I’m so excited to introduce you to Molly! Not only because she’s one of the most adorable pups around, but she is also one of my first official “Puppy Plan” participants! Molly is a 2 month old Great Pyrenees, labrador, and (supposedly) Bassett hound mix who gives the cutest little head tilts for the camera. She is definitely in the puppy phase where everything needs to go in her mouth. Toys, food, leashes, collars, pant legs, shoes, my camera bag… nothing is safe from those puppy teeth!
We held her photo session at her parents’ gorgeous home in the Olivenhain neighborhood of Encinitas/Rancho Santa Fe. Her mom and dad have a beautiful setup in their backyard where we were able to get amazing portraits with plenty of natural light coming through the trees. A photographer’s dream! Molly had a lot of energy, so I think she had a pretty great time playing and posing for me. And get this: whenever she needed to take a break from all of her running around, she decided to quench her thirst by drinking the dew off of the grass! She reminded me of a little lawnmower as she cruised around, head down & searching out the wettest blades of grass, haha! She was too cute!
I’ll be seeing Molly and her parents again when she’s about 6-7 months old for the next stage of her Puppy Plan. I cannot wait to see how much she has changed by then! I bet she’ll have grown by leaps and bounds (especially if that Great Pyrenees in her heritage has any say in the matter). Which means even then, and for the rest of Molly’s life, these photos from when she’s only 2 months old will be awww-inspiring keepsakes. :)
Don’t be fooled by that cute head tilt. There’s a silly, rambunctious, mischievous puppy behind that innocent face!
Ohhh that early morning light… I love it! And can you see the dew on Molly’s face that came from drinking the water off the grass?!
Marilyn & Stan, I am so excited to capture Molly’s first year as a puppy with you! I look forward to seeing you again soon! :)
You may have seen the update on my Facebook page, or perhaps you subscribe to The Monthly Bark and heard the news in your inbox. But if you’re hearing this for the first time… surprise! I’m pregnant! :)
At the moment I’m 32 weeks along, which means I’ve successfully survived about 7 months of pregnancy with only 2 to go. (I hear they’re the hardest 2, but hey, after having made it through 7 I’m feeling pretty good!) Our little nugget is a girl (yay!!) and she’s due on May 11th!
I’ve been married to Mr. Shamrell for 9 years now, and although we didn’t always feel ready to have kids – or not both of us at the same time, at least – now we do and our little girl couldn’t have better timing. I have to say that I’ve REALLY enjoyed being married without kids for this long, but we are both very excited & looking forward to this HUGE change in our lives and have nothing but happy anticipation for the future! (Okay, a bit of nervousness too… but it’s all good nerves!) Those 9 years I’ve spent being a dog mom, and loving it – and I believe that our dog Bailey taught me some of the most important skills of how to be a good mother (to any species) that I’ll be able to bring with me into this crazy new adventure. So in the meantime, I’m just trying to brace myself for adapting to a daughter that won’t be potty-trained in a matter of weeks – and can’t be left alone for a few hours at a time – and won’t be able to walk for the next year, haha!
Before getting pregnant, I was never one of those women obsessed with babies/pregnancy/etc. I was never the first volunteer to hold a friend’s baby (I was nervous that I’d drop the poor kid!) and didn’t know anything about what it’s like to be pregnant. So let’s just say it’s been a STEEP learning curve! For example, I’ve learned that the first trimester is 100% sucky (all the crazy symptoms, none of the belly to show for it), the second trimester is relatively easy, and the third trimester is kinda like the first (except now you have a belly). My biggest symptom by far has been fatigue; turns out it’s pretty tiring to make a human being! But beyond that, I’ve been very lucky not to experience any morning sickness, crazy mood swings, swelling/pain in my limbs… and my food cravings have been very mild ever since the first trimester ended. (The only strong cravings I had were for fruit and Taco Bell. Go figure!) So I don’t want to jinx it, but I’ve got a lot to be thankful for… thanks Mom! (And all the other awesome women in my family who handed down their easy-pregnancy genes!)
Before I got pregnant, I was super curious how Bailey would do with the experience. One of my clients told me of her two dogs, “One of them totally knew I was pregnant and got very clingy & gentle, and the other one just thought I was getting fat.” Ha! Our experience has been somewhat closer to the latter; Bailey has never been a snuggler, nor has she ever experienced any real separation anxiety, and her personality/habits don’t seem to have changed in any way these days. But she knows I’m pregnant; we’ve been telling her about our doctors’ visits and she’s seen our second bedroom slowly morph into a nursery. She’s a smart dog… I know she knows. (Plus there’s been a couple of days when she just couldn’t stop smelling me; my scent must be changing along with my body & hormones!)
