My experience could not have been more perfect. Having never had pet photography done before, I didn't know what to expect but Ellen made the day one to remember. She clearly adores animals and treated my Emma with the finest, most loving touch. At first, I was unsure about making this kind of investment but something in me said "go for it." I am so glad I did. You see, our shoot was April and three months later my beloved Emma was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of mammary cancer. She likely won't make it to Thanksgiving. That shoot with Ellen was one something that I'll always cherish. The artwork means even more now. Our time with our babies are never long enough. Do all the things, make all the memories. Take all the photos. You won't regret it. Thanks Ellen. Emma and I are so greatdul for your kindness and love. read more

Family includes dogs and getting their portraits takes work. When those moments are captured--the portraits turn to art that sparks joy and commands attention. What a stellar show +'s: + Dogs love her. Talented photographers tease something out of their subjects to capture on film. Ellen did just that and wow! My senior dog (10 yrs) and teen dog (2 yrs) had different personalities. Both responded to Ellen. My dogs looked into the camera and forgot all about Mom. It was all about Ellen and her camera! + Mindful. My senior dog had eye issues and Ellen was mindful of the flash. Thankfully we had no issues but I am glad she had remembered. + Professional and clear process. We had a consult before the studio session. During the session she let the dogs run around on set before settling down for the actual shoot. After the shoot we took a break and got to see the proofs. + Patient. Ellen allowed me to ponder on my proofs. The task was challenging since I was on a budget but didn't want to lose special moments. She helped me navigate through all the proofs to find the ones I wanted. We followed up with a zoom call to finalize layouts and choices. + Instinctive. We tried posing with my girls on a sofa. The girls were not comfortable and I perhaps looked stiff. Ellen picked up on it and said let's move on. + Natural artistic vision. I had selected many for print but Ellen helped me select the right sizing and layout for my walls. Also what is key is finding the right photos for the layout. Her art studies came into play and this proved key. + Flexible and a listener. If I had concerns, Ellen heard me out whether through email, text, or phone. She actively resolved anything. Overall I am beyond pleased with the photos for my girls! I am completely thrilled with the final product. The richness of the prints and the quality of the work are worth the memories I now have on my walls. What a pleasure it is to have the work generate warm happy thoughts when either guests or I see them! Essentially I have not only captured priceless moments of my dogs but also showcased some real art in my home! Thanks Ellen!!! read more

Ellen Shershow Photography - Precious photo of my dog @toytofu - Session Photography Near Me - Oakland, California

We have 4 dogs and they were all nervous during the photoshoot. Ellen had such patience and took her time to make sure the dogs were comfortable and then...magic! This one is of all 4 of the pups and how she got all to sit the way she wanted, look at the camera and smile!!! Love love love our portraits! read more

Ellen Shershow Photography - Session Photography Near Me - Oakland, California

Had an absolutely wonderful experience with Ellen during our session. I have an adopted dog who is stubborn, and likes to do things her way on her own time. Ellen was great at not forcing her to do anything she didn't want to, and spent an hour and half photographing my dog. She had photos ready for review a few hours later and they were absolutely amazing!! She captured my my pup's essence pawfectly. read more

Ellen is a truly a dog whisperer...I have two large pitbulls with whom she was fantastic. Juju is a senior dog who is blind and quasi deaf but she was sooooo comfortable with Ellen and did great in her individual session. Kaipo, my six year old is anxious, needy and uber affectionate. He started out as guarded with her but within minutes, he was her best friend and was following her around the studio. Coming back to the studio after the shoot to choose which photos I was going to have printed was the hardest part-I WANTED THEM ALL! Her studio is a great space to do her work and all of us had so much fun and the dogs were wiped out and were down for the count by 8pm that evening. Ellen's work and the quality of her work is an investment that will remain timeless. Highly recommend. Love Ellen! Mahalo nui loa, Ellen! read more

Ellen Shershow Photography - Kaipo helping Ellen set up! - Session Photography Near Me - Oakland, California

The experience was fantastic. We had 3 Corgis to be photographed. She was so excellent with the dogs. She seemed to talk their language. Took close to 100 photos with all 3 dogs and us humans. Wish I could show you the results but don't have the final prints yet. It was so hard to pick because they were all so adorable. read more

