#germantown

top of page

Blog from Sandra Ferguson Photography

I am certainly not a writer. If you have met me in person, you know I am as southern as you can get. My pronunciation and grammar may not be correct. But, I am passionate about two things. Photography and Animals. I have specialized in Pet Photography now for about 20 years. I am a professional photographer in Memphis, TN. I am a Dog Photographer, Cat Photographer, Horse Photographer, Bird Photographer. If it is an animal, I will photograph it! So from time to time, I thought I would share some of my tips on pet photography. I hope some of my blog post will catch your attention and maybe help with some pet photography of your own. Enjoy!!

I STOLE THIS IMAGE !

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Jan 16
3 min

I STOLE THIS IMAGE !

People that work, work for a paycheck. If you work in retail, you earn your paycheck. If you work in an office, you earn your paycheck. No matter your job, you earn a paycheck. Nobody works - for free. Unless you are volunteering your service and I only volunteer for animal rescue. When you book a session with me, I charge a retainer fee for my services. All prints and digitals are purchased separately. When a photographer works, it includes: all the years of experienc

Pets with Santa

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Nov 26, 2022
7 min

Pets with Santa

This year I have volunteered my photography services to benefit Team Memphis Rescue & Support. We will be doing Pet Photos with Santa at Woof Gang Bakery - Cordova. The date is coming up fast - Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 12noon to 4pm. I have been giving "tips for pets with Santa" on our event page. I thought I would share everything in one post. At our event, you will receive 2 watermarked digitals for sharing online, with your donation to rescue of $25. (I am voluntee

A Tail Wagging Good Gift

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Aug 15, 2022
1 min

A Tail Wagging Good Gift

If you have pet lovers in your life, this is the perfect gift. I recently updated my gift certificates and they are cute! When you give these as a gift, they will love them! Birthday gifts, anniversary, holiday gifts, just because, teachers, friends, parents, grandparents, someone hard to buy for or a special someone. If they have a special pet, they will love getting one of these gift certificates. Its not just dogs! I photograph all animals !! Cats, horses, pigs, goats,

The MEOW in Pet Photography

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Jun 30, 2022
3 min

The MEOW in Pet Photography

Putting the meow into pet photography

Your dog knows, they nose!

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Jun 24, 2022
2 min

Your dog knows, they nose!

What does that mean for a pet photo session & Dog Photography? When dogs come to the studio or we meet at a park, I watch. I want to know how your dog reacts. Most dogs will come to either location and start sniffing & smelling. So many smells no matter the location! I often say, in studio, turn them loose and let them smell. Why is this important at a photo session? · Let them take their time and absorb all the smells around them · I am watching body langua

Planning your Pets Birthday Party!

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Jun 8, 2022
3 min

Planning your Pets Birthday Party!

I read this quote recently, " The amazing thing about having a dog is even though neither of you speak the same language, you develop this deep connection that you will never share with a human" (author unknown) How true is that quote? I know with my own dogs we have a relationship that others would not understand. Each one is special in their own way. This chocolate (gray, white) Goldendoodle (Ziggy) has had my whole heart his whole life. He turned twelve (12) years old in

Behind the scenes of a session

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Mar 9, 2022
2 min

Behind the scenes of a session

I am asked so many times, "how do you get the dogs to look at you" or "how do you get the dogs to pose"? The only magic formula is "patience". I have an abundance of patience working with animals. I love seeing them transform in front of my lens. I love seeing pets respond to me and look straight into my camera lens. Did you know, you can act a fool around a dog? They do not care. If you act goofy, make noises, dance around, toss some treats and tell them GOOD DOG. It's

My Dogs New Years Pawsolutions 2022

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Dec 27, 2021
2 min

My Dogs New Years Pawsolutions 2022

My dogs got together with some friends and wrote out their New Years Pawsolutions for dogs everywhere. (Pawsolutions = Resolutions.) Lets see how far into 2022 they will make it! Pawsolution #1 I will become friends with the mail person & the mail truck. Pawsolution #2 I will become friends with the UPS, FedEx and Amazon “person”. They need to leave more Chewy boxes though! Pawsolution #3 I will stop barking out the window when I see squirrel, cat or a person four blocks

OMG - she did what ???

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Dec 18, 2021
2 min

OMG - she did what ???

You all know I have worked with rescues, shelters and foster parents for a long time! I love what I do. I love being a part of the process of the animals finding their forever home. My part is small in the grand scheme of "rescue". But being a small part does not make it less valuable. Rescue photography is different than any other photography you will ever do. Some of the larger animal shelters have photographer programs and routine schedules of photographing the animal

Unique Personality

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Aug 13, 2021
3 min

Unique Personality

Every animal that I photograph is unique. In each photo I love to capture the pets personality. Sometimes the photos are serious, goofy or perfect. My goldendoodle Ziggy is a very laid back & goofy boy. I usually like his mouth open in photos. Otherwise he looks serious or unhappy. Today I was asked if I could create a photo with a pup to look like Elvis. This is Elvis week in Memphis. Well, we can try! The dog Elvis on the pink backdrop - there were 2 people assisting wi

Giant Breeds

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Jul 15, 2021
2 min

Giant Breeds

Mastiff - Meet Tulip. Let me tell you ... you have not had shuuggggahhh unless you have had Mastiff kisses!! She is a lovebug. Tulip had her photo session with her family of K9's but she also entered the Model Call for Giant Breeds. You will most definitely see this face again... she makes me smile! (her expressions are priceless!) Our model call ends on Saturday July 17th. We have all breeds entered ...except GIANT SCHNAUZER !! I have contacted a few people and never

GIANT MODEL CALL !!!!

