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Corgi Photography: Milan & Harley in Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, CA

Saturday, March 15th, 2014

I am so thrilled to introduce you to Milan & Harley, the cutest little corgis in all of California! These dogs live a carefree, happy life with their parents in the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego. And if you could see their big house & beautiful yard to play in, I’m pretty sure you’d agree: they won the canine lottery! These are two lucky dogs, and they’re full of personality to boot. I absolutely loved getting to know them both (and their parents) during our session the other day.

 This is Milan! She’s a 13-week-old corgi puppy that loves to run around & play – not to mention exercise those sharp puppy teeth, haha! (Did you see her photo on the Facebook page? She was a big hit!)

cute corgi photography

 

 And she’s completely won over both of her parents! See, she even helps her dad work in his office!

corgi puppy photography

And of course, we can’t forget Milan’s handsome older brother Harley. He wasn’t too sure at first about his parents’ decision to bring a new puppy into the household, but now he & Milan are best buds! Plus, he lets her know when to calm down, already. :)

corgi photography

 

Look at that happy face! Harley is such a good-lookin’ boy.

happy corgi photography

Kelley & Paul, thank you so much for a fabulous session! I can’t wait to show you the rest of your photos – I’ll see you soon! :)

Guest Post: Pet Nutrition, by Earthwise Pet Supply

Saturday, March 8th, 2014

I’m thrilled to introduce another Guest Post here on the blog! I asked Norma & John, the owners of Earthwise Pet Supply and North County Pet Nanny, to give my readers a few tips on pet nutrition. It’s a topic that’s been in the news quite a bit lately, and as the managers of a shop that specializes in healthy pet goods, as well as pet sitters who see the daily effect that food has on pets’ lives, I knew they’d have plenty of expertise on the topic! So take a look, and I bet you’ll learn something new – I definitely did!  ~Allison

 

pet nutrition shop

 

I was asked by Allison Shamrell if I wanted to do a guest post for her blog, and I jumped at the opportunity. I wanted to share the experiences I have had with my pet store and pet sitting. I have seen many dogs and cats with many health issues, and most of them can improve with proper nutrition. I have seen dogs with tummy issues, and it’s difficult to pick up after a dog with tummy issues. You know what I’m talking about. I have seen dogs that need encouragement to eat their tasteless food, cats that are overweight and diabetic because their food contains sugar. So I wanted to share some nutritional information to assist pet owners on how to read their pet’s food labels.

 

pet nutrition for dogs

 

The first thing I wanted to mention is that the first five ingredients listed in the food are 90% of what’s in your pet’s food. The first five ingredients should be a specific meat meal, such as chicken meal, then a specific meat, such as chicken, followed by a starch, such as sweet potato or peas, then a fat, such as chicken fat, then followed by more specific meats. If the label just mentions “meat” it can be anything, make sure it names the specific meat. Stay away from meat-by products as that could really be any kind of meat and I mean any kind. If you feed a grain kibble for dogs, the grain should preferably be oatmeal or brown rice. In the case of cats, they are obligate carnivores, therefore they don’t need grains in their diet. They need a high meat diet and lots of water. If you feed your cat kibble, make sure that they always have plenty of water available to avoid any bladder issues.

 

pet nutrition

 

pet boutique

 

Secondly, if sugar is in the top five list of the ingredients, then it has a really high sugar content. Sugar can cause dental issues, ear infections, obesity and diabetes. Ear infections are caused by a buildup of yeast in the ears when there is too much sugar or grain in their diet. Yes your dog or cat will love the food, but that’s because it filled with sugar!

 

nutritious pet food

 

The third item to mention is allergies caused by grains and gluten. Grains can cause yeast build up, gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea, colitis and irritable bowels. Additionally, grain and gluten allergies can cause hot-spots and chewing at the feet, and in some cases they can even cause vomiting if your pet is highly allergic. So if your pet is showing any of these symptoms, start by removing grains from their diet.

