San Diego Pet Photographer Allison Shamrell ~ The Blog

Skype the Golden Retriever – San Diego, CA

June 9th, 2018

Okay, you KNOW I have a weakness for golden retrievers. So when Skype’s dad called me, I couldn’t have been more excited! Skype is a 1-year-old golden retriever who’s 100% puppy, simply couldn’t be more gorgeous, and absolutely adores his parents. We ran & played at Encinitas Community Park and Tourmaline Beach, and I got to see his (very real) obsession with the ball the whole time… he would chase it literally all day long if he could! Apparently he’s somewhat famous at Camp Run-A-Mutt for never taking a break during playtime; the boy just doesn’t sit down if there’s a ball or another dog to play with. Shepherds, border collies and terriers usually get a reputation as “high-energy” breeds – but I think Skype could outlast them all, haha! And so I was able to capture our fair share of action photos, but lucky for me, Skype was also willing to show off his “sit” and “stay” commands every once in a while, so our session ended up having a ton of variety. I think his parents are going to have an exceptionally tricky time picking out their favorite portraits, as a result!

Here’s that handsome face. If Skype ever goes missing, don’t look at my house.

If these photos don’t make you want to adopt a golden retriever, I don’t know what will. There’s so much fluff to love – and can you tell he’s still a puppy?!

He LOVED the beach! And yes, since he always came trotting happily back to his dad after every fetch, we let him go off-leash – the lifeguard didn’t like that very much! Oops! :)

Chris & Clara, thank you for introducing me to your sweet boy! I’m looking forward to showing you the rest of the images soon! :)

Tags: beach, dogs, golden retriever, park, pet photography, pets, photography, San Diego, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography
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Nomi & Nita, Poodle Mixes from North Park

June 7th, 2018

You know what I love? Christmas gifts!

You know what I love even more? Christmas gifts in June!

Haha – Nomi & Nita’s mom received a gift certificate for a photo session for Christmas, and decided to spread out the holiday cheer by redeeming it a few months later. So although I had to wait a little while before meeting these cute pups, I have to admit, it was worth the wait – Nomi & Nita are the sweetest dogs! These poodle mixes live in North Park with their moms, and I photographed them both at home and at Presidio Park. And while they may be similar in appearance, they each have completely distinct personalities: Nomi is a little princess, ready to steal the ball from her sister at a moment’s notice, and averse to the idea of a “collar” and “leash” when she would simply prefer to be relaxing in her mom’s arms. Nita is a bit more submissive, happy to let her sister dig out the ball from underneath the couch, and loves to run & romp in new places (as long as her family’s there with her, of course)! So here’s my question for you: think you’ll be able to see their photos without squealing from all the cuteness? Good luck…

Although you’d never know it just from seeing her, Nomi has a rare affliction called mega-esophagus. Her moms have done an incredible, painstaking job of taking care of this sweet girl, and ensuring that she lives safely with this life-threatening issue. And as a result, she rules the roost at home! I just love her big fluffy ears!

This is Nomi, ready to play! Can you tell that she’s a poodle-chihuahua mix? She doesn’t have any medical issues like her sister, because their moms deserve to have at least one low-maintenance dog! ;)

What a sight to come home to… I would literally sprint home after work every day if these sweet faces were waiting for me like this, haha!

Tiffany & Kelly, thank you so much for introducing me to your darling girls! I’m excited to see you both again soon! :)

Tags: dogs, mixed breed, pet photography, pets, photography, poodle, San Diego, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography
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Billy, Jasmine & Snickers: San Diego Schnauzers!

May 21st, 2018

I pulled up to their house, got out of the car, shut the door – and was immediately greeted with a cacophony of barks, yips and woofs from behind the fence! Billy, Jasmine & Snickers had all come out to greet me, and like all good schnauzers, it took several minutes for them to trust me enough for the barking to die down. (They had met me about a week beforehand, in my studio for our pre-session consult, but I’m pretty sure any absence of more than 5 minutes causes the same reaction… so I didn’t stand a chance, haha!)

We spent our session in their gorgeously-landscaped backyard in North Park, which provided the perfect mix of dog-friendly grass to run around on, pathways to pose on, and shrubbery to peek out from behind! Each dog had their own unique style, of course – and I have to admit, I really enjoyed working with Billy, the senior man of the bunch. He had such a feisty look in his eyes, even though he toddled around somewhat slowly on those 16-year-old legs… I think he really would have given me a workout a few years ago! But he let Snickers & Jasmine be the energetic ones for our session; they’re puppies by comparison at 4 years old!

All 3 dogs were really quite lovely to photograph; schnauzers are so expressive and not afraid to speak their minds! It’s that little dash of attitude that made our session so much fun. :)

This is Snickers! Can you handle that head tilt?!

This is Jasmine, in one of her favorite spots in the backyard. I think she likes to be surrounded by the outdoors…

And this is sweet Billy. That face, that expression, those eyelashes… he’s so amazing!

David & Ton, thank you so much for introducing me to your beautiful dogs! (And Karen & Kimmy, thank YOU for introducing US!)

Tags: backyard, dogs, pet photography, pets, photography, San Diego, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography, schnauzer, senior
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An Update for Cosmo Kramer & Simone, the Frenchies!

May 17th, 2018

So every once in a while, the schedule gods decide NOT to be on my side. (Or maybe I anger them somehow? Who knows!) When that happens, it usually ends up delaying appointments that I’m looking forward to… and this time it meant that Cosmo Kramer & Simone’s family has had to wait far too long (in my opinion) to see their images! But the good news is that they’re finally coming in to the studio in just a few days, and then they’ll get to see all of our adorable portraits – yay! But until then, I decided that their saint-like patience should be rewarded with a second sneak peek! (Did you see their first sneak peek?) Because these Frenchies are way too cute to keep to myself. :)

So without further ado… here’s a fresh look at these Frenchies from San Diego!

Martha & family – I’m excited to see you SOON! Yay! :)

Tags: backyard, dogs, French bulldog, pet photography, pets, photography, San Diego, San Diego Dog Photographer, San Diego pet photography, studio
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2018 Pet Industry Trends – Courtesy of Reviews.com

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

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

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

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

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.

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/

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