Most people view their pets as members of their family. Therefore, you might be interested in a pet photography session! Of course, you want your dog to look his or her best, so what do you need to do to get ready for this appointment?
We’ve got some expert insights to make the photoshoot perfect with 6 key points from Lorraine Charlecrafte, an expert pet photographer at Zoo Studio! Read on to make sure your furry friend showcases his or her best features!
Table of Contents
- 1. Embrace Your Dog’s Personality
- 2. Have a Few Favorite Toys on Hand for the Pet Photo Session
- 3. Have a Bag With Food and Water for the Pet Photoshoot
- 4. Have a Bathroom Bag With You as Well
- 5. Get Your Dog Groomed a Few Days Before the Appointment, If You Want
- 6. Commands Are Helpful, But Not Required
- Prepare Your Pet for the Upcoming Photoshoot
- About the Author: Lorraine Charlecrafte
1. Embrace Your Dog’s Personality
First, you need to embrace your pet’s personality. If you have a dog that’s energetic and playful, that’s fine! The photographer only needs a split second to get the perfect shot of your dog. The goal of the photoshoot is to showcase your dog’s inner and outer beauty, so if you have an energetic dog, that is great!
Of course, if your dog is relaxed, then it will be much easier for the photographer to get those beautiful portrait shots.
If your dog is already relaxed, particularly after going on a long walk, that is fantastic! Only take them for a long walk before, if that’s what they are used to.
A relaxed dog is easy to work with. On the other hand, if your dog is energetic, the photographer can get the playful shots first. Then, once you have a tired dog, it is possible get the portrait shots next.
2. Have a Few Favorite Toys on Hand for the Pet Photo Session
Before the photography session begins, make sure that you have a few toys for your dog. Your dog probably has plenty of toys at home. If you toss them to your dog, they could help him or her stay still!
You might even want a few photos of your dog squeaking the toy a few times! There is a good chance that your photographer will have a few toys available to keep your dog happy and entertained, but it might be better to bring your own toys! That way, you have something that your dog is comfortable with. It is probably more meaningful to your dog as well!
You might even be able to use squeaky toys to get your dog to look in a certain direction. They could even bring out some of your dog’s most playful expressions!
If you want your dog to look at the camera, consider placing a toy on top of the lens! This could be exactly what you need to get the best pictures of your furry friend!
3. Have a Bag With Food and Water for the Pet Photoshoot
For the photography session, you also need to have a bag with some food and water. You might want to have a few treats with you that you can use to bribe your dog to sit still or pay attention!
If you see your dog doing something that you like, you might want to toss him or her a treat! That way, you can encourage more of that behavior.
Sometimes, photography sessions can be a bit unpredictable. It is great if you have food and water you can use to keep your dog happy.
A sensitive pet photographer will create a safe environment for your pet, and keep the session as short as it needs to be. They will always put your furry friend’s needs first. Depending on your dog’s personality, you might want to give your dog a quick snack.
Dogs are sometimes more cooperative when they have a full stomach. Make sure you have a bowl you can fill with water as well. Dogs can get dehydrated quickly, and having some water could make your dog more cooperative.
If you forget to bring treats with you, there is a high likelihood that the photographer will have a few to make life easier; however, if your dog is on a specific diet, be sure to let the photographer know ahead of time! That way, the photographer can remove the food from the studio to prevent any complications.
4. Have a Bathroom Bag With You as Well
Your dog will probably have to go to the bathroom during the session, so make sure that you prepare accordingly.
This means having a bag with a leash and some dog bags as well. Unless your photo session is taking place on your property, you will need to have bags to pick up the dog poop. That is basic courtesy.
This also means that you might need to have your dog on a leash. If you have an older leash, you might want to consider getting a new one.
Remember that your leash might appear in some of the photos. The devil is in the details, and you might not want to have an old leash in the photos!
5. Get Your Dog Groomed a Few Days Before the Appointment, If You Want
There are a lot of people who assume that they need to get their dogs groomed before the appointment. This is optional and up to you.
If you take your dog to the groomer regularly, there are a few areas you might want to address and pay attention to:
- Getting the nails trimmed
- Giving Your Dog a Bath
- Trimming the hair to keep it out of the eyes
Your groomer might also be able to share a few tips with you about how you can bring out your dog’s inner beauty; however, if you decide to take your dog to the groomer, be sure to go a day or two in advance!
Getting your dog groomed is like taking him or her to the spa. It can be very tiring for your dog, and your dog might not have enough energy for the photo session. You want to give your dog a day or two to recover before heading back for another photography session.
While getting your dog groomed is great, keep in mind that this is optional. If you don’t want to take your dog to the groomer, that is fine too. You might want your dog to look like himself or herself for the photo shoot, and if that means not going to the groomer, that is fine too.
6. Commands Are Helpful, But Not Required
There are a lot of people who come in and apologize if their dog cannot sit or stay. While it can certainly be helpful, it is not necessary. Dogs are meant to be playful and messy!
If you can get your dog to cooperate, that is fine. But, remember that you are also working with a professional photographer who understands dogs and can guide them.
High energy dogs sometimes don’t listen when there is an exciting new person in the room (like the photographer), but that is not necessarily a problem! The point of the photoshoot is to showcase your dog, and if you have a playful dog, the photographer can work with that.
Remember that the photographer is going to discover what makes your dog tick and then guide him or her to bring out the best side of him or her. Both you and your dog can work together, with the photographer, for the dog photoshoot.
Prepare Your Pet for the Upcoming Photoshoot
These are a few of the most important points that you need to keep in mind if you have a photo session coming up. It can be very exciting to have a photoshoot with your dog, but you need to make sure that you and your dog are ready to go!
Your dog can probably go a few hours without eating, but always have some treats for the session. Then, don’t forget to schedule a grooming session before the visit if your dog is used to that.
Finally, work with your photographer and review the final images before you finish. Make sure you love the photos!
About the Author: Lorraine Charlecrafte
Lorraine Charlecrafte is the Director & Main Photographer of Zoo Studio, one of the most popular locations for pet owners to get photos of their furry friends. She has a tremendous amount of experience working with pets of all backgrounds, and she knows how to use the lens of her camera to bring out the best that pets have to offer. She has worked with dogs of all shapes and sizes, and she knows how to make sure that dogs are always as comfortable as possible in front of the camera. She believes that pet photography is a great way to deepen relationships between pets and owners, and she is passionate about sharing her love of animals and photography with the world.
