| Published August 17th, 2022 | Theatre Square is going to the dogs | | By Sora O'Doherty | | Jen Frase, dog photographer, at work at her grand opening in Orinda Theatre Square. Photo Sora O'Doherty | Must love dogs? Jen Frase just loves dogs. In fact, she adores them. As a photographer for the past 15 years, she changed her focus to just dogs about two years ago and now has opened Jen Frase Photography, a dog photography studio in Theatre Square.
The Orinda shop will operate on an appointment basis, with appointments being booked online. The studio grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 13, offered goodie bags for dogs, merchandise, cookies and water. Although she sees her new focus on the studio, Frase will continue to book location photo shoots if her customers prefer that, but location shoots are longer and cost more.
In studio, Frase uses plain, bright colored backdrops, but she may add some props for various holidays. She likes to bring in the dog's owner along with the dog. The owner can stay and help. She says that she's never been bitten, but expects it to happen sometime. How does she keep a dog still for a photograph? Frase explains that she lowers the lights, gives lots of treats and belly rubs. The dog only needs to stay still for a second. In her sessions, which can be either 30 minutes or an hour long, she says that 90% is not shooting. Nevertheless, she admits that some dogs just can't do it.
Although her passion is dogs, Frase says that she won't turn anyone away, and has been asked to photograph a couple of cats. Frase lives in Lafayette with her husband and twins, who just started high school at Acalanes. Their pet is Monk, "the love of my life," Frase enthuses. Monk is 5 years old, part Shih Tzu and part miniature poodle.
For more information and to book appointments, see Frase's website: https://jenfrase.com | | Photo Sora O'Doherty | | | | | | | | | | | |