shine pet photos | modern pet photography

I have some pretty huge changes coming up in my life - we are having a baby! - and will be taking a break from shooting commissioned work beginning March 19th 2013 through September 1st 2013.

My February calendar is now full and there are just a few spots in March left.

I’ve already started booking clients in September, so please feel free to contact me for a shoot during my hiatus and I’ll be happy to get you on my fall calendar. First availability is now in mid September. Thank you for understanding that it may take me some time to respond to your emails as I will be in the last stages of pregnancy or bonding with our new baby! Please note that I will not be responding to any emails from mid May through end of June.

Clients who get on my calendar from now until August will receive a 10% discount on my package prices.

I’ll still be posting photos over on Facebook during the break so please keep in touch with me there! I can’t wait to see you and your pets again in the fall!

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time looking at anything visual without automatically critiquing it.

Maybe it’s those 4 years of art school, or those 7+ years of working in the ad industry as an art director. When something is put on a wall to examine, mull over, and pick apart day in and day out for over 11 years, I guess it’s bound to become a way of life.

The best thing I learned is that critiques don’t always have to equal criticism.

Without a healthy and objective dose of critiques, there wouldn’t be improvement. I’ve always thought being an art director is kind of like being like a ninja assassin out to kill flaws and imperfections. You’re constantly examining ideas, designs and layouts with a critical eye, not because you want to be negative and deconstructive, but because you want to make it better. As a creative, you strive to polish your ideas again and again and again until you end up with the best execution possible.

As a professional photographer for the last 5 years, I can’t help but do this with photography, especially my own. I am truly my own worst critic! This is the only way I know how to create the absolute best work I know I can produce. I’m constantly striving to improve my shots, from the moment I press the shutter until I’m in post production.

My goal with a pet photography portfolio review is to help you take an objective look at your photography and offer you as much helpful, constructive criticism as I can. I want to help you polish it, polish it, and polish it again until you end up with the best body of work possible. I want to talk to you about how to take an image that is seemingly mundane, and make it spectacular. There is ALWAYS room for improvement - always! Let’s work together to discuss your work and make it the best it can be.

I promise, it won’t be scary and I don’t bite. Unless there are red velvet cupcakes involved!

1 hour pet photography portfolio review - $175

What the review will cover:
We will talk over the phone and go over each of your images one by one. We will start with critiquing your existing portfolio, and then go over any additional images you want to have looked at. If you’ve ever wondered whether or not a certain shot should be included in your portfolio, this is the perfect opportunity to talk about it. Send over as many images as you’d like, and we’ll discuss as many as we can in an hour.

What the review will NOT cover:
The portfolio review is specifically to discuss your existing body of work - critiquing what you’ve shot and how you can improve future images. This is not a mentorship or business consultation and we will not be discussing marketing, advertising, branding, commercial/editorial clients, pricing, posing, working with pets and people, tips on working with animals, and post processing techniques. We may very well touch upon some of these topics as we discuss your work, but we will not be talking about any of them in depth.

Only 10 portfolio reviews clients will be accepted. Reviews will be offered for a limited time, through May 15th 2013.

To sign up for a portfolio review, please fill out an application [CLICK HERE] and send it to info [at] shinepetphotos [dot] com. Applications will be approved on a case by case basis.

UPDATE: I’m not taking booking any new holiday clients for the rest of the year. If you are interested in booking a shoot that is *not* for the holidays, I can try to fit you in end of November/early December. Otherwise please contact us to be put on our 2013 waiting list!

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It’s still hot as a mother outside, but here I am thinking about the holidays. I hate to be like those retail stores that start shoving all things Christmas and Hanukkah down your throat when it’s barely even fall, but the holidays will be here sooner than we know it! And then it will be that lovely time of year when photographers are working ’round the clock to get their clients their images and products in time for holiday gifts and cards.

I won’t be booking any clients in December, so if you need holiday photos you must schedule soon. October is nearly booked up, which only leaves one more month to book in November!

So please contact me soon, especially if you’re looking for holiday photos and gifts. And if you’re just looking to book a shoot in 2012, I guess this applies to you too. <3

I recently installed 4-30×40 canvas gallery wraps in the grooming salon at Healthy Spot Santa Monica. If you’ve never been to this store, you *HAVE* to check them out! Healthy Spot has been getting major buzz and industry awards since they opened their first shop in Santa Monica in 2008. Since then, they have a second location in West Hollywood, and a third opening up soon. I love them because of the extremely high quality products they carry, and their devotion to healthy nutrition for our pets. Healthy Spot is also extremely dedicated to the community and rescue groups as well. Plus the owners Andrew and Mark are well, awesome.