We took advantage of Ellen's mini-sessions with Wag Hotel this holiday season, and the whole process was easy and fun! On the day of our photo shoot, Ellen took the time to get to know our Maxwell for a few minutes, and get him comfortable with sitting on her stool, holding still and be cute to get his treats. The shorter session gave us a chance to see how he'd do with lights and clicking and the photos that came out were STUNNING. I expected we'd get at least one good one in the mini session, and we were tearing our hair out to figure out which ones to print, with so many to choose from. She captured his personality perfectly, with serious, silly and downright adorable options. Ellen's customer service after the shoot was quick and easy. We had our proofs in a few days, and our prints not long after that. She also gave us fun ways to share them with our friends and family before our prints came in. Based on how amazing the pictures were in the quick session, we now know our little guy LOVES the camera, and we are super excited to set up a longer, quieter shoot in the future. read more

Ellen did a photo shoot for my beloved pup Nina, and it was such a beautiful experience. Ellen is truly a doggie whisperer, and coaxed the sweetest expressions out of my shy Nina. She knows how to put your pet at ease and the photos are unique, fun, and gorgeous. I went to Ellen's studio in Oakland, a couple friends accompanied, and we made an afternoon of it. We tried different props, lighting, backdrops. This is a perfect gift for any devoted pet owner, for birthdays, special occasions, milestones. Mine was a gift from a dear friend as my dog was getting older with increasing health issues. I could have not asking for a more special gift. I will treasure that afternoon and the photographs forever, as they captured Nina's personality so well. Ellen's process throughout was straightforward, easy, and pleasant. I could not recommend her more. read more

Engagement photos? YES. I came to Ellen with a unique request - to capture our fur children and our engagement at the same time. And...my fiance is totally nonphotogenic and camera-phobic. A challenge! I was already super excited that she would be taking our dog portraits. No question, she is an artist and a true master of pet photography. Our dogs, Jack and Wilson, had so much fun with her, each having several of their own solo sessions and duo sessions. It was amazing to watch Ellen so effortlessly connect with our fur babies. They were incredibly well-behaved with her (wish we could learn a few of her tricks...haha). I must admit, I was nervous that my fiance would not come through for our "family portrait." Ellen reassured us that my fiance would come out of his shell. She was right. Once he was relaxed and having fun with our boys, he became totally at ease and the smiles and photos flowed. We had so much fun!!! Ellen was a true professional! After our initial photo session, we had a sit-down review session of all our photos; so many amazing ones to choose from! They were all so beautiful and captured our boys PERFECTLY. We ended up ordering a museum-quality book and a box of prints to proudly display in our home, and will order more prints for family and friends. We also have an official Save-the-Date featuring Jack and Wilson. I highly recommend Ellen if you want beautiful and unforgettable images of your loved ones, pets and humans alike. read more

Ellen Shershow Photography - Our Jack and Wilson, captured perfectly. It's like real life, but better. Thank you Ellen! - Session Photography Near Me - Oakland, California

I can't say enough about what a wonderful experience I had with Ellen at her studio. She is warm, patient and kind and truly loves animals. She took so many amazing pics of Chloe that I had an almost impossible time trying to decide which ones to keep (harder part was which ones to let go of). Her joy and passion for her craft shines through. It was a day to remember and I have unique one of a kind photos to prove it. read more

I loved working with Ellen. She was so patient with my 3 dogs and somehow got them to all sit still at once for group pics. Her work is too cute for words. She captured all the dogs' personalities perfectly. I got in a few shots and I can say I will truly treasure those forever. Two of my dogs are senior dogs and I'm so happy I have these great pictures to look at when they are no longer with me. read more

Ellen took the best photo of my dog - ever! Ahem, and i'm in it, too... She captured our spirit together and every time I look at it, I just smile. I highly recommend J'adore Le Chien! The studio shoot was a lot of fun, too! read more

