Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Siani.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mary. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My love of photography started when I was preparing to travel to Italy for a month long solo trip. I signed up for a photography class, bought my first SLR camera and fell in love.
I started with landscape photography and eventually gravitated toward sports; soccer, water polo, and football. My last sports event was the 2011 CrossFit Games. That was an amazing experience as I had full backstage/press pit/athlete access. This was the beginning of CrossFit becoming a big deal and showing the games on TV. During that weekend, I met another photographer who was making a living taking photographs of dogs! I had no idea that was even possible and completely changed my focus from sports to pets. Just like that.
I found another professional photographer in Texas that was teaching classes about pet photography, starting your business and how to take photos for shelters to help with adoptions. All of which sounded exactly like what I was looking for. I made the trip to Texas and the class was excellent! I met other photographers who had the same dream I did of photographing pets and helping shelters and homeless pets. I came home and immediately signed up to help my local shelter with adoption photos. I also contacted a couple of local rescues to offer my services and help provide better images. I was able to help dogs find their forever homes and get more practice, visibility and build my portfolio. I was now completely committed to pet photography and growing my business.
Looking for opportunities to improve my photography and my business knowledge. I mentored with Illona Haus, owner of Scruffy Dog Photography, and also signed up with The New York Institute of Photography. I belonged to Facebook groups for pet photography and attended seminars and classes for all things photography related. My business has grown and changed over the last 5 years. I started out as Mary Siani Photography and then last year I worked with Nichole Sears at Working with Dog and refocused and rebranded my business creating The Sage Hound.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I first started there weren’t many resources dedicated to pet photography. So I had to really seek out information and look at wedding and portrait businesses and figure out how to adapt their principles and ideas to my pet photography business. The industry has grown tremendously in the last few years so there is much more information and help available now.
The bigger struggle that I have as a creative person is being vulnerable every day and putting myself out into the world for all to see. I have adopted a saying from Brene Brown that I have on my wall in my office as a reminder: “Show up Be seen Live brave.
Please tell us about The Sage Hound.
The Sage Hound combines my love of animals and earth together with living an inspired, healthy, adventurous life with my dogs, family and community.
I photograph dogs experiencing the wonder and beauty of the outdoors. Whether that is on the trail in the woods, on the beach, surfing, SUP’ing or any other activity. I work with my clients to create a custom adventure with their dog. This means that we hike or SUP (stand up paddle) or just hang out at the park and capture those moments that mean the most. Dogs being dogs. YOUR dog in his element and bringing that home to remember forever.
I think that is what we do best. I absolutely LOVE my job.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood is riding horses down the wooded trails with my best friend and my dog. We would head to the barn to get the horses ready after breakfast and then take off. It was an all-day adventure and a very carefree, fun part of my childhood. We just had to make sure we were home before the street lights turned on. Looking back, I think my dog enjoyed it as much as I did. We both came home exhausted and happy. That’s a great day!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thesagehound.com
- Phone: 714-584-7387
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesagehound/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesagehound/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesagehound
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-sage-hound-fullerton-2
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/thesagehound/boards/
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