Thanks for visiting my blog! My name is Allison, and I work in San Diego, CA, capturing the personalities of dogs and cats of all sizes & temperaments. I do photo sessions on location and in-studio, and my photography style is natural, playful & soulful.
Here on my blog, I tell the stories of recent sessions and events. You might even find an insight or two into the behind-the-scenes side of my business! You can see my portfolio & session info on my main website, via the link above.
Call: 619-357-6624 // Email: Allison@AllisonShamrell.com // Visit: 11828 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 204, San Diego, CA 92128
Officially Voted the Best Pet Photographer in San Diego, 2014-2026.
Beckham is not your typical labrador. He’s happier laying down than running around, and he’s built more like a bear than a dog! Beckham is a gorgeous, goofy 7-year-old lab who was so much fun to photograph! We stayed in his front yard for most of our session because that’s where he loves to be, and he was more than happy to lay around and let us feed him treats.
He lives a pretty great life, but unfortunately, he’s always been plagued by health problems. Recently, his parents found out that he has a tumor in his heart. I can’t imagine what they’re going through. It’s just not fair for a dog that’s so sweet and has so much love to give… but we didn’t focus on the negatives today. We had a wonderful time and Beckham kept us laughing throughout the session. Thanks for a great morning, big guy!
The yard is his domain… I don’t know what would happen if he didn’t keep watch over it.
He actually ran for us! This boy has get-up and GO! (I was only slightly scared for my life when I saw him barreling towards me)
… bear-like paws, wet with the morning dew…
We finished up by taking a bath. In the sunlight.
Karin & Mick, it was an honor to meet you & Beckham. I hope you had as much fun as I did today! Thanks again, and I’ll see you soon!
I was so excited when the FedEx man knocked on my door yesterday! He was carrying the first-ever (first-ever!) premium album for one of my clients! I’ve only been carrying these incredible products since April, after I attended a photography convention and couldn’t bear to walk away without sharing such beautiful works of art with my clients. They really are amazing – the craftsmanship, the attention to detail that my printers give – it’s flat-out incredible. And when they’re filled with artfully-arranged images of members of your family, jaw-dropping doesn’t even begin to describe them! (I should know – one of my samples features Bailey!)
So here’s the premium album that Razzie & Cherry’s mom ordered. I took a bunch of photos of it today, and hopefully this post gives you a good idea of the beautiful details it includes! She decided on the silk cover album option. It arrives in a plush, padded leather carrying case…
She opted for a silk brocade cover material in black, which has a beautiful mix of texture and silky smoothness.
She also chose to put her dogs’ names on the cover (instead of a photo). For simplicity’s sake, it’s a great choice! A favorite photo could be placed there just as easily.
The pages are wonderfully thick; you’d never rip or tear them.
One of my favorite features about premium albums? We can work quotes into the design! There are SO many wonderful (and touching) quotes about dogs out there, and I already have a small library-size compilation of them to choose from!
We have a little more creative freedom to mix color and black & white photos in premium albums, than compared to a wall gallery. It can be tricky, but done right, the correct photos really POP.
As you can see, the photo stretches across the entire spread. The line you see down the middle is the glare from my office window, not a seam or gutter.
A close-up of the way the photo encompasses the entire spread. There’s no gutter!
Tomorrow I get to hand off this album to its rightful owner… but it was so fun to see it myself and take a few pictures :) Thanks so much for letting me play with (and design) your pooches, Christel!
Marcel was not always Don & Linda’s dog. He actually used to belong to one of their kids! But every time Don came over, Marcel was at his side. Marcel was sad when Don left, and overjoyed when he returned – to the point that it just made sense for Don & Linda to bring him home with them. And now Don has a permanent shadow! Marcel protects him, loves him, and truly wants nothing more than to be with him all the time.
You hear about soulmates, and maybe you’re one of the lucky people to have found one. Some people believe in them, and others don’t. Watching Marcel & Don interact made me think about that term, though, and how maybe it doesn’t always have to apply to romantic partners. And that it could even surpass species. I haven’t known them very long, but I’m pretty sure Marcel has found his human counterpart – and best friend – in Don. It’s a devotion and a closeness that I don’t see too often. And even if I wasn’t a photographer, I’d describe it as beautiful.
Here are a few photos (an extra-big Sneak Peek!) from our session, during which we visited my studio, the park and the beach – because the sweet little guy loves the beach! I’m pretty sure we tuckered him out :) Enjoy!
“Hi, I’m Marcel, and I’m a serious contender for cutest poodle ever. I’d like to thank my ears.”
Thanks for a wonderful and heart-warming session, Don & Linda! I truly enjoyed it so much.
Lucky and Coco’s mom, Tammy, is an advocate for Pensacola’s homeless population with Project REACH. So it’s only fitting that her two dogs used to be homeless, until she adopted them! Lucky is a big, happy guy who would love to swim in the ocean all day long. He also loves to cheer on any fishermen he finds – which is the only thing that keeps me from thinking he’s actually part fish :) Coco is a sweet little Daddy’s girl, who’s much happier running around the beach, playing with toys, and finding things to get into that she shouldn’t! Both dogs are total sweethearts and I had such a great time during their session. Tammy & Jim, I hope you did too! Enjoy your Sneak Peek!
It’s that time again! We’ve waited months and months, and I’m soooooo excited to go back to 3 Dogs & A Chick for another round of Mini-Sessions!
A few Mini-Session images: Riley the golden retriever and Lilly the puggle, relaxing on the dock and in the park.
Bella the Coton de Tulear, dancing in the studio!
Jonesy the doberman, gettin’ crazy in the studio and relaxing outside.
In the photos above and the video below, you can see a few examples of the great images that happen on Mini-Session days! Keep reading for all the details and what you can do to sign up!
WHAT: pet photography sessions for an entry-level investment of time and money; $75
WHAT YOU’LL GET:
~ 30 minutes of session time, which will be spent capturing the personality of your pets in a fun, no-stress, non-posed way
~ an online gallery of at least 10 frame-worthy, artful images to browse (probably more!)
~ an 11×14 print of your choice
~ the opportunity to purchase prints, digital images, and canvas gallery wraps
~ and a simply wonderful time!
WHEN: June 9th, during your time slot
WHERE: 3 Dogs & A Chick in Ft. Walton Beach – here’s a map. It’s the perfect location: we’ll have a studio, a park, a cute courtyard, and a dock leading to the water! You can have a great variety of final images!
WHO: me, you, and 1-2 dogs
WHY: so you can have high-quality pet portraiture that you will adore. I guarantee it! After the session, we’ll have as many phone conversations, emails, video chats, and letters-by-pigeon as you need to determine what’s best for your house and lifestyle. I want to create something you’ll absolutely love – and nothing less!
HOW TO RESERVE YOUR TIME SLOT: Call 3 Dogs & A Chick at 850-243-7297. The first available session is 9:00 am, and the last will be at 6:00 pm. The time we’ll spend taking photos is 30 minutes, but we’ll need an extra 15 minutes of non-camera time so I can meet you and your dog(s), and answer any questions you might have. I’ll also show you exactly what a canvas gallery wrap is, if you’ve never seen one before. So, plan to spend 45 minutes with me that day.
Check out a few photos from Mini-Sessions in the past! (These were all taken at the same locations we’ll have access to on the 9th.)
As always, the event promises to be a TON of fun! Don’t wait to reserve your time slot; we’ve always sold out quickly after announcing the event! Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you there!