Dog photographers seem to be a dime a dozen in the bay area. We adore our pets, and pretty much think that our dog/cat/ferret is the cutest thing since the word cute entered the lexicon. But there's so much more to it than that--we can take a gazillion pics with our i-phones, but there's that essence, that unnameable thing that is so particular to our dogs, not a human quality, but still it reflects back to us something about ourselves (narcissistic fools that we are,) that can't be found by amateurs, or from my experience, many of the dog photographers that take cute pictures. Capturing that je ne se qua seems like trying to capture lightening in a bottle. And that's where j'adore le chien comes in. Ellen's dog photography captures just that. Those ephemeral moments that our dog's express in their face and body language, that we may not be aware of consciously, but are so much a part of our relationship with them. I run a dog training facility and work with other small businesses, rescues, and organizations that love and support dogs. I was looking for a photographer to display her work at my school and on our website. A student of mine introduced me to Ellen and showed me photos of her 2 dogs and I was blown away. I contacted Ellen immediately and had her photograph my poodle. Photos were stunning. Not being a photographer, I don't know what it is she see when she looks in the lens, but when Ellen took pictures of farfel she revealed so many layers in him, some that I already know and adore, and subtler things that I hadn't consciously noticed, and that just made me appreciate his big personality even more. She does portraits in her studio (a light filled open workspace in Oakland). She really listens to her clients, and is great with people. She is funny, whip-smart, and makes the whole experience fun. She also really understands her subjects. She's a natural with dogs, but knows that it's alien for them to be put in front of a camera with bright lighting and weird equipment. She's made sure to educate herself on behavior and training, and has things set up to make it as relaxing as possible for the pooches. Treats, toys, and frequent breaks, and time to explore the place prior to getting photographed. And when she begins shooting, the dogs are ready, and then she has works her magic. She really is an artist. I can't recommend Ellen enough. If you have thought about hiring a professional photographer, or even if you haven't, you won't regret it, especially when you look at the photo framed on your wall and all you can do for that split sec is feel a huge gust of unconditional love. read more

Ellen is great, we had such a fun time at the photoshoot. My dog Coco started out a little shy, but really warmed up to her and we got some really great photos. The hardest part was choosing the final prints. I wanted them all, but had to narrow it down. I would recommend large square on metal format, it's really nice if you have the space for it and not your usual framed print. I ended up ordering one of those and 3 large prints for a triptych. There was one print in the triptych that was oriented the wrong way and Ellen was so nice she had them all redone just to be sure the print quality was the same. It's that attention to detail that made her rock in my opinion. I had this done last year for a surprise Christmas gift for my partner and Ellen was so great with keeping the secret. She literally hid around the block and waited for my partner to leave for work, on the day she dropped them off at my house. She was such a trooper. I actually ordered some more prints this year for personalized holiday cards. The hardest part is not going overboard and ordering everything she offers. Thanks Ellen Terry & Coco read more

Ellen's work exceeded all our expectations! From the very first phone call, she understood exactly what we were looking for in our photos and was very informative and helpful in walking us through all the details. The day of our photo shoot went perfectly and I very much appreciated the time Ellen put into making sure the location and light for our outdoor photos would be perfect. Our dog responded to her immediately and I was beyond impressed with how she communicated with her and drew out her personality. At the end of the day, we could tell that our pup had felt very special, and it showed in the photos. Ellen captured all those little looks and moods that make our pup uniquely her. We will treasure our artwork forever. read more

Worth every single penny! Her work is amazing. Ellen is able to capture something unique and the images are beautiful. The quality is excellent and Ellen takes great pride in her work. She is extremely professional and I would recommend her to anyone that wants to capture a beautiful image of your dog. read more

Ellen is a professional photographer. She's not a hobbyist or an amateur. She knows what she's doing and she's not afraid to make everything on the other side of her lens look amazing. She's taken photographs of both of my dogs and they are stunning. One of my dogs is black and he often doesn't show up well on my home photos. Ellen captured his essence and sweetness and he doesn't look like a black blob. In large part, she's able to get great photographs because she knows how to work with her subjects. She's well-versed in dog behavior and has a way of making even the most unsure dogs feel welcome and photo-ready. Ellen is an artist. Her schooling, experience and attention to detail are evident in her work. She also works with Muttville as their photographer. Muttville is a senior dog rescue and anyone who works with them is okay in my book!! read more

I can't recommend Ellen highly enough. Ellen took beautiful pictures of my two dogs and my two kids a couple of years ago. She put them all at ease and we really got some amazing photos. I liked the pics and Ellen so much that I came back to get my own headshots for work recently. I hate getting my picture taken but Ellen is so fun and instantly made me feel comfortable. I also have the best pictures of myself now that I've ever had - in my 40s! Do yourself a favor and book Ellen for you photos! read more

Ellen. Is. AMAZING!!! Seriously, even my crazy 60 pound Staffie, who has severe fear-aggression issues towards strangers LOVED her from the beginning! She is very warm, down to earth, and has a great sense of humor. She will take all the time needed to not just get "the" right shot, but to get the right 20 plus shots just in case your "right" and her "right" are not the same! (In my case, we both agreed on the perfect MyMutt, but there were still plenty more for me to choose to add for myself!) She's also very creative and did what she needed to get it perfect. In our situation, my dog is VERY attached to me, and won't stay still unless I'm next to her. We ended up taking a few pics with me covered in a white sheet to match the background! Honestly, I'm so glad I met her and got to experience her work, you will NOT be disappointed. read more

