b'Claudio was the first dog photographer she followed when award-winning photograph. Very small changes can make ashe began her career nine years ago. Her big takeaway from goodpicturegreat,Fitzgeraldsaid.ThroughoutthePiccolis three-day workshop was that learning is a constant.workshop,PiccolicontinuedtoreinforcetheimportanceofNo matter how much you think you know, or how good sustained learning. you think you are, there is still so much to learn about dogs and Her favorite memory of the workshop was at the end ofphotography,Fitzgeraldtoldus.Investingineducation the day, after photographing dogs running in the forest. has been the best thing Ive done for myself and the dogs I We were all feeling broken down after realizing howwork with.difficultitistocapturedogsinactioninsuchadarklylitspace, recalls Fitzgerald. After the session, she made her wayacross the field to get back to the trail. A model and one of thedogs were walking with her. The sun was shining golden overthe tall grasses, and Fitzgerald was inspired to take some sil-houette photos. It is one of my favorite things to capture. Themodelbeganthrowingdisksandthedogsbeganleaping for them as the sun was setting over the farmland. Themoment was magical, said Fitzgerald. One second it was justher photographing the dogs. Then all of a sudden, she heardshutters going off all around her as everyone in the workshopcame upon the scene.Theressomethingabouthearingtheclicksof20-plusshuttersatonetime,allgoingafterthesamephotograph,Fitzgerald said. But every photo turned out so very different. Iwas so humbled by the entire experience and remembered whyIm so passionate about DIA.In that instance, Fitzgerald had followed her instincts andtaken the lead on an idea rather than following the crowd. As shecontinues to build her photography business, she is gaining theconfidence to realize that people who want her style will find her. Ill keep practicing and aligning my type of photographywith the style and vision I have. Someday I hope to have thecredentials of Claudio, though a lot of time and learning stillhas to be done. The first thing any of us has to do in business,andincreatingart,istobelieveinourselves.Oncewedo,The golden hour at Purina Farms during a Claudio Piccoli workshop. we are unstoppable. UPhotograph by Alexandra Fitzgerald.Previously, in an effort to mold herself to the styles ofphotography that seemed indicative of the Tampa Bay Area,Fitzgerald had lost some of her passion. After the Piccoli work-shop, she abandoned everything she thought she was supposedto do and instead, began following her heart and passion. It hastaken her in a whole new direction and to another level ofcreativity. The photographic art she aspires to create is the clas-sical European style. Through the likes of Piccoli, and otherphotographers like Anne Grier and Audrey Bellot, Fitzgeraldhas taken on the challenge of finding what is not constantlyseen in Florida, particularly the Tampa Bay Area. During the workshop, Fitzgerald and Karwinski quickly bonded withThis state has so much more to offer than the beaches, Piccoli (far left) and his girlfriend, Vali.The day after the three-dayshe said. Not that I dont absolutely love shooting there. But, I workshop, the four of them hiked Elephant Rock State Parkknow Florida has so much more to offer in terms of scenery, with three dogs, Nerd, Aria and Anna.landscape and architecture. Claudio Piccolis next U.S. workshop is scheduled forThe intense three-day workshop included both photogra- September 19 through 21, 2025 in Portland, ORphy lessons and editing techniques. They learned more details www.ClaudioPiccoli.comabout composition, lighting and the proper way to work the Alexandra Fitzgeralds business is Dog Photographer of Tampa Bay.camera. Claudio helped give me the confidence to continue www.DogPhotographerOfTB.comshooting at f2.8 and lower at action, said Fitzgerald.Check her out on Instagram @DogPhotographerOfTampaBayAnother one of Piccolis lessons focused on how to take an42 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'