Tamandra Michaels is the talent behind San Diego’s Heart Dog Studios. Her bond with her German shepherd Borias helped lead her into pet photography, and the love and admiration she feels for our canine companions seems to allow her a special connection with all her subjects.
Tami’s also a super nice person — kind enough to answer a few questions for us about herself and her work.
The name of your studio is Heart Dog, and I know the name has special meaning for you. Can you tell us about it?
I named my business Heart Dog Studios to honor my ‘heart dog.’ Borias. That refers to a once-in-a-lifetime dog with whom you share such a deep bond, they’re your canine soul mate. My life has been changed in so many ways by this incredible dog. He inspired me to become a dog photographer, so I could document his life and preserve it forever in images. I absolutely love taking photos of him, not only because he’s a huge character, but because I know how much I’m going to cherish these images when our time is past. That made me have a huge “ah-ha” moment, that I could give this to other people, too.
What special gifts or talents do you think it takes to be a good pet photographer?
First of all, a good eye, having the timing to catch those moments that show the dog’s personality, and capture a great expression. I also think that you need to understand, in a profound way, the human-animal bond. You need to relate to the dog on a personal level, connect with them and their world. It’s very beneficial to have a knowledge of dog behavior and be sensitive to their communication, get their trust and get to know them. And, of course, technical skills, knowing your camera helps a lot!
To me, being a dog photographer sounds like an absolute dream job, but I’m sure it’s not all wine and roses. What’s your least favorite part of what you do?
Well, hearing that an animal that I’ve photographed has passed is not easy to hear. It’s a double-edged sword, because it’s incredibly gratifying being able to give the clients these amazing last images of their pet. I get incredibly attached to them during the shoot, so learning of their passing is painful.
Is there any setting, breed, person, etc. etc. you’d absolutely LOVE to photograph if given the chance?
I would love to go to Africa, to Kenya, and photograph the animals and people there one day. It’s a huge dream of mine. I also think it would be really cool to photograph my heart dog in various places across America on a road trip. We’re both the adventurous type, that would be a blast!
You can check out more of Michaels’ photography (including some great street photography at local dog events and the like) on her blog and website.
