A dog photography session is a fun experience to share and enjoy with your life companion. Dog portrait sessions are the perfect opportunity to capture those unique expressions that make your fur baby so unique.
Although you will be guided by an experienced pet photographer for the whole duration of your photo shoot, there are a few things you can do to ensure you arrive prepared at your portrait session and live the best possible experience.
We have put together a few tips to help dog parents prepare for the big day and make the most out of their dog photography session.
1. your dog's energy levels
Whether your dog is a laid-back couch potato or has high energy levels, it’s always a good idea to take them for a walk before your photo shoot, especially before morning sessions. Going for a relaxed walk helps manage your dog’s energy level and ensures they start the session feeling calm and relaxed. If you are shooting outdoors, it would also be great to arrive early and let your pup explore the area. New environments and smells can be overexciting and distractive for your pup, so give them time to have a sniff around!
2. FEEDING BEFORE THE SESSION
If your dog loves treats, try to avoid giving them a full meal before the photoshoot. During the photography session, you’ll be asking your dog to sit and stay while the photographer captures them. Your pup will be more motivated and focused if they don’t arrive already filled up with food. In fact, they will probably leave feeling calm and with their belly full of the delicious treats they have earned during the session.
3. YOU DOG'S FAVOURITE THINGS
Your pet photographer will bring something to catch their attention, but not all toys/treats work with every dog! You know your pup and what they like more than anyone else, so make sure you pack up their favourite toys, treats and anything else that will attract their attention. You might get some big smiles to capture!
4. GROOMING
It’s completely up to you whether to take your pup to the groomed before your dog photography session, and that s definitely not a requirement! However, if your dog has a long coat, it’s advisable to trim the hair around the eyes or clear it with some vaseline. This will ensure their beautiful eyes can be easily captured. If you want to book a grooming session for your photo shoot, try not to schedule it on the same day as your portrait session. We don’t have too much going on the same day!
5. LEAD AND COLLAR
Depending on the location and your dog’s training level, you might need to keep your pup on the lead during the portrait session, and that’s ok! Your dog’s safety it’s the photographer’s priority, and if your fur baby needs to be kept on a lead, they will remove the lead from the picture when editing.
And what about the collar? Collars are much more difficult to remove in post-production and most pet photographers will leave them in the shot, so bear that in mind when choosing the collar for your photo shoot. Pick your collar carefully and think about any ID tags too: do you want them in the pictures, and if so, which ones? If you don’t want the collar to be visible in the photographs, do let your photographer know beforehand. You could either remove the collar when letting your pup off-lead or, if that’s not possible, consider bringing a show lead. That is very thin and easy to remove in the editing process.
6. BE READY TO JUMP IN THE SHOT
If you have decided not be take some images of yourself and your dog together during the session, that doesn’t mean you are not allowed to change your mind! Sometimes it happens naturally, other times you just your plans in the middle of the session. Be prepared for that to happen and pick your clothes accordingly, just in case!
7. RELAX
Now that you have prepared all those little details for your dog photography session, it’s time to just relax and have fun! Enjoy the time with your pup while your pet photographer captures those unique expressions and the bond you share with your life companion… You’ll soon have to face another challenge: picking your favourite images from the session!
still have questions?
If you would like to know more about dog photography sessions, read more about Pawtiqe dog photography session below!
