The dogs have settled in so well since we adopted them last month. Definitely making themselves comfortable! ;) Here are some of the latest photos of the pups!

Now, what did I mean about FREE pet photos? I mean that its your lucky day! I am looking to build my pet portfolio before I launch it as a full service, and that means I need YOUR adorable dog! Please send me an email at alyssa@hybrid-photography.com to find out more details on this fantastic offer. It won’t last long so take advantage quickly!

You can plan to have your engagement session in a dog friendly park or beach area, and your photographer can work with you to brainstorm fun ideas for including them in some of the pictures. Its important to remember that your dog will not be in ALL of the shots, so plan on having a “dog wrangler” recruited for the day of your session. This is very helpful when capturing just the two of you so there are no distractions.

Try bringing along a favorite tennis ball or other toy for your dog to play with during your session. This is also great for getting their attention.

If you dogs are smaller, try bringing a picnic blanket to sit on so you can snuggle with your furry friend.

Take a short walk with your dog during the beginning of your engagement session. This will help tire your pup out and give him or her the opportunity to get used to the camera and the sounds it makes.

Before letting your dog off leash, be sure they are trained well enough to come when called, and will not run off into the distance. Leashes will definitely not ruin a photo, so don’t be afraid to keep it on!

Most of all, be sure to have fun with your dog in your pictures-show off the happy family that you are!

Check out the interview below!

“The wedding and honeymoon are over, and now the real work begins. The American Kennel Club wants to remind pet owners that it’s not just about working on a healthy marriage, but also about helping your dog adjust to the combination of two households.

“Dogs have different personalities and while some are excited to have new people in their lives, other pooches may need some time to adjust,” explains Canine Good Citizen and AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Director and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Mary Burch, Ph.D. “Taking your dog’s personality into account along with some preparation will help ensure a smooth adjustment period when two households are combined.”

To help pet-owning newlyweds, the AKC offers tips on how to ease your dog’s transition into married life. Among them:

- Introduce your dog. Consider your dog’s personality when introducing her to your future spouse. Is she enthusiastic or shy? Tailor the first meeting to what will make her most comfortable. Regardless of personality, the first meeting should be in a neutral space – for a more outgoing dog this could be a dog park, for a shy dog, perhaps a friend’s backyard. Praise your dog when she interacts well with your future spouse and set aside several subsequent meetings before you combine households.

- Discuss expectations. You and your spouse should discuss your dog’s current routines. Will you share walking or feeding duties? If so, set up a schedule and stick to it so your dog’s life remains consistent.

- Continue to work on your relationship with your pooch. It’s easy to get wrapped up in wedding planning and the life adjustments that come after the ceremony. However, Fido should remain a priority. Try to keep his schedule as consistent as possible by planning walks or playtime at the same time daily. Your dog is likely to feel less stress if one-on-one time remains regular.

- Praise your dog. Every dog reacts to the stress of change differently. The key is to praise your dog only for her positive reactions. Don’t give your dog extra attention if she acts shy or too excited around your spouse. Only reward her with attention when she behaves properly.

Additional tips on training responsible dog ownership can be found online at the American Kennel Club website at www.akc.org
(c) 2012, The American Kennel Club, Inc., www.akc.org”

Click here to see the entire post!

Go check out the full article for all the details!

Also, Krystel with Couture Events wrote a great blog post for the Estate Weddings & Events blog about 2012′s top 5 wedding trends. She also notes that muted colors are in, lighting is everything and that glam is back! Read the entire blog post here.

I can only confirm what they are seeing. Everything I have come across for 2012 has alluded to these trends really shining this year. Romance and drama seem to be the buzzwords for this year’s weddings!

Are you getting married this year? Are you planning to use these trends in your wedding?

See the entire post here for more images of the layout, and visit Almost Never Clever for more on her wedding scrapbook!

I had a blast shooting this wedding, and thank goodness it was in an outdoor tent with heating, because it was 30 degrees outside when we left!

Enjoy some of my favorites!

Sergeant is our big 95 pound boy!

Sasha is our pretty girl!

If you are ever interested in a new pet for your family, labradors are fantastic, and Labrador Rescuers is a WONDERFUL organization to adopt through! Consider giving a dog in need a new lease on life and adopt. :)

Here are just a few of my favorites from Trevor and Jeannette’s engagement session!