 

pet nutrition dogs

 

Finally, the last thing to mention is that a better quality food with better ingredients gets absorbed by your pet’s body better. If the nutrients of the food are absorbed, then there is less waste coming out of your pet. Less waste means less to clean up in the yard, on your walk or in the litter box. Who doesn’t like that idea?

So start reading those labels and if you have any questions email me at sandiego@earthwisepet.com or contact your local pet store. Support Local – they are more knowledgeable anyway. :)

 

earthwise nutrition

 

Thanks for sharing all these great tips, Norma & John! You can visit Earthwise Pet Supply (located off Hwy 56, at the Camino Del Sur exit) and ask them your pet nutrition questions in person. They’re open from 10 am – 7 pm Monday – Friday, 10 – 6 on Saturday, and 12 – 5 on Sunday. 

Guest Post: Professional Dog Grooming, Pre-Photo Session

Tuesday, February 25th, 2014

I’m proud to introduce an exciting new type of post for the Allison Shamrell Photography blog – a guest post!  I always recommend that my clients consider booking a grooming appointment (or at least a bath) for their pets a few days before our session. So the wonderful people at Awesome Doggies, San Diego’s premier mobile pet grooming service, answered a few questions that a first-time photography client might have about getting dog grooming before a photo session. They’re the experts when it comes to grooming, and they have some fabulous insights into all the factors that make up a great grooming appointment! Take a look! 

 

grooming pet photography

Left: Elyse uses a hair dryer on Henry the black lab. Right: grooming tools & brushes in the Awesome Doggies service trailer. (Photo credit: UT San Diego, used with permission.)

 

Written by Elyse Angone, Operations Manager at Awesome Doggies Mobile Grooming

 

Have you ever gotten a fresh new haircut right before a big event or photo sesh, only to feel uncomfortable in your new do or not liking the pictures as much as you’d hoped? Well, one trick to grooming for pet photography is to know your pup can have the same dilemma! But don’t worry – with some pre-planning, your pooch can feel comfortable and look fabulous for the camera. Here are some things to consider:

What kind of “look” best suits your pet?

You probably want your dog to be clean (or mostly clean), brushed out, and looking their best for their pictures, but you also might not want them to look too different from how they always look – you may not want to try a standard breed clip for your Westie if they’re usually in a casual puppy cut (or you might not recognize her in the photo!). If you usually get your dog clipped short when they see a groomer, but they spend most of their time looking shaggy, you may want to opt for a bath-only with some light trimming just before picture day. Put some thought into what look best represents your dog, and talk to your groomer ahead of time to decide when to have your pup groomed, & what look to go for.

pet grooming

Elyse washes Henry with one of Awesome Doggies’ many shampoos. (Photo credit: UT San Diego, used with permission.)

 

When should you see the groomer?

If your dog doesn’t need a full haircut, it’s probably safe to have them groomed a day or two before your session is scheduled. If a haircut is happening, you may want to have that done a little farther in advance. That gives you time to make sure the haircut is to your liking, without the stress of being rushed. It’s nice to have a day or so to look over the haircut at home, in your dog’s natural environment. Be sure to call your groomer ahead of time to schedule their appointment, & let them know that a professional photo session is scheduled. If you think your pet may have a matted coat, or if they’ve ever had a shave-down due to matting, consult with your groomer well in advance for recommendations on how & when to handle the matting. Keep in mind that a shaved coat can take months to grow back.

 

pet grooming san diego

Left: Henry basks in his bath. Right: various shampoos & treatments for different types of dogs. (Photo credit: UT San Diego, used with permission.)

 

What other grooming options are there?

Groomers have a few tricks beyond basic baths and haircuts that can help your pictures come out great. Some shampoos have optical brighteners in them to make coat colors “pop”, and conditioners that can add a fresh shine. Paw pads can be conditioned to make them look and feel softer. Black toe nails can even be painted with black non-toxic nail polish to make them look extra nice (or you can use nail polish to add a splash of color). Even if your dog doesn’t get a haircut, your groomer may be able to neaten the fur between their toes, or thin out the hair around their ears to make them appear perkier. Ask your groomer what they have & what they recommend for your dog.

