Q: Why is the company named 'Cowbelly'?
A: Cowbelly is the nickname for Gypsy; the English Staffordshire Bullterrier pictured at left. Gypsy inspired the name for the business in 2003, when Jamie was employed as her dogwalker. Gypsy's nickname comes from the holstein cow-like pattern of splotches on her belly. Gypsy loves treats and belly rubs and lives in the Blue Ridge neighborhood of Seattle.
Q: How long have you been doing pet photography?
A: Jamie has been shooting dogs and cats since 2000, and started Cowbelly Pet Photography in the summer of 2003.
Q: Did I read somewhere that you also make art?
A: Yes! It's called 'Decopaw' and more information can be found on our sister site here: http://www.decopaw.com
Q: Where is your studio located?
A: Although Jamie doesn't do studio photography, in the early summer of 2008 she will be moving the company HQ into a large, beautiful shared studio near the downtown Seattle waterfront. The studio will be used primarily for commercial projects but will also be a terrific and convenient meeting grounds for clients as well as the perfect place to do Decopaw Sittings.
Jamie does all of her private client commissions on location: meaning at the client's home or a beloved park or beach; wherever the pet is at their happiest and they can fully express their joy in living. Jamie works personally with each client to help them achieve their vision in both types of shots and locations, and has many ideas of her own for locations that make for great imagery.
Q: I have a super crazy nutty dog. Is this a dealbreaker for photography?
A: Not at all! Jamie has seen it all when it comes to behavior, and can handle even the most energetic dogs with aplomb. In case you didn’t make it to the about page, Jamie was a dogwalker and petsitter for 5 years before starting Cowbelly. She has been jumped on, knocked down, peed on, bitten, hissed at, scratched, licked to death, and slobbered on, to name just a few. She has had dogs give her concussions, pull her down on her face, give her a black eye and scratch her cornea. We’re not kidding!
Given this experience, Jamie has absolutely no problem working with even the most unruly of animals. And Christina, Cowbelly assistant extraordinaire? Well, her ‘other job’ is at a pet supply store, so it would be totally fair to say say she has some stellar animal handling skills as well.
Having said that, if your pet has serious human aggression issues, it's probably best not to expose them to us or anyone else for that matter. Also, no camera-hungry pets please.
Q: Do you shoot multiple pets? What if I have 3 dogs and 2 cats? Or 4 dogs?
A: Jamie absolutely does shoot multiple pets, and feels right at home in a pack of animals, regardless of their species. Jamie treats each multiple pet session just as she does the single pet sessions, and has no problems getting great shots of each animal.
Q: What if my dog has to remain on leash? I'd really like to do the shoot at a park but don't want to see me or the leash, and my dog/puppy hasn't mastered the art of 'come' yet.
A: No problem! A large percentage of dogs Jamie shoots need to remain on their leash, for safety reasons and to keep them nearby. Jamie shoots with digital and is a super master wizard at Photoshop, and can remove leashes from the images so you won’t even know they were there. Please note: this is done only to the images that are purchased as prints. If you prefer all of your images leash-free, it’s best to do the shoot at your home or other fully fenced area.
Q: Do you do shoots year-round?
A: Absolutely! We do shoots outdoors in November, December, January, February......March (you get the idea). We never schedule according to what the weather is supposed to do, we schedule according to when client, photographer and pet are free, knowing that weather is a very changeable creature and even with a forecast we don't really know what it will be like the day, and hour, of our shoot.
Q: What happens if it’s raining the day of our shoot?
A: Easy. We just touch base by phone the morning of, complain about the weather a little, wonder aloud what we ever did to mother nature to make her hate us so, talk about the projected forecast and reschedule. Having said that, Jamie has remarkably good luck with the weather, and even booking shoots year-round rarely needs to reschedule.
Q: I’d just like a portrait of myself and my dog. Perhaps sitting side-by side on our tufted velvet setee?
A: If you are looking for Sears Portrait studio-type shots, this is not the place. No offense against Sears (we love them and buy our clothes there), but Jamie doesn’t do that kind of photography. Please see her galleries for a good representation of what she DOES do.
Q: What if I'd like a casual family portrait of my partner and I and our dog? Like, non-posed and without the velvet setee?
A: No problem! Jamie is happy to photograph human and animal family members together, in a relaxed, candid style. To protect her client's privacy you won't see any of their faces in her galleries or blog, but feel free to email if you'd like to see samples.
Q: Are there any downsides to doing a shoot with Cowbelly?
A: Definitely! Clients have complained multiple times about their pets getting big heads after our shoots. We have heard of pugs demanding bendy straws, jack russel terriers ruling the roost, formerly shy poodles becoming demanding divas, and many animals just generally having inflated egos that are too big to fit through the front door after their shoot! Please be sure to be prepared for this if you book a shoot with Jamie. But never fear, with her animal behavior degree she can help you cope with this new Napoleon complex in your furry roommate so it should be no sweat.
Q: I have more questions. Is it ok to ask them?
A: Of course! Just drop us a line at info@cowbelly.com and we’ll answer.
All site content and design © 2003-2008 Cowbelly Pet Photography, LLC. All rights reserved. Seattle pet photography. Dog photography. Location, destination, commercial, editorial, workshops.
24 Roy St #466 Seattle WA 98109. 206.335.8096. info@cowbelly.com
