Our homes are filled with personal touches that express who we are. Naturally, you may want to display dog photography portraits in your home as a pet owner. After all, photos of our loved ones, including our pets, offer comfort and sanctuary, fill our living spaces with personal touches, and help make them feel cozy. 

As Valentine's Day approaches, Stan's Photo has teamed up with Urban Pooch on February 3rd and 4th to bring you a special weekend of heartfelt pet portrait sessions of the one you love. On Saturday, February 3rd, the photo studio will be set up at RAYGUN in Andersonville for full one-hour pet portrait sessions, including the Dogs of Andersonville project and Human + Friend pet portraits. Then, on Sunday, February 4th, from 11 am-3 pm, you can sign up to get a special 20-minute Mini Pooch Valentine Portrait in collaboration with Urban Pooch. Mini Pooch Valentine Portraits will be ready just before Valentine's Day! Reservations required. Hosted at RAYGUN in Chicago. Click to learn more and reserve.

I feel like I am in a spelling bee every time I try to spell Dachshund. And each time, I get it wrong. Do you know how to spell it? Just try. Then repeat. It is not that easy. The word originates from German, with "Dachs" meaning badger and "hund" meaning dog. 

I met Kay and Jerry sitting on the patio outside Starbucks. Like most dog owners, they greeted my dog Stanley and me with a hello. We soon began a friendly exchange. They told me they had Dachshunds for decades, their first being in 1992. Over time, we shared stories with each other, and they learned about the Dogs of Andersonville project, offering to donate a session. Their dogs Fred, Clancy and Ginger are no longer around, but their spirit has a place in Andersonville.

I am excited to launch a special raffle for Dachshunds in Andersonville on Giving Tuesday – a global holiday that spreads acts of care, love, and understanding to the world. Also I would like to send a special thank you to Kay and Jerry Stemnock for their generous donation of a pet portrait session for the lucky winner to be included in the Dogs of Andersonville project. A big hug to Kay and Jerry, Andersonville neighbors, dog owners and friends.

You don't need to know how to spell Dachshund – but you do need one to win.

ENTER TO WIN! Do you have a Dachshund and live in Andersonville, or are you part of the neighborhood community? Enter to win a Dogs of Andersonville pet portrait session. Raffle entries close at midnight, December 30th, 2023. Good for one dog. One entry submission per owner.

My first experience with dog training was in a corporate environment. My therapist suggested I watch “The Dog Whisperer” with Cesar Milan to learn and be more assertive in the workplace. So, I took on the challenge, watched several seasons in marathon style in under a week, and took away one critical lesson from Cesar: to change a dog's behavior, you must first change the owner's. 

Immediately, I noted where my behavior fell short and began applying dog training to my boss. While it inspired some exciting responses, it truly empowered me to change my environment and move on to better things. That was nearly two decades ago. I still use that lesson today but now apply dog whispering in my dog portrait studio.

My first pet portrait photo shoot was in a client's home, with a notable learning curve, chasing the dog with my camera for several hours. I was exhausted at the end of the shoot, not satisfied, allowing the dog to be in charge. There had to be a better way to achieve incredible dog portraits of a family's best friend and for a dog lover to display in their home.