Lastly, and most important, remember to have some fun with your pup on picture day! Put some thought into the grooming plan ahead of time, so that when the camera comes out you can just enjoy watching your four-legged friend shine!

 

grooming photo session

Left: Elyse finishes drying Henry with the hair dryer. Right: Elyse & Henry finish their appointment, with Henry sparkling clean, and they exit the service trailer. (Photo credit: UT San Diego, used with permission.)

 

If you’re in need of a groomer to provide extra gentle care in the most stress-free environment possible, Awesome Doggies serves most neighborhoods of San Diego, bringing a mobile grooming salon to your doorstep. Click here to visit the Facebook page (which always posts cute photos & funny links!), or you can reach Awesome Doggies by calling (858) 633-3641.

 

Thanks for the article, Elyse! (I personally had no idea about the optical brighteners in some shampoos – that’s an awesome tip!)  Awesome Doggies does fabulous work, and I’m thrilled to feature their expertise here on the blog. I hope you liked this post as much as I did! :) 

I’m Going to TWO Photography Conferences in the Next Two Weeks!

Friday, February 21st, 2014

Oh my goodness – I’m so excited for the next two weeks of my life! That’s because I’m going to spend almost each day learning & getting Great-Dane-sized doses of inspiration from some of the world’s best photographers – at not one, but two professional photography conferences!

That’s right – conferences, for photographers like me! Because as it turns out, running a photography business doesn’t mean that all I do is just take pictures all day! Haha! No, it’s much more than that (unfortunately & fortunately, depending on the day). As my fellow entrepreneurs know, owning a business means wearing many hats: I do accounting, marketing, product design, client communication, advertising and networking every day – not to mention maintain a commercial studio space. Oh, and sometimes I get to take photos, too! :)  So these conferences are all about education & inspiration for the business and photography sides of the photography business!

 

san diego pet photographer

The first conference is called United. It’s a relatively small gathering (just several hundred of us) taking place in Santa Barbara, CA, and I’ve never attended it before – so I’m definitely excited to meet a bunch of new people & see what United is all about! I hear they’ll keep us really busy – as in, shoots starting at sunrise, fun classes & seminars all day, and impromptu shoots & talks going until as late as 10 pm! Whew! I think 3 days of that schedule is about all I can handle, haha – thank goodness it’s not any longer or else I’d run the danger of being “that kid” caught sleeping in class! :)

 

The second conference I’m attending is called Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI), and it’s happening in Las Vegas, baby! :)  I went to WPPI last year too, and well, to call it “mind-blowing” is an understatement. I learned sooooo many ways to run smoother business operations & serve my clients better! And at this conference, in addition to lots of great classes, is the world’s largest photography trade show. The expo is epic; a madhouse taking up the space of several football fields with booths from literally hundreds of companies like labs, software makers, and equipment suppliers (like Canon, for example) will be there to answer my questions! So. darn. awesome. And – really the best part about this conference – my hubby gets to join me this year!! Since San Diego is a quick drive from Vegas, Mr. Shamrell is hopping in the car with me so we can take it all in together! He’s not my employee per se, but I consider him my business partner and don’t make any big decisions without consulting his input first, so having him there with me will be simply fantastic. (I may or may not already have a color-coded schedule, divvying-up the classes we’ll attend together and the one’s I’m deploying him to so he can take notes for me. Just saying.)

Here are a few iPhone photos of last year’s expo:

20140204-083213.jpg  20140204-082957.jpg

20140204-082924.jpg  20140204-083126.jpg

 

As a pet photographer, I’ll definitely be in the minority at both conferences. (Like… by a lot.) There just aren’t nearly as many pet photographers as there are wedding, family, baby & senior high school photographers. Even boudoir & maternity photographers, too. And that’s okay! I’m part of a quickly-growing industry and I’m thrilled to be at the forefront of that growth. So as it turns out, none of the classes I’m attending are actually geared towards pet photography, but that’s okay – there’s so much to learn from other industries. I’ve learned tips from practically every other genre of photography; just because there’s not a dog in front of someone’s camera doesn’t mean they have nothing to teach me. All the photographers I’ll be learning from run their own studios in addition to taking time out to educate other photographers; they’re such an inspiration & I can’t wait for everything to start! (Haha can you tell I’m beyond excited?!)

