese dogs weren’t built for swimming!) they quite enjoyed running around the sand and enjoying the view from the safety of their mom’s arms.

So I’m happy to introduce you to these pups – and to give their mom a peek at a few photos for now, until we can finally get together and go through the rest together in person!


maltese puppy


They may have been new to the beach scene, but they sure figured out how to strut their stuff pretty quickly!

maltese puppy on beach


Good dogs and a beautiful beach – what more could you ask for?!

maltese puppies

Colleen, I can’t wait until I can finally see your adorable kiddos again! I hope quarantine is treating you well!


Simon and Aoife, Siblings

Wednesday, March 11th, 2020

“Siblings (n.) A combination of a best friend and a pain in the neck. They might be the most annoying people around you but you still love them endlessly.” – Anonymous

Simon and Aoife have what I would call the typical brother-and-sister relationship. Aoife is the older sister who seems to roll her eyes and put up with her brother’s antics, whereas Simon couldn’t be more of a younger brother – he’s mischievous, playful, and downright impish. (If Aoife could talk I think she’d agree with me, haha!)

Aoife is a mixed-breed terrier and has a beautiful Irish name, which is pronounced “EE-fah”. She was actually rescued off the streets of Mexico and adopted soon after her dad moved to the United States. It’s so cool to see the bond that Aoife and her dad have developed, since they’ve been together for quite some time now! She is about 13 years old now and is just a sweetheart with a calm, easygoing personality. You can tell that she’s very content and doesn’t need a lot of fancy things… just her dad. (And it’s good thing she’s such a happy girl naturally, because she doesn’t get to play with a lot of toys – her younger brother steals them all!)

Simon is a golden retriever and is the baby of the family at two and a half years old. If he can get away with it, he’ll do it. So even if he already has a great toy, any toy Aoife has (or is eyeing) is better and he feels the need to take it. Of course, right? And since he’s bigger, stronger, and faster, he can! But what I noticed about their relationship is that it’s not like he’s the boss or a bully to her – that’s not the dynamic at all. They actually get along great and accept each other for who they are as siblings. (Which is a pretty great lesson for people too!)

For our photo session, we started in the studio because their parents wanted that classic aesthetic; the studio lets dogs shine and brings out their natural beauty, with no visual distractions. Aoife is one of the most unique-looking, beautiful dogs I’ve ever worked with, so I was thrilled to get her in the studio! She is so photogenic and was happy to pose for us. We had to laugh, though, because their parents were sure that Simon was going to be the “difficult one”. He’s still a puppy and loves to be on the move, which is a recipe for being tricky to photography, but thank goodness: he’s very food-motivated! This helped tremendously and he actually turned out to the easier dog for me to work with! It was a funny surprise and we were all surprised at how well Simon did – really, how well both of them did – for their very first photo session.


We ended up with our fair share of “smiling” photos, but I couldn’t resist sharing this cute dual-head-tilt moment. (I must’ve made the weirdest sound just then, haha!)

dog siblings


mixed breed dog


We then moved onto Del Mar Beach and made the most out of some slightly cloudy weather! I think Simon may have been the happiest out of all of us since he got to let loose and had plenty of room to run around; he was living his best life. We all had a great time!


dog running on beach


dog sibling on the beach


dog with owner


Erika & David, thanks for such a fun afternoon! I’ll see you both again very soon!

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!

 

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