San Diego Pet Photographer Allison Shamrell ~ The Blog

Point Loma Pet Photography with Teddy & Haley, Aussies

March 19th, 2014

I had a very good feeling about this Point Loma pet photography session before we even started. I’m not sure why – maybe it was because it’d be my first session with my brand-spanking-new 70-200mm lens? Maybe it was because this was my first session in Sunset Cliffs, an absolutely gorgeous location? Maybe it was because my client is one of the groomers at Awesome Doggies?

Whatever the reason, this session definitely lived up to my high hopes! We had a fabulous time and each dog’s personality really shines through in their photos… so without further ado, let me introduce you to Haley & Teddy!

They’re thrilled to meet you! haha!

This is Teddy; he’s a 5-year-old Australian shepherd and a total mama’s boy. He rarely wandered more than ten feet away (only if there was a stick involved, really), and if we asked him for a sit/stay/down/anything, he’d feel nervous at being put on the spot and slinked between his mom’s legs instead! Haha, he’s a total sweetheart – don’t you love that goofy grin that seems to be permanently on his face?

This is Haley, the older of the two. She’s 10 but doesn’t look a day older than her brother! This girl is much more independent and confident, and lucky for me, her obedience is pretty excellent. She was happy to explore Sunset Cliffs and the tide pools in Point Loma, not to mention meet all the other dogs we ran into during our session.

Both of these Aussies are totally devoted to their mom, Elyse. And let me tell you, it was beautiful to see.

Elyse, thank you for introducing me to my favorite new spot! Future Point Loma pet photography clients are always going to hear me suggest Sunset Cliffs as a potential location from now on. (Well, at least those clients with outdoorsy dogs like yours! haha!)

Tags: aussie, pet photography, pets, photography, San Diego, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography
Posted in pet photography | 1 Comment »

Corgi Photography: Milan & Harley in Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, CA

March 15th, 2014

I am so thrilled to introduce you to Milan & Harley, the cutest little corgis in all of California! These dogs live a carefree, happy life with their parents in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. And if you could see their big house & beautiful yard to play in, I’m pretty sure you’d agree: they won the canine lottery! These are two lucky dogs, and they’re full of personality to boot. I absolutely loved getting to know them both (and their parents) during our session the other day.

This is Milan! She’s a 13-week-old corgi puppy that loves to run around & play – not to mention exercise those sharp puppy teeth, haha! (Did you see her photo on the Facebook page? She was a big hit!)

And she’s completely won over both of her parents! See, she even helps her dad work in his office!

And of course, we can’t forget Milan’s handsome older brother Harley. He wasn’t too sure at first about his parents’ decision to bring a new puppy into the household, but now he & Milan are best buds! Plus, he lets her know when to calm down, already. :)

Look at that happy face! Harley is such a good-lookin’ boy.

Kelley & Paul, thank you so much for a fabulous session! I can’t wait to show you the rest of your photos – I’ll see you soon! :)

Tags: pet photography, pets, photography, rancho santa fe, rancho santa fe pet photography, San Diego, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography
Posted in pet photography | 2 Comments »

A Client’s Perspective on her Pet Photography Experience

March 12th, 2014

Today on the blog, it’s my honor & absolute pleasure to introduce you to my friend Lori! She lives where I started my business, Pensacola, FL, and she started out as my client – but several years (and sessions) later, she’s become a true friend. She graciously agreed to write a guest post for me – not as a business owner or pet-industry professional like Norma at Earthwise Pet Supply or Elyse at Awesome Doggies – but as herself, as a pet owner, simply to provide you with an honest client’s perspective. My past clients know exactly what the Allison Shamrell Photography experience entails, and I hoped that if she told her story, prospective future clients would better understand what their experience might be like, and maybe even help them decide whether booking a session with me is the right choice for them. So check out what Lori has to say!

