Booking a photoshoot for your dog can seem like it would be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be! With some preparation and a few expert tips from us, you can be prepared for your pup to be a photo superstar.
Know Your Dog’s Personality
Take a moment to consider your dog’s temperament! If your dog is easily overstimulated or reactive to other dogs/people, let us know! This won't only help with choosing the location, but it will help with the way we handle and respond to them. For example, a reactive dog doesn't always appreciate the strong motions and hand gestures from a stranger! Or another example is how some puppers don't want to be touched, while others require these types of reinforcement to stay motivated. Regardless of their quirks- we understand. Reactive & nervous rescue dogs are our specialty, considering we have 4 of our own!
Choose the Right Location
When we start talking about our recommended locations, think of what the dogs enjoy. For example, if your dog is playful and loves water, choose an action-packed environment like the lake where they can splash around. This allows us to tailor the photoshoot to be sure that their personality shines in the images. This also takes us back to knowing your dogs personality, in a sense of what location they would thrive in. If the pup isn't a fan of other dogs/people, or struggles keeping focus when new exciting friends are around, keep that in mind so we can recommend a secluded, quiet spot!
Prepping For Photoshoot Day
On the day of the session itself, these are the most important tips! One of the most common misconceptions is that you need to wear your dog out all day beforehand, don't do it! Dogs have an average of a 15 minute time span for learning, and if their brains are overworked & their bodies overtired, this will only lead to a tired, doormat dog. Instead, try to arrive at the location a tad early, so they can sniff around, mark their spot, and get a bit of excitement out after being on a long ride. When we are photographing your baby we run through alot of commands like sit & stay, which to them is hard work! This means that we have about 15 minutes of quality "listening ears" time for modelesque photos, and the rest of the time will be fun-do whatever your heart desires-playtime for personality photos. Patience is key when photographing pets, and we are jam packed with it!
Bring a leash! We use the leash 100% of the time outdoors, and even occasionally inside of the studio. We are magicians at editing, and the leash will never show in photos. This keeps your dog safe and secured during the session. However, if they usually wear a harness & that is their main constraint because they are collar-slippers, remember this when choosing outfits if you dont want it to show. Harnesses typically cover 50% of the dogs body, which leaves us unable to remove them in post. You can also try the alternative of a slip-lead leash or martingale collar for safety.
Bring their favorite treats & toy! Sometimes dogs may think our toys are lame, but in order to keep their focus we need something that looks bedazzling in their eyes! Got a ripped whale toy with only one eye, no fin, and it smells like death? Perfect! Thats the one, bring it. For treats, we always have a bag on hand- but not every dog can have every treat. For instance, one of our dogs has IBD and cannot have any types of acidic treats that could be an irritant to her belly- (but yet somehow she ate an entire old steak once out of the trash and was fine. *Insert rolling eye emoji *). If your dog has a special tummy with special allergies- bring theirs from home! You can also bring water, since being a good dog is HARD work and requires plenty of refreshments.
Don't Be Nervous
"If only my dog would sit still" - quoted from every client ever before they take a chance. Even though it might seem like a scary thought knowing your dog likely wont sit still for more than 2 seconds, this is our specialty and we have SOOOOO many tricks up our sleeves. Dog photography is our absolute favorite part about being photographers, and that means knowing exactly how to handle every dog! Let's be real, most of our fur babies aren't robots that bow to our every command. But we need you to trust us!. To this day, not once have we ever had a pet session where we didn't get exactly what we needed. In fact 9/10 of our clients send us their collage walls at home that are now plastered in their dogs face, when they were afraid from the start their dog would be un-photogenic due to their neurotic tendencies.
Wrapping Up the Photoshoot
Preparing & having your dog do a photoshoot can be an enjoyable experience. By understanding your pet's personality and following these straightforward tips, you can be perfectly prepared. We will be creating memorable and stunning photos that capture the personality & essense of your babies that you will chrish for years to come. Time creates a fuzzy memory, but photos will keep those memories alive. Book your photoshoot with us & let us show the beauty of your companion in photos. Your future self will thank you.
Lauren / Enchanted Hills Photography
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