I’ve read up on how to prepare Bailey for her new little sister, and all the best resources say very similar things. First: start with a basic foundation of obedience. The more Bailey knows & is willing to comply with requests like “off”, “down” and “no” the better. Pretty obvious, right? It’s also a good idea to acclimate her to “life with baby” as much as possible – which means I should be playing YouTube videos of babies crying to get her used to that sound, and going for walks with the empty stroller so it’s an easy transition to walking with a baby in the stroller. (It’s a separate discussion of whether I’ll actually follow through with these “good ideas” – I mean, won’t we hear enough crying once the baby is actually here? And how awkward will it be to walk around the neighborhood with an empty stroller?!) Terri Steuben told us that it’s a good idea to talk to Bailey every step of the way, to explain what all the new things are for (in basic terms) and set her up with a bed and water bowl in the nursery so she doesn’t feel like she’s excluded from this new part of our lives. And most importantly, we’ll need to teach the baby to respect Bailey’s personal space once she’s mobile, since then she’ll be crawling around and reaching for anything she finds interesting! Beyond that, we’ll just take things slowly and make sure Bailey is still getting plenty of love & attention so she never feels like the baby has taken her place – after all, she is our first “baby”. ;)
I’ve gotten plenty of questions about what’s happening to my business (arguably my other baby!) with this impending change. So forgive me as I answer those questions here:
~ Of course I’m coming back!!! I have NO intention of closing up shop; I haven’t worked this hard for 8+ years to pack it in now. That’s not even up for discussion. Now, I’ve stopped doing photo sessions at this point in my pregnancy because my sessions are very physical, and it’s hard to get on the ground at a dog’s level with a big pregnant belly in the way, haha! But I’ll be back in action as soon as I feel comfortable, safe and capable of doing so. To be honest, I don’t know exactly when I’ll come back – remember, I’ve never done this before! – but I expect to have a camera back in my hands in mid-to-late summer.
~ During my “maternity leave” I won’t be doing any photo sessions, but I will be reachable by email to book sessions for after I’m back in the studio. I expect that my schedule in the late summer and fall will book up quickly – after all, the last few months of the year have always been my busy season, and all the sessions I would normally book in the spring & early summer will have to wait until after I’m back from maternity leave… so it’s likely to be a packed rest of the year! (Which means you should get in touch with me NOW if you’re thinking of booking a session this year! Visit my main website and fill out that contact form at the bottom ASAP, since I’ll be giving priority to the earliest inquiries!)
~ Attention past clients: with all the downtime of maternity leave, something tells me I’ll get a little bored. And you know what I do when I have nothing else on my plate? I plan promotions & sales! So keep your eyes peeled on your inboxes for something fun & exclusive, just for you. :)
~ Attention commercial clients: ditto the previous comment! Although I won’t be out there shooting, I have THOUSANDS of stock images in my archives that would love to find a new home on your website/social media/product packaging.
A few more thoughts on the personal side of things:
~ Just laying on the couch and feeling her kick is my new favorite thing.
~ I don’t drink coffee or eat sushi, so a lot of the typical “hard to give up” foods don’t actually bother me. I’m feeling much more deprived for wine & beer, as well as cookie dough and caesar salad (both of which have raw eggs, boooo.)
~ Any hesitations I used to have about eating whatever food & snacks I want? Gone! Poof! I could get used to this… pass the Ben & Jerry’s please!
~ No, we haven’t thought of a name for her yet – still working on it!
~ I never thought I’d say this, but it’s actually been kinda fun to watch my midsection grow to the size of a basketball! Haha!
So thank you for all your support – and an extra thank you to the amazing people who have sent me cards and/or gifts!! I often refer to “the Allison Shamrell Photography family”, and you’re proving (again) that it’s not just a saying. Here’s to that family, as it grows this year by one very special little girl!
I’m so excited to introduce you to three of the most stunning Maine Coon cats I’ve ever met! Say hello to Bella, Rockie & Casi! This photo session, quite honestly, was a breeze – especially compared to other photo sessions I’ve done with cats before (sorry kitties, but you don’t always make yourselves the easiest subjects to photograph!). Not only did we have a ridiculous amount of fun, but all 3 cats were b-e-a-utiful! I happen to think all pets are beautiful, quite honestly – but every once in a while those extra-photogenic subjects make my job that much easier. And what’s even more special is that this photo session was generously gifted to this family by their dear friend, Mary. She was even able to join in on the fun with us! Thank you, Mary, for introducing me to this lovely family – and I’m so glad you were able to be there for the big day! (Side note: did you know I offer gift certificates?)
The oldest & wisest of the bunch is Bella. Oh Bella… She really wasn’t into the whole photo session idea at first, and wasn’t afraid to express it. But she slowly warmed up enough to show off her toy, and she eventually became so relaxed as time went on that she started kneading it right there in front of me! That was a big deal for this 13-year-old girl! I was thrilled to see that despite the weird stranger following her around with a big black camera (me), she had gotten that comfortable, which in return allowed for some gorgeous images.