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Jul 6, 2021
2 min

GIANT MODEL CALL !!!!

Model Call – Please read before responding!! We are working on a project {{ on location }} in the Memphis Area. (location & time will be disclosed later) We need the following models: (pictured Nigel - Wolfhound Mix) ***Giant Schnauzer – adult, full grown, purebred ** very important to get this breed!** **Great Pyrenees - adult, full grown, purebred **Great Dane – adult, full grown, preference to Mantle Great Dane **Irish Wolfhound – adult, full grown, purebred **Afghan Hound

Birthday & Cake Smash

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Jun 30, 2021
1 min

Birthday & Cake Smash

Happy 14th Birthday Harry!!! Harry came to my studio in Memphis for his birthday bash!!! Harry is a social media influencer and has won hearts all over the world! His Mom brought his cake & balloons ... together we had the best time with Harry. Don't forget to celebrate your pups birthday! Celebrate every year starting with one year old! They deserve it! They know its a special day because they are getting tons of attention and oh my... a cake or birthday cookies. If you

If walls could talk !

Sandra Ferguson Photography

May 22, 2021
2 min

If walls could talk !

Many years ago, a very well meaning woman said something to me. When I showed her family photos and dog photos hanging on my walls... she said ~ "Well those are cute and all but should not be hanging in your living room" At first I thought ... how rude. But then I took my photos down and just put up artwork. My photos were confined to our bedroom, desk and in our offices. Did this lady know what she was talking about ? Many years later we were selling our home and the rea

Why do we hang photos in our homes?

Sandra Ferguson Photography

May 12, 2021
1 min

Why do we hang photos in our homes?

If walls could talk! Look at the items hanging on your walls. You may have a clock, candle holders, metal art and all that word art. What else hangs on your walls? You have photographs of special people, special moments and special places. We photograph and print the images that mean the *most* to us. We want to look at them and remember!!! We want to see them everyday!! We LOVE the people and places we have been. What about your pets? Do you have images hanging on yo

Copyright and Usage Rights

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Mar 23, 2021
1 min

Copyright and Usage Rights

Its time to address... copyright and usage rights. I have some clients who prefer I not post their images on Facebook and Instagram. I respect and honor their wishes! But .... a big but !! I still own copyright and usage rights for every single photograph I create! It is on the metadata of my cameras, I watermark images or with ©Copyright symbol. Every single image I create, I maintain the copyright and/or usage rights of each photo. Unless you have purchased the un-water

Eye Stains / Eye Boogers

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Mar 16, 2021
1 min

Eye Stains / Eye Boogers

Ok...lets get gross. The eye boogies and eye gunk. It CAN be a ton of photoshop involved in this. I never ever ever ever guarantee I can remove the eye boogies and gunk. Or stains for that matter. It is TONS of photoshop involved and I do charge extra for that and its still not guaranteed. The black dog above is a rescue. The big hunk of (FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS) boogers.... are easy to remove.... it gets to smaller ones or where its wrapped all around the eyes... ughhhh

Behind the scenes - not what you expect.

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Mar 10, 2021
2 min

Behind the scenes - not what you expect.

I mentioned to you all that I began photography over 15 years ago. Its more like 20 years ago. Well.... okay... a lifetime ago. Every session is a learning experience. It can be dog handling, photography, weather or people! I taught myself through trial and error! Everything I know with photography and with editing is self taught. There have been many errors made and many blunders. When I advanced to Off Camera Flash ... it was a total game changer for me. You can do thi

YES I photoshop...sometimes a bunch

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Mar 9, 2021
1 min

YES I photoshop...sometimes a bunch

When I am shooting.... I want the dog or pet to look directly into my camera. Nothing irritates me more for the pet to not look at me. (THATS JUST ME). I never really know exactly what I have until I cull the photos down for editing. Then I see a photo and the "artist" in me sees something else. You don't plan this ... it just happens. The photo to the right is photoshopped of course. But see below for the unedited photo. Yep... its the same one. I had the look in her e

Pet Parents/Dog Handler

Sandra Ferguson Photography

Mar 2, 2021
1 min

Pet Parents/Dog Handler

How do you get the dog to pose like that??? I don't ... the pet parent or dog handler does! Seriously! Its up to me to get the attention of the dog. But the one holding the leash (pet parent or dog handler) is the one that ultimately says SIT. Then I make my noises or squeakers to get the dogs attention. They are not super models. They respond. They respond to whoever is holding the lead and they respond to me getting their attention. The photo below is in MY STUDIO GAR

bottom of page