I absolutely loved this recent session – and not only because it featured a gorgeous Belgian Malinois! This is a relatively rare breed, which has only recently gained popularity due to the role many of them have played in the military. But beyond the intense working-dog attitude and impressive physical strength, underneath it all, these dogs are just like any other breed: loving, happy pups who are absolutely devoted to their families!

Ele’s story, though, has a not-very-happy beginning. Her parents don’t know exactly what happened to her (they rescued her at six months old), but she’s had an intense struggle with the fear of people. They told me the jaw-dropping fact that Ele was too scared to be in the same room with them for the first two years after they adopted her! I don’t even want to think about what must have happened to instill so much fear in her heart… sigh. And as she nervously tiptoed into my studio, it was clear that she was scared. So this session turned into a prime example of how I let the dog control the pace of the shoot; Ele needed to work slowly and take several breaks, so that’s exactly what we did. And even though she never let me touch her, she let me see her absolutely gorgeous smile! I really enjoyed coaxing Miss Ele out of her shell, and I think these images (as well as many more from our session) are prime examples of why working with a pet photographer who truly knows pets makes such a big difference in both the experience and the final images. From these images, you’d never guess at Ele’s shady past – I think you simply see a beautiful dog that’s surrounded by the love of her parents. Which is exactly what Ele is.

Here she is! Don’t you love her big grin? And that incessantly floppy ear?!

Those big eyes kill me! What a sweet face…

 In addition to plenty of happy Belgian Malinois photos, we saw a bit of Ele’s “serious face” for a few frames too…

Ele’s parents are also the owners of Hairy & Merry, Little Italy’s newest pet boutique! You simply must stop in and take a look around – they offer a full line of nutrition for cats & dogs, grooming and self-wash, and even daycare & boarding! Your dog can be social, clean & well-fed all in one visit, haha! My Bailey even experienced her very first self-wash in one of their new tubs last week. I simply can’t recommend their shop highly enough; it’s a fabulous and much-needed addition to the San Diego Little Italy neighborhood! You can also find their Facebook page here and their Pinterest here.

Sumrall & Chris, I had a wonderful time working and talking shop with you both! I can’t wait for our upcoming “project” to eventually take shape, too! :)