Furry Photography: Dogma Pet Portraits

The I Heart Costa Mesa team will never stop “hearting” the utter delight of unearthing local finds.

Just when we think we know it all, have seen it all, have covered all Costa Mesa has to offer – then something as simple as a trip down Superior Ave. yanks us right back into the arms of wonder and discovery.

We were recently flung into amazement’s embrace by a larger-than-life, window-cling portrait of a Shepherd-Chihuahua mix; the sweet, sincere face of a beautiful dog, known to her family as ‘Roxy.’

Intrigued, we dug a little deeper on the story behind the Superior storefront and discovered it’s a fur-first photography studio called Dogma Pet Portraits, that specializes in studio portraits of pets… and the humans who love them most.

Dogma belongs to Sylvaine and David Capron, a husband-and-wife team that shares the duties of running the studio, as well as a deep love and appreciation for the dogs they photograph.

David & Sylvaine Capron (below) own and operate Dogma Pet Portraits, in Costa Mesa.

Dogma is a two-person, family-run operation. David Capron shoots, crops, edits… Sylvaine Capron manages the business. They wrangle their four-legged models in gentle tandem.

What makes the Caprons so relatable to their dog-loving clients is that they know, firsthand, how life-changing a pet can be.

“Roxy changed our lives,” said Sylvaine from the sleek, pet-friendly lobby at Dogma Pet Portraits. “We lost her in July 2017, and for a time we went kind of crazy without her. But Roxy still looks out for us. I still see her, every morning. Roxy brought you to us. She’s the reason you’re here to share our story.”

The Caprons didn’t start out shooting dogs. For years, David was shooting more traditionally at eMotion Portrait Studios in Huntington Beach. Eventually, he discovered there was a real need for pet-centric, family portraits – and that it brought him real joy to do it.

“Our friend, Shawn Buckley of JustFoodForDogs, encouraged us to focus on the dog photography,” shared David. “At first, we kind of thought, ‘Who wants portraits of their dogs?’ But Shawn knew what he was talking about. We photographed some dogs and he put us on their website. Sure enough, people liked it.”

The Caprons moved the studio from Huntington Beach, to the former Wet Okole space in Costa Mesa, closer to the JustFoodForDogs kitchen, and clientele.

Photographing Dogs is a lot like Herding Cats, at Dogma Pet Portraits in Costa Mesa.

On the day of our interview, the Caprons invited their friends from Southern California Bulldog Rescue to serve as models – so we could see their portrait process firsthand.

“The experience starts with what we call the ‘design appointment,'” said Sylvaine, as our two four-legged models, Peachy and Pepe, sniffed and snuffed around the dog-friendly studio. “We invite our guests to come in with their dogs. Then we lock the front door, let the dogs run around and explore so they get to know us. It’s also the first time we show them the studio lights – and use the flash a couple times – to see if they’re able to handle it. If not, we plan to just use continuous lights on the day of the shoot.

“We find this initial meeting takes away a lot of the dog’s fear and excitement – or anxiety, depending on the personality. So when they come back for their photo session, the whole process goes a lot more smoothly.”

Photographing dogs proves to be a lot like herding cats. We couldn’t help but laugh during the process of trying to get Peachy and Pepe lined up for various shots. The Caprons handled the chaos with good humor and lots of patience – copious amounts of treats help, too.

“It doesn’t get much better than this,” said David Capron, between shots. “It’s the best job in the world. I get to sit down and photograph dogs all day. I call it my ‘fuzz therapy.'”

As chaotic and hilarious as the shoot seemed, David clearly knows what he’s doing. The portraits of Peachy and Pepe didn’t just come out crisp and beautifully composed – you can really see the personality of each dog shine through.

Rescue Bulldogs, Pepe and Peachy, model heart glasses at Dogma Pet Portraits in Costa Mesa.

The Caprons have come up with some cute ways to commemorate pets. One is a series where your puppy is photographed through its early “ages and stages,” then photoshopped into a single mural. They also work with props, apparel, and other items to customize outcomes.

When the Caprons aren’t shooting beloved pets for adoring clients, they donate their time photographing dogs for local rescue organizations.

“Having the dogs professionally photographed goes a long way in getting them adopted,” said David. “If you can demonstrate the beauty and personality in each dog, the experience is more personal. It makes a huge difference towards helping these dogs find their forever home.”

Dogma Pet Portraits also partners with local rescues on projects like puppy calendars – raising money to care for the dogs.

The Caprons are eager to stress that Dogma is pet-centric, family photography – emphasis on family.

“The portraits aren’t just about the dogs,” said Sylvaine. “They’re about how important your dog is to you and your family. We love it when people want to be in the photos with their dogs. You can really see the relationship come through – and it often makes for better photos, too.”

All in all, David and Sylvaine are happy to have settled in Costa Mesa.

“Costa Mesa is so business-friendly, it really is,” said David. “It’s also central to everything. We have clients from Long Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna, Fullerton. It’s easy for them to get here from wherever they live.

“Then, of course, the beach is right down the street, which doesn’t hurt.”

“My favorite thing about Costa Mesa is the food,” added Sylvaine, with a nod of her head towards neighboring businesses. “We are eating very well around here. Super Pollo, right there, has the best chicken tacos. But it’s sort of dangerous that it’s right next door.”

We asked the Caprons if they had any parting words for our readers.

“We love you, Costa Mesa,” said Sylvaine, enthusiastically. “Come and check us out. Bring in your dogs. We’d just love to meet you all.” ♥

__________________________

Learn more about Dogma Pet Portraits at dogmapetportraits.com, and follow them on Instagram @dogmapetportraits.

Thanks for reading! Ready to wear that Costa Mesa love? Check out our store!