As the proud owner of 2 great yellow Lab boys, I was on the prowl for a professional photographer who was willing (and able) to take their photos. My 14-year-old Buford would be a snap, he’d posed for my attempts for years and he was comfortable with the routine. His arthritis and hearing loss would be his only challenges. The real issue was finding someone who could catch Rio, who was only a little older than 2 at the time, basically a 110lb toddler. I had tried an indoor only / family photographer and while the photos were fun, I wasn’t really into the dressing up stuff – I could do that at home. Then I found a natural light photographer but she specialized in infants and children, so the photos were just lacking that special “something”.

In early 2011 I saw a random flyer at my vet’s office advertising a pet photographer. The photos on the flyer were fun, indoor and outdoor – I jotted down the website and soon after found myself surfing the website of Allison Shamrell Photography. Honestly, I was hesitant when I saw the prices but I decided I would buy a package, just use the print credit for photos and be done.

Allison met me in downtown Pensacola where we visited parks, fountains, the historic district and her studio. At first I was kind of uncomfortable, I didn’t know what to expect and how it was going to work out having both dogs there at once. It took about 2 minutes to see this was going to be a great experience! “Just let Buford do what he wants to do, I’ll work from there” “Is Buford ok to walk over to the fountain, or should we let him rest and we can work with Rio?” Allison was up on brick walls, lying on the pavement, kneeling for sloppy kisses from Rio and loving on my old Buford dog (a sure way to my heart). The dogs had a great time and so did I!

A couple of days after our session, I saw the sneak peek photos and was floored with the way Buford’s sweet smile was captured just right, and how even when he behaved you could see the spark in Rio’s eyes. When it came time to order, Allison showed me samples of each product she had available and I was fascinated with the quality and variety! Fortunately, her patience extended past dogs on to their people, because I kept her hostage for hours. I was so indecisive!

My orders came in and each delivery was more exciting than the last! I had canvas wraps and portrait prints, storyboards…. Some went on the wall and some propped on the dresser in my room.

Fast forward to early morning, May 24, 2011. I sat on the floor of the vet’s office with Buford who had stopped eating. He was disoriented and his eyes told me he was done. A month shy of his 15^th birthday, I kissed my best friend’s grey fuzzy face for the last time.

When I got home, my first response was to go to the computer and watch the video of our session with Allison over and over again. I posted on Facebook and Allison was one of the first to reply with her condolences. I wanted just the right photo to post of my old man, something to do justice to his quiet, gentle dignity. I chose a photo from the park, where Allison had let Buford lay down to rest and she took photos of him while he was there.

I had more photos of Rio done, this time with my parent’s terrier Rags. When I had 2 new dogs join the family, they had their sessions as well (and that little dachshund – well, he was 100% proof Allison can get a great photo of pretty much any dog!). After Buford passed away I knew I couldn’t miss another opportunity to have the “just right” photo of my dogs. I take some pretty decent pictures, but I wanted to “feel” the texture of their coats, see that look in their eyes that was specific to each dog (“smiley Riley” “bad Frank” etc). Almost 3 years later, all of my photos from all (5?) of my sessions with Allison are on my living room wall or those of my parents. And Buford still holds front and center.

The image on Lori’s canvas.

Now that Allison has moved completely across the country, I find myself in a bind with my newest dog, Lucy. I don’t have “real” photos of her! It’s different this time, because I am not looking for that “something” in a photographer – Allison set my expectations and I know exactly what will meet my needs – I want a photographer who is confident enough in their work to have a pre-session meeting with samples of their galleries and products, but who is humble enough to lay in the grass with an old dog; I am looking for someone with the patience to help me round up a rebel dachshund after he chews through his leash, but with the time management to get my orders to me in a reasonable fashion. After browsing some photographer sites and blogs, I still find myself emailing Allison invitations to come back just for one more session.

– Lori E.

