I’m so excited to share this blog post with you! This Chula Vista pet photography session was incredibly special to me, for 2 different reasons… first of all, it was my first Chula Vista session! Ever! Can you believe that?! Since I moved to San Diego last year, and opened my studio doors in August, I’ve been busy with clients in San Diego, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, downtown, Lakeside… all over the place, really, except for south of the city! So I was thrilled to finally have an excuse to explore Chula Vista. Reason #2 that this session was so special: it’s a secret Mother’s Day gift! So if you recognize the dog in these photos, don’t tell his mom!! I love celebrating Mother’s Day with the moms of 4-legged children; I always describe my Bailey as my daughter, and right now, she’s curled up in a ball, sleeping at my feet. In my opinion, dog moms (especially my awesome clients) deserve recognition, just like moms of human kids; Mother’s Day is for them too! So Rufus’ mom will receive a custom 8×10 print of her handsome boy on Mother’s Day, and then she’ll get to visit my studio and see allllllll the rest of Rufus’ photos! How fun does that sound?!

So let me introduce you to her handsome boy, Rufus! He’s a border collie mix, and as far as any other breeds in his heritage, your guess is as good as mine. But how distinctive and striking is he?! (Also – did you have any doubt that Chula Vista pet photography sessions can have gorgeous backgrounds? Because I might have… but now I think this is my new favorite location!)

We took a break from “posing” for some action photos – Rufus loooves to chase his tennis ball!

Oh Rufus. You are adorable.

Thanks for sneaking Rufus out of the house, Elyse & Kyle! I can’t wait to hear what your mom says when you reveal our surprise!  :)

For more information about Mother’s Day photo sessions and gift certificates, you can call me at 619.357.6624 or email me at allison@allisonshamrell.com. 

I’m often asked if I own a golden retriever – probably because, let’s be honest, this breed is all over my website! I show canvas gallery wraps of golden retrievers at events, I have a sample coffee table book featuring golden retrievers, and they’re in each of the photo galleries on my website – well, except the feline gallery, of course! But the truth is, I don’t have a golden retriever. I just have my Bailey, and I’m sure she doesn’t have any golden mixed in her heritage. However, I loooooove to admire goldens from a distance! They’re indescribably beautiful; I just think they’re the supermodels of the dog world! I’d happily adopt a golden retriever in the future; they’re happy-go-lucky dogs with a fabulous temperament, and this family of goldens I photographed recently is no exception! Let me introduce you to Lucy, Gracie & Scarlett!

This is Scarlett, the youngest of the pack at only six months. And let me tell you – she’s a fireball, but I’ve worked with older & more mature dogs that didn’t have half the obedience she knows at such a young age!  To get a puppy to sit, lay down, and then stay long enough for her mom to inch out of the frame… now that’s a challenge! Good girl, Scarlett!

 This is Gracie, the blondie! Her gorgeous light fur is vastly different from her sisters’ rich red coloring, but her personality is just as sweet. The only times she didn’t have a big goofy golden smile on her face was when she was chasing down her ball, like in this photo! The girl is an athlete, for sure!

And last but certainly not least, this is Lucy, the oldest and noblest of the pack. With age comes experience, and she’s impeccably trained. A photographer’s dream to work with! Plus, I love white faces like hers. :)

 And finally, here are all three golden girls together! (Don’t you love how the orange in the trees matches Lucy & Scarlett’s fur?)

Bobbi & Teri, thank you so much for an absolutely marvelous session. We have sooo many photos, thanks to all the adorable poses your girls struck for me… thank you for training them so incredibly well!  :)