how to: your dog + photoshoots
How to prep your dog for your photoshoot or wedding day
From a wedding photographer, formerly dog-photographer, that’s photographed 561 dogs*
*yes I really do track this
(fun like Andrea, Max & Goose)
This guide is not just a clever ploy to pet your dog
(though maybe it should be)
This is a few simple prep steps to help make sure that:
You get amazing photos with your dog
and
You and your dog have fun doing so.
Old photo of me volunteering at the One Tail at a Time adoption center, where I learned everything I know about dog handling from some kickass experts.
My Approach:
Getting attentive & natural-feeling photos with dogs is all about creating a comfortable environment and meeting them where they’re at. After working with hundreds of dogs of all sizes and temperaments I’ve learned that fear-free and positive reinforcement methods are 100% the way to do this. Everything I do behind the camera will have this in mind!
SO with that in mind, here are some tips for you!
1. Practice Sit & Stay
These intro tricks are the bread and butter of dog-inclusive photo sessions! Even if your dog is a pro, practice having someone else do them so they’re comfy working with people who aren’t their parents. Get those treats ready and run through these daily in the weeks before the photoshoot!
BONUS TIP:
Let your photographer know -
The specific words and hand signals you use with your dog
Any behavior quirks they have
- so we can adjust to how they do best!
2. Recruit a Handler!
Photoshoots: Bring a friend to come join and hang with your pup when we’re not including them in photos. That way we can focus on photos of just you two without worrying about your pup!
Weddings: Ask a loved one or hire a handler to accompany your pup through the whole wedding day, or to shuttle them to/from home for the moments they join.
You’d be surprised how many people in your life would be delighted to hang with your pup! Doing this allowed Maura to surprise Dan with their pup at their reception which brought him immediately to tears and led to this beautiful moment:
3. Leave the Retractable Leashes and Choke Collars at Home
Big plastic retractables and visible spikes don’t photograph well! Bring a simple 6ft nylon leash and harness/martingale collar instead. We want your dog looking and feeling the most comfortable possible!
Plus there’s a lot of documentation that retractable leashes are pretty dangerous and their lack of control adds unnecessary difficulty to the photoshoot.
Let me know if you don’t have an alternative and I’ll buy you some replacements on the way!
4. Try Out Any Outfits Beforehand!
Thinking of dressing your dog up? Most dogs don’t love this, so be sure to practice A LOT beforehand to find out if they’ll be comfortable with it day-of. Associate positive emotions with the act of putting it on by giving them a treat and hyping them up as you do it.
If they’re not into it: leave the costume at home. Anything unnecessary that can add to stress levels isn’t worth it!
5. DON’T WORRY! EVERYTHING WILL BE GREAT!
If your pup isn’t great with tricks or acts differently around strangers - don’t stress! All we have to do is meet them where they’re at and we can still document great moments.
Stress responses too are TOTALLY normal. It’ll be a new situation with new people in a new environment. Dogs play off of our emotions heavily, so as long as we stay chill and show them love, they’ll come around. They don’t have to be sitting perfectly to get great photos with them you’ll remember forever.
