Pet studio sessions available starting January, 2024 at our Ashburn, Virginia studio!
I’m happy to announce studio sessions will once again be made available to my clients starting in January 2024.
After taking a year long studio break to take care of Lance, I will once again be hosting studio sessions at my residential studio in Ashburn, VA.
The studio will still be friendly to senior dogs and dogs with mobility issues. There are only a couple steps to enter into the studio space, and if need be, pets can go through the garage where there is one step. There is no need to climb sets of stairs or use an elevator to get to the studio. And there will be mats and rugs on the floor to make it easier for senior pets to walk around.
What are the advantages of a studio session?
The biggest advantage to a studio session is the flexibility it offers. I only offer outdoor sessions around sunrise and sunset. I understand those times don’t work for everyone and studio sessions can be scheduled anytime during the day or early evening.
Another advantage to a studio session will be no worries about the weather. Unless there is a snowstorm going on outside and you physically cannot drive to the studio, we do not have to worry about rescheduling sessions due to weather concerns. It’s one of the reasons why I try not to schedule outdoor sessions during the summer. It gets too hot for the pup.
And finally, another advantage for studio sessions is your pet gets to run around naked. While leashes can generally be taken care of with the use of Photoshop, more dogs are wearing harnesses and they are not as easy to remove in Photoshop. A studio session means your dog gets to hang out in the studio without a harness, collar (if you wish), and a leash.
Are there disadvantages to a studio session?
While most pets enjoy their studio session, for some dogs, it may not be the right type of session for them.
If your dog is reactive to people being near them, an outdoor session is a better option for them. The camera can be scary for some dogs and for our reactive dogs, an outdoor session where I can give them their space while I take their photos, is a much better option. Your dog’s safety and happiness are my priority.
Pets who are afraid of thunder, lightning, or loud noises may also not enjoy a studio session. While I do my best to acclimate pets to the studio, I do have the occasional dog who does not like the lights.
When pets come in to the studio, they are given the chance to sniff around and get used to their surroundings. Then, I will begin to test a light to see how they react. This is where the use of positive reinforcement comes in. A flash will go off, and your pet will get a treat. We will do this for a few minutes for your dog to be comfortable. But if your pet is showing signs of distress and is not comfortable, we will stop the session. We will simply reschedule your session to take place either at your home or an outdoor location with no additional charge to you.
Artwork
Choosing a studio session can be a great option if you want to put a larger piece of wall art in your home. With my many different colored backdrops and prop options, we can select a couple of great backdrops that will work well in your home. We can go with a color more harmonious with the color of your pet, or if you want an option that pops in your living space, we can choose from some bolder colors.
Sheba’s photo is a perfect example of an image with color harmony in it. The background works well with Sheba’s fur color.
Worm’s plum colored background added a bit more of a pop to his photos.