Lori, thank you for such an eloquent description of your experience with me. (I still can’t believe Frank chewed through his leash during that session!) If I ever get the chance to visit Pensacola, you’ll be one of the first people I call. :) I hope this story was helpful to you if you’re considering commissioning me or any other pet photographer for a custom session! My session pricing is listed here, and you can contact me here. Thanks for reading Lori’s story. :)

Tags: pet photography, pets, photography, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography
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Guest Post: Pet Nutrition, by Earthwise Pet Supply

March 8th, 2014

I’m thrilled to introduce another Guest Post here on the blog! I asked Norma & John, the owners of Earthwise Pet Supply and North County Pet Nanny, to give my readers a few tips on pet nutrition. It’s a topic that’s been in the news quite a bit lately, and as the managers of a shop that specializes in healthy pet goods, as well as pet sitters who see the daily effect that food has on pets’ lives, I knew they’d have plenty of expertise on the topic! So take a look, and I bet you’ll learn something new – I definitely did! ~Allison

I was asked by Allison Shamrell if I wanted to do a guest post for her blog, and I jumped at the opportunity. I wanted to share the experiences I have had with my pet store and pet sitting. I have seen many dogs and cats with many health issues, and most of them can improve with proper nutrition. I have seen dogs with tummy issues, and it’s difficult to pick up after a dog with tummy issues. You know what I’m talking about. I have seen dogs that need encouragement to eat their tasteless food, cats that are overweight and diabetic because their food contains sugar. So I wanted to share some nutritional information to assist pet owners on how to read their pet’s food labels.

The first thing I wanted to mention is that the first five ingredients listed in the food are 90% of what’s in your pet’s food. The first five ingredients should be a specific meat meal, such as chicken meal, then a specific meat, such as chicken, followed by a starch, such as sweet potato or peas, then a fat, such as chicken fat, then followed by more specific meats. If the label just mentions “meat” it can be anything, make sure it names the specific meat. Stay away from meat-by products as that could really be any kind of meat and I mean any kind. If you feed a grain kibble for dogs, the grain should preferably be oatmeal or brown rice. In the case of cats, they are obligate carnivores, therefore they don’t need grains in their diet. They need a high meat diet and lots of water. If you feed your cat kibble, make sure that they always have plenty of water available to avoid any bladder issues.

Secondly, if sugar is in the top five list of the ingredients, then it has a really high sugar content. Sugar can cause dental issues, ear infections, obesity and diabetes. Ear infections are caused by a buildup of yeast in the ears when there is too much sugar or grain in their diet. Yes your dog or cat will love the food, but that’s because it filled with sugar!

The third item to mention is allergies caused by grains and gluten. Grains can cause yeast build up, gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea, colitis and irritable bowels. Additionally, grain and gluten allergies can cause hot-spots and chewing at the feet, and in some cases they can even cause vomiting if your pet is highly allergic. So if your pet is showing any of these symptoms, start by removing grains from their diet.

Finally, the last thing to mention is that a better quality food with better ingredients gets absorbed by your pet’s body better. If the nutrients of the food are absorbed, then there is less waste coming out of your pet. Less waste means less to clean up in the yard, on your walk or in the litter box. Who doesn’t like that idea?

So start reading those labels and if you have any questions email me at sandiego@earthwisepet.com or contact your local pet store. Support Local – they are more knowledgeable anyway. :)

Thanks for sharing all these great tips, Norma & John! You can visit Earthwise Pet Supply (located off Hwy 56, at the Camino Del Sur exit) and ask them your pet nutrition questions in person. They’re open from 10 am – 7 pm Monday – Friday, 10 – 6 on Saturday, and 12 – 5 on Sunday.

Tags: pets, San Diego
Posted in housekeeping/fyi | 2 Comments »

Guest Post: Professional Dog Grooming, Pre-Photo Session

February 25th, 2014

I’m proud to introduce an exciting new type of post for the Allison Shamrell Photography blog – a guest post! I always recommend that my clients consider booking a grooming appointment (or at least a bath) for their pets a few days before our session. So the wonderful people at Awesome Doggies, San Diego’s premier mobile pet grooming service, answered a few questions that a first-time photography client might have about getting dog grooming before a photo session. They’re the experts when it comes to grooming, and they have some fabulous insights into all the factors that make up a great grooming appointment! Take a look!

