Sonja’s pet portrait session was one of those that melt your heart. Her mom contacted me after Sonja was diagnosed with Degenerate Myelopathy, which is a progressive disease of the spinal cord that slowly causes paralysis. With the chance of losing her soon, her mom knew the importance of creating and capturing beautiful memories with her and the family. Sonja is SO loved by her mom that she had to fight back the tears at our consultation meeting (this is where the heart-melting comes in). And even though Sonja may be a mama’s girl, the guys had a few good laughs playing and “posing” with her as well. The experience as a whole was a moment in ALL of their lives that I believe they’ll never forget, and I’m SO thankful they chose me to share and capture those memories for them. Here’s to Sonja…may she live the rest of her life to the fullest!
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Is your dog picky or sensitive to certain foods? Would you like to see them grub down their food as if it was their last meal, and know that their eating something truly beneficial to their health? With so many options on what to feed your dog, it can be tough deciding exactly what type or brand of food is best for them. All dogs are different, but experts agree that the majority of dogs gain the most health benefits by being on a meat-based diet. This is primarily because they’re bodies require 22 essential amino acids, twelve of which they produce themselves, with the remaining needed to be consumed through their diet. Now, they do also need some carbohydrates to maintain energy levels in order to exercise frequently. But the majority of your dog’s food should come from some type of meat. This is why it is so important to read the labels on your dog’s food.
My youngest dog, Rain (seen here thoroughly enjoying her food…along with the other two in the background), suffers from severe allergies and is susceptible to yeast infections. This is why I have researched what type of diet she needs to be on to maintain optimal health and live a happy life. It turns out that a raw-meat based diet with added vitamins and supplements suits her best. So, I created a recipe based on her needs and my financial capabilities. Here I’ll share how to make homemade dog food, including the recipe, costs, feeding & storing instructions so that you can try it out yourself if you’d like. This recipe can be varied to suit you & your dog’s needs. If you’re searching for a healthier alternative for your dog’s diet, I HIGHLY recommend this…
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To some, pet photography may seem like an easy job. All I do is play with pets and photograph them, right? Actually, there’s a LOT of work that goes on behind the scenes. In fact, only about 10% of my time is spent shooting. The other 90% is spent prepping, editing, designing, emailing, learning, marketing, networking, bookkeeping, yada, yada, yada. But that’s not to say those things aren’t fun. Ok, I could REALLY do without having to deal with the financial side of things, but other than that, I LOVE my job! I get to do things when I want and how I want. One of my favorite to-do’s has to do with the preparation for a client shoot. I often shoot in the client’s home because that is where pets are most comfortable, but it’s also very popular for clients to choose to go to the beach or a park. When a client chooses a location I’ve never shot at (and maybe even never been to) I take full advantage of getting to go somewhere new. A few days prior to their photo shoot, I’ll check out the location at the same time of day that our shoot is scheduled for, and do some test shooting. I absolutely LOVE doing this for many reasons. I get to check out and enjoy a new place, shoot whatever looks interesting, and it allows me to visualize for the upcoming shoot. I take note of the lighting, areas that are photogenic and ways to incorporate the pet in the location. I’m a firm believer that you can NEVER be too prepared, so I find this very beneficial in preparing for my client shoots, and it boosts my confidence going into the shoot.
So, last week, to prep for the shoot I had this past weekend, I went to the beach my client had chosen for her shoot. I am very familiar with Carlsbad beaches, so I really went to scope out the lighting and just get some inspiration. Not to mention, it’s a chance to get away from the computer! I was worried that I might have to use my flash (which I REALLY don’t like to do), so that was my primary focus…playing with fill flash. I set up my tripod, used myself as a model and ran some tests. Once I felt confident, I hung around to watch the sunset. Yeah, just another day at the “office” for a Southern California Pet Photographer
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This image is from the day my girl, Skyy, became a mother. Being a mother to her, I couldn’t have more proud of how well she handled delivering six beautiful puppies. Here’s to all the mothers out there, whether you’re a mother to children or pets. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Focus can arguably be the most important element of a photograph…next to lighting. Without something in focus, the viewer’s eye just wanders. Whatever the most significant part of the image is, that’s where the focus should be. In portraiture, it’s typically the eyes and face of the subject that are most important. One way to make the focal point REALLY stand out is to surround it with blur. I am a HUGE fan of combing focus and blur to create a perfect image. So, for this week’s Project 52 theme, I grabbed my most willing model to demonstrate this effect.
To do this: I lied in the grass in front of my subject with my camera at ground level (ok, it was a wee bit above ground level because my lawn needs a good mowing). I intentionally let the grass stand directly in front of my lens, creating the blurry strands of green in the foreground. Shooting wide open enabled the background to be blurry as well. I focused on the eyes, and snap!
