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Cats!

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

Yesterday I did something that I’ve never done before – and quite honestly, I was a little scared. I photographed a session with FIVE CATS. But what made this session different than any other session I’ve done wasn’t the sheer number of cats; I’ve actually photographed five cats in one household before. The uniqueness of this session was that there weren’t any dogs! While I’m a pet photographer, and I do include ALL pets in that title, dogs are really my comfort zone. They’re the vast majority of what I work with, and I’ve studied + know quite a bit about dog behavior. So when I entered this house and I knew there weren’t any tail-wagging “woofers” (to quote my father-in-law) around the corner to greet me, I felt a little bit weird! Lucky for me, these cats’ parents (Kim & Dale) are SUPER nice, and happy to tell me if I committed a feline faux pax. So here are just a few early favorites from our session – let me introduce you to the cats!

 

Pumpkin (on the ladder) is a rescue from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He’s a sweet, lively cat who did pretty much everything we asked of him! Little Man on the right is missing his right eye, but look at how stunning his left eye is! I think it looks like he’s winking.

Two orange cats perch on a ladder and look up at the camera.

 

Sasha prefers to stay outdoors, but if you’re out there with her, she’s got to be the center of attention!

A cat sits on grass in its backyard.

 

These were the two shy cats. Gracie (in the bush) is a gorgeous gray color and warmed up to me with a bit of time. Little Beebee, on the other hand, had to be held (pretty tightly) by Kim so he wouldn’t sprint into a back bedroom… the poor thing is petrified of guests, so we didn’t get a huge variety of photos of him, but I love this sweet one of him & Kim!

Two gray cats peer through leaves and sit on mom's lap

 

More cat photos are coming! Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this out-of-the-ordinary post!

 

Sneak Peek: Shelby & Gunther ~ Navarre Pet Photography by Allison Shamrell

Monday, January 30th, 2012

This fun session was a first for me in several ways, besides being the first on my calendar for 2012: it was the first time I’d seen a fountain of everlasting energy from something other than a labrador. It was the first time we visited my new favorite location – and I can’t disclose where it is! For clients’ eyes only, haha! But most surprisingly, this was the first time that the family added a new member in-between their pre-session consultation and the actual session! That’s right, the number of animals in this household increased by one over the past week, and they kept it under wraps from me until I arrived to see a tiny black cat in mom Jessica’s arms! Needless to say, it was a wonderful surprise! We were laughing about how Jessica has rescued almost all their pets, and she just “can’t say no” to a dog or cat who needs rescuing. And although it may make for a hectic household, I’m pretty sure the world is a better place for Jessica’s being in it.

 

So I’m going to do something a bit different with this Sneak Peek. As regular blog followers know, I usually post 3-4 photos of the subject(s) in question. But since this family has twice that many pets, how about one photo per animal? Sound fair? I think so.

 

We’ll start with the dogs: this is Shelby, the world’s most active 1-year-old standard poodle. She also emanates beauty; I think she’s a contender for most gorgeous dog EVER.

 

This is Gunter, Jessica’s little sweetheart.

 

This is Sushi, an old cat that Jessica has owned since her college days. Sushi wasn’t really in the mood to be photographed but I think we got a few cute ones!

 

These next two are Siamese cats, Simba & Sheba! Stunning creatures – I don’t know if I’ve ever met a Siamese before so it was a real treat to meet two! (“We are Siamese if you please…”) Simba is the one sitting up, and Sheba is the one whose nose I just had to get a close-up of, because it reminds me of a LION!

 

 

The Most Photogenic Cat Award goes to Otis. He made himself quite at home on the dining room table.

 

And last but not least, this is the newest addition, Ruby! She actually only has three legs – her from left one is missing – but she was in such a playful mood it couldn’t have mattered less. Here she is sandwiched between a chair back and its cushion, trying to get at me and my camera.

 

Jessica and Jon, I hope you had a great time on Saturday! Your photogenic animals have given me plenty of work in the meantime. See you soon!

 

 

~ Dog Photography by Allison Shamrell in Navarre and Pensacola, Florida ~

 
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Tiptoeing around the Turkey… ~ {Christmas pet portraits by Allison Shamrell}

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

I always feel bad for Thanksgiving. It’s a holiday that hearkens back to the earliest days of our country, and still teaches a really valuable lesson today. I think a little more focus on Thanksgiving is always good, and I’m really looking forward to spending time with my extended family again this year.

 

But… we all know what comes next.

 

So with utmost respect for the turkey, the mashed potatoes and the football, I would like to announce my holiday photo sessions! And while I’m trying not to get too worked up about the holidays that come after Thanksgiving, I’ve got some really sweet surprises up my sleeve! Check it out:

So all you have to do is choose whichever date/location is more convenient for you! I’ll have the same beautiful studio setup in both places, and you’ll have an online gallery of 6-10 portraits to choose from, in a matter of a few days.

 

Here’s the best part of the entire event: proceeds from your session fee will go to the animal charity of your choice! When you arrive for your portraits, you’ll choose between three great local shelters/rescue organizations that will greatly benefit from your financial assistance. Giving is what the holidays are all about, so I couldn’t be happier to provide this opportunity for you and for them. Too many dogs will be spending Christmas morning in a shelter, and every little bit can help boost adoptions for the holiday season!

