Every single client has concerns prior to their session of how their dog(s) are going to behave.

But I’m here to let you in on a little secret…

Your dog actually doesn’t need to be well trained, have a perfect recall, or know every trick under the sun in order to have beautiful photos taken of them.

The trick actually is to allow the dog to be themselves and participate in behaviors they enjoy to capture some really incredible imagery.

That’s where the magic happens.

But to assuage you further, I want to dissect several of the most common concerns pet parents have surrounding their dog(s)’ behavior prior to a session.

Let’s discuss!

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If you want to dig further into all of our best tips and what to expect from a Pet Portrait experience, be sure to download our free Pet Parent Session Guide.

My dog will jump all over you.

That’s totally okay and expected! A new place and an exciting new person with yummy snacks and fun toys, I’d be excited, too!

My dog doesn’t even know how to sit.

Then, we can focus on other poses, such as play, movement, slow motion, interaction shots, and more. If they do sit, it’s just the cherry on top!

My dog won’t sit still for long.

We expect it! Thanks to a super fast shutter speed, we only need a split second to get the shot.

My dog has separation anxiety and must be close to me at all times.

Great! We love incorporating pet parents into the session. Plus, you can stay close and we can isolate you out of the frame, so that it looks like your dog is hanging out all by themselves to get a few solo shots.

My dog is very vocal and will likely bark at you the whole time.

Then, we will add that to the shot list! We definitely want to capture that part of their personality especially if it’s a behavior they do frequently. But, your dog may be less vocal than you think, because we are going to keep them busy and engaged!

My dog can’t be trusted off leash.

And that’s the case with 95% of dogs. Thanks to a handy dandy long line, we can give your dog freedom of movement and edit the leash out later! Almost all of the dogs you see in our portfolio were on a leash for their session.

My dog is dog reactive when they see other dogs.

Welcome to the club! With a bit of pre-planning, distance, and distraction, we can keep your dog engaged with us and less worried about what’s going on around them.

My dog is easily distracted.

Who isn’t? Your dog doesn't have to give me their undivided attention for an hour. In fact, we don't want them staring at the camera the entire time. We use treats, toys, movement, sounds, and the environment to keep them engaged—and sometimes those wonderfully distracted moments make the best photographs.

My dog is really high energy.

Great! Let’s put it to good use! We can incorporate movement, running, jumping, playing, and action into your session. Your dog doesn't have to spend the entire session sitting calmly or quietly.

My dog doesn’t like the camera.

In our experience, a dog avoids the camera simply because they haven’t acclimated to it. With some on site clicker training and a few yummy treats, most dogs forget the camera is even there! Even if they aren’t besties with the camera, we can totally get some great images from the session.

My dog is shy or nervous around new people.

That’s why we build time into our sessions to give your dog plenty of time to warm up. Add that in with photographing using a longer lens and we can give them the space and the the time they need to be themselves without pressuring them to engage with us.

My dog has some mobility issues.

That’s alright! Your dog doesn't need to run, jump, or even stand for long periods of time to capture meaningful moments. We'll work at their pace and build the session around what feels comfortable for them.

With all of that in mind, we hope you feel more assured that your dog can in fact have their very own photo session no matter their energy, training level, age, reactivity, etc!

If you are ready to get started, simply click here to learn more about our Pet Portrait experiences. We look forward to learning more about you and your pups!