This theme can be interpreted many different ways, so be sure to check out how the other Project 52 photogs put their spin on it. Start with Nashville Pet Photographer, Kelly Coyle and follow the link circle to end up back here! Enjoy!
The creation of beautiful images doesn’t start when the shutter clicks. There’s a lot of preparation on both the photographer and client’s part. What they do to prepare for a custom portrait session can make or break a beautiful image. And since that’s the ultimate goal for all parties involved, here’s my Top 5 ways to prepare for a photo shoot, whether your the client or photographer.
CLIENT (PET OWNER):
- Have your pet bathed or groomed the day before or morning of the shoot. A quick brushing and face wiping may be done at the start of the shoot to ensure they look their best.
- Consider buying your pet a new collar if their current one is not in good shape, or have them not wear one at all.
- A short walk before the shoot is useful in calming your pet, allowing them to be in a more submissive mood when the shoot begins.
- Typically, treats are used to engage your pet, so be clear of any food allergies or other diet restrictions your pet may have. You may offer treats for the photographer to use if your pet is picky about food.
- Bring out their favorite toys. Incorporating these in the photography process encourages your pet to be themselves while interacting in a playful manner with the photographer.
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Why Does Custom Photography Cost So Much
One of my all time FAVORITE quotes is “Price is what you pay, value is what you get.”
Many photographers have undoubtedly been asked, “how in the world can you charge $200-$300 for a session plus $40, $50, $75 for an 8×10 print when I can go to Sears and get a FREE session with numerous prints for only $10?” The truth of the matter is, much of the cost of a photographic print produced by a professional photographer has a lot to do with the time, expenses and reputation of the photographer and their business. Then they ask, “but Sears photographers are professional, right?” Ask a real pro this question, and you’re certain to get the stink eye. A truly PROFESSIONAL photographer has years of training and experience (even if they’re self-taught), networks with other professionals through events and organizations, stays current on industry standards and trends, and is absolutely passionate about what they do. Any high school graduate can walk into Sears Portrait Studio and get a job as a photographer. Sure they get training…like ONE whole days worth. What it ultimately comes down to is the EXPERIENCE…and by that I mean, the involvement and invested time the photographer puts into EVERY client session from beginning to end. Sears will bring you in, take your photo and your money, then spit you out like an old piece of gum. With a professional, it’s ALL about YOU! They listen to YOUR story, consider YOUR portrait art goals, connect with YOU on a personal level, and strive to give YOU exactly what you are looking to get out of the session.
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For this month’s Snapshot self-portrait, I headed to the Carlsbad Flower Fields, because if there’s ONE thing I LOVE about Spring, it’s the flowers. Both the sight and smell of them tickle my senses ever so beautifully Plus, I was a little ashamed at the fact that I’ve lived in North County San Diego my WHOLE life, yet NEVER stepped foot onto the fields. What?!?! So, I owed it to myself, and to the flowers to pay a visit. It’s basically a photographer’s dream…beautifully organized patches of color framing your subjects. Yes, please! I would LOVE to do a family portrait shoot here…no dogs allowed though. However, adding to the list of my 2012 goals, I am looking to photograph more people…specifically families with pets. I feel this would greatly enhance my skills and since I’m planning on starting a family of my own soon, what better way to transition?
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What better way to celebrate the families who have taken in a shelter pet than by getting together for a reunion? The Escondido Humane Society does just that! Every year, they host an Alumni Reunion to show how much they appreciate the families who have rescued a pet from their shelter. Whether they adopted a dog, cat, bunny…everyone is invited to join in the festivities. The event includes a bake sale, cake walk, paw prints, bingo, scrapbook signing and group photo. The event also gives the volunteers and staff a chance to revisit with some of their old friends and see just how well they’ve been doing in their new homes. You may also recognize some of the animals, as I have photographed quite a few of them! The time I spend interacting with and photographing them may be short, but I never forget them, so it’s a truly wonderful experience when I get to see them again, living healthy and happy with their beloved families. It’s a very heart-warming event.
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To celebrate Father’s Day, my good friends over at the Escondido Humane Society are proud to announce their first ever “Dads & Dogs” event! They’ll be hosting this event at the Lexus of Escondido, where there will be a raffle for the chance to win a test drive with one of Lexus’ luxury automobiles. And the best part is that the dads can bring their dogs along for them ride! Dogs and cars…what more could a dad want? Ok, maybe some football and BBQ too, but let’s not get greedy.
So, to promote the event, they asked me to take some photographs for their campaign. Of course I graciously accepted the job, and as always, it was a blast. We gathered some dogs from the shelter to use as models and headed to the dealership. We also grabbed a couple willing car salesmen to act as dads. Together, the team worked very well to get the shots I had envisioned, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of the shoot. Star and Bandit, the dog models, were very ball driven, so it worked quite well to get them to focus on me. I think the dads were very break-from-work driven, happily doing whatever was asked of them.
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