Left: Elyse uses a hair dryer on Henry the black lab. Right: grooming tools & brushes in the Awesome Doggies service trailer. (Photo credit: UT San Diego, used with permission.)

Written by Elyse Angone, Operations Manager at Awesome Doggies Mobile Grooming

Have you ever gotten a fresh new haircut right before a big event or photo sesh, only to feel uncomfortable in your new do or not liking the pictures as much as you’d hoped? Well, one trick to grooming for pet photography is to know your pup can have the same dilemma! But don’t worry – with some pre-planning, your pooch can feel comfortable and look fabulous for the camera. Here are some things to consider:

What kind of “look” best suits your pet?

You probably want your dog to be clean (or mostly clean), brushed out, and looking their best for their pictures, but you also might not want them to look too different from how they always look – you may not want to try a standard breed clip for your Westie if they’re usually in a casual puppy cut (or you might not recognize her in the photo!). If you usually get your dog clipped short when they see a groomer, but they spend most of their time looking shaggy, you may want to opt for a bath-only with some light trimming just before picture day. Put some thought into what look best represents your dog, and talk to your groomer ahead of time to decide when to have your pup groomed, & what look to go for.

Elyse washes Henry with one of Awesome Doggies’ many shampoos. (Photo credit: UT San Diego, used with permission.)

When should you see the groomer?

If your dog doesn’t need a full haircut, it’s probably safe to have them groomed a day or two before your session is scheduled. If a haircut is happening, you may want to have that done a little farther in advance. That gives you time to make sure the haircut is to your liking, without the stress of being rushed. It’s nice to have a day or so to look over the haircut at home, in your dog’s natural environment. Be sure to call your groomer ahead of time to schedule their appointment, & let them know that a professional photo session is scheduled. If you think your pet may have a matted coat, or if they’ve ever had a shave-down due to matting, consult with your groomer well in advance for recommendations on how & when to handle the matting. Keep in mind that a shaved coat can take months to grow back.

Left: Henry basks in his bath. Right: various shampoos & treatments for different types of dogs. (Photo credit: UT San Diego, used with permission.)

What other grooming options are there?

Groomers have a few tricks beyond basic baths and haircuts that can help your pictures come out great. Some shampoos have optical brighteners in them to make coat colors “pop”, and conditioners that can add a fresh shine. Paw pads can be conditioned to make them look and feel softer. Black toe nails can even be painted with black non-toxic nail polish to make them look extra nice (or you can use nail polish to add a splash of color). Even if your dog doesn’t get a haircut, your groomer may be able to neaten the fur between their toes, or thin out the hair around their ears to make them appear perkier. Ask your groomer what they have & what they recommend for your dog.

Lastly, and most important, remember to have some fun with your pup on picture day! Put some thought into the grooming plan ahead of time, so that when the camera comes out you can just enjoy watching your four-legged friend shine!

Left: Elyse finishes drying Henry with the hair dryer. Right: Elyse & Henry finish their appointment, with Henry sparkling clean, and they exit the service trailer. (Photo credit: UT San Diego, used with permission.)

If you’re in need of a groomer to provide extra gentle care in the most stress-free environment possible, Awesome Doggies serves most neighborhoods of San Diego, bringing a mobile grooming salon to your doorstep. Click here to visit the Facebook page (which always posts cute photos & funny links!), or you can reach Awesome Doggies by calling (858) 633-3641.

Thanks for the article, Elyse! (I personally had no idea about the optical brighteners in some shampoos – that’s an awesome tip!) Awesome Doggies does fabulous work, and I’m thrilled to feature their expertise here on the blog. I hope you liked this post as much as I did! :)

Tags: San Diego, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography
Posted in housekeeping/fyi, pet photography | No Comments »

Point Loma Pet Photography with Teddy & Haley, Aussies

Corgi Photography: Milan & Harley in Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, CA

A Client’s Perspective on her Pet Photography Experience

Guest Post: Pet Nutrition, by Earthwise Pet Supply

Guest Post: Professional Dog Grooming, Pre-Photo Session

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