Tips for a Successful Portrait Session with Your Dog
Capturing the unique personality and charm of your dog in a portrait is a wonderful way to create lasting memories. However, ensuring that the session goes smoothly and results in stunning photos requires a bit of preparation. Here are some essential tips to help you and your furry friend get ready for a successful portrait session.
Prep for the Session
Exercise Your Dog Before the Session Before the portrait session, it's important to exercise your dog. A walk or some playtime can help burn off excess energy, making it easier for them to focus during the shoot. This is especially important for young or highly energetic dogs. However, ensure they’re not too tired to participate. A well-exercised dog is more likely to cooperate and follow commands, leading to better photos.
Bring Their Favorite Treats While I always have treats on hand, it's a good idea to bring some that your dog particularly loves, especially if they have dietary restrictions or are picky eaters. Small, bite-sized pieces work best. You know your dog best, so bring the high-value rewards. Some ideas include:
Boiled Chicken Breast
Leftover Steak
Cheese
Peanut Butter
Hot Dogs
Cream Cheese
Variety can keep your dog engaged, so bring a few different options. Treats are a powerful motivator and can help your dog interact positively with the camera.
Bring Their Favorite Toys If your dog has a favorite toy, bring it along. However, keep it hidden until needed, especially if it's something they obsess over. Toys can be a great way to capture your dog's playful side, but we don’t want them to become a distraction.
Use a Regular Flat Collar and Basic 6’ Lead For the portrait session, a CLEAN, regular flat collar is preferable to a harness or gentle leader. If you need the harness for walking we can always change into the flat collar once we are at each shooting location. Remember, I can't guarantee that I will be able to remove harnesses or gentle leaders from your dog's final images. Also, consider removing any tags unless they are particularly beautiful or sentimental, as they might detract from the final images.
Groom Your Dog Before the Session If your dog has a specific haircut you prefer, visit the groomer a few days before the session. This gives the new cut time to settle and ensures your dog looks their best. Avoid grooming on the same day as the session to prevent overwhelming your dog with too much excitement.
Bring Water for Everyone Make sure to bring water for both you and your dog. Staying hydrated is important, especially if the session is outdoors or lasts a while.
Pack a Bag with Essentials Bring a bag to carry all the above items: treats, toys, water, extra collars, poo bags, bug spray and anything else you might need. Having everything in one place makes it easier to manage during the session.
Stay Calm and Enjoy the Moment Dogs can pick up on your energy, so try to stay relaxed and enjoy the session. If you’re stressed, your dog might become anxious too. Remember, dogs will be dogs, and capturing their true personality often leads to the best photos!
By following these tips, you'll help create an environment where your dog can shine, resulting in beautiful and memorable portraits. Enjoy the process and have fun with your furry friend!
Click here to download the FREE Packing List for Your Dog’s Photo Shoot!