Here’s a quick list of classes I already know I’ll be attending:

~ Perfect Studio Design: Designing a Creatively Inspired Home Studio or Gallery Space You and Your Clients Will Love

~ Explode Your Business by Spoiling Your Clients

~ Create Community Instead of Customers

~ #marketingswagger

~ The Business of Being You

Oh man. Even just typing those class titles makes me a little bit giddy.

 

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I’m not exaggerating when I say that literally every part of my business improves when I attend a conference, as I have for each of the past 3 years. And this year I’m so lucky to be able to attend two conferences! They’re not cheap – in fact, they’re a significant part of my yearly budget – but they’re an investment I don’t question. I know great things are in Allison Shamrell Photography, Inc.‘s future!

Check out the Facebook page and my Instagram account for updates from the road! Like & follow them both to catch all the action! I’ll post photos, thoughts, maybe some notes from classes – and I might even let you know my luck at the blackjack tables.  :)

And if you know the best places/attractions to visit in Vegas, please leave a comment & let me know! We’re open to any/all suggestions. (Especially if they’re regarding buffets…)

Cheers – to two straight weeks of education, development & fun! Thanks for joining me here on the blog!

The Muttropolis Party for Valentine’s Day in La Jolla

Monday, February 17th, 2014

Muttropolis is a fabulous local pet boutique in the San Diego area; they regularly host parties & get-togethers for its pet-loving customers at their different locations (in La Jolla & Solana Beach), and I love stopping in whenever I’m nearby to check out all their cute products. (It’s where I bought Bailey’s most recent leash!) So I was thrilled when, several weeks ago, I received an email from their marketing team, asking if I could photograph the Muttropolis Party celebrating Valentine’s Day at their La Jolla shop! Naturally, I was happy to join in the fun & meet all their 4-legged customers. (Okay, I had a pretty good time meeting the 2-legged ones, too! Haha!) It was a relaxing Sunday soiree, complete with goodies to eat & drink – and plenty of treats for the dogs too, of course. Check out a few photos from the day!

 

muttropolis la jolla

 

They made a cute flyer advertising the event!

Valentine's Party Muttropolis

 

And of course, all their Valentines-themed products were on display!

Valentine's Muttropolis products

muttropolis la jolla

Adorable pink leather collars. Love!

cute dog collars

 

In addition to all the seasonal party decor, I just love the way their shops are set up all the time. Can you believe they filled a paw-printed bathtub with different products? Shampoos, mostly! Haha! I don’t know anything about retail design or in-store marketing, but whatever they’re doing, it works – because I wanted to buy pretty much everything in the store.

muttropolis la jolla

 

And here are some of the fluffy faces I saw at the Muttropolis party! Toto is the adorable dog on the left, and Sakura (who knows trick commands in Japanese!) is on the right.

Muttropolis dogs

 

Parker & Star are siblings, and I think I saw them walk away from the event with a couple of brand-new beds! Lucky dogs!

Muttropolis dog party

 

Deacon is the handsome old man on the left, and Reagan & Versace (cousins!) are the posers on the right.

dogs in la jolla

 

Versace is such a little cutie. And I love this outtake of Reagan!

muttropolis la jolla

 

As the party was winding down, I spotted these collars in a display case near the register – do they look familiar? Zoey the chihuahua was sporting one for her session a few months ago! I just love them – they’re beautiful & sparkly without being obnoxiously bling-y. (In my opinion, at least!)

Muttropolis Valentine's dog collars

 

Thanks again to the Muttropolis marketing team for inviting me to this fabulous party! Here’s to next time, when I get to take more photos of your monkey – I mean, doggy customers! :)

cute pet products

 

 

 

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