 

Here’s the runner-up for best part of the event: you get to choose how your cards are made! If you’d to make them yourself, the first session option includes your favorite digital file from your session, and you’re off to create your own holiday greetings! Or if you’d rather not do the work yourself, I’m happy to do it for you! And look at these incredible card shapes I’m proud to offer:

 

 

 

 

With any of these fun cards, you’re sure to win the prime spot on all your family’s fridges.

 

Here’s what you can do now: call The Spotted Dog (850.438.2008) to reserve your time on December 3rd, call 3 Dogs & A Chick (850.243.7297) to reserve your time on December 4th, or call me (850.255.0903) to ask any questions! You can also use the Contact form on this blog to send me an email.

 

I hope to see you that weekend! And have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

Details:

~  Families are welcome! Our only limitation is my backdrop space, which can hold about 6-7 animals/people.

~  Please have your product choice (digital image OR cards) in mind when you arrive for your portraits.

~  Additional cards and/or digital images are available upon request and for an extra charge.

~  Standard folded cards (5×5 and 5×7 sizes) instead of the flat cards displayed above are also available.

~  Multiple images can fit on one card design.

~  At the 3 Dogs & A Chick location, we will also be able to take portraits outside, instead of in the studio. This is weather-permitting, and a substitution for (not in addition to) studio portraits.

~  Available props will be the ones shown in the above photos: Santa hats, ornaments, and a wreath garland with tinsel. Using them is entirely optional. Feel free to bring your own props.

~  We will be taking photos for holiday cards. If you’re interested in non-seasonal photos of your pet/family, please contact me to stay updated about regular sessions and mini-sessions.

 

~   Dog Photography by Allison Shamrell in Pensacola and Ft. Walton Beach, Florida   ~

New Products: Part Four ~ {Pensacola, Florida Pet Photography by Allison Shamrell}

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

I’m definitely excited about this next product, because it’s the result of finding just the right business to work with and provide awesome innovation to my clients. So without further ado: the accordion book!

As you can see, it looks like a book from the outside when it’s closed, but opens up in an explosion of accordion-photo-goodness! It’s a really fun alternative to the traditional photo book. It comes with a nice frosted slip cover to keep it protected when you’re taking it everywhere to show friends:

It opens up and the cover is glossy while the pages have a beautiful pearly finish, bounded by a linen strap in the middle:

When completely unfolded, it’s a force to be reckoned with:

I can put one image over several panels, or split them all up to show more of your favorite photos from each session:

The pages are thicker than a normal book, so it’ll be sturdy each time you open it up.

You can have a title on the spine of your book, too! The covers are actually magnetized, so even if you don’t use the slip cover, the book will stay closed unless you open it on purpose, which is very nice.

Each book measures 4×8 inches, so it’s half the size of a normal book, but twice the personality! It really lets you show off your pictures in a fun and unique way, and it’s available with any session from Allison Shamrell Photography!

I offer plenty of other fun products too, such as mouse pads, mugs, and greeting cards. They’re just not unique enough to warrant their own blog post! So rest assured, I offer such things standard, and if you really have your heart set on making a keychain, dry erase board, or even a name tag for your dog out of a photo from your session, I have the ability to make that happen as well. But my last blog post in the “New Products” series is reserved for my most controversial product of all. Yes, controversial! For some, it’s essential, but for others, it’s an outrage. So stay tuned to see what it is…

New Products: Part Three ~ {Pensacola, Florida Pet Photographer Allison Shamrell}

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

All right, here is another product! It’s for those of you who refuse to give up the wonderful story-telling aspect of books, but just can’t stand having blank walls. This is called a storyboard. It’s similar to a canvas gallery wrap, in that it can be hung up without a traditional frame, but it’s definitely not made out of canvas! The back mounting is a type of styrene, a hard but light material that’s 3/4″ thick. The front features the images, of course- and on this material (unlike all my other products) I get to design with more than one photo! So storyboards allow us to tell a story on an awesome surface, all while having the modern feel of sticking out from the wall framelessly. Again, pictures say it better than I can:

I included the glare from my lights so that you can see the surface isn’t canvas-like at all. It’s matte; like a photograph without the high gloss coating. The entire surface is on one plane, no dips or ridges, even though the lower images look framed. This is a “digital mat” effect. Pretty cool, right? Here’s a close-up of that effect:

The sides of the storyboard are the same color as the overall background, plain white. The sides have a bit of texture to them, and here are a couple of photos so you can see it better. I think it’s clearer in the darker photo, since the shadows bring it out more, but you should be able to get a pretty good idea from both pictures.

And here’s a shot of the corner.

It’s a modern, new product that you can’t find in too many places. But I love making them for my clients!! They work well with one dog and with multiple dogs, because they can show multiple aspects of one personality, or how different dogs interact with one another. In this one, for example, I included a photo of each of the Goldens that I felt really showed their personality (I think their owners can back me up on that!) and one of them together, because they really are the lights of their parents’ lives. Anyways, it’s another way for me to get creative without crouching behind a camera, and I have a lot of fun designing these unique products! So if you’re dying to hang up a big piece of artwork on the wall (this one is 20×30 inches) but simply can’t choose one favorite from your session, here is your solution!

Next time: a new type of book that’s the young, rebellious nephew of the coffee table album. Just wait until you see it…

Thanks for reading!

 

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