How To Include Your Dog In Your Photos
More often than not I’m surprisingly asked if clients can bring along their dog(s) to our session together.
My first response is, uhm heck yes.
So I put some tips together to make it a little easier!
10 Tips to Including your Dog in Photos
1. Make Sure Your Location is Dog Friendly
I’ll give you a list of locations that I think will be ideal for the area we’ll be around - just let me know ahead of time that you want to bring your pup so that I can make sure I only send you places that dogs are allowed.
2. Choose Your Location With Your Dog in Mind
On that note, while most places allow dogs, not all of them are dog friendly. I recommend an area with no one around, and lots of open space or land for your dog to run around on. This allows us to also keep them from being on a leash in every single photo.
3. Reconsider the Leash
If we aren’t in a location where we can allow your dog to be safely off leash, think about the leash and how it will be in every photo. Is it time to get a new leash that isn’t 8 years old? Is your leash neon purple? Maybe consider something different like a neutral color!
4. Bring Toys
A great way to get pets to relax is by bringing their favorite toy! I mean, our pets are literally our children so just think of it as trying to get your kids to cooperate during a photo shoot. You’re going to need their attention and in that case, you probably need their favorite toys.
5. Accessorize
Is there a single animal out there that actually likes being dressed up? I’m not sure .. but you don’t always have to put your pet in clothes (although YES PLEASE BRING ANY PET HALLOWEEN COSTUMES) - you can also opt for the less traumatizing route and bring something like a sign, bowtie, bandana, matching sweater.
6. Bring Treats
Just like you need toys to distract them, treats also come in handy for reminding them that WHO IS DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB, YOU ARE DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB, SUCH A GOOD BOY.
7. Bring a Friend to Help
If you have a gut feeling that your pet isn’t going to be the most cooperative, another option is to bring a friend or family member to the session to help hold them to get some shots of just the two of you. While having your pet there is awesome and personal, we also want to get some shots of just the two of you!
8. Be Prepared for the Weather
No one likes being out in the cold without shoes and I don’t know but I don’t think dogs do either. If it’s supposed to be snowy, maybe consider buying them some booties (uhmmm also can you just imagine dogs in booties, like HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE THAT)! If you’re wanting to canoe around a lake for your session, maybe buy them the worlds cutest life vest that I won’t be able to stop fawning over. I mean, whatever!
9. Have Fun With It!
Does your dog love to run around and play fetch? Or are they more of a “please hold me every second of every day” type of pet? Think of some fun activities you can do together like play fetch, or sit and have a picnic while eating dog appropriate food. Then make sure to bring those items to help incorporate that into the session!
10. Know when to give up
If it’s just not happening, thats totally okay. It happens. In that case we can call a friend or family member to come pick them up, or chat about what to do next.