On the other hand, Bella’s two younger siblings had no problem showing their enthusiasm for our photo session! When I arrived to their house, Rockie was literally waiting for me at the door! I felt like a welcomed guest and knew right off the bat that we were going to have a great afternoon. And to my surprise, only minutes after I’d made it into their house, Rockie managed to find the decorative tassel on my camera bag – and he decided that it would look better if it had a few less strings attached to it, haha! (I didn’t even realize it could be considered a toy! That’s what I get for not owning a cat myself, haha!) Let’s just say it made the perfect toy for him. :) I loved his outgoing and playful personality!
Casi, which is short for Cassiopeia (inspired by the star on her nose), is Rockie’s litter mate! She’s very social and her personality is similar to Rockie too. She has also been deemed “the sous chef” by her dad: whenever he’s in the kitchen, she’s right there beside him wondering what he’s cooking up and politely asking if she can taste test! Isn’t that adorable?
Bella is most definitely the queen of the house and lets everyone know it. #lioness
These confident one year old siblings didn’t hold back on posing for me! Aren’t they gorgeous?! (And just look at alllllllll that fluffy Maine coon fur!)
Can you see the “star” on Casi’s nose?
As I was packing up my gear, I joked with my clients about how this gallery was going to give them “good problems” – because there are going to be SO many fabulous photos to choose from! As I’m looking through their images, I can confirm my suspicions: we were right! :) Wendy & Tom (and Mary), I cannot wait to meet with you all again soon for your ordering session!
I’d like to introduce you to Turbo the Pomeranian mix! She may be small in size, but she’s got a BIG personality to make up for it! Trust me: with her energy & personality, she could not have a more perfect name. It’s always a fun challenge keeping up with her while she lives life at lightning speed!
I’ve actually photographed Turbo in my studio several times over the years for my holiday mini sessions – as well as one full-length session in the studio – but this was a first for us to visit the great outdoors together. One of the many things Turbo and her mom love to do is walk through Heritage Park, since it’s right down the street from their house in Mission Hills. And this park turned out to be the perfect spot for our session! I’ve got to say, I loved seeing Turbo in her element letting loose!
It was also a delight to see how her and her mom connect. Marjorie is so patient and sweet with her – even when Turbo gives her “attitude” (let’s just say this dog doesn’t keep her opinions to herself, haha!). Her mom has done an awesome job working with her, and I’ve enjoyed the privilege of seeing their bond deepen over the years. Not just anyone would be willing to adapt their lifestyle to accommodate a rescue dog with this much energy – but I just love witnessing their relationship, and knowing how much work has gone into it leaves me with nothing but respect for this whole family.
This is Turbo – in a rare moment of stillness. Isn’t she adorable?!
Walking through the park is one of her favorite things to do – in fact, I’d be willing to bet she considers it “her” park!
Such. A. Cutie. (Sorry for all the sitting-still & calm photos; they’re the result of lots of effort and patience, so you could say they’re the images I’m most proud of from our session, haha!)
Marjorie, thank you for a fun afternoon – and for introducing me to my new favorite park! :)
I recently had a playful and action-packed session with Bernie and Otis! Of course, when I say “action-packed”, I mean Otis doing most of the action and Bernie happily watching his (big) little bro! :) And I learned that even though they don’t go at the same speed anymore, one thing they do have in common is their love for treats. Especially since they don’t get treats on a regular basis – special occasions only! (Which means I might have been their new favorite person during the session, haha!)
Bernie is a 13-year-old schnoodle and a sweet little mama’s boy! He has such a calm nature and is just a very good boy. I really love photographing senior dogs – it’s an honor to capture all their distinguished gray fur, and so much fun to imagine how differently they used to look and act. According to his parents, Bernie was very much the energetic dog in his younger years, but has since passed the torch on to Otis. (I suppose that’s allowed when you’re 13!)
Otis, the handsome 3-year-old labradoodle, came to the session ready to play! He is a dog on a mission when it comes to fetching tennis balls! His parents have a gorgeous estate in Rancho Santa Fe full of lush greenery near their barn, which made the perfect backdrop for photos AND the perfect spot for Otis to lose a ball! At various times we thought we would never find the ball in the tall grass, but nope! There was no stopping that boy when it came to his toys. Here he is on the horse trail on their property – I was tempted to share one of his many action photos, but I couldn’t resist that head tilt! :)
After we were done playing near the stables, we set off for the beach in Del Mar. Let me tell you something: it was COLD out there! I’ve got to hand it to this family for sticking it out with me, despite none of us being quite prepared for the chilly weather, because getting out there for the beautiful sunset was totally worth it! Between the beach being wide open & uncrowded, the stunning sunset & colors that lit up the sky, and the lovely people & dogs to photograph, I’d call this a win in my book.
Thank you Trish & Ralph for braving the cool February evening with me for a fun session with your four-legged kiddos! I’m excited to get together with you both again soon!
