Multiple surveys have honored Alexandria as one of the most dog-friendly towns in the United States, and there’s no shortage of doggie daycares, dog-friendly restaurants, stores, parks and hotels catering to Alexandria’s four-legged residents.
Most people consider pets a member of their family, according to an Associated Press- Petside.com poll.
Photographer Shelley Castle has spent more than 40 years working with, training and photographing pets — especially dogs.
“I work with each animal individually to access their energy and figure out how best to let their personality shine through,” Castle said.
To get four-legged family members to behave for the camera, Castle photographs pets wearing their leash, and Photoshops the leash out in the editing process. She also gets the right shot by getting down on their level. “I spend a lot of time on the ground,” Castle said.
“I recommend taking the image when the pet is at rest instead of in motion,” she said. “That way there is no motion blur.”
In addition to traditional photos, Castle’s clients sometimes opt for gallery-wrapped fine-art canvases and custom-designed albums. Session fees range from $175 to $250, and the price for artwork depends on what a customer selects. Most of her customers spend $1,000 to $1,500 total, she said, and wait two to three weeks to receive proofs.
Castle is also the person who takes most pet portraits for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria — those iconic white-background images that help pets get adopted a little bit faster.
Castle grew up on a “pocket farm” in the Mount Vernon area of Alexandria and spent much of her childhood caring for her family’s horses and other pets, and her long-standing passions for animals and photography merged into her business today (shelleycastlephotography.com).
But photos are just the beginning for Alexandria pet owners.
The staff at Local Colour Old Town can create a painted work of art from photos of your pet, according to owner Rachael A. Bright.
The most popular style for Alexandria pet owners is an 11 x 14 canvas with a solid-color background — pet owners can pick a favorite color or a neutral gray. The cost on average is around $150. Turnaround time is about a month, which includes drying time. For holiday commissions, Local Colour recommends getting your order in by October. The shop on North Lee Street also offers portraits and silhouettes, and the boutique and working studio features artists, jewelry and more.
For Local Colour portraits, pet owners don’t have to worry about lighting in your photo. “I can paint a beautiful portrait either sunlit, backlit or in partial shadow,” she noted. Learn more by stopping by Local Colour at 218 N. Lee St. in Old Town Alexandria, or visit localcolouroldtown.com.
How to Take Better Photos of Your Pet
Professional photos are always best, but sometimes you just want a candid shot of your pet doing something adorable. Here are some tips on how to get the best shot:
Be patient! Pets don’t follow directions to “look left” or “lift your chin up” the way people do, so expect to spend a lot of time waiting for that perfect shot.
Let them get comfortable. Set up your camera, and let your pet do their own thing whether it’s playing or sleeping. Let your pet get used to the camera until they are no longer nervous around it. Taking a photo of the pet in their favorite place will help them be less camera shy.
Get on their Level. As Castle says, get down on the ground with your pet for a better perspective.
Focus on their eyes. Pet photos that focus on their eyes come out best, according to Digital Photography School. Don’t be afraid to zoom in, take a lot of photos and experiment.