We loved working with Ellen!!!! She is not only a true artist but also a wonderful person. She takes the time to get to know you and your dog. She also hand delivered our art. Everyone who sees her work wants to know more and are amazed at how well she captured our dog (and her true personality). This is especially impressive because she has a very black face and some of the best photos were actually on a black background!! This will be an investment as all great art is, but it is totally worth it. read more

Ellen is a super talented animal photographer, and I have seen many examples of good pet photographers. She is one of the very best. She also has a huge heart and donates her talents to Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. Her photographs help these beautiful dogs find homes. You know the old adage, "a photo is worth a thousand words". I have had her photograph three of my animals, two dogs and a cat, and they are hung all over my house. Everyone comments on them! read more

Ellen at J'adore Le Chien Pet Photography is a pure joy to work with. We looked at a dozen or more Bay Area photographers' websites that specialize in dog portraits, and Ellen's work stood out as the most beautiful and natural looking. Ellen has some sort of innate talent to establish a friendly rapport with your dog and put him or her at ease almost immediately. While my wife takes great photos and knows how to compose a beautiful shot, capturing our beloved dog Baxter's essence has always eluded her. Ellen has a lot of tricks up her sleeve to bring out the playful, the regal, the goofy, the whatever personality of your dog in a portrait, and we were simply amazed at how gorgeous her final photos were. We couldn't be happier with Ellen's work capturing our dog and our family together, and our session together couldn't have been a more pleasurable experience! read more

Ellen is amazing! My daughter and her dog had a photo session with her. She made them both feel at ease right from the start, and we all had a good time at the photo shoot. My daughter's dog is small with curly, black hair and black eyes. So I've never successfully taken a photo of her that doesn't end up looking like a shadow or a puddle of oil. When I saw Ellen's website and photos of black dogs with black backgrounds, I immediately made an appointment for a photo session. The photos turned out great, and I couldn't be happier with the results. Ellen shot with a couple different backgrounds, and some with natural light. Everything was excellent. The hard part was picking out our favorites for enlarged prints! I highly recommend her! read more

Ellen created such uniquely amazing photos of our three dogs. She somehow knows how to draw out the nuances in their personalities and freeze that instant in an unforgettable photo. Her studio is a true pleasure to visit and the experience of the photo shoot is fun and perfectly planned. I really can't recommend her highly enough. read more

Ellen is a total pro. Works hard, makes great images and all while having fun. Thank you!

Relaxing atmosphere and professional. Very compassionate toward their subjects and passionate about their art. Will always treasure our prints of our sweet whippet. read more

Great photographer! So easy to work with. We have a pug and a mastiff and our family portraits came out so well we ordered the Album and 6 metal work pictures for our walls. Got a little carried away, but worth every penny. Drew S. read more

Ellen is a true gem. My dog & I adore her! She is an amazing pet photographer whose images speak for themselves. She is also a sweet, fun, compassionate person who takes care of the animals she photographs. We love her & recommend her to anyone who wants fabulous photos of their pets!!! read more

I absolutely loved how the photos of my little Eames turned out! The photo session was fun and you had the perfect way of getting my pup to pose for the camera! read more

J'adore J'adore Le Chien!!! Ellen is a master. Her photographs are not really pet photographs, they are like professional fashion photography that just so happens to have pets as the subject. Have you seen those Bruce Weber or moreover Annie Liebovitz photographs where you can't stop staring at the model because you wonder if s/he looks that beautiful in real life? And because you feel like you are seeing who that person is--their essence--in the photograph? Well, let me just go there and say Ellen is the Annie Liebovitz of pet photography, except that Ellen has better hair. My dog Boobies was photographed by Ellen and she nailed her personality. I have probably 900,000 photos of my dog, but nothing compares to the magic that Ellen conjured. Ellen loves dogs and she loves people. So the whole process and experience of having these portraits taken is a joy. Truly so much fun. And the results are just off the charts. It is impossible to regret paying for a session with her. And also, the quality of the prints are as high-quality as it gets. I had several things printed -- a box triptych, a print on metal, and regular prints -- and they are all gorgeous. Ellen is a huge talent, an angel of a person, and the real deal. You will NOT be disappointed. read more