Healthy Spot isn’t just a cool boutique and award winning grooming salon - they also have a doggy day care too. Love you Healthy Spot! Thanks for making our dogs in LA healthy and happy.

There’s an article with my pet photography tips in the November 2011 issue of Family Circle Magazine! Thank you Chelsea at Family Circle for the great interview. Keep reading below to find out how you can submit your own pet photos for a chance to win a $250 gift card to Petco.

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Get the Picture. Master the art of pet photography with these eight simple tips.

Dogs are more than just man’s best friend—they’re part of the family. And many owners want to snap memorable photos of their pooch, but it’s easier said than done—finicky animals, bad lighting and blurry shots can often ruin a photo session. We spoke with Grace Chon, a professional pet photographer who snapped the picture of these pugs, to get her advice for capturing the perfect shot.

1. Get acquainted. Pets can be leery of unfamiliar photography equipment, especially large lenses. Start by showing your pup the camera, taking a few test shots and even letting him smell it. “The goal is to help your dog relax,” Chon says. “You want him to be—and look—as comfortable as possible so your shot doesn’t look staged.”
2. Brighten up. Using flash indoors often creates a harsh paparazzi glare. For a more flattering photo, pick a well-lit room and have your dog sit near the window. Natural light will play up your pet’s features, particularly his eyes.
3. Bring bait. If you’re having trouble getting your pooch to pose, convince him it isn’t so bad with snacks. “Any shoot with animals has food on set,” Chon says. “Dogs need to be motivated and encouraged.” Reward calm behavior and direct your pet’s line of vision by holding the treat where you want him to look.
4. Move to his level. You usually see your dog from above, which may make it seem like the ideal angle to take a photo from. But the most personal interactions happen face to face, so get down on the ground. “The best shots are taken from interesting, unexpected perspectives,” Chon says.
5. Act silly. Don’t be afraid to initiate games, roll around in the grass and encourage your kids to get involved—your dog will instantly perk up when he realizes it’s playtime. To capture those “awww”-inducing moments, use toys or your voice to create funny noises. “Make the right sound at the right time and he’ll cock his head sideways or perk up his ears for a unique shot,” Chon says.
6. Capture the moment. Some of the best pictures happen in meaningful places or with favorite toys. If you and your pup go hiking in a special park, snap a photo. You’ll value these shots much more than generic ones taken at home.
7. Know your camera. Whether you have a compact point-and-shoot or an SLR with interchangeable lenses, there are plenty of functions to experiment with when taking photos. The macro setting (usually a button marked with a flower) allows you to zoom in on whiskers, fur and claws. Prevent blurry shots by using the focus function: On most models, just hold down the shutter button halfway until the in-frame image is sharp. Only then should you press it down completely.
8. Don’t give up. Keep snapping pictures, even if your pup isn’t completely cooperative. Not every photo will be a keeper, but you’ll end up with an assortment of candid shots. “Wait for that perfect moment,” Chon says. “Have plenty of patience and just go with it.”

Feline Photos

Cats are finicky subjects, especially compared with eager-to-please canines. Chon suggests taking a “hands-off” approach and following your feline around before snapping a shot. “Most cats don’t really care what you’re up to,” she says. “Let them take the lead and capture a moment when the time is right.”

Fun Stat: 30% of Americans dress up their pets for the holidays, and 67% include them in a holiday photo.

Source: North American Pet Health Insurance Association

Originally published in the November 1, 2011, issue of Family Circle magazine.

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I’d like to add one last tip since it’s that time of year when we like to dress up our cats and dogs in fun Halloween and holiday costumes. As we all know, pets generally HATE costumes. So consider it like your photography equipment. Let them smell it and get used to it before trying to take photos. Before you even bring out your camera, bring out high-reward treats instead. Reward them and praise them like a crazy maniac when they allow you to put the costume on them. Once they start understanding that costumes mean fun happy times with delicious treats involved, taking photos will be that much easier. My dogs LOOOOOVE costumes - they dance around and get really happy when I bring them out because they know yummy treats aren’t too far behind.

Put these tips to use! Visit www.familycircle.com/petphotos to enter your best pet photos for a chance to win a $